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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. Father's Day  I hope everyone had a great Father's Day! I got to spend all of Saturday with my dad and then Sunday with my father-in-law.
2. Advantage Heartbreak is only $0.99!  Swoon Romance put a bunch of their titles on sale through July 31st and the second novella in my Game. Set. Match. Heartbreak series is one of them. I hope you'll download it during this offer. Find it here.
3. Where Moonbeams Bounce  Katie Clark, one of my CPs, has a YA short story ebook out for $0.99  (free for Amazon Prime). Check it out here.
4. YA Crush Tourney  Torin St. James from Ednah Walter's Runes is in the YA Crush Tourney. I love Torin, so make sure you vote for him. 
5. Immortals by Ednah Walters Cover Reveal Here are the print and ebook covers!

Nothing can stop Raine Cooper when she wants something.

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It’s The next Big Next I tell ya!
What is?

This!
This is THE NEXT BIG THING!
See, it’s like this… it’s a global blog tour that started in Australia.The idea is to bring awareness to authors and illustrators and their current work. I was tagged by the talented Ginger Nielson. At the end of this post  you see the awesome authors/illustrators that I’ve tagged…. because they’re The Big Thing!

So on to the questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

I would love to illustrate a book about a monster or maybe  a scary, but not too scary character that is actually quite lovable.  That hasn’t happened…… yet!   So, I wrote my own.  I love to bring the misunderstood to life. With this book  we get to experience the little monster inside us all.

 

This book is for the 4- 8 range.

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?                                         

Hmmm….. actors maybe not so much, but animated for sure!  Hand drawn please!

6) Who is publishing your book?
This book along with my other one, titled “Ruby’s New Stew” have no homes as of yet.  They’re polishing themselves up to go knocking on doors though. Did I mention I’m open for suggestions?  :)

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
It started small in one afternoon and bloomed to a full manuscript in about a week. It has been edited several times since then.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I try to never compare. We’re all so different in our writing and illustration. It’s important to find your voice. However, I do love Cinderella Skeleton written by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by David Catrow. Another one that I really enjoy is The Wizard written by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Brandom Dorman.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The love of the good story that we can all related to, while knowing that everything is going to turn out okay in the end.

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
His backpack has teeth!  :))

Next on the blog tour are two very talented artists:

Candace Trew Camling

 

 

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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. My Kindle is dying :(  Twice last week, I turned on my Kindle to find a big black bar across it. Luckily, resetting the Kindle made it go away, but I'm afraid this is a sign that it's going to die.
2. Family Expo  I had a great time at the Family Expo yesterday, hosted by State Representative Rosemary Brown. Thanks to everyone who came and chatted with me about my books.
3. Editing  I'm editing a few of my books this week before I get more client edits at the start of the new month. Wish me luck, please.
4. BEA shopping  I may have bought some new outfits for BEA. :)
5. Onesie cupcakes  I'll be making onesie cupcakes for my sister's baby shower next month. I really hope these come out cute.

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You've probably heard people say that you can't compare yourself to other writers. In truth, you can. But you shouldn't. Why? Think about this. Your book comes out and you watch your release day sales. Your rank is good and you even make some best seller lists on Amazon. Great, right? Yes. But then you go to that place. The one where you wonder how So-and-so's book did on it's release day, which happens to be the same day as yours. Don't check! Seriously, don't.

Writer envy is never good. Writers should support each other, and we should also celebrate our own successes, no matter how they compare to others. Who cares if So-and-so's book did better out of the gate? Good for So-and-so. You aren't them. Your journey will be your own. Congratulate So-and-so and then be happy that people are reading your book.

The same goes for when you're querying. We all see other writers get agents and wonder when it will happen for us. Don't compare the number of rejections you've gotten. Don't think about how many months you've been querying compared to your friend. Be happy for other writers and keep pushing forward with your own work.

How do you avoid writer envy and/or the urge to compare yourself to others?

