December 14, 2008 – 7:25 am
Writers Studio announces its 5th Writers Studio Literary Contest for Colorado residents in fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. This year’s judges are Mark Irwin, Poetry, John Calderazzo, Creative nonfiction, Teague Bohlen, Fiction. $250 first prize in each category. Deadline: February 2, 2009. For more information visit our website or email Writers Studio at writerstudio@arapahoe.edu.
December 10, 2008 – 2:22 am
The American Library Association’s (ALA) midwinter show is coming to Denver in January. Could your book get a boost by being in libraries?
Don’t overlook libraries as great vehicles for getting your book in front of more eyes. I am constantly surprised by the number of fans who tell me they checked my cookbook out of the library before deciding to purchase it. I never would have thought that people checked out cookbooks from the library and then went on to buy their own copy.
In case you haven’t been following the news, library usage is up in this country, a direct reflection of the dour economy. More people in libraries = more opportunities for your book to be picked up and your message to spread.
You can take advantage of organizations offering a spot in their ALA booth for your book at bargain prices vs the thousands it would cost to secure your own booth.
Members of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association can secure a spot in the CIPA ALA booth — if there are any still available.
The Jenkins Group offers a combined book exhibit booth at ALA and is offering spots for $120.
December 5, 2008 – 6:12 am
From SpeakerNet News: The best time to email your newsletter by Ian Percy
The BtoBonline.com newsletter included new research from Ball State University on the best time of day to send an email. Their research found working adults tend to log in to email first thing in the morning and have the longest period of uninterrupted time in their inbox. As the day progresses, time in the inbox becomes more fragmented. This suggests that people are most likely to read your email newsletter in the morning (between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.), whereas later in the day may be better for invitations to attend a seminar or download a white paper when people are in “quick-hit” mode.
I’ve always thought, too, that Tuesdays or Wednesdays were the best days of the week for distributing newsletters.
November 15, 2008 – 2:06 am
Could you use a database of independent bookstores nationwide to help in your promotional efforts?
As the economic recession continues, publishers and authors will need every tool available to help them sell and promote their books nationwide.
Now, for the first time ever, USA Book News is offering its National Independent Bookstore Database for purchase. Over 600+ stores within the United States, including contact name, phone and address. Recently updated, this database could be an invaluable tool for mailing out press releases and marketing material, planning regional or national book signing tours, or making sale calls directly to the manager or book buyer of each store.
Only $69.00 gives you unlimited usage of the Excel Database, a WORD doc listing of the same information, and WORD Address labels ready to be printed out.
You could spend hours and hours compiling a fraction of this information on your own, let me tell you from one who has been there, done that.
You should know, too, that USA Book News welcomes press releases! Add usabooknews@earthlink.net to your media list.
November 11, 2008 – 1:18 pm
At last weekend’s Thin Air Summit, Amy Gahran spoke about her theory that the first 62-words of a post had better tell web surfers what the article will be about to catch their attention.
This theory, which I completely support though might not always be disciplined enough to follow, sparked a flurried and somewhat salty exchange on Twitter sparked by an observation from Doyle Albee:
“Good writing should be like a skirt: Long enough to cover subject, but short enough to stay interesting.”
Amy explains the math behind how she arrived at that number in a recent Contentious blog post. Lots of interesting comments there, too.
See more Thin Air Summit photos.
November 6, 2008 – 3:29 pm
A great strategy to getting free publicity is to give testimonials about other people’s book, products, or services. You should solicit testimonials about your things, too, but always take the opportunity to leave a testimonial when possible. Wherever that testimonial gets used — marketing materials, website, blog, etc. — will reflect back to you and (hopefully) link back to you as well.
Here’s a testimonial I wrote for PRLeads, a valuable and affordable service for connecting with media people looking for stories or subjects. Dan Janal, the president of the company, posted it on his blog giving me exposure to all of his readers.
When writing testimonials, try to provide examples to back up your claims, and interweave your own information without blatently promoting yourself or your product.
November 4, 2008 – 1:45 am
The Thin Air Summit was born from the idea that getting Colorado’s New Media professionals and out-of-town guests in the same venue for two days of intensive learning and collaborating is a win-win for the area’s New Media community!
The conference is structured around three tracks: Blogging, Audio, and Video. Lots of new media superstars will be presenting seminars.
The limited seating of up to 100 is sure to provide a comfortable and intimate setting for attendees to ask questions and engage in discussions on any number of topics. The opportunities to interact with presenters and fellow attendees are endless.
Be sure to sign up as yours truly will join a panel discussion on SEO on Saturday afternoon around 3:30pm. Hope to see you there!
October 28, 2008 – 7:16 pm
SMALL PRESSES * ACADEMIC PRESSES * MICRO PRESSES * SELF-PUBLISHERS — $1,500 GRAND PRIZE — LOW ENTRANCE FEE
Each year, independent publishers release extraordinary books to little or no recognition. The Eric Hoffer Book Award recognizes excellence in publishing. A SINGLE REGISTRATION gives you FOUR WAYS TO WIN by genre, press, the Montaigne Medal, and the Hoffer grand prize. There is a category for every book.
* $1,500 GRAND PRIZE * Low Entrance Fee of $45 * Many Categories *
AWARDS/BENEFITS:
* $1,500 GRAND PRIZE (the Eric Hoffer Award for Books)
* Winner of the Montaigne Medal for most thought-provoking book
* Winner and First Runner-Up awarded for every category
* Honorable Mentions for every category
* Individual Awards for Micro, Small, and Academic Presses, as well as Self-Published Books
* Coverage in the annual anthology Best New Writing and on www.HofferAward.com.
* Gold Seal Certificates
* Worldwide Exposure
CATEGORIES: Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Children, Young Adult, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Self-Help/Spiritual, Legacy.
In this tough economic time, your book is always a great value, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award may be an economical way to achieve publicity and recognition. You can’t win if you don’t enter!
October 20, 2008 – 1:32 pm
Just a little reminder to always maintain a professional composure in front of the world media…
Never forget that you’re on camera!
Is it real or Photoshopped? I don’t know. But it serves to make my point.
October 14, 2008 – 12:34 pm
If you published a cookbook or book on food in 2008, now is the time to enter the International Association of Culinary Professionals contest. Open to the general public, this is a prestigious cookbook award in the culinary world and worth a shot for anyone who has written a qualifying book.
Good luck!
