L. Diane Wolfe Urges Holiday Support for Indie Publishers--And Makes It Easy To Do!

When I saw this in my online IWSG (The Insecure Writer's Support Group) newsletter, it nudged the old retailer in me to join with L. Diane Wolfe, owner of Dancing Lemur Press, in a putsch to get my writing friends to do the same. I mean, the big retailing season is nearly upon us. (It also gives me a chance to remind you that I was a retailer for nearly three decades, that bookstores are retailers, and so are many online publishers who sell online! In other words, all of us are in this together!) So won't you use Diane's plea verbatim or edit it to suit your voice, your needs, and blast it out on your blog, or anything else you can think of. Your own newsletter. Facebook.  Instagram. Twitter (tag me and I'll retweet it to my 40,000 plus of my mostly-publishing-type followers! I am @frugalbookpromo on Twitter!). 

Many thanks to Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh and Diane for the nudge! And keep reading. Let's make this a holiday of reading and support for our industry.  

PS:  I love Amazon for all they do for writers, but let's make this a great holiday for the little guys who do so much. The world needs the full range of support for creatives. And, by the way, the publisher of my HowToDoItFrugally books is also considered a small press.  Find  Victor Volkman's (@MHistoryPress)  Modern History Press at https://ModernHistoryPress.com . Find his bonus offer at for a two-fer gift at the ever-popular ten-dollarish price point for gifts. 

PPS: If you decide to help us with our effort, be sure to let me know and include your links so I can help you share your...mmm, holiday effort!   

By L. Diane Wolfe, originally for IWSG newsletter.

"Buy local, buy small business, support a self-employed friend.

 

2020-2021 has been tough for independent business. They need your help. The big businesses did just fine – neither Amazon nor Walmart needs your money. Buy direct online from small business. Buy local and small business. Help independents get through this incredibly tough time.

 

"Dancing Lemur Press is a small, independent publisher. Look at the titles we represent. Look at the authors, struggling with so few live events these past few years. Your purchase makes such a huge difference to them and to us. You can buy direct from us, getting bonus material, and know you are making a difference. http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/

 

"I plead with you to support one another. Buy direct. Buy local and small business. And help us get through this incredibly tough time.

 

"L. Diane Wolfe

Owner – Dancing Lemur Press, LLC"

(c) Permission Granted to Reprint

 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

3D Image courtesy of Gene Cartwright tweeting @GeneCartwright

 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 (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is 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 (http://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (http://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 (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second 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 helps 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, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Small Business Saturday Great Way to Promote, Sell Books

So, OK.  I'm helping writing friend and publisher Diane Wolf do some book promotion for her Dancing Lemur Press. But here's the thing. I was once a retailer. Yes I was. For nearly 30 years and that experience helps me help my clients to know how to approach retailers in ways that convince them it is worthwhile to host authors as part of their own marketing. I address that in the flagship book of my HowToDoItFrugally Series of books, The Frugal Book Promoter.  I also recommend a book I wrote for my fellow retailers, because the more authors and publishers know about retailing, the easier it is for them to see what they need and that in turn helps them offer retailers benefits they will find darn hard to resist.  Besides, authors must learn that they, too, are retailers. Books are their product and readers are their end consumers! We're all in this together!  So, here is the promotion that Diane used--one that captured the part of my heart that is a retailer!

Spunk On A Stick's Tips

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Small Business Saturday - Cyber Monday Special Posted: 25 Nov 2019 03:00 AM PST Stock up on books and gifts, save some money,  and support small business!  From Saturday, November 30 through Monday, December 2 buy any print book and get an eBook or audio book free.*  To get a free eBook or audio book:  Purchase directly from Dancing Lemur Press’ website and state in the comments your free book selection and eBook format (if required.) Dancing Lemur Press LLC Print orders placed directly will also include free swag.  Purchase from any retail site and email a copy of the receipt (sans payment information) along with your free book selection and eBook format (if required). Inquiries @ dancinglemurpressllc.com (*Multi-book eBook sets or audio book sets not available.)  Mark your calendar and visit Dancing Lemur Press LLC this Saturday through Monday!  Writing, Publishing & Promoting Tips from SpunkOnAStick

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 multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII),  now offered by Modern History Press in its third edition.

Carolyn's  latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers 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 (http://bit.ly/Last-MinuteEditing) is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal (http://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) helps writers who want to be traditionally published. The Frugal Editor (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second 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 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, Carolyn 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)

L. Diane Wolf Shares Her Ideas for Promotional Swag

Though the second edition of my multi award-winning #TheFrugalBookPromoter (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromo) has a whole section on promotional materials and how to use them, I am always looking for new resources. I especially like custom jewelry as an idea for "swag" as Diane  calls it. I guess jewelry is truly "swag," as opposed to the stuff that ends up cluttering drawers.  Here Diane tells you a little more about her new service for the authors she publishes with her Dancing Lemur Press and others--just because she has one of those inclusive hearts I admire! 

Using Unique Book Swag

From L. Diane Wolf,, author and publisher at Dancing Lemur Press

Handing out bookmarks and giving one’s book away as a prize are standard procedures. One helps people remember the book and the other encourages reviews. But since everyone does it, why not dress it up a bit with some really unique swag?

The goal is to promote the book and the best way to do that is to feature the cover, either alone or with text like an ad. What would you like to put your cover on? A t-shirt, mouse pad, mug, tote bag, or magnet? Dancing Lemur Press has created all of those and they each made for a unique giveaway item. Most recently, we had playing cards made featuring several of our titles, and the authors got a great response.

There are many companies online that will let you personalize items. We’ve used Zazzle and Winkflash and both produce quality products. You can also order key chains, calendars, luggage tags, hats, coasters, ornaments - whatever your cover would look good on and be of use to someone.

You can also custom design items unique to your book’s story. Custom jewelry is a great item if a piece is integral to the storyline. Perhaps making a stuffed toy of a creature in the book? Get creative and think of what item you could make a reality.

So, the next time you plan a giveaway, look for something that will stand out and be remembered!

http://www.zazzle.com/

https://www.winkflash.com/

MORE ABOUT TODAY'S CONTRIBUTOR

L. Diane Wolfe

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation. Wolfe owns Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and is the author of seven books, including two non-fiction titles and a NA/YA series, The Circle of Friends. She travels for media interviews and speaking engagements, maintains numerous websites and blogs, (including the Insecure Writer’s Support Group) and contributes to several other sites and newsletters.

http://www.spunkonastick.net/ - Spunk On A Stick

http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com - Spunk On A Stick’s Tips

http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/ - Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

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 Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including 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. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .