Still Time for Writers to Join Stellar Leadership

Just another recommendation from me to you, my treasured #SharingwithWriters visitors and subscribers. This memo from a writers conference director is an example of why I recommend this conference book fair—even for book display when you can’t be there—the only one I recommend in my The Frugal Book Promoter because without personal attention from authors they rarely work! This one, however, is frugal and coupled with benefits and solid publishing industry knowhow. Read through.  Especially the director’s benefits list! You’ll be glad you did!

MEMO #1 11/04/19

Dear Authors and Book Sellers,

Welcome to the eleventh annual Meet the Authors' Book Fair! It is on November 23 & 24, 2019, at the Eau Gallie Civic Center in Melbourne, FL. The doors open to the public at 10:00 AM and you may begin to set up at 9:30 AM. Please plan to stay until 5:00 PM.  

This is a happenin’ place for authors to re-energize, hang out, and chill with other writers–not to mention meet the reading public to sign and sell books! Please invite all you know to come and support you and the other authors for an enjoyable day. Encourage family and friends to do their holiday shopping early. Time to post on your blog, web page, FB and Twitter and to send out your email blast is now!

There are only three vendor tables still available at this time. We will continue to accept registrations until they are gone. Book Display Only applications are for those who want to display their books and business cards, but are unable to attend the Book Fair in person. See the registration form for additional information on this easy and inexpensive marketing opportunity at AuthorsForAuthors.com

BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS:

Included in your registration ~

1. Publicity for you and your work
2. Contact list of names, email addresses, and book titles of other participants for networking
3. Handout with your information for participants and visitors at the book fair
4. Gift folder with writing tips and related information
5. Networking with other professionals in your field
6. Ability to view and discuss marketing ideas with other authors
7. Opportunity to sign and sell your books
8. One table and two chairs provided (Please, no extra people at your table)
9. Table cloth and name tag provided
10. Bring your own tabletop displays, banners, promos, electric extension cords, books, business cards, laptops, etc.
11. Sunday only: Author's Book Exchange: Read & Review

More information will follow soon. Watch for MEMO #2.

If you have questions please email Valerie Allen at VAllenWriter@gmail.com.

Looking forward to seeing you at the book fair!

AuthorsForAuthors.com

VAllenWriter@gmail.com

Valerie Allen and Marshall Frank

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~  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 Friend

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More about the Blogger

Carolyn 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 now offered by Modern History Press, at a discount to visitors to this blog. The discount code in in the right column of the page. 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 (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/BookProposals) 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, 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)

How To Be Sure Your Tradeshow or Book Fair Appearance is Not a Disappointment

I often encourage my clients to reach a bit farther than one expects from a new author--regardless of their expertise or experience. For one thing, the services available to authors (like spots at in book fair booths) are often bare-bones. The alternative may be to do-it-yourself and even make a profit which can then be used to boost the author's marketing budget for the future. 

I once sponsored book fair booths at the LA TimesFestival of Books with Joyce Faulkner after we started a writers' group called Authors' Coalition.  Slowly and at considerable cost—one year at a time—I learned what works for book fairs, tradeshows, and other public events and what doesn’t. My booth partners and I used tons of value-added promotions including:

• We shared printing and postage costs of catalogs we produced ourselves that featured booth participants’ books and an invitation to the fair. With permission, we used the fair logo to give the catalog credibility. We sent our catalog to book buyers, media, and influentials like movie producers (because that fair is in the middle of Hollywood land). 
• We produced a video/trailer featuring booth participants at an additional charge. The charge made it more likely that our video stars would use it for their blogs, websites, and other promotion both before and after the fair and we ran it on a large screen in our booth.

Note:Because CDs can be produced inexpensively in large quantities, we recycled much of the content we developed for these videos and trailers onto CDs to be given away. A participating author offered our freebies to visitors saying, “A CD for your PC?” Fairgoers rarely declined our offer.

• Books (often overruns or slightly damaged) donated by other authors became gifts-with-purchase of other books from our booth.
• A drawing for a gift basket was successful because it garnered the contact information of many readers. We shared that information with all booth participants, too.
• We produced totes and bags featuring our bookcover images and our booth number. We gave them to folks to carry the books they had purchased from us. These bags then became advertisements for our booth as our customers carried them around the grounds. 
• Some of our booth participants wore T-shirts emblazoned with images of their bookcovers, their website addresses, and our booth number.
• Each participant produced posters that we used to decorate the booth.
• We had mini training sessions for our booth participants in which we urged them to talk up one another’s books, guided them through promotion possibilities and display techniques, and gave them resources for promotion materials.

