Immediate Opportunities for Writers

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

Whenever a new edition of Southern Writers hits the proverbial stands, I enjoy doing the math and totaling how many different writers we have promoted during our six years of publication. As of the new May/June 2017 issue which debuted yesterday, that number comes to 1100.

What each of these writers have in common is the street savvy to self-promote.  Whether they share their writing experience with other writers via an interview or by contributing an instructional article, we are proud to provide promotional opportunities for veterans and virgins alike.  With that in mind, I'm going to clue you in on some brand new promotional opportunities you can take advantage of right now.

Multi-author articles in the magazine are a crowd favorite with our readers. One of the upcoming special features below would be an entertaining way to promote your latest book.

TITLE WAVE
Sometimes your original book title doesn't make it past the cutting room floor. Got an interesting story about one of your books and how the title changed? Maybe ALL of your books had different titles to start with!  Whether you changed them or your publisher threw you a curveball, tell us all about it (and the philosophy behind the change, if known) in a paragraph or two. Be sure to include a high-res JPG of the relevant cover. This will be a fun article and you should be part of it!
​(Deadline for September 2017 issue: July 17th.) 
http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

WHERE WRITERS WRITE
You spend endless hours there every week, slaving over a hot keyboard, creating brilliant sentences. You're probably there right now, reading this. We want to see it!  Writers (and readers) love to see where authors do their thing. Grab your camera or smartphone and send us a high-quality photo of your office, writing nook, picnic table, wherever you spend the most time writing your masterpieces. If you're in the photo, even better! (And if there's a copy of Southern Writers in the photo, even better!) We'll show your latest book cover next to the photo.  Please include a paragraph about why your favored spot works for your writing.
(July feature is full. Deadline for the September 2017 issue: July 17th.)​ 

http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

SIGNINGS AND SELF-PROMOTION
This photo op is your chance to show off your mad self-promotion skills when it comes to book signings. Have a high-quality photo of your table or booth at a bookstore or writers conference? Tell us about your strategy in designing the display, or share an interesting story related to that signing. (Yes, we'd love to see you in the photo, too! 

Or perhaps you've come up with a creative giveaway item for your next appearance or online promotion. Bring it on!
(Scheduled for the September 2017 issue: deadline July 17th.)​
http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

SUITE T
If you're reading this, you're probably already aware that this very blog features guest authors every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (with staffers on Tuesday and Thursday).  Much like the magazine, posts run the gamut of writing information and inspiration. More than 3 million visitors have visited Suite T, and that number grows by the day. Get your two cents in by writing a guest post. Submission guidelines for Suite T are at http://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/p/guest-posting.html

SHORT STORY CONTEST
Tired from typing your latest tome?  Get short with us!  Our annual Short Story Fiction Contest is a chance to win $250 plus other perks including being on the cover of our special short story publication this summer.  The deadline in June 15th, 2017. Entry details can be found at http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/shorts.html

There you have it: five things you can get in on today to get the word out. So grab your camera or start burning up that keyboard now.  You know you want to!

Book Signings, Selling and Future Ideas

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine    

Author Michael Hicks Thompson recently had a book signing for his latest work, The Rector, A Christian Murder Mystery. There is a lot of excitement around Thompson’s latest work. The Rector was chosen by the Beverly Hills Book Awards as a Finalist. The signing was at The Booksellers of Laurelwood in Memphis TN. Booksellers is one of those meccas for authors and readers alike. It is a great venue for authors to introduce their work.

Book signings can do many things for an author. Many of which I saw at Thompson’s book signing. Let’s look at a few very important points of a book signing.

·      

Personal contact with your readers. Readers love to meet the author. Book signings give readers an opportunity to meet their heroes, the ones that gave life to their favorite characters. Everyone wants to know the author and this gives the readers personal time with them. When given a chance readers will express their fondness of the author and his talent. It builds a bond between the author and reader that could last for years.

·       Book sales. I must say I have bought a book simply because the author was there in front of me to sign it. My thoughts were that if someone mentioned they liked this author I could always make it a gift to them. The point is signed books sell. This reinforces the closeness and proves the personal contact a reader had with the author.  Author Steve Bradshaw, The Bell Trilogy, told me that book signings were his bread and butter. From there many more opportunities came which led to more sales.

·       New ideas. Having attended signings that included readings and personal contact with the author, there seemed to be discussions with the readers concerning the characters and the story line. The author hears such things as will the main character ever do this. Have you ever thought of the character taking off on a tangent to do this? Will there be a sequel? By the way the sequel to Michael Hicks Thompson’s The Rector, entitled The Typewriter, will be released this year. Feedback from the readers can make an author aware of how his work is seen and could bring great ideas to the forefront. It may lead an author in a direction not considered. Many times a reader will offer a new story or book idea for your consideration.

