IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO PUBLISH A BOOK, Part Eight

I had the opportunity to participate last week in a local church's Trunk or Treat to help promote my book, THE STORY CATCHER. I've tried loading some pictures I took of my car and the event but my camera doesn't want to cooperate so I will have to use my writerly skills to help you envision what fun I had.

Imagine rows of cars all decorated out for Halloween with their trunks filled with candy. My trunk was decorated in pink with a blown up poster of my book cover and butterflies all around. On the outside of my car I taped book covers of picture books and my front windshield was decorated with huge felt butterflies and more picture book covers. I was trying to give the impression I was on a mission to "catch" as many stories as I could and I invited some the more than 1500 kids who showed up to "catch" a story with me as I gave away 300 donated books!

I had plenty of candy, but I am happy to report that both kids and parents alike were MUCH more interested in getting a book to read than grabbing the candy and long after I ran out of books I still had children come up to me asking for their free book. I also gave out bookmarks advertising my FREE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB. 

Whether you are gearing up for your debut picture book's release like I am or celebrating your 100th book release, you still have to promote your work. As my book's release date draws closer I begin to think of different ways I can connect to my target audience (children, parents, librarians, and teachers) and then I remember when I was a child how you could always find something hiding in your favorite box of cereal or even a "fan club" to join so you can use your "decoder" ring to unravel the mystery message you get in the mail each month.

I want my target audience to have a like experience so I've created a fan club where anyone can sign up for the FREE goodies. Members will receive a Certificate of Membership; a STORY CATCHER Reading Log to help readers earn a STORY CATCHER AWARD; a bi-monthly newsletter full of games, puzzles, stories, and the latest STORY CATCHER news. Members will also get a short story starring THEM! The only thing I need is an email request with the member's name and email address sent to www.storycatcherfanclub @gmail.com so I can add them to my database. Then within two days, they will receive their welcome packet.

Even educators can use the fan club goodies to supplement their classroom instruction. I enjoy creating the articles for the newsletters so it's a win-win for everyone! And just because I like sharing some more book love, here are a few websites offering free book promotions:

1, Awesomegang...http://awesomegang.com/submit-your-book
2. Book Goodies...http://bookgoodies.com/contact-us/authors-tell-us-about-your-book
3. Book Goodies Kids...http://bookgoodieskids.com/contact-us/authors-tell-us-about-your-book
4. Pretty-Hot...http://pretty-hot.com/submit-your-book
5. Freebooksy...http://freebooksy.com/editorial-submissions
6. Choosybookworm...http://www.bookdaily.com/lp/freeppc1?gclid=CN6D7eGS3cECFUsV7Aod2hwATQ
7. Book Browse...
https://www.bookbrowse.com/information/index.cfm/fuseaction/editorial_submissions

I've checked to make sure the links are good but as always, please use your best judgement as to whether or not you want to pursue any of these free book promotion offers for your own book. Do you know of any other free promotion sites authors can use? Why not share them in the comment section below...

5 Common Myths About Getting Published: Part Five

***This is PART FIVE of a five part series to uncover some myths about becoming a published author. You can read part four by going here. I hope you enjoyed this series and found resources you could use. If you'd like more of these type of series, comment below and I'll see what I can do!***

The other myths we looked at have covered whether or not you need a degree in creative writing to become an author, do you need an agent to be offered a book contract, will agents expect a huge author platform before they consider your manuscript and is the traditional publisher the only publication path. 

Despite the various options and outcomes available to every writer, to the lucky ones who garner a book contract, there is one final myth to overcome.

MYTH #5...ONCE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED YOUR WORK IS DONE

You've spent countless hours writing, rewriting, revising, and polishing your story. Query letters have been sent out and you have managed to receive an offer to publish your story. Take time to do the happy dance but realize the hard work of promoting and marketing your book is just beginning.

What methods will you chose to get the word out? Are some options better than others? That would depend partly on your marketing budget, partly on the networking you might have done prior to any book contract being signed, and partly on your own creativity in sharing your good news with the world.

Here are some things to make sure you include in your promotion arsenal when working on your marketing plan:

1. Media Kit...this kit should include press releases, book blurb, biographies, author photo, business cards, promotional materials, and a question & answer list.

2. Book Reviews...this would include favorable reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Koobug, and blogs as well as local or national publications.

3. Copy of your Newsletter...you should already have an email list generated through your website or blog or now would be the time to start one. I use MailChip (www.mailchimp.com) which gives me a list of potential readers of my books whom I can send updated info to such as the release date of my books, schedule of book signings or speaking engagements, interesting articles, and things like games, contests, or giveaways.

4. Endorsements or Recommendations...some of your ARC copies should have been sent to people who were willing to provide verbal support of your book. Now would be the time to gather copies of those endorsements and recommendations to add to your publicity kit.

5. Order List...make sure you provide a list with all the links on how readers can purchase your book through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Sourcebooks, Kindle, Nook, and other distributors.

6. Quizzes, Contests, & Giveaways...have some idea of the different ways you can generate interest in your book. Things like blog hops and twitter blitzes create excitement during the first few months following an official book release but additional readers will be drawn to your book through the chance to possibly win an autograph copy of it or even swag items.

7. Print Media...even if you have a publicist, it is still the author's responsibility to do their part to promote their book. This includes sending book release information to industry trade magazines like Publisher's Weekly (www.publishersweekly.com), Library Journal (www.lj.libraryjournal.com), and major daily newspapers as well as regional or local newspapers.

6.  Email blasts...this is where you partner with others who are willing to share your good news with their own readership via email announcements.

I know marketing and promoting a book can seem overwhelming to some newbie authors like myself. I've just been assigned my publicist through Anaiah Press (www.anaiahpress.com) and now I'm gearing up to start promoting my picture book, THE STORY CATCHER, as I begin the countdown to my book's release date in January, 2015. 

You can be sure I will double check this list to make sure I have all my ducks in a row and everything thing in place because when it comes time to do my happy book release day dance, I won't want to have forgotten anything!

What marketing things did YOU do to help promote your book? What worked and what didn't? Share your marketing success stories by commenting below...