Signings are More Fun in Groups

Don Carey has already posted about THIS, but I thought I'd share my perspective. :)

Please ignore my goofy smile lol.

This is a pretty sweet group to work with. All of us have stories to share, and a willingness to listen to one another. That can make a long car ride really enjoyable--and it did.

Tamara Heiner is quite a skilled author, and I'm looking forward to her next book. I'm also hoping she will trust her instincts and go with what she knows is good. ;)

Lynn Parsons knows her stuff. I love listening to her, and I know I didn't get 10% of the information she has to offer. It's my hope her book will reach members of the church the world over. It will help a lot of people.

Don Carey is totally fun, and patient. He talked airplanes because my daughter (who came along for the second leg of our trip) wanted to know. And, he and I share a love of the movie Labyrinth, which apparently is not shared by his family--so we made Lynn sit through the soundtrack on the way from Arkansas. Poor Lynn, but she's a good sport! :)

Summer is a difficult time for book signings. Everyone has trips, and all sorts of other plans that interfere with trying to get them into a bookstore to see you. However, I will suggest to all authors that they contact their local Hastings Books and Music stores. Seriously. They have a motto of being your home town bookstore, which is why you don't see them in many big cities. They like to promote local authors, and will do a wonderful job if you give them enough time. We had a twofold problem--we didn't give them enough time and we were up against the biggest garage sale in the world. I'd forgotten, but Duncan, OK does that every year and it's city/county wide.

Still, this was an invaluable experience and I look forward to repeating it.

Promotion Takes Time

I'm pleased to announce that I'll have two book signings for The Upside of Down at Pioneer Book, 858 S. State, Orem, UT on Friday, March 18th, 4:00-6:00 pm and again on Saturday, March 19th, 12:00-2:00 pm. I'd love to have you stop by and say hello. Pioneer Book has been very accommodating and I really appreciate the opportunity to do a book signing.

I recently discovered that my book is in the spring Seagull Book catalog. Yay! I'm so excited to see it in this catalog.

I've also been very pleased with reviews by Tristi Pinkston and Sheila Staley.

My book has also received some great reviews over at Goodreads.

I've been working on promoting this book for months and I'm happy to see that it's finally getting some attention. As writers, I think we're so anxious to get the word out about our books that we become very impatient--we expect results right away. In my experience, it takes time. Marketing is a long process and it takes time to see results. I wrote a guest post for Cedar Fort Books about 10 things to do to create an online presence.

If you're looking to build interest in your book I recommend a few things:

1. LDSPublisher. You can choose to sponsor the blog for a month or pay a small fee to advertise your book in the sidebar. If you choose to sponsor, you will be required to send a copy of your book to a comment winner drawn randomly at the end of the month. Visit LDSPublisher for more information.

2. Goodreads. You can advertise on Goodreads to create interest in your book. You pay ahead for the ad and Goodreads charges against that amount to display your ad to your target market until the credit is gone. You can also do a giveaway. You simply register the details with Goodreads and choose what date(s) you want to have the giveaway contest. For my giveaway over 1200 people entered.

3. Facebook. You can advertise on FB for a small fee. You can target your market with the various options so only those who you think will be interested in your book will see your ad.

4. Blog Hop. The concept behind a blog hop is that people jump (or hop) from one blog to the next. Each blog is tied to the others through a link and you offer a book related prize in exchange for people becoming followers, liking your FB fan page, or signing up for a newsletter (or whatever you determine makes them eligible to win the prize you're offering).

5. Virtual Blog Tour. Send out copies of your book to various bloggers in exchange for a review.

You can read more on my article at Cedar Fort Books. Just remember, building interest takes time. Don't wait until your book is out before you start your marketing and promotional efforts. I recommend starting about 2-3 months prior to your release date by talking about it on your blog, posting information and cover images on your blog and website, and announcing it to email groups you're a part of. You can also set up a Goodreads giveaway to begin before your release date and you can create interest by offering a contest for pre-orders.

And, don't forget to work on your next book because your best marketing effort to build a fan base will be to write another, better book.

Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

by Rebecca Talley

I did a book signing the weekend before last. The signing was great, but I learned even more on the way home. The four of us, Tristi Pinkston, Daron Fraley, Don Carey, and I stopped at libraries and bookstores between Logan and Salt Lake. Following Tristi's lead, I learned from a fearless master to step out of my comfort zone and approach people about my book.


I don't have a problem talking to people. I can talk for a long time (just ask my kids), but talking to someone about my author self and my books is something altogether different. I always feel funny talking up my book because I feel like I'm bragging and being conceited or something. I love to talk writing and I love my books, but I don't want people to think of me as a salesperson trying to pawn off my books. Yet, if I don't talk about my books than I may not be doing part of my job as an author. It's a catch-22 for me.

