Guest Post: “How I Made My First Sale” by Yvette Allen-Tatum
Last week, Yvette Allen-Tatum joined us to answer Ten Questions, and now she’s back with a guest post about her first sale!
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In all honesty, my first book sale had absolutely nothing to do with me. I was actually very uncomfortable talking to people the first time I went out to do a book promotion. I was at a local book store, myself and a few other authors, trying to promote and sell our books. I found myself more comfortable talking with the other authors, as opposed trying to talk to potential customers about my book. Fortunately for me, my husband accompanied to my first book promotion and was responsible for my very first book sale. This actually happened with my first book, Welcome to My Morning Glory.
I believe I was uncomfortable because of the fear of rejection; both of which, fear and rejection, can have a crippling effect upon anyone! I thank God every day for my husband being there with me. Not just because he sold my first book, but more importantly, I learned from him how to talk to potentially customers and how to promote and sell myself. I learned from him how to relax and just be me, instead of being a robot. At first, I created a script to ensure I was capturing the essence of what my book was about. However, this caused me to be more concerned about getting through the script that I never connected with the person right there in front of me. I ended up appearing to be more interested in the book – selling the book, rather than talking to the person. This is definitely a turn-off for most people.
My first true sale was when I realized all I needed to be was “me.” I wrote the book, therefore, who knew more about it than I did? So, I began to provide a synopsis of my book according to whoever was right in front of me. I first engaged the person in conversation about themselves and then connected with them on their level. This was way easier than my first approach. Clearly just starting out I really just didn’t know what to do.
With my current book, I Didn’t Know: Identifying, Confronting and Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse, I have a vested interest, I’m passionate, I’m advocating for a cause and provoking others to start a movement; therefore, sharing and discussing my book is easy. I not only want to get my book in the hands of others – I need to get my book in the hands of others. I am on a mission; I have an assignment on my life to Raise Public Awareness and Raise Public Consciousness about Child Sexual Abuse (CSA).
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You can find her books at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online retailers. You can find the author at her site!
About the Author: Author, Teacher, Advocate, Conference Host, Public Speaker, Encourager, Motivator, Ordained Minister of The Gospel, Radical for Christ, the list goes on… Born some 40 plus years ago, this mighty Woman of God is Blessed with Grace, Intelligence and a Prophetic Teaching Anointing.
Yvette is in the process of earning a Master of Arts in Human Services, Concentration in Executive Leadership, at Liberty University. She earned her Master of Divinity Degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Grace Christian College; she is also a graduate of the University of Richmond, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance and a Minor in Leadership Studies. In addition, she has 30 plus years of experience in income tax preparation and bookkeeping.
Yvette is the Founder of Surrounded By Faith Ministries, Inc. Surrounded by Faith Ministries is a DESTINY-DRIVEN outreach ministry with a mandate from God to transform LIVES with the Word of God. The Word of God is not only ACTIVE and ALIVE but PERPETUAL. Because of this, we expect God to EXPONENTIALLY reach those we may never see simply because of those HE has entrusted us to TRAIN and EQUIP.
To date, Yvette has authored two books “Welcome to my Morning Glory” and “I Didn’t Know”, She has taught numerous Bible Studies, has been a featured speaker at several conferences and hosted numerous ministry events; most notably The Throw Yo’ Hands Up Conferences sponsored by Surrounded By Faith Ministries, Inc.
What began as a mandate from God to train and equip women in the ways of the Lord so they would become like the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible, has expanded to a platform of child advocacy. Actually, her spiritual focus has always been on the family unit – to receive and achieve spiritual wholeness. God has taken this mighty vessel by various routes to touch and reach the masses. First, targeting women – to strengthen them as the nurturing forces they were created to be; and now giving a voice to the voiceless – our children.
All of this is how she started; it has yet to be revealed who she shall be or how she will finish. You’ll just have to wait and see.
