Monday, May 27, 2013

Second Annual Free Authors' Promotion

(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

A view from the Sunsphere at this year's Children's Festival of Reading


Last weekend was my second annual FREE AUTHORS' PROMOTION event at my city's Children's Festival of Reading.  I thought last year's event was amazing but I was blown away by this year's participants.  I ended up with 49 authors and over 1000 autographed items for my FREE GIVEAWAY!

It was rainy and muddy when I was trying to set up my booth (if you look at the line of smaller tents on the right side of the photo above, my booth was the blue one at the beginning of the row in the back.  I was right across from the author signing booth and could literally wave at Sudipta if I would have had the time.  

Despite the overcast clouds, over 12,000 people made it to the festival and I didn't even have time for a potty break as people were constantly stopping by to either register for the free books, pick up the signed swag items, or do the crafts I provided.  The hits at the booth obviously included the books (Susanna Leonard Hill, the little ones fought over your flap books again...;~), the older kids liked the  autographed bookmarks the most and parents loved Julie Hedlund's story app bookmark.  

Just a note for new authors wondering about marketing budgets and what to invest in.  At my booth the business cards, magnets, and large postcards weren't as popular as regular bookmarks, stickers, and Romelle Boas' Casey Chameleon bookmarks with the gummy lizards she attached to them were an absolute hit!

Thanks to everyone who sent me things to display at my booth...I had members of my TKD Street Team handing out cards all over the festival grounds and your lovely bookmarks and postcards are now in the hands of hopefully new fans of your work!

Below are pictures of some of the fun that went on all day long!


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

David Claunch, storyteller


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Some of the youngest festival goers having fun!


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Jarret Krosoczka drawing his Lunch Ladies


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Curious George and the crew from Alice In Wonderland


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Bob Shea talking about his Dinosaur vs series with young volunteers


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Kerry Madden, author of Nothing Fancy


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Friends of the Library Used Book Sale


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Wah Lum Lion Dancers performing for the crowd


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Our very own Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen meeting fans


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen during her author showcase talk


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Musician Jim Gill entertaining the crowd


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Play Village youngsters having fun in the sand!


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

The Tennessee Valley Fair Chicken


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Bob Shea & Jarrett Krosoczka autographing books for their fans


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Debbie Diesen, Author of Pout Pout Fish


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Junior League's Kids In The Kitchen performance


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Author and storyteller, Sherry Norfolk



(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Curious George led the Parade of Books through the festival grounds


(courtesy of Knox County Public Library)

Allan Wolf entertaining the crowds


I can't wait until next year!






Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

36 comments:

  1. DarleneMay 27, 2013 at 12:25 AM

    So pleased it was a success and it looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:29 PM

      Hi Darlene! The festival is always fun but very exhausting. I'm usually glad when 4 o'clock comes around...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  2. Beth StilbornMay 27, 2013 at 12:29 AM

    This sounds super-fantastic! I am in awe of this festival and especially of YOU -- all that you do to promote others' writing/illustrating is phenomenal.

    Very helpful to know what people are interested in, in terms of marketing items. Thanks for that nugget of golden information.

    You ROCK!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:37 PM

      Hi Beth! Lol...you make it sound like what I do is unique and I believe that any one of you would do the same thing if you lived in my city. This writing community is so supportive and I have just as much fun sharing other author's wonderful books with the children as I'm sure I shall when I'm promoting my own...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  3. Carol MunroMay 27, 2013 at 12:43 AM

    That was a lot of work, Donna. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:41 PM

      I try, Carol...I try...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  4. monaMay 27, 2013 at 5:11 AM

    WOW!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:42 PM

      Awww, Mona, you would have enjoyed yourself! There is so much to do that you may not know which booth to go to first...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousMay 27, 2013 at 6:25 AM

    Looks like a blast! What a wonderful event!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:50 PM

      Hi Genevieve! This is the only reading festival I've ever attended so I'm not sure how big it is compared to others. I've attended for many years before I started hosting my FREE AUTHORS' PROMOTION and the only downside is the fact I work so hard at my booth I never get a chance to visit any of the other booths...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  6. Susanna Leonard HillMay 27, 2013 at 7:45 AM

