Thank Yous and Goodbyes to the West Hollywood Book Fair

Goodbye to the West Hollywood Fair for 2007!

This is a rundown and thank you to all those who participated and for those who want to know more about how the booth went.

I thought the fair was well-trafficked, well-promoted and well-planned. I don't know how many of you saw the guide/map they put out but they did a very good job with it. It is also the only fair I know of that lists all the signers in each individual booth on their website.

A special thanks to Janet Goliger. In Joyce's absence she was up at 5 am, at the fair with me at 6 (it was still dark) installing book shelves, lighting and hanging signs. She and Carol Amato stayed with me until we had broken down as well. I don't know what I would have done without them.

Also, special thanks to our three volunteers, Alexa Gregorian, Rita Gabrielyan and her friend. They handed out free CDs (many Authors' Coalition members are featured on that CD!) and took books around to talk them up. That was excellent practice in meeting people and saleswomanship for these youngsters. I am guessing that we gave away about 300 of the CDs.

The free book with purchase that we do in most of our booths is always a good perk for fair-goers. We gave away about 40 books throughout the day so that indicates a pretty decent one-day fair. It may be that more books than than were sold for sometimes some of us forgot to give away the free book when people purchased on of ours.

Keep in mind that book fairs have to be mostly about a chance to reach out to readers who are already on our lists, a chance to contact media so they know we are still alive and kicking (even if they don't show up!). One of our signers, Christine Alexanians, was very nearly successful in getting some coverage in an Armenian newspaper. It didn't quite work but next time she contacts them, they may remember her. One of our signers was an absentee. The volunteers helps pass out his cards and magnets and wore his T-shirt around the fair--not bad considering his book is political and this fair was definitely frequented by many with liberal view points.

Please review this blog for ways to apply the successes of this booth to others you may choose to participate in. Most do not provide the value-added promotions, but that won't keep you from doing it for yourself.

Our next Authors' Coalition booth/theater/extravaganza is at Veteran's Week in Branson, MO. This one is being planned and worked by AC directors Pat McGrath Avery and Joyce Faulkner. It will include the video/slide show that many Authors' Coalition members participated in. It will be shown on two giant screens in a theater that attracts many thousands of military people and veterans; the booth is in association with the Military Writers Society of America so it should also attract many writers.

Now things have quieted down, I hope you'll all review the Authors' Coalition welcome letter that comes with your membership. If you haven't already done it, you can have a review of your book(s) posted, your book can be in our bookstore with a link directly to Amazon. You can upgrade your membership to receive other perks including f r e e books on writing and more.

If you aren't receiving your associated newsletters (we want you to be the best educated published authors ever!), let us know. They are Sharing with Writers, Fiction Flier, Salute! (military people who writers who write about the military), Inkspotter, Yarnspinners and Wordweavers and QueenPower (for women seeking empowerment). The editors of each of these newsletters makes every effort to include AC members in their pages. That includes your articles, news of your releases, your fiction and your poetry. Check out the Authors' Coalition site.

And thank to our sponsores, Red Engine Press and WebforAuthors.

Best to all of you and, again, thank you!

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Founder, Authors' Coalition
www.howtodoitfrugally.com where you'll find hundreds of resource for writers.

West Hollywood Book Fair Promotion Aids: Coming Up!

Below you will find a note from the West Hollywood Book Fair coordinator, Roz Helfand. I have attached the file that she sent me for you that includes an e-mailable postcard, a neat logo with the fair date on it and a list of the vendors. I have already included the new logo in my autosignature and in this post. The maps link will be useful for your invitations, too.

Our booth number is 51 and 52F.

Here's the message from Roz:

Dear Book Fair Exhibitor,

Hello! Attached to this e-mail is an alphabetical list of exhibitors with booth numbers. The Book Fair map will be available on our web site, www.westhollywoodbookfair.org, soon (sorry for the delay!).

Also, I've attached a Book Fair image that can be e-mailed to your mailing list. Please feel free to send it out, and to link to the Book Fair web site from your web site (logo provided for that purpose), as well.

Thank you so much!

Yours truly,

Roz Helfand
Coordinator
West Hollywood Book Fair
32-848-6515

Let Your Book Work for You When You're Not in the Booth!

This question came from one of the authors who is signing in our Authors' Coalition Booth and I thought my answer might help some other authors.

