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The Magic of Cross-Promotion How To Do It Frugally Style

A Retrospective of the Doings at the LA Times Festival of Books

Showing posts with label pat mcgrath avery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pat mcgrath avery. Show all posts

Monday, October 8, 2007

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.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Big Slide Show Opportunity for Veterans' Week at Branson

Some Authors' Coalition members are already part of the Authors' Coalition slideshow /video produced by Joyce Faulkner for the LA Times Festival of Books. It was free to those who participated in our CD program because we were test marketing it. It has turned out to be an excellent opportunity for exposure wherever crowds of readers gather. Here is an opportunity to join in its future.

This slide show will be flashed on two huge screens at the monster (some 100,000 visitors over the period of a week) Veterans show in Branson, MO.

Authors' Coalition has partnered with the Military Writers' Society of America to rent a huge theater in the main hall of the exhibit. Major speakers will draw crowds and AC/MWSA will have a booth in the hall. The whole theater belongs to AC. And those screens I mentioned will exclusively carry pictures of the participating authors' book covers, YOUR Books, YOUR contact information.

Obviously the focus is on veterans and writers who also happen to be veterans. But vets read, too. Even an occasional romance, I'll wager. So, if you want to be part of the slideshow/video you may. It travels with Authors' Coalition wherever it goes and with participating members wherever they go. It shows on computer screens and big silver screens.

The cost is $100 and includes the technical aspect of setup, exposure wherever the slideshow/video travels through the year, and a copy for your own use. It's a true cross-promotion. Your book, your blurb, your URL at these events. If you choose to participate, see below. There is no additional fee for those who were part of LA Times Festival of Book pilot program in April except for mailing the CD if you don't have it. You are already part of the program.

Learn more about Branson Veterans' Week

To participate send an e-mail to Pat Avery at riverroadpress@yahoo.com. She can invoice you for PayPal or give you an address to send a check. She will then send you details for participation and answer other questions regarding this show.

Please also copy Joyce at katieseyes@aol.com and me at HoJoNews@aol.com. Our deadline is 10/05/07.

There will be other military and veteran books in the slideshow, including In the Shadow of Suribachi by Faulkner, and They Came Home: Korean War POWs Tell Their Stories by Avery. There will also be a large category of books that help writers including The Complete Writer, The Complete Writer's Journal, The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor.

Other opportunities for this event are also available. More info to come or watch this blog or the site, www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.


Note: There is an additional membership charge of $20 for an Authors' Coalition Silver Membership for those who are not paid members of the organization. Learn more about the perks that come with that membership at AC.

Monday, September 3, 2007

One Week Event to Reach Tens of Thousands: Branson, MO. Coming Up!

Some of you are already part of the Authors' Coalition slideshow /video produced by Joyce Faulkner for the LA Times Festival of Books. We promised huge things. The video has been shown in many places since then but here is a big new opportunity!

Others of you didn't participate but you might want to now. That's because this video will be flashed on two huge screens at the monster (some 100,000 visitors over the period of a week) Veterans Show in Branson, MO. (www.branson.com).

Authors' Coalition has partnered with the Military Writers' Society of America to rent a huge theater in the main hall of the exhibit. Major speakers will draw crowds and AC/MWSA will have a booth in the hall. It is OURS!! The whole theater is OURS. And on those screens I mentioned will exclusively carry pictures of the participating authors books, YOUR Books, YOUR contact information.

Obviously the focus is on veterans and writers who also happen to be veterans. But vets read, too. Even an occasional romance, I'll wager. So, if you want to be part of the slideshow/video you may. It travels with Authors' Coalition wherever we go and we can set it up. It shows on computer screens and big silver screens. Those who participate will be sent a copy to use at your speaking engagements and events as well. It's a true cross-promotion.

It will be $100 and includes the technical aspect of setup, exposure wherever the slideshow/video travels through the year, and a copy for your own use. Your book, your blurb, your URL for all at these events. If you choose to participate, see below. There is no additional fee for those who were part of LA Times Festival of Book pilot program in April.

Here's the info on the big Branson week.

Veterans Homecoming Week
Date: 11/05/2007 - 11/11/2007
Time: 08:00 AM
Location: Branson
E-mail: info@bransontourismcenter.com
Phone: 1-800-785-1550


To participate send an e-mail to Pat Avery at riverroadpress@yahoo.com. She can invoice you for PayPal or give you and address to send a check. She will then send you details for participation and answer other questions regarding this show.

Please also copy Joyce at katieseyes@aol.com and me at HoJoNews@aol.com. Our deadline is 10/05/07.

Other opportunities for this event are also available. More info to come or watch this blog or the AC site

Note: Those who are not Authors' Coalition members will be asked to join AC at the Silver Level ($20. only). We offer several membership levels. Find them at the AC site. Just click on Memberships at the top of the page.

Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Authors' Coalition Founder
and award-winning author