    Wow! Quite the event! Glad it went so well :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:52 PM

      Hi Susanna! Your board books are such a hit with the little ones who visit my booth! I had another tug of war with a little boy who wanted the train book...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  7. DonnaLouiseMay 27, 2013 at 7:47 AM

    It looks like it was a resounding success, Donna. It was very generous of you to promote the works of others who couldn't be there themselves, and the marketing tip is priceless.-Donna L Sadd

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:55 PM

      Hi Donna! I was trying to make sure I paid attention to what worked in this area...kind of my own little author-to-be experiment. Something else might work better in other areas but now I know what will be best for me one day...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  8. Sylvia LiuMay 27, 2013 at 9:00 AM

    Thank you Donna. Great write up, and good tips!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 2:59 PM

      Hi Sylvia! Thank you for your kind words. I hope I am able to host my FREE AUTHORS' PROMOTION event for many years to come and that it benefits many more new authors as well!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  9. Alayne Kay ChristianMay 27, 2013 at 10:35 AM

    It sounds like it was a great success. And looks like a day filled with fun for the kids. I'm glad it went so well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 3:02 PM

      Hi Alayne! Yeah, you can just tell the kids are having a blast...I wish all of you could visit one year!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  10. Corey SchwartzMay 27, 2013 at 11:43 AM

    Oh, looks like such a fun event!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 3:02 PM

      Hi Corey! Maybe you could make it one year?

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  11. AnonymousMay 27, 2013 at 12:59 PM

    Wow! What a wonderful event!!! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 3:03 PM

      Hi Penny! I was having some trouble with my camera and being to load pictures...I'm going to try it again in a little bit...I'll put it on FB...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  12. Christine M. IrvinMay 27, 2013 at 1:31 PM

    Looks like great fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveMay 27, 2013 at 3:08 PM

      Hi Christine! It WAS great fun and gets better every year...can't wait til the year I can promote YOUR books...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  13. AnonymousMay 28, 2013 at 2:37 AM

    Wow! That looks like a lot of fun. You did a great deal, you busy girl, you! So glad it was a great success for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna L MartinMay 28, 2013 at 1:40 PM

      Hi Diane! It WAS fun but exhausting...can't wait til next year...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  14. AnonymousMay 28, 2013 at 6:59 AM

    Do you have any pictures of YOUR booth? :) I wish we had a festival like that near us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna L MartinMay 28, 2013 at 1:42 PM

      I do, Erik, but it's on my camera and it's being difficult right now. I'm working on being able to upload them asap...sorry for the delay...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  15. PatMay 28, 2013 at 9:01 AM

    Thanks for posting, Christine! Looks like a great time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna L MartinMay 28, 2013 at 1:48 PM

      Hi,Pat,and welcome to my blog! I have fun at this festival every year and love the chance to help promote my author friends.

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  16. UnknownMay 28, 2013 at 9:21 PM

    Holy cow! What an AWESOME event for everybody involved. Glad it was such a success.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna L MartinMay 31, 2013 at 9:02 AM

      Hi Cindy! It is a cool event...the only downside is that now when I run my booth I don't get to actually visit the other booths because it gets too busy...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  17. AnonymousMay 29, 2013 at 7:56 AM

    Cool event! Looks like everyone had lots of fun. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna L MartinMay 31, 2013 at 9:03 AM

      Hi Susanne! Yeah, it's always a blast...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  18. Romelle BroasMay 30, 2013 at 12:52 AM

    Thanks for sharing pictures with us. It captured the spirit of the event. It's so lively and fun! I'm glad it turned out well. The rain was not going to get in the way of this fabulous event. Thanks again, Donna, for opening up your booth to our writing community. And thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to volunteer your time. You're the best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna L MartinMay 31, 2013 at 9:05 AM

      Hi Romelle! Thank you for your kind words. I was a bit concerned when I had to set up in the mud but the rain stopped about 30 minutes before the event and didn't come back until after we left...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)