Carolyn: Would you send me a sample order form – I’ve never done this, so I want to follow the template that works. Then, I’ll send the book and form to you. Thanks! Nance

Answer: Ideally this is what your order form should include:

An order form should be no bigger than an index card. It must fit in a 1 ft x 1 ft spot on a book shelf, along with your book which will be on a stand. Ideally, the order forms will be padded so that if we have a breeze, they won't blow away. There is also room for a business card or a stack of bookmarks. If you send business cards, it is nice to send an inexpensive business card holder, too. (Remember, though, nothing gets returned).

Here are my suggestions for what to put on your order form:

1. An image of your book cover (that way people to go home with a form will have a visual to help them remember your book), the title and the author's name.
2. A flattering short blurb, preferably from someone influential but "a reader" will do.
3. A URL to order (I use Amazon even though I have a website).

If you want to take care of orders yourself or send readers to your publisher you'll want information on the person who is ordering, name, address, zip (for shipping), phone (UPS requires it), and a list of accepted methods of payment.

If you accept charge cards, you'll want a space for the charge number, preferably in little blocks which force people to print the numbers legibly, and the expiration date in the same format. Also ask for the way the name appears on the card. AND, you also need an address where they should send their order.

An alternative is to send readers to your website, but that works only if you have a shopping cart.

Add anything else that is necessary. Example, if your book is not yet released, you'd want to put a disclaimer at the bottom (tiny) that says that orders will be shipped after xx,xx,xxxx.

Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Founder, Authors' Coalition and award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for authors.

Pre-Booth Promotion is Good for You, Good for Your Book!

Be good to your book!

Promote the West Hollywood Book Fair as if sales and good will depend on it. They do!

Here's what need to be done before the fair:

I need a copy of your book and a business card, order form or bookmark (with order information) before the book fair. Now is a good time to send them to me. They go up in a display that is available to the public the entire day. Authors who are signing will only be in the booth during your allotted signing time but their books will keep working on display where each is highlighted in a nook of its own.

Anyone who wants to send a poster of their book cover, laminated, with grommets, 14" wide and 18" to 20" long, feel free. They are a bit expensive and I'm not sure they are worth it unless you can retrieve it at the end of the day. (Some of you who participated in the LA Times/UCLA Fair sent posters and I kept those.(-: )


Disclaimer: Unless you will be there at the end of the day (6 pm ) to take your book and materials back with you, they will be donated to a library system. No books or materials (including poster) will be returned.

Reminder: Have you rewritten the media release (template) I sent to you and sent it to the press, radio and TV contacts and posted it on a free release disseminator? Find a list of those disseminators on my website at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Click on the Resources for Writers tab at the top of the page and scroll down.

Have you sent invitations to local people from Ventura to San Diego to visit you at the booth? These can go out by USPS or by e-mail but they MUST go out for a successful fair. Think about all your lists. Holiday. College. Charity. Parents from your kids schools. Business. The names of readers you've collected from other appearances. You might even ask a few bookish friends to invited their list of local friends to come see you.

Two days before the fair, send a reminder to that list by e-mail. Mention something that is going on at the fair. You, of course, but also perhaps the seminars at the Writers' Pavilion or the children's activity area, etc.

Don't forget that we will give a free book away with each book sold while supplies last. That is an incentive. You might mention that on your invitations. Yes, Authors' Coalition is providing those but donations from you are welcome. (-:

West Hollywood Logos/Superbanners/Blurbs Available Plus a Tip!!

Yeah for tips!! But I'm coming to that.

As those of you have participated (signed, displayed or been a part of our catalogue, CD or video/slideshow program) know, Authors' Coalition provides training in book promotion and booth management. Both here on this blog and in person. Sometimes we even pass ideas on from very sharp fair coordinators or program directors as you see below in a letter I sent out to our West Hollywood Book Fair group. And, yes, it seems a small thing, but small things add up. Here it is:

Dear Authors' Coalition Booth Participants:

Below you will find a letter from Roz Helfand, the West Hollywood Book Fair coordinator, along with the attached fair logo, a superbanner and blurb. She encourages you to make anything you use on your website clickable to the fair site. I'm glad she reminded me to remind you.

I also understand that booth numbers will not be assigned. I am not going to worry about this. We have a double booth and it will be lighted as AC Booths always are when electricity is available. This fair committee does a wonderful job with their programs/guides. Visitors will have no trouble finding us if you mention that you will be in the Authors' Coalition/Red Engine Press booth.

Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

West Hollywood Fair Administration Offers Promo Materials!

Rarely does a book fair offer its participants promotion materials. The West Hollywood Book Fair does!

