Value -Added Benefits for Displays at This Book Fairr

I have been displaying all my #HowtoDoItFrugally books for writers at this fair for years! It’s frugal (only $5.per book!) and has benefits that help make it successful even if you can’t be there personally!  Think “networking!” Also find #AuthorsforAuthors group on Facebook. It free, if course. And welcomes author news and tips. . 

Here’s a note from the director, Valerie Allen. 

 

“Start counting the days until registration opens on 09/01/23, for the "Meet the Authors' Book Fair" at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, Melbourne, FL. Vendor tables are limited. Find more info at AuthorsForAuthors.com.

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER MORE

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," "The Frugal Editor" and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Valerie Allen Shares Her Serendipitous Marketing Ideas

Serendipitous Marketing

Today's Guest Blogger Is

Valerie Allen

Today's guest blogger hard at work
at an Authors for Authors Writers Conference

If you are an author, you are also in the retail business. Most writers do not view marketing as their super power. Many consider marketing and sales, the bane of their writing life. Perhaps, but it is a necessary evil that comes with the territory.

If you break out in a rash at the thought of speaking to others about your writing, understand you must tell to sell. Keep in mind, advertising is paid for, promotion is prayed for. I often tell writers to have their “marketing brain in networking mode” at all times and the most unexpected things can happen.

Here is a recent experience I had that makes my point. I am a writer, a psychologist, a college instructor, an event planner for authors and book events, and Director of Authors for Authors (AuthorsForAuthors.com). I am a very busy person (as most of us are!)

I came across a lady, Patty Wolf, who was retired and was offering her services as a “personal assistant.” Her list of tasks included data entry, mail outs, phone registrations, etc. Wow! This woman seemed like a dream come true to help with my never-ending “to do” list. I contacted her and we met at my office to discuss what I needed and things where she felt she could be of help.

In the course of getting to know one another, it turned out that Patty Wolf and her husband, Jeff, own and publish, “The Pet Gazette.” This is a FREE newspaper, with an online edition. They focus on saving animals and encourage people to adopt pets from shelters. What a great mission!

My marketing brain kicked into gear. How could I help Patty and Jeff get more online attention for their cause and help my authors with their books? We did some brainstorming and came up with a “Pets and Books” section to their online edition. If it went well, she offered to showcase our authors in the print edition. How did this work out? Very well, I'd say. Go to PetGazette-Pets.com and see for yourself. Let me know what you think. (VAllenWriter@gmail.com)

Did I know this would be the outcome of finding a 'personal assistant' for my business in the world of mental health services? Absolutely not! However, by keeping my writer brain going strong, and always seeking promotional opportunities, this serendipitous marketing seemed to come out of nowhere. No, not really; I don't think so. This was not just the “Luck of the Irish.” My belief is the harder I work, the luckier I get! This is what happens when writers realize they are in the retail business. They need to find opportunities everywhere they look. They must tell to sell.

MORE ABOUT TODAY'S GUEST BLOGGER

Valerie Allen writes, fiction, nonfiction, short story anthologies, and children's books. You can email her at VAllenWriter@gmail.com. Her work can be found at Amazon.com/author/valerieallen. Learn more about Valerie Allen at ValerieAllenWriter.com. Find information at AuthorsForAuthors.com and join the Facebook group, Authors For Authors.

MORE ABOUT CAROLYN AND HER SHARING WITH WRITERS BLOG

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press (https://modernhistorypress.com). 

Carolyn is also the author of" How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically." She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor" (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), recently released in its third edition, is the winningest book in the series. 

 Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it help them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Authors for Authors Hosts 10th Writers' Conference at Melbourne's Hilton

Authors for Authors will have their tenth annual Writers' Conference on April 28, 2019, at the Hilton Rialto Melbourne FL, from 9:00 Am to 5:00 PM. Contact Valerie Allen at VAllenWriter@gmail.com. Find more information at AuthorsForAuthors.com

There are two frugal opportunities for authors across the US to participate and reach more readers!

1) Book Display Only for those who cannot attend the conference. Mail your book(s) and business cards for only $5.00 per book and have them on display at the main entrance all day. Books with a SASE will be returned. 

2) Register and attend the conference. Listen and learn how to improve your writing, market effectively and sell more books! Genre discussion groups, breakout sessions, author interviews, meet the vendors and listen to the award-winning Keynote Speaker, John Torres, an award-winning investigative journalist with Florida Today.  His series, "Murder on the Space Coast" appears across various podcasts, as he works with the Innocence Project for those wrongly convicted. John's presentation will be "The Power of Words."


MORE ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER

John A. Torres is an award-winning columnist and author as well as the creator, host, and reporter of the popular podcast “Murder on the Space Coast.” John was born in the Bronx, N.Y. and earned his B.A. from Fordham University. His first reporting job was at a small weekly newspaper in Dobbs Ferry, NY called The Enterprise. John later worked as a sports writer for United Press International and Westchester Gannett Newspapers. In 1998, John was hired as the education reporter at the Poughkeepsie Journal and before long was the assistant city editor. Tired of the cold and snow of the Hudson Valley, John moved to Brevard County in 2001 where he was hired by a former editor at Florida Today. There John has covered a wide variety of topics but has made his mark writing about social and criminal justice issues. The last few years he has worked primarily reporting and writing his podcast.
John has written more than 65 books. The majority are middle-school books on a variety of topics. His 2014 book, "Soccer Star Leo Messi," was recognized by the Junior Library Guild. His most recent books have been," Famous Immigrant Athletes," "The People Behind Mass Shootings," and "Joined by Fate," the intertwined biographies of Hernan Cortes and La Malinche.” John is married and he and his wife have five children between them. JTorres@FloridaToday.com

 MORE ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

~  Valerie Allen  ~

                                             ValerieAllenWriter.com                                                    VAllenWriter@gmail.com

Amazon.com/author/valerieallen

Write, Publish, Sell! 2 ed

Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony

Amazing Grace
Sins of the Father

Suffer The Little Children

The Prodigal Son

Stories for the Man in Your Life

A Gift for Mom: Short Story Collection

'Tis Herself: Short Story Volume One

'Tis Herself: Short Story Volume Two

Summer School for Smarties

Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Howard-Johnson is the multi award-wining author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (http://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, she helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com)