I used to think being an author meant I wrote books. That's true, but that isn't the whole picture. Promotion and marketing are a big part of being an author. With so many great LDS books by so many talented authors, how will I stand out, especially if I don't try to promote mine? And, yet, I feel like that obnoxious car salesman that won't leave you alone for two seconds.

I haven't been too vocal about my books in the area where I live. I have visited, and even done a book launch, at an area LDS bookstore (I've known the owners forever) and I've contacted the newspaper to do an article. But, other than that, I've left my promotion to what I can do online because I'm way cooler online. But, after watching Mistress Tristi in action, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try a few more things in my area.

I visited an area library and asked if I could leave bookmarks, but was told I couldn't and that left me a little deflated. But I decided not to give up and visited Hastings Bookstore and asked again. Not only did they allow me to leave bookmarks, but asked if I'd like to do a book signing. A few days later, I visited another nearby library. After slipping on the ice and landing in a snowbank, I wiped myself off, shook the snow out of my shoe, dusted off my purse, and asked if I could leave bookmarks. I was pleasantly surprised when the librarian there agreed to let me. I then went to a bookstore near that library and was able to leave bookmarks. The gentleman even asked me to call back so they could get more information and help promote a local author. Hooray!!

I'd still much rather write than promote. And if I never had to promote again, I'd be happy. But, it is what it is and stepping out of my comfort zone didn't actually kill me so I may try it again. Someday.

PS I ordered 1000 bookmarks from http://www.nextdayflyers.com/, both sides, glossy finish for about $60. I chose the 2-4 business day turnaround on a Wednesday and had my bookmarks the following Monday morning. I'd recommend this company.

Signing Books is Fun

Today I'm doing my last book signing of the year. Considering this is the 11th book signing this month, I'm kind of relieved to get a break. My kids are, too. They want me home for a while. But I have to say, I've had a lot of fun.

I've always been a really introverted person, and I thought book signings were going to be a challenge because of it. But, as I write and attend author conferences, I grow, so by the time I reached this critical step in the writing process--book promotion--it's become something I look forward to rather than dread.

I've said it before--the days of the reclusive author who sits in a cabin and pens out a bestseller without every being viewed in public are over. If we want our book to do well, we need to do our part to promote it. But, I think we are all up to the task.

Go get 'em. :)

What would you say?

It’s pretty clear by now I love words. Today, though, I want to talk about one word in particular. That word is NO.

As a mom, I have no problem telling my kids no. I’m pretty good with it, in fact. They’ve come to anticipate the “no” before the “yes.” Not that I’m a mean mom; I just don’t believe in overindulging my kids.

But this is a different no, and I struggle with it horrendously. And as I extend my networks with the intention of meeting new people and getting my name and book title out, I worry that I may be using that word more than others.

Let me explain. Today I got on Facebook to check messages and get updates on my author friends. And immediately someone opened up a message box and started talking to me. In short, he wanted to meet. Immediately I thought of everything we all know about internet safety. For all I know, everything on his page that made me accept his friend request in the first place could be lies. For all he knows, I’m a 40 year old serial killer looking for victims under the guise of an LDS wife, mother and author.

I searched for that instant feeling of foreboding, and it wasn’t forthcoming. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to trust this guy. Just because the spirit doesn’t instantly let me know someone is bad news, as it has before, doesn’t mean this person is safe or harmless—or even honest.

But saying NO outright seemed harsh. What if he’s a nice guy looking for friends? What if he’s got 16 nieces who’d love to read my book? And my thoughts called to mind something I’d heard before, about how women have such a hard time hurting people’s feelings. We’re too nice, and because of that we often find ourselves in dangerous situations. So why is the word NO so hard to say?

I thought about it for several minutes. What’s the worst thing he can do? Un-friend me? Start spreading lies about me? (Okay, I admit—that one gave me pause) Call me names? This is a challenge I’m sure will only happen more as I continue to extend my network.

In the end, I chose to refuse to go meet him. And I told him why. But I did suggest he come to one of my signings after my book comes out, which is no more or less than I would do to anyone I have “friended” on Facebook.

What is the best solution? What do you do? Do you only friend people on Facebook that you already know, or that are referred to you by someone you know? Do you only friend people who say they are LDS? Maybe I’m cynical, but that can be a lie too. And if they post things I don’t agree with, do I “un-friend” them? Just because they do not agree with my beliefs doesn’t make them evil.

Where does using good judgment end and simple judging begin? Thoughts?

The Upside of Down Book Trailer Teaser

by Rebecca Talley



What do you think?

How do you feel about book trailers? Have you seen some amazing ones? Do you watch them? Do they influence your book buying habits?