Here is a note from Corey Roskin, the author coordinator of the WHBF. Please follow through by giving Roz Helfand your hoped-for number of postcards and bookmarks. Please do not ask for any more than you will use. Here are some tips:

1. Take the bookmarks to your library, your dentist, your corner grocery store etc. But first staple you business card to each one. That way you advertise YOU, your book and the fair. The book marks are little freebies. People will pick them up because they can be used. Don't leave too many. You'd rather they run out than waste them. Maybe 15 to 25, depending on the kind of reading traffic you get.

Use labels to attach to the post cards so they become personal invitations to your signing time and our booth. As yet, we do not have a booth number.

A couple of our participants don't live locally. They can still use the postcards to invite people they know who live in the Southern California area. Walt, are you listening? (-:

Don't forget to give Roz the number you'd like to have (she may or may not be able to honor your request. And give her your address.

If you have other ideas for using these promotion materials please add them under comments on this blog. See below in beigey-orange font.

Note:Those who would like to learn more about the Authors' Coalition-sponsored book fair booths may e-mail to receive my newsletter at hojonews@aol.com. Put "Subscribe" in the subject line. Authors who receive this letter learn first about all our new perks.

Your Fair Media Release Template Whether You're Part of the West Hollywood Fair or Not.

This is your media release template. It is something you can use as a guideline, even if you're not part of Authors' Coalition or the West Hollywood Book Fair.

How Do I Make This Release My Own

You'll see that this release is written as if it were mine. Here are tips for utilizing the template. Those participating in the AC booth at the West Hollywood crows may adjust accordingly, but so might others:

1. You substitute your name for mine, trading it out from the list so mine is substituted for yours.
2. Insert your own bio template where mine is. Try to keep it short in best media release form and offer a link to your media kit for more information (or, if no link exists, offer to send it by attachement upon request as you see at the bottom of the release.
3. Do NOT send any release by attachment first time around. Most news outlets will not open e-mail with attachments. Also keep in mind that when you list exceptional accomplishments of a few other authors besides yourself you add credibility to your release.
4. Include your phone number (not shown here). Busy editors often cannot wait for answers by e-mail.
5. And, of course, use your OWN contact information. I can't answer questions about YOU intelligently. (-:

Or feel free to write your own media release. I am providing this template as a service only. For more precise instructions on writing media releases, varying them, getting a tad more creative, etc., refer to your copy of The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't. Or find it on Amazon.

For your own release, use you name in the headline, especially for contacts with your local press. Also mention the town you live in for releases going to your local media.

What Do YOu Do with a Release

And, no, it isn't too early to send out a release. If you do it early, you can send reminders later. Send to:

1. local media
2. all your contacts, fans, even those who have already bought your book. You wouldn't want your old fans to think you are getting lax, would you? Just tell them in an introduction to circle their calendars.
3. the Internet groups you belong to (yahoogroups.com kinds of discussion groups)
4. at least a couple of the free media release disseminators like prleap.com. Find a list on my site www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Click on the Resources for Writers link at the top of the page and scroll down to the list. I've even give you ultra-mini reviews of each of these sites. You are welcome to pay for additional services on these sites but IT IS NOT NECESSARY.
5. Post your release in your media room on your site. If you have no media room, consider getting one. In the meantime, post your most recent release(s) somewhere convenient. Or just use the material from your release to make a brief announcement. And, yes, be sure to includ the TIME you will be signing in your own releases and and on your website. That obviously doesn't work as well for a general release.

M E D I A R E L E A S E

Contact: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

For Immediate Release

New Books Launched at West Hollywood Fair

Carolyn Howard-Johnson will introduce and sign her newly-released The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success at the West Hollywood Book Festival on Sunday, September 30, 2007 from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M at the West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd.West Hollywood, CA 90069. Look for the Authors' Coalition and Red Engine Press booth.

Carolyn will also present "Reach for Your Dream: Prepare for Publication the Professional Way" at the fair's writers pavilion at 1 pm.

Other authors signing are Carol Wood, Janet Goliger, Christine Alexanians, Kevin Gerard, Margaret Danielak, Erica Stux, Leora Krygier, Walter Brasch, Jay Bern, Sona Ovasapyan, Michael Wallach, Nance Rosen ,and Carol J. Amato. Featured books include everything from nonfiction to poetry to genre fiction.

Howard-Johnson is also the author of This Is the Place, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, and Tracings, a chapbook of poetry. All are multi award-winners. She is an instructor for UCLA Extension's Writers' Program and has shared her expertise on publishing and writing at venues like San Diego State's world renowned Writers' Conference and Call to Arts! EXPO. She was recently awarded Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by the California Legislature.

