The Neo-Modern Connection - Reaching the Electronic Reader

The small royalty check was delivered to the post office box and deposited into the business account – now what.  Marketing is slow, difficult and sometimes discouraging.  It would be easy to give up but the book is a good story ready for reading enjoyment.  So on to a new way of marketing, a new way of reaching the reading public, a new way to let sales be made.

While being a guest in the bricks and mortar world of books is thrilling and allows for one-on-one communication with the reader, it is also a small part of the market as cyber marketing emerges into the neo-modern connection to page turning on a screen.  Today’s books are in a race to reach a fleeting moment when a finger slides across a display that disappears virtually before the eye is able to notice the cover.  It’s time to connect with the electronic devices that even grandmothers are learning to use.

The answer for me is an on line PR agency to promote Brimstone and Water throughout the United States and beyond.  The internet reaches every corner of the earth making it possible to publicize to a diverse audience using my own writing style as a guest blogger as a beginning.  It also means being ready at an email’s notice to write another blog or answer interview questions.  In the meantime another story begins to form and it’s time to do the research while still trying to negotiate a contract for the previous completed manuscript.

A vicious circle one might say – but then writing is an adventure that waits to appear on the page and marketing is the mountain to be climbed to make the adventure successful.  Cyber marketing goes beyond the email blast, beyond the phone contact, beyond the book store signing event; it means committing to being available each day to do the writing needed for the promoter to successfully present my work to the reading public through guest blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the list goes on. 

While all of this takes place the blog needs to be fed to keep interest going and my writing to be remembered and sought by those viewing the blog.  It’s time for each evening to be devoted to writing, writing and writing.  It’s time to buckle down and write that magazine article that’s been floating around in my thoughts; and then to sell that article and see it appear in print for public appraisal of the article’s worth. 

My goal is to have the reader remember my name and seek out the articles and books because they found one item that caught their attention and search to find more.

Just as I reach out to publicize my work – I encourage other authors to do the same.  Each genre is looking for the next best seller, but without marketing the best works won’t be found. 

Happy writing – and – Happy marketing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7FnDahiPVA

An Excerpt from "Return to Nineveh"

Prologue

      The fledgling rays of early morning sun shimmered across the still waters turning faded pewter into brilliant translucent shades of opal, silver and bronze.  The strengthening shafts of light stretched across the harbor to a battle scared ship waiting in silence for the sun to warm her decks and playfully dance along shimmering brass fittings.  She came to this anchorage to heal the wounds suffered during a desperate encounter with the elusive Japanese destroyer sent by a merciless conqueror to destroy the last British citizens to flee Singapore.  She waits now in silence to feel the pulse of oil pumping life into her array of pipes and tubing as her engines—her heart—come to life and beat in a steady rhythm.  Soon her human masters will breathe new life into her and she will experience the pleasurable taste of salty spray streaming across her sleek dazzle painted hull. 

       Her name is Mariah.

 

Chapter 1

       Katrin Lee Albright stood alone on the peak of the high tree covered hill overlooking Surabaya Harbor.  Her 22 years on earth had not prepared her for the increasing fear she experienced as the Japanese Army pushed closer to her home.  She brushed the long golden-brown wind whipped hair away from her face while anxiously watching the remaining Allied ships from her hiding place high above the harbor.  Brilliant rays of sun light laughingly danced across the decks and momentarily reflected off guns and fittings as its hot breath seared the backs of sailors scurrying about preparing them to sail.   

 

      Katrin and her father went into hiding when the Japanese began their lightning-quick offensive through the small island state within days following their conquest of Malaya and Singapore.  She and her father, Joseph Albright, an Anglican priest sent from England to build the Anglican presence in the colonies a year before the 1929 world financial crisis, saw the brutal flashes from dueling ships across the horizon during the vicious naval conflict in the distant Java Sea.  The few ships that returned gave witness to the lopsided battle that left only a few to retell the story of failure and defeat.  Now she feared the ships would abandon the war ruined harbor before they could reach them.