Authors' Coalition eventually demanded too much of our time, but what we learned promotion possibilities has been useful ever since. We sometimes volunteer one or more of the above promotions in trade for an organization's booth fee. We sometimes consult with organizations who plan booths for their members. And, occasionally, we get permission from booth planners to let us piggyback our for-profit services on their booth plans with a percentage of the sales going back to the originating organization. That's a win-win for everyone. 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Carolyn Howard-Johnson brings her experience as a publicist, journalist, marketer, and retailer to the advice she gives in her HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers and the many classes 

she taught for nearly a decade as instructor for UCLA Extension’s world-renown Writers’ Program. The books in her HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers have won multiple awards. That series includes both the first and second editions ofThe Frugal Book Promoterand The Frugal Editorwhich won awards from USA Book News, Readers’ Views Literary Award, the marketing award from Next Generation Indie Books and others including the coveted Irwin award. How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethicallylaunched to rave reviews from Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief of Midwest Book Reviews and others: 

“How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically[and other books in the series] could well serve as a textbook for a college Writing/Publishing curriculum.”

Howard-Johnson is the recipient of the California Legislature’s Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award, and her community’s Character and Ethics award for her work promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly’s list of “Fourteen San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen” and was given her community’s Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts. 

                  

The author loves to travel. She has visited eighty-nine countries and has studied writing at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom; Herzen University in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Charles University, Prague. She admits to carrying a pen and journal wherever she goes. Her website iswww.howtodoitfrugally.com

A Bit of a Shock in Book Fair News

Today the LA Times reported that the famous UCLA/LA Times Festival of Book will now be held on the campus of UCLA’s crosstown rival, the University of Southern California. I was associated with that fair several years running and must say that it’s a surprise and that I’m conflicted. I teach at UCLA. My daughter is studying there. My son and I both were graduated from USC. I love both campuses. So, I’m not taking sides.

Still this is a shock. Apparently with budget cuts UCLA couldn’t afford to uphold their portion of the expenses for the fair. An LA Times spokesperson says, “The Times has shared a long, successful history with UCLA and we intend to continue to collaborate with them on other events and projects far into the future.” Spokespersons also tout the advantages of the USC campus including better access from LA’s mass transit systems, in particular their new rail system, and a more central LA location.

For your information this fair attracted 140,000 visitors in 2010.

This notice comes from the regular "In the News" feature in my Sharing with Writers newsletter. Those who would like to subscribe for publishing-related news, tips on writing and promotion and really practical how-to articles may send an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.  



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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 Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; 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 . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widget to let them know about this blog:

Books Shouldn't Be Judged by the Press They're Printed On--A Taxpayer's Expense

Span Connection, the print newsletter of www.spannet.org, runs the headline "The Almost-National Book Festival." Writer Edward Allan Faine tell us that though care was taken to represent diverse groups, a wide variety of reading categories including ethnic and racial groups at the National Book Festival in our capital, one group was woefully neglected.

I’m sure you can guess which one. Sighhhh!

Of the 156 books of invited artists 2/3 were published by the six large conglomerates (many of them foreign owned), about 1/3 by large and mid-size independents, and nine by university presses. The writer of the article notes that there was one out-of-print chapbook by poet Michael Lind so at least out-of print got represented.

So where does that leave what many incorrectly call POD-published authors (really self-, subsidy- or partner-published). Exactly nowhere. By the way, this is a festival sponsored by the Library of Congress (our tax dollars?) and founded by former First Lady Laura Bush.

I have to say that the mix at the LA Times Festival of Books wasn't much better, though it is harder to caluclate because of the extensive free panels and seminars they provide. LA is known for its acceptance in general. I was hoping that attitude would be extended to books.

At least in Christine Alexanians' and my booth, there were authors published every which way. All were welcome this year. All will be welcome next. Those signing in booths are not the invited guests of the fair administration but rather talented, hard-working authors of books.

Books should be judged on their content. All authors deserve readers' consideration. See www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com for more information on how we make that booth successful. You can follow some of our ideas and processes for the booths you will be doing this spring, summer and fall.

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la times festival of books, span connection, national book fair, washington dc. pod-published books, book bigotry, book prejudice, chrsitine alexaninans, carolyn howard-johnson,
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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 two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers 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. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". 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 blog.