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I'm the first one to admit that I try to do too much. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, website, blog, Tumblr, Pinterest, Goodreads, and countless other online communities—I'm on them all. Sometimes I wonder how I find the time to visit all these sites. I also wonder if it's really important for me to be on all of them.

For me, the answer is yes. I have different people I talk to on each of these online platforms, and honestly, I don't want to lose touch with anyone. I like talking to readers and writers. I like escaping from my jobs to just chat. Does it take a lot of time for me to be all over the internet? Not really because I have a system.

When I wake up in the morning, I check out a few of these sites briefly. I'm talking 10 minutes top. Then I'll check them for another 10 minutes while I'm eating lunch. And then I'll check them again after my daughter goes to sleep. So in all, I spend about 30 minutes a day online. Not too bad.

How much time do you spend online and what sites are you on? Is it worth it to you?

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We’ll eat you up we love you so! And Max said NO!

Every year the Houston SCBWI illustrators create a children’s book themed birdhouse. This is mine, a tribute to the late, great Maurice Sendak.

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Call me, don’t be afraid you can call me,

Maybe it’s late but just, call me.

Tell me and I’ll be around.

www.robertabaird.com

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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. Kindle Daily Deal!  Touch of Death was selected to be the Kindle Daily Deal today! I'm beyond excited. For today ONLY you can get Touch of Death on Kindle for $1.99! Yes, I said $1.99! Squee!
2. School Library Journal  Touch of Death got a great review in the March issue of the School Library Journal. :)
3. Happy birthday to my dad!  Today is my dad's birthday. If you're reading this, happy birthday, Dad!
4. Drafting put on hold  I've had to put my WIP on hold for the time being. I have client edits and edits on my own books to get through, and unless I give up sleep completely, I just can't draft a new book right now. :(
5. Giveaway  I'm participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop on Friday. My post will actually go up on Thursday since they like them up early, so check back for a giveaway for some great books.

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I loved this article in Fortune that author Sara Ryan pointed me to, about how Cassie Claire used the marketing sensibility she was taught by her dad to make sure her publisher had plans in place for her success.

CLARE:  We were in the boardroom. The publisher [Simon & Schuster] said, "Our plan is to raise the profile and increase the sales."  And I said, "What are your concrete plans to achieve that?"  They said, "Well, we're going to get the book more attention and sell more copies."

As opposed to a plan to sell fewer copies?

RUMELT: They were naming goals instead of actions.  She gets that sensibility of distinguishing between the two.

CLARE:  I asked them to come back in a week or two with a list of things they were going to do—advertising, print run, special promotions, third-tier stores like Costco they were targeting. For Target, I asked if we were on the planogram. They've looked on me as if I were an alien. "You're not supposed to know these words!"�But they did what I asked.

You can read the rest here..

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I've been tagged by the amazing Catherine Stine for the Next Big Thing. Thanks, Catherine! So here I go!

What's the working title of your book?  
INTO THE FIRE

Where did the idea come from for the book?
I've loved the idea of Phoenixes ever since I saw the original Dark Shadows TV series from the 70s. (I saw it in reruns.) There were only about two episodes that featured Phoenixes but they got to me.

What genre does your book fall under?
Paranormal

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
I'd say Candice Accola (Caroline on The Vampire Diaries) for Cara. And Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson) for Logan.

  

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Sixteen-year-old Cara Tillman, a descendant from the mythical phoenix bird, is nearing her rebirth where she will forget everything, including the love of her life, Logan, and attempts to embrace her last days with him even if it means drawing deadly phoenix hunters to her doorstep.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I'm represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management and the book is being published by Month9Books in spring 2014.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
8 days, but I made a major change in edits so I'm rewriting most of it. LOL

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I can't think of another Phoenix book!

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
Phoenixes! They die and are reborn. What more do you need? ;)

Here are the people I'm tagging:
Sheri Larsen
Darcy Karchut
Emily White

Now for all of you, what's your WIP about?