 

      Katrin hoped her father would return before darkness fell and relieve her anxiety.  She knew he believed God would protect them and prayed with her to place them in His hands.  He told her to believe it was already so and it would be done – just as Jesus promised so many centuries ago.  She had to trust the lessons of the Bible her father taught her since early childhood, but fear of being discovered made her tremble.

 

      Katrin felt a shaft of fright penetrate her soul and quickly climbed a nearby tree when a sudden rustling in the undergrowth caught her attention.  At least she remembered to make a barely perceptible path away from where she watched like their friend, Colonel Gherst from the Army Rangers, once showed her.  He said it was a way to fool the enemy during one of his many visits to their home.  She briefly wondered if Colonel Gherst was taking part in the current battle to keep the Japanese from overtaking Java.          

An Author and the RV

The year 2010 brought a world of change to my life after retiring as an administrative assistant at a rural county community mental health organization.  My husband and I traveled to promote my first novel, but now it was different.  Now we would live full time in our RV and become nomads in our retirement.  Where would the oasis be to promote my writing?

I tried the traditional route of looking for libraries and book stores in the areas where we would be staying and found while being asked to appear for a presentation/signing that the attendance was minimal in an area where I did not know anyone.  Facebook, Twitter, Google, email blasts were not effective since there was no targeted population known to receive the information where we were staying.  A few might attend from an RV park that became friends, but the larger audience became elusive. 

Local festivals are another route that can be an avenue toward sales but first one must be able to obtain the information regarding the event in time to reserve a booth.  Dollars must be spent to reserve a booth and appear on the festival’s schedule of vendors and press releases appear the week of the event in the local papers.  Finding the name of that local paper even with the internet can be more difficult than finding the festival date in many towns.  The research needs to be done months in advance to appear at one of these events.

My next idea is to hire a publicist to see what the result of this partnership might bring.  Being a novice at this endeavor will mean taking a “leap of faith” that the person hired will bring results beyond a few email blasts and a Facebook connection. 

In the meantime I will continue to look for other ways to market my work while working on the next novel.  My third novel, a sequel to the first, is submitted to my publisher and a contract is being negotiated at this time.  Right now it is time to work on marketing the first and second book to prepare for the third to come on the market.

Until the next time – I wish you successful writing that fulfill you as the author of an unfolding story.

EVENT PLANNING

It’s been some time since I wrote a blog entry.  The winter has been filled with travel, meeting new people and having opportunities to present “Brimstone and Water” in new cities.  While it is great to have your book being seen a thousand miles from your home, it is also difficult to advertise without doing the proper research for radio, television and print for the area.

Timing is also a significant factor when planning an event this far from familiar traditions.  Mardi Gras is a perfect example of when not to plan an event in the Gulf coastal regions.  Being from the north I think of Mardi Gras as a New Orleans event but that is not the case.  The celebrations take place all across the Gulf coast which encompasses several states.  With so many events related to Mardi Gras already on calendars from parades to dinners and balls a book signing/presentation is low on the list of events to attend. 
That said; it’s time to think ahead and plan for the next time a presentation/signing event is scheduled. 

1.   Confirm with the organization the date and time of the event.

2.   Request the name of radio stations, television stations and newspapers in the area

3.   Request the event be posted on the organizations WEB site at least one month in advance

4.   Coordinate with marketing to schedule interviews about the book and event

5.   Continue to place reminders on Facebook, twitter and Google the place, date and time of the event.

The bottom line is do not give up but learn from experience what will make the next event a large success and bring our work to the readers’ attention.  You notice the word readers’ has the apostrophe after the letter S, because we want several readers to notice our work, not just one.

 

Until the next time – Happy Writing

 

The Book is Finished – Now What?

   Congratulations on completing your first book - now on to marketing, the hardest and most important part for an author. Writing the book is fairly simple once the information is organized and the idea springs forth like pouring rain spilling into a flowing river that traverses through a canyon into a tributary that winds its way to the ocean.  The blank page is soon covered with words and sentences that compile into chapters until our story is complete and the ink from the printing presses dry for the bindery to assemble into book form and our work as an author stands ready, our work is complete – Well not quite.   Marketing the work that we diligently create and edit is where many of us loose our way.