Learn more about Howard-Johnson at http://carolynhoward-johnson.com and www.howtodoitfrugally.com

More information on the West Hollywood Book Festival may be found at. http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/ Both the fair and the presentations are f r @ @ to the public

For a schedule of author signing times go to http://www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com .

Learn more about Authors' Coalition at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

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Support material available on request

General Call for West Hollywood Book Fair Participation

Dear LA Area Authors:

Authors' Coalition has a few more opening for one-hour signing times at the West Hollywood Book Fair on Sunday, September 30, 2007.

Here are the benefits:

1. You get a time to sign and sell your book at the West Hollywood Book Fair, one of the fairs trafficked by Hollywood types including directors, producers, etc.
2. When you are not signing your book will be on display with order forms.
3. The booth will be a big showoff for you because it is:

a. a double booth
b. includes lighting
c. includes authors with GREAT cross-promotion instincts
d. the fee is lower than some fairs

4. Your $80 fee includes:

a. signing time
b. book display
c. a silver membership in Authors' Coalition (see www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com for the many perks of that membership)
d. the efforts of other motivated, promotion-minded authors. We all benefit from the efforts of the others.
e. personal (e-mail) guidance from me for your promotion efforts
f. we provide free books to be given with the sale of each signer's books, a nice encouragement for your fans to buy for the holidays early.
g. free promotional CDs are given to fair visitors to attract them to our booth
h. a video/slideshow will be running in the booth to attract visitors

6. If you are already an Authors' Coalition paid member, the cost is only I$60 for an hour. All those who participated in the last AC booth are already members.

So, for those who want to sign in West Hollywood on Sept. 30 (a one day fair only), this is what you need to do.

1. It is late so contact me at HoJoNews@aol.com. I'll give you an address for payment and will schedule you immediately.
2. Participation will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. There are only a few signing spots left, but they are all good times. I don't schedule for the last hour of the day, as an example.


Note: All signing authors and those who display are not encouraged but expected to promote. This is why our booths work better than others and better than going it alone. It is called cross-promotion. We will consider that if you participate in our AC/RedEnginePress booth, you will send out media releases, invite Southern California booksellers and librarians and utilize your personal list of anyone you know who lives anywhere from the Mexican border to San Francisco to the fair.

If you have questions regarding this e-mail, please post here and I will answer. We will all benefit from having all questions public--yes, even when I boo-boo. If you wish to unsubscribe from getting notices of any of my book/oriented events in the future, please just let me know.

Directors of Authors' Coalition are Pat McGrath Avery and Joyce Faulkner.

Very best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Founder Authors Coalition
www.HowToDoItFrugally.com

PS:
Some of you may already be set to display at the fair because you qualified for that when you chose to participate in both the catalog and the CD program at the LA Times Festival of Books in April. If you wish to sign as well, there will be an additional charge.

West Hollywood Book Fair or What You Can Do to Promote Your Appearnce EARLY!

All Authors' Coalition's efforts are cross-proportional. That means we all benefit from the promotion each of the others does. So here is what anyone participating in a book fair can do six to eight weeks out.

1. Ready your media release. Check my HowToDoItFrugally website for a list of media release disseminators. Click on the tab at the top of the page that says "Resources for Writers" and scroll down. You'll even find my super-mini reviews of each site. Also be organizing your local list of contacts. Invite everyone, even those who have already purchased your book. They may need another for a gift, and they'll want to meet your fellow authors.

2. Some sample media releases will soon be coming your way. Jiggle them a bit to accommodate your own needs but do include the names of other participating authors. That helps search engines pick up your releases more frequently and gives your appearance credibility.

3. Janet Goliger, one of our booth signers, has volunteered to let us use her flyer as a template. That, too, will be coming to you.

4. Go to the Authors' Coalition site to pick up your logo. Use it on your website, in your newsletter, on your flyer, on your book's order forms, on your posters, etc. The possibilities are limitless. Please link any logo used on the web to: http://www.atuhorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.

5. Begin thinking about your order forms. All those with signing times will have their books shown in the booth on special bookshelves. A bood business card or order form should be available for visitors to pick up.

6. If you have a poster from the last AC Fair we did in Los Angeles, I saved it. If not, you may want to consider making one to specifications. More on that later.

7. Please share your promotion ideas with others. Click on the "Comment" link below. It's also a good place to ask questions.

Anyone who is interested in those last couple spaces available for this Sept. 30th fair can reach me for details at HoJoNews@aol.com.

Very best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
http://www.hotodoitfrugally.com
http://www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com
And my Sharing with Writers and Readers blog