So when considering a book signing go into it with the awareness that this is more than you meeting and greeting and selling your book. Prepare to form new relationships that could be lasting ones. Be aware of additional opportunities that may spin off this event. Be open to the path should it unfold before you. Keep a note book or personal devise nearby to jot down any ideas, story lines or contacts that may arise.

Selling your book is definitely an important part of your book signing event but there other ways that may come along that can be just as productive and profitable to your writing career. Being prepared for and aware of these opportunities as they come could make each and every book signing productive.        

The Ripple Effect

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief for Southern Writers Magazine

Most of us have thrown a pebble in the water and watched as the ripples expanded across the water. We find examples of the ripple effect in the economy, societal, financial and even the computer world.

Is there a ripple effect with the books we write? Yes, two ways that come to mind are the ripple effect of the content of our writing and the marketing of our books.

In writing, people read our words we’ve written and those words touch that person as they read. Our book will affect them. Will it affect them in a good way or bad one? Will it make them feel good or bad? Will they enjoy it? Will they quit before they are through the book? Will they say good things about the book, or bad things? Will they encourage others to read the book or discourage them? Either way this will cause a ripple effect.

In marketing the book, the ripple effect applies. You tell one person, they tell another, and before long the ripples have extended farther than you can even see. Whether it takes a day, a month or a year, your book will be noticed if…people are told about the book. How is it done? By placing ads in radio, TV, newspapers and magazines. By word of mouth, asking your friends to read it and tell their friends about it. Using Social Media, contests, book signings. Promoting the book is necessary to get people to buy. You use everything at your disposal short of hiring sales-persons to go door to door. So eventually, you have the ripple effect.

The bigger the ripple the more books you sell. The bigger the ripple the more people read your words.

Seven Secrets to Selling to a Stranger at a Book Event

by Julie Breedlove, Marketing Manager at BQB Publishing

I had the pleasure of working with several BQB authors at our booth during the Decatur Book Festival last month. Since BQB publishes numerous first-time authors, not many people were coming up to our table because they didn’t know who the authors were or they haven’t read their previous works. I quickly realized that while I was in the presence of great writers, their skills with words did not always correspond with their experience with sales. 

Thinking it through, this makes sense. Authors communicate in writing. Verbal communication, especially related to self-promotion, might not easily be their strong suit in the beginning. That’s where I come in. There were plenty of people at the festival, so it was a great chance for me to offer tips and watch as the authors learned how to interact with strangers and sell their books.

 I’ll let you in on some of the tips:

1) Stand, don’t sit. Think of your event as a social affair, not a book signing where you just remain behind the table with a sharpie in your hand. 

2) Don’t be shy or expect people to come to you. The ball is in your court to make eye contact and initiate the conversation. If you’re not a natural extrovert, bring someone with you to your signing who can help increase the energy and start conversations.

3) Use an icebreaker like a bowl of candy or a bookmark to begin the interaction. 

 4) Be prepared with a friendly question or conversation-starter. The goal should be to talk, not to sell. Begin with a simple question that is somehow relevant to your book. For a cookbook/healthy lifestyle program like Wellness 100, for example, the authors tried something simple like “What’s for dinner?” Even if people don’t buy the book instantly, that conversation stemming from a simple question might stick with them. Often, people will download an eBook or purchase the book online at a later time.

 

5) If the book isn’t appropriate for the passerby, ask if they have friends, kids, or family that might like a signed copy and remind them that signed books make thoughtful gifts. 

6) Use a discount or offer them a special price. People like to feel like they’re getting a good deal. 

7) Keep a positive attitude no matter what. Not everyone is nice and you’re bound to be blown off at one point or another. Don’t attach yourself to those reactions. Keep your chin and your energy up.

Signing events vary by the venue, attendance, and day, but these simple steps can help make your interactions more valuable and your time worthwhile. At BQB Publishing, we offer training to our authors on ways to make book events successful. I often find that authors gain comfort knowing these basic tips ahead of time and sell more books because they’re relaxed and enjoying their time meeting new people. Happy selling and signing!
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Julie Breedlove is the Marketing Manager at Boutique of Quality Books (BQB) Publishing Company. With this independent hybrid publisher, Julie boosts book publicity, coaches authors, and guides marketing plans to bring today’s new writers and tomorrow’s best sellers into the hands of booksellers and the reading public. To learn more about BQB’s publishing process and marketing support, visit www.bqbpublishing.com.