Below are a few of the things that I recently did to market “Brimstone and Water”

   I use the internet to locate areas where I would like to do presentations and signings. I then submit the information to my marketer at Tate Publishing who works to get me into the libraries, stores, etc. that I selected. Tonight the information I copied to a word document for Biloxi, MS area and sent to James at Tate came to fruition with 3 engagements I just confirmed for "Brimstone and Water" my most recent release.

   I also have a presentation/signing event at Foley Public Library, Foley, AL in the middle of all this. That engagement I generated simply by stopping in at the library and presenting myself to the library director. He in turn asked about the book and my thought out prepared description to peak his interest led to an invitation to give a presentation along with a sales/signing that evening.

   Once our events are scheduled it is important to use Twitter, Facebook, Google, a press release (these are usually free) and any other interpersonal communication we might have at our disposal to advertise that event.

   I am not a known author in the sense that we think of big sales and top billings. I am an author that wants to get my work into the readers’ hands and do my best to find places I can do just that. We need to present our work with confidence that it will stand on its merits and be prepared to listen to and use constructive advice from our peers. 

   I am often asked what I do since I retired from my full-time job nearly three years ago.  I answer I am an author.  The next question is what have I written and am I published.  I then talk about my published work and the book I am currently completing in a short previously thought out description of the works and offer my latest business card for consideration and a future purchase.

   These things work together to bring success to the work being marketed to readers that are looking for that next new work to be read and enjoyed.  Every story has its niche – find the market and sell, sell, sell!

 

HAPPY MARKETING

Making a Contact

   Today my husband and I celebrated our 44^th wedding anniversary and went to a restaurant in Foley, Alabama for an entertaining lunch.  We decided to make a stop in the town of Foley and do a little looking around before driving down one of the main streets.  By accident we passed the Foley Public Library.  The decision to stop and take a chance that I might be able to be a speaker about my latest book was on the spur of the moment.  I have a speaking engagement at the library on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

   This is just one example of what can happen when we take the reins into our hands and trust that the best will happen.  I spoke with the director of the large facility that has several programs and encourages authors to speak and present their work.  Not only was the director gracious and engaging, he also told me about the community and the opportunities the future holds in this growing city. 

   Where ever we may be when asked what I do since retiring I tell people I am an author and continue to write more novels.  Each author has a diverse genre and a distinctive way of putting pen to paper, or as we say today, putting our fingers on the keyboard.  However, when it is time to market the work we have so diligently raised as our offspring it is time to use every skill marketers use to sell our product.  Yes, I said product because that is what we are presenting in the end.  Even though the book springs forth from our imagination the end result is something to be sold to the public.

   Each time I say, “I am an author,” I get a certain sense of thrill that my work is published and people are interested in reading the story.  Today the library director asked me what the book was about and I gave a brief three or four sentence response that captured his interest.  I make sure I always have my business card with me with a picture of the cover, my name, the name of the book and my blog and web site as well as a direct link to purchase the book.  On the back of the card I have a quote from the book that gives a brief insight into the story as well.  I find this works well at book signings as most people turn a card over not expecting to find anything, but one never knows; something could be there.

   I also carry a few of the download cards from my publisher to use as a gift and/or sell to anyone interested in obtaining the book right away that uses Kindles, Nooks, etc. I made sure the library director had my business card and a download card for the book as well.  It is a small token of appreciation for taking a chance on an unknown and allowing me to be a presenter at library.

   My job now is to put together an interesting informative presentation that ties my book to something familiar within the area.  The history of the Gulf will be a source of information that will be interesting to review and write into the presentation for Foley Public Library.  “Brimstone and Water” begins in the Mediterranean on the Island of Crete with the sea creating havoc and destroying a culture – so using the Gulf as a starting point I believe it possible to look back at how the ocean has affected the area and tie it to my story.

   On Monday my marketer at Tate Publishing will read the email about the opportunity I have been given and assist with publicity for the event while I use my social networking, web site and blog to advertise as well.  The library, my marketer and I will work together to make this a successful engagement. 