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Wow, check out the amazing kidlit-focused pumpkin carved by children's book author/illustrator David LaRochelle:

From David:

"Chronicle Books held a promotion in conjuncture with my new book "It's a Tiger!" The winning bookstore won a custom designed pumpkin carved by me. Here is the pumpkin I carved today for Riverwalk Books in Chelan, Washington."

See a video of David carving pumpkins:

Pro-Pumpkiner from Ben Garvin on Vimeo.

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If you asked me a few month ago which I preferred, Facebook or Twitter, I would have said Twitter without hesitation. I liked that Twitter was a quick way to see what people were doing. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I like short posts. I visit a lot of blogs and short posts help me do that quickly. Twitter was essentially the same. I could read a lot of people's Tweets in a short amount of time.

But... I now have three Facebook pages. I have my personal profile, my author fan page, and a Touch of Death page. Yeah, that's a lot to keep up with. I've sort of let my PB page go because the target audience isn't really on FB. But as for the other three, I've been more active. I'm trying to post things I think people would like to know about Touch of Death. My author page focuses on writing in general. And my personal page is... well, personal. 

I've realized that I spend more time on FB, but with three accounts that I have to keep up with that's only natural. I'm still not sure which site is better for reaching others, though. I guess that will remain to be seen.

How about you? Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter?

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A little while back, I posted about branding. I mentioned I wrote a YA contemporary romance but that I worried it wouldn't get picked up because I've been branded as a paranormal writer. I was a little crushed because the romance held a special place in my heart. I relived emotions I haven't felt in a long time, and the story I created (while fictional) spoke to the sixteen-year-old inside me.

Well, my agent and I decided to put the project on the back burner and focus on my paranormal and fantasy novels. I said I was okay with it. I wasn't. I was crushed. But... my agent, being the awesome woman she is, discovered a new imprint called Swoon Romance. Right now, Swoon is only publishing novellas, so my agent called me and said, "What if you turn your romance into two novellas?" I may have jumped for joy. ;)

She sold my novellas to Swoon Romance, and I started transforming one novel into two separate novellas. Only, I couldn't do it without losing the story. So... my two novellas became three, which worked so well. I jumped for joy again. And now Love All, the first book in the Game. Set. Match. Heartbreak series is releasing January 15, 2013. Serving Up Heartbreak (book 2) releases March 12, 2013, and Perfect Match (book 3) releases May 14, 2013. I'm officially a paranormal and contemporary romance author.

What's the moral of the story? My agent is awesome. Oh, and you never know what will happen. So write the stories you have to tell.

Have you ever strayed from writing the genre you've come to be known for?

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The second most clicked-on blog post I've ever written was about sending promotional postcards to publishers. So I thought I should devote another post to covering that topic in depth.

What is my most clicked-on blog post, you wonder? An illustration I did of Peter Rabbit for Theatreworks USA's production. You wouldn't believe how many people search the web for "Peter Rabbit" every day!

Back to promotional postcards. If you're an illustrator looking for work in the children's book industry, one of the ways to get your art considered is to send promotional postcards to publishers.

I would say the first step would be to go to a bookstore and read, read, read the kinds of books you want to illustrate that are currently being published. Learn how the illustrations interact with the text. Study the illustrations and the publishers. Write down the publishers of the books that you think match your own artwork. If you love drawing dragons and sword fights, then sending postcards to that publisher who seems to publish only baby bunny books would be a waste of postage. Writers, you do the same thing here to find publishers who would be a good match with your manuscript.

2008 postcard sent to publishers

Ok, now you have some publishers. Google their websites for submission guidelines. Some only take submissions from agents, but there still are a good number that will take unsolicited submissions. Also, check out more publishers listed in the annual book, Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market (CWIM) and search their websites for a catalog of books to see if they would be a good match for you. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) also has a listing of publishers. I would highly recommend joining SCBWI if you want to write or illustrate for kids. I volunteer as a Regional Advisor for SCBWI because the organization has helped me so much with my career and continues to help me with marketing my books and making neat connections with publishing professionals. Join SCBWI, go to your local and regional events, get involved by volunteering, and meet friends in the children's book industry. So important!

