Book Festivals: A Must Have for Your Book Marketing Toolbox
By Donna McDine
With all the wonder of technology at our fingertips we are able to accomplish an abundance of work without even meeting people face-to-face. Don’t let the cyberspace vortex suck you in 24/7. Before you know it, it’s been days since you’ve had personal contact with others. It’s important not to get caught up into the loophole of isolation by keyboard. One of the best ways to put one’s self out there amongst is by participating in book festivals.
I implore you to stop screaming and wipe that worried look off your face. You can do this! Believe me, if I can do it you can do it. I’m not a sales person whatsoever and find it much easier to promote fellow authors than I do my own books. You give me a synopsis and bio of an author and I can talk about them endlessly. Me, my books…not so much. Until the day I pulled up my big girl pants and took the plunge into researching book festivals. Like anything in this world, some events are successful in sales, others not so much. It’s important to know either way the day is a networking opportunity to connect with fellow authors and yes the READERS we are dying to reach. Connections are essential regardless of the monetary, especially with the event organizers.
Hmmm, I hear you grumbling…
“How do I find out about book festivals?”
“It’s too costly!”
Slay your naysayer and get down to research. Yep, even though I’ve told you to get out from behind technology, this is one of those times where it’s imperative to hunker down at your keyboard. For here we go on the roller coaster ride through your region of events via the magic of cyberspace. One of the VERY BEST websites out there for book festival listings is…
It’s incredible the wealth of information provided!
Not to brag, but I want to share with you two of my success stories to hopefully get you out of your comfort zone…
In the fall of 2014 I participated in the Collingswood Book Festival and the 19th Annual Rockland Literacy Extravaganza. Both events targeted a different audience, the Collingswood Book Festival focused on readers and the 19th Annual Rockland Literacy Extravaganza focused on teachers. Connections were made at both… At the Collingswood Book Festival I had the opportunity to meet readers and the 19th Annual Literacy Extravaganza I met over 60 teachers.
I dare you, put yourself out there….you never know what new friends and connections you may make!
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Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewPowder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewHockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewThe Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Click on event name for more information
American Indian Heritage Month~ USA
National Novel Writing Month: NaNoWriMo for Youth~ Australia
ALA Online Course: Introduction to Graphic Novels for Children~ongoing until Nov 4, USA
Kuala Lumpur Children’s Book Festival~ ongoing until Nov 4, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Art Institute of Chicago Presents: Artful Alphabets: Five Picture Book Artists~ ongoing until Nov 6, Chicago, IL, USA
2012 PBBY-Salanga Prize~ entries accepted until Nov 11, Philippines
31st Santiago International Book Fair~ ongoing until Nov 13, Santiago, Chile
The Children’s Bookshow: Stories From Around The World~ ongoing until Dec 7, United Kingdom
The Original Art: Celebrating the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration~ ongoing until Dec 29, New York, NY, USA
2012 South Asia Book Award~ entries accepted until Dec 31
Budding Writers Project~ entries accepted until Jan 6, 2012, Singapore
Exhibits of Winning Entries from the 2011 Growing Up Asian in America Contest~ ongoing until Feb 2012, USA
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NAME’s (National Association for Multicultural Education) Annual Conference~ Nov 2 – 5, Chicago, IL, USA
Children’s Literature Council Fall Gala~ Nov 5, Los Angeles, CA, USA
15th Annual Rochester Children’s Book Festival~ Nov 5, Rochester, NY, USA
OKI (Ohio Kentucky Indiana) Children’s Literature Conference~ Nov 5, Crestview Hills, KY, USA
Once Upon A World Children’s Book Award Ceremony~ Nov 6, Los Angeles, CA, USA
21st Annual Children’s Illustration Show~ Nov 6 – Jan 1, Northampton, MA, USA
National Young Readers Week~ Nov 7 – 13, USA
Northern Children’s Book Festival~ Nov 7 – 20, United Kingdom
Bookaroo in the City~ Nov 8 – 24, Delhi, India
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