Get Exposure for Your Book at Book Fairs Without Being There!

Recessionary times are NOT the time to give up promoting, only to find more--ahem...FRUGAL ways to do it! I thought this opportunity a great way to market a book at two book fairs without traveling.


Let your book be seen in a catalog distributed to readers at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo, April 9-12, 2009. The opportunity includes display of your book for four days to an estimated 84,000 fair-goers. If you have more than 1 book, that’s OK! The cost of advertising is one, low, flat fee!


What you get:~Your book(s) on display for 4 days at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo, April 9-12, 2009

~A full-page advertisement in the 1000 give-away, interactive digital catalogs

~A full-page advertisement for one-full year on the Association of Local Authors Website

~ADDED BONUS! Digital catalogs will also be distributed at the LA Times Festival of Books. (Estimated 140 visitors.)

Cost: $100 (That’s only 10 cents per catalog. It’s cheaper than giving a bookmark!)
Online Registration

Deadline: February 28, 2009
http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/ViewCart.aspx?sctoken=8c80a4ee149044ac87ce5939171e0770&mid=67FE6E6B-55E5-4491-9FA7-50B05B858341&bhcp=1

Or send payment and order form (http://www.associationoflocalauthors.com/index_files/2009ALARegistration.pdf ) to: Fabulist Flash Publishing, PO Box 570368, Las Vegas, NV 89157

Additional instructions will be given once you’re registered.
To take advantage of this exhibition opportunity visit www.associationoflocalauthors.com

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book catalogs, book fair, la times festival of books, clark country fair and rodeo, fabulist flash, gregory kompes, book marketing, book promotion, book fairs
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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 two how to books, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". 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 blog.

Why Book Fairs Are Like Tulips

It may be dead-of-winter in your neck of the woods, but spring is creeping up on us. That means book fairs will be sprouting about the same time as the tulips. So put on your promotion hat and your get-with-it boots and be thinking about how you can take advantage of fairs. There are all kinds of ways and the most likely way, surprisingly enough, may not be to take a booth at a fair.

Here are alternatives.

 Share a booth with one or more authors. Or rent an hour's signing time with an organization like Authors' Coalition of Book Publicists of Southern California.

 Just go to the fair. In costume or not. Take fliers. Hand them out. Put them on the tables in the refreshment area. This works best for authors who have exhausted those on their local lists meaning there may not be one on the list who hasn't purchased their book anyway. It's also great for authors who haven't yet published.

 Pitch yourself as a speaker or panel moderator. If no one bites on your offer, the fair planners will know you are out there.

 Take part in value-added promotions that Authors' Coalition builds around the fairs it does. You don't have to live in the area or be willing to pay travel expenses in order to participate in them with us. The organization provides what might be termed long distance promotion. This year they'll have CDs for readers, a slideshow for those who are active speakers, a catalog that goes out by mail to booksellers and maybe even totes (more about that in about a month).

 As an information source - Read book fair fliers and catalogs. Research the names of the publishers - of the writers' organizations - of the services offered authors for promotion. Last year I ran across the US Postal Service booth and learned about the stamps they will print for you--with your book cover on them!

 If you consult, edit or provide any other book-related service, a fair may be the place for you. Authors' Den partnered with Authors' Coalition last year by providing fliers and a contest to win an iPod. Bet they got lots of new associates that way because the interest was huge.

 Your book club or writers' organization can help other writers by sponsoring a speaker at a book fair. The Tennessee Writers' Alliance sponsored me at the Southern Festival of Books , and they certainly did me a favor as well as -- I hope -- providing a service for the betterment of their writing community.

Now is the time to do your research, make your plans. Check out Authors' Coalition, whether you can make it in person to the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books , or want them to work for you from a distance with their value-added programs. See if there's a fair in your stomping grounds that you can support or utilize. Learn how to make any fair work for you with AC's blog that explores what worked best for the ones they have done in the past (yes, they are your laboratory!).

Find a way to use a fair to reach readers, booksellers, the people you speak to and to cross promote. Writers need each other to make our efforts go farther and farther.

Happy writing, promoting and, yes, editing,

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, HoJoNews@aol.com
Find details on participating in the Authors' Coalition booth at the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/fair_booths.htm.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THIS IS THE PLACE; HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED; TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T; and THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS.
Her other blogs include TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com and AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog that helps writers and publishers turn a ho-hum book fair booth into a sizzler.