Should you send postcards of your art or your whole portfolio or what? Read the submission guidelines of each publisher carefully. Some may only take email submissions. Some only want postcards. Some want to see more. The vast majority will accept postcards. Postcards are easy for them - no envelopes to open and no scary virus possibilities with attachments - and they can see at a quick glance if your art is something they'd consider. You MUST put a website on your postcard where they can see more of your illustrations. When I was sending postcards to publishers, I liked to have one illustration and my website on the front of the postcard. That way, if someone tacks it to a board, they have my website right there on the front. This postcard of the little drummer boy I sent in 2008 to hundreds of editors and art directors. Editors have a say in choosing illustrators too, so send postcards to editors and art directors who work with the kinds of books you'd like to illustrate at each publisher. You can find names in CWIM, SCBWI's lists, Harold Underdown's "Who's Moving Where" section, SCBWI conference faculty, etc.

2010 postcard sent to publishers

What illustration should you use on your postcard? Only what you want to illustrate. Of course, that makes sense, but really, be careful with this. If you don't want to draw bicycles, don't put an illustration with a bicycle on your postcard. The best image for a postcard is one that is narrative (children's books tell stories and so should your image), and that shows a character (children's books have great characters, not still lifes). If you're better at animals, show animals. If you're better at people, show kids. If you like to do both and both are high enough quality, show both.

What should you put on the back of the postcard? The rest of your contact info and you can list other books you've illustrated. You can also include some little spot illustrations like these penguins on the back of my postcard from 2010. I had written a manuscript about these dancing penguins and sent this postcard as an art sample. In case an editor would be interested, I included a line saying, "These illustrations are from my WIP dummy, Penguin Cha-Cha-Cha." There were a few editors interested who contacted me to see my manuscript after receiving this postcard! Another editor found the illustrations on my website and asked to see the manuscript and then acquired it! PENGUIN CHA-CHA will be published by Random House Oct 2013!!

Current postcard marketed to people buying books

Where do you get the postcards printed? There are loads of online printers. I've used Vistaprint and Overnight Prints with success. I've also ordered samples from PrintRunner and plan to order stickers and magnets from there.

What size? I like the 4" x 6" size because it's cheapest to print and mail. You can do larger sizes if you want to include more detail or info on it, but check with the post office to see at what point you need to buy a full price stamp instead of a postcard stamp.

The first trade children's book that I illustrated was a direct result of a mailing I did. I had sent art samples to Shen's Books that had a little Asian girl on them because I knew they were a multicultural picture book publisher. Right then they were looking for someone to illustrate CORA COOKS PANCIT and the timing was perfect! I had been sending illustrations out for some time before that bite, so don't give up if this is what you'd really like to do. I had been fine tuning my illustrations to work for trade books by attending SCBWI conferences and getting portfolio critiques by children's book art directors. Those critiques and conferences were instrumental in helping me develop my work along the way, and I still go to them to continue to grow!

Current postcard marketed to people buying books

Now I have an agent, the wonderful Linda Pratt from Wernick and Pratt Agency, so Linda submits for me. I still make postcards, but now my postcards are to set out at conferences and book signings. So instead of marketing my postcards to editors and art directors, now my postcards are marketed to people buying my books. I have one book per card and I list the awards and accolades, like on these postcards for THE GOODBYE CANCER GARDEN and CORA COOKS PANCIT. I also created a postcard for my upcoming PENGUIN CHA-CHA picture book, and had been handing that out at conferences and book signings. I'm about to update it with the typography from the cover of the book instead of the font on it, which was something I used on the postcard before my cover was finalized.

Recent postcard about my upcoming book

Best wishes on your postcards!

Note to conference planners: This is a subject that I would love to speak on at conferences!