   I am blessed to have this come my way as well as the marketing publicity that will take place on my behalf.  I wish everyone a happy marketing experience as we present our “product” for the public to enjoy.

HAPPY WRITING AND MARKETING!

A Christmas Message

     I usually write something about being an author and ways to sell the books we write.  Today I would like to send all who read this blog the full Christmas message from “Brimstone and Water.” 

     As we face the tragedy of the families that will not celebrate this year I hope on Christmas Day we remember the true reason we celebrate. 

EXHERPT FROM BRIMSTONE AND WATER/UNEDITED VERSION

      The final verse of the choral anthem ended after the reading of the Gospel and everyone prepared for Fr. Cragan to come to the lectern and give his Christmas homily.  A small gasp was heard when Adam rose, stepped away from the altar and came down the steps to be among the congregation before he spoke. 

      “Tonight is the Eve of our Lord,” he began, “the start of new hope, of new faith, of new beginnings.  We all know the story; we’ve known it since childhood.  But do we feel it; do we live it in our daily life?  It’s a hard question, and one I ask myself often.  Mary had a baby,” he whispered, “and heaven and earth rejoiced,” he cried out with increasing volume, raising his hands toward the sky. 

      “The Wise Men knew, the shepherds knew by the angel’s call and followed His star to Bethlehem.  They took the journey in faith, responding to the vision; the call from God to honor this little child, this Jesus born to a middle aged Jewish carpenter and his young wife.  How could they know that something spectacular had happened?  Yes, how could they know,” he slowly said stroking his chin in contemplation.  “Most of us would never believe an angel stood beside us and told us to take a journey on faith.  We’d probably think we were losing our minds and try to find a psychiatrist to put us on an anti-hallucinogenic to keep the vision at bay.” 

      “But these men, these Wise Men, the Magi of kingdoms in distant lands came together and shared the revelation each had heard that a King was to be born to Israel, a Savior was coming to the chosen people.  They followed the star in faith indicated by the angel that came to them long before the birth until it brought them to Bethlehem.  It was nothing like today’s journey unto Christ with the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way.  This journey was far different than the freedoms we take for granted to worship in peace.”

      “Think of the hazards they faced in those ancient days.  They traveled through many lands at a time when Romans ruled with an iron fist and travelers were ambushed for a single coin.  And they carried precious rare gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, worth large sums of money.  Their families must have been very concerned, but still they made the journey.  They never doubted what the angel told them and trusted in God to give them safe haven along the way.”

      “What must Joseph and Mary thought when these three magnificent strangers arrived and offered their gifts.  They were men of importance kneeling beside poor sheep herders before a carpenter and a young mother with a newborn child held close to her breast among the smells of oxen and sheep.  Yet they knew something greater than anything on earth had happened, and it was embodied in this one helpless child.  So they gave the only gifts they knew how to give in gratitude for the gift of love that was given that night in a lowly stable where Jesus slept in a manger.”

      “And after they had paid homage to the child and his mother and father, they risked their lives again to defy Harrod, ruler of Judea.  They did not return to his palace and tell where Jesus lay as he had told them to do during their visit of respect to the ruler of this kingdom.  The angel appeared to them again and warned that Harrod had evil in his heart and would destroy the baby Jesus, the Messiah to all the nations.  They took another route and quietly left for their own countries with the knowledge that they had been allowed to honor the babe that was to save the tribes of Israel and bring hope to the Gentiles.”

     “When morning dawns later today we will exchange the gifts of Christmas with friends and loved ones.   Many will be forgotten before the first blossom announces the arrival of another spring and the gift of sacrifice the child we celebrate tonight gave for us all on that first Good Friday.  Others will be remembered for a lifetime because they are given in love with a deep meaning to the giver and receiver.  But when morning dawns on this special day, before the first gift is unwrapped, I ask you to stop and reflect for a moment about the Wise Men and why they gave their gifts, gifts to a newborn child, a child named Jesus.  Mary had a baby,” he softly said, “and heaven and earth rejoiced.”

I wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy and Prosperous New Year.