(CWIM giveaway winner coming up later today!)

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Promoting our work is an important part of a writer's life, but it's not always as easy (or as much fun) as folks might think.

With that in mind, I've decided to open up my blog for people who would like to promote their books here.

Here's how it works:
If you'd like to promote one of your books or stories here on An Englishman in New Jersey, just post a link to it in a comment below. Don't forget to tell us the genre/target audience, price etc. If you want to include the back of the book blurb, that's fine too (providing it's suitable for delicate eyes to read).

Feel free to include a link to your main sales page, where folks can go to find out more about you and your other work.

If you want to post a cover pic, go right ahead, but please keep in mind I have a lot of younger readers, so don't post a pic an middle grader's mom wouldn't want him or her to see.

I've created a banner for the sidebar, which I'll put up later today, so folks can keep coming back to this page. If you'd like to use it too, I'd be more than happy for you to do so.

Are any books considered unacceptable?
So long as you bear in mind that I have a lot of younger readers (see above), I can't see a problem. If your books are on the raunchy side of romance, say so in your comment and don't include a cover pic, otherwise. If you're in any doubt as to whether your books are suitable, contact me seperately (jon@acatofninetales.com) or message me via LJ.

Have fun!

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I don't make resolutions because I find them easy to break. So here are the goals I'm going to hold myself accountable for in 2013:

• Market the 5 books I have releasing in 2013 to the best of my ability.
• Write at least 3 new books.
• Read more new releases.
• Work more downtime into my schedule to better take care of my health.
• Attend BEA for the first time.

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Me, Lisa Amowitz (author of Breaking Glass), and Kendra Saunders  (author of Death and Mr. Right) hanging out the night before the prom. My book on sale at the Spencer Hill Press/Broad Universe table in the dealer room.

I got to be Prom Queen!

Prom prep

I was the only non-zombie since I went as Jodi, my MC, so the zombies tried to bite me a lot.

Rich "The Closer" Storrs, after he was zombified!

My editor, Trisha Wooldridge, who zombified everyone quite nicely.

The one and only Kate Kaynak, who was hands down the best dancing zombie.

One of the few pictures from the actual prom that I was able to lighten enough to see!

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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

1. Love All Poll  Since my new novella, Love All, which just released last week, has a love triangle, I thought it would be fun to hear from readers and see if more people are Team Ash or Team Noah. So in my sidebar, you'll see a poll. And, yes, you can choose both guys if you find yourself torn between the two. You can even change your response if you change your mind as the series continues.
2. Touch of Death Facebook Quiz  I'm working on a FB quiz for Touch of Death, so read up and get ready! More details soon.
3. Seeking Pictures!  If you've bought one of my books, take a picture of you holding it. (Yes, ebooks totally count.) I want to post them on FB and my website. As a thank you, I'll send you SWAG.
4. Buy Links  It took me long enough, but I finally got the Amazon buy now buttons on my website and right here in my sidebar. It was so easy I felt a little silly for not being able to figure it out without asking for help.
5. Novellas  I'm really loving novellas right now. They're quick reads, so I can tear right through a lot in a short amount of time. With my schedule lately, that's a really good thing.

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There are many exciting moments in the months ( or years) between writing a book and finally seeing it in print. There's the moment when you write (literally or otherwise) the words 'The End' (And, of course, it should be said that this may happen multiple times for the one book, as each new draft and set of edits is completed) There's the moment when you are offered a contract, the moment you

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Here's my contribution to our Valentine's Day promotion. 

If anyone is interested in Photoshop techniques, I created a post on my blog discussing how I created this image.

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Yes, you read that correctly. I made a recent discovery that I like to set scenes in bathrooms. Why? Weird things happen to me in bathrooms. Weird things happen to my family members in bathrooms. So, it only seems natural that weird things would happen to my characters in bathrooms.

To be different, I'm sharing a video I made of me reading one of my favorite bathroom scenes in Touch of Death. Enjoy!



Do you have any weird settings that pop up often in your books?

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One of the things I learned early on is that writers need other writers. Writing is a tough business. We face rejections on so many levels, whether it's from agents, editors, or readers. I've come to think that the only way to survive in this industry is by connecting with other writers.

I joined YALitChat, She Writes, the blue boards, and the Writer's Retreat. All online communities for writers. I also have a critique group, participate in twitter chats such as #YALitChat and #KidLitChat, and I recently joined Scene13, which  is a group of writers with books coming out in 2013. 

My discovery? Writers are the greatest people. We support each other. We cheer each other on. We're there to lend a shoulder. This is such an amazing community to be a part of. So I just want to say how thankful I am to be a writer and to have met so many other amazing writers over the past few years.

How has the writing community helped you?

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photo: rickbucich via photopin cc

The idea of doing a book reading or author signing sort of terrifies me. I don't know why this is, because I love writers--we share the same passions and interests. It's great to chat with them at conferences, see what they are reading, discover what they are writing themselves. I always leave a conference with new friends, and in today's digital world, some faces to go with the names I recognize online!

So WHY should I be so frightened of a book signing? The people there show up because they are interested in my book, and what I have to say, right?

I don't know how to pin down my fears exactly, but if I had to get to the root of it all, it would be to say I am afraid of screwing up, of doing or saying something stupid that I can't undo. Yet, book events are important to authors and for building relationships with readers, so I need to move past my worries. I bet many of you feel the same!

Lucky for us, my friend Rochelle Melander, author of Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (and Live to Tell About It) has some excellent words of advice on how to handle such an event! Please read on, and prepare to bookmark this gem of a post to reference for your own next book signing. GIVEAWAY ALERT! Rochelle is also kindly giving away a copy of her book. Details below!



Last month, I headed out on a cold Friday night to attend an author event at my favorite local bookstore. Truthfully, I dreaded it. Okay, the idea of having pizza and wine with a friend sounded good. But then schlepping through the snow and ice to sit through a long and boring reading—not so much fun. Unless . . . the event wows. And this one did.

Mystery author Ian Rankin told stories (in his lovely Scottish accent) about how his newest books came about. (I won’t spoil it for you, but know it involved a secret military camp, a rock star, and drinking.) By the time he started answering questions, we’d laughed and shed a few tears. When Rankin signed my book, he asked: “So how was the evening for you? Did you enjoy it?”

You’re probably thinking, “But Rankin’s a star AND he has an accent. How can I wow like he does?” Never fear! Here’s my no-fail plan for wowing audiences at book events:

 Get the Right Attitude. When Ian Rankin asked me, “So how was the evening for you?”—I knew he’d approached his talk thinking: how can I make this event work for my audience? Face it—people can spend their night and their cash in a gazillion different ways. If you want to get them to attend your event and buy a book, you need to make it worthwhile for them. Start by asking yourself: how can I best serve my audience?

Promote Your Event. In the days leading up to the book signing for Write-A-Thon, I had a recurring nightmare that no one showed up for my event. It happens. I’ve been the only attendee at more than one author event. When I asked Daniel Goldin, owner of Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee, WI, how to get people to events, he offered great advice:

 *Invite people! Ask your family, friends, and acquaintances to come to your event. Goldin says, “The best thing is person-to-person selling, and a personal contact will always be more effective than a bulk mailing. "I'd love for you to be there" is probably more effective than ‘I think you'll like my book’”

*Pursue publicity. Connect with as many local media outlets as possible. Don’t overlook local bloggers—sometimes they can rally a dedicated group of fans better than a spot on a local television show. Goldin says, “Press is light years better than ads. You get the chance to tell what your story is about and why folks would connect.”

*Build good will with other authors. Be the kind of author who supports other writers. Blog about your friends’ books and events. Write reviews of their books and post them online. Goldin added, “Put your money where your mouth is (figuratively) and attend your friend's events too. It's like getting invited to a wedding—they'll support you if you support them.” Plan your event. Don’t be the author who stumbles through a too-long reading while the audience members surf the net on their smart phones. Successful book events appear effortless. The author may sound like he spontaneously sang a few bars of a favorite old drinking song, but I’m sure he practiced. The authors who wow plan and practice their talks.

*Tell stories. I’ve attended more than a hundred events, and I always prefer hearing authors tell stories over listening to them read from their book. According to bookstore owner Daniel Goldin, “You can throw 5 minutes of reading into it, but make sure you're a great reader. One technique that seems to work well is telling the story that leads to how the book got written. If you can expand that to 15 minutes, you've got half your talk.”

*Connect with the audience. When I attend a talk, just like when I have coffee with a new friend, I’m looking for how we connect. Goldin affirms this, “The #1 reason why someone buys the book at an event is emotional. You connected with them somehow and you're promising that the book is more of the same.” You cannot manufacture connection. But you can give an event that creates connection: be open and authentic. Tell stories that show why you are passionate about this topic or these characters.

*Add Value. Think about the unique ways you and your book can add value to the event for the crowd. At my event, I gave everyone a complimentary bookmark (that was printed with a fun saying and info about my book). In addition, I held a drawing for Write-A-Thon goodie bags, filled with delicious treats and tools for a writing marathon. At other book signings I’ve attended, authors have given out temporary tattoos (Jeff Kinney), brought in artifacts from their childhood (Patricia Polacco), and served cake (Debra Brenegan).

 *Keep it short, Sherlock! Give some people a microphone, and they can talk for hours about how great they are. Don’t be that person! According to Goldin, “Leave the crowd wanting a bit more. You will always go longer than you think. Aim for 30 minutes, and never go over 45.” As you plan your talk, don’t forget to include fifteen minutes for questions.

 *Practice. Once you know what you’re going to say and read, stand up in front of your family or pets or even a dozen stuffed animals and do it. Then give the talk twenty more times until you don’t feel stupid or, if you do feel stupid, you don’t care!

 But what if I’m terrified? Get used to it. Everyone is. For most of us, speaking tops list of things we fear, along with heights, snakes, and spiders. According to author and certified professional speaker Mandi Stanley, the best way to manage fear is to remember, “It’s not about you, it’s about the audience.” If you need more practical help, she lists several tools in her book The No-Panic Plan for Presenters: An A-to-Z Checklist for Speaking Confidently and Compellingly Anywhere, Anytime:

*Remember that the audience wants you to do well.
*It’s easier to speak to people you know—so get to the event early and talk to people as they come in.
*If you have extra adrenaline or nervous energy, go in the restroom and jog really fast for a few minutes. If your hands still shake, Stanley recommends that you don’t hold paper. That way, no one will see you shake!

 After the event. Go home and collapse. You did it! The next day, send a hand-written thank you note to the people who hosted your event. If possible, send chocolate! Why? Bookstore owners, booksellers, and other event coordinators work hard to promote your event and sell your book. A note helps you to be remembered as that kind author who gave a great talk and said thank you (as opposed to the cranky one who sneered at them). And who knows, that might help you get another signing when your next book comes out!

Your turn: What are your tips for creating book events that wow?

Rochelle Melander is an author, speaker, and certified professional coach. She is the author of ten books, including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (and Live to Tell About It.

Rochelle teaches professionals how to write good books fast, use writing to transform their lives, navigate the publishing world, and get published! For more tips and a complementary download of the first two chapters of Write-A-Thon, visit her online at www.writenowcoach.com. (TIP: Rochelle always has great advice, so look her up on TWITTER & FACEBOOK.)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Rochelle is generously giving away a copy of her book to a commenter today, so if you'd like to try your luck, just comment! We'd love to hear if you've been to a book signing, and what was successful (or not so successful) about it! That way, we all have more ideas of how to do host a great one ourselves!

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