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| Myra Johnson |
Dora here, waving from somewhere in Norway where Hubby and I are enjoying a cruise. Yay! My sweet friend, Myra Johnson, agreed to step in for me today with a fabulous post on library events. It's a bit longer than our usual, but there's some great stuff in here, so fill up a bigger mug with coffee and settle back for an extra minute. It's worth it! Myra, welcome to Seriously Write!
First
of all, my thanks to Dora Hiers for inviting me to be your guest today to share
some of my experiences with author events at public libraries.
Let
me just state for the record that I am not
an “out there” kind of person. I would much
rather sit at home in my comfy writing chair with my nifty adjustable
laptop desk with its built-in cooling fan and my trusty MacBook Pro open to my
work-in-progress.
But
let’s face it. Writing isn’t just about writing. We want readers. Faithful
readers. Readers who tell their friends what great writers we are so their
family and friends will buy our books!
And
that leads us to the dreaded word promotion,
which in turns brings us to one of the primary methods writers use to promote
their books.
[Cue
scary music here.]
PUBLIC
SPEAKING!!!!!!!!
When
I first dreamed of becoming a published novelist, it never occurred to me that
I’d eventually be called upon to speak in front of various sized groups whose
interest varied from “You are beyond fascinating!” to “Where’s the nearest
exit?”
My
first few post-publication speaking gigs were for church gatherings or my local
writers group, where I knew I’d be among friends. But when you have no idea
whom you’ll be addressing--much less how friendly and open-minded they’ll
be--it’s a lot different.
It
also makes a difference whether getting up in front of an audience comes
naturally to you. For some authors--the extroverts among us--public speaking is
a breeze. Others, like introverted moi,
need some encouragement.
That’s
why, after moving to the Carolinas in 2011 and joining the local American
Christian Fiction Writers chapter, I was very grateful to connect with Dora, a
writer who has developed a real knack for working with area libraries to
schedule author events.
Although
I’ve done several library programs with Dora over the past couple of years, I
certainly don’t consider myself an expert on the subject. But these experiences
have brought a few things to light that I believe are worth passing along to
other authors interested in braving the library circuit.
The
first program I shared with Dora was actually a three-author panel that also
included Jennifer Hudson Taylor, another Carolinian. The audience, comprising
readers who enjoy inspirational fiction, proved very welcoming. Each author
gave a 10-15-minute talk describing our journey to publication, providing
background about our novels, and sharing a few thoughts about writing Christian
fiction. Afterward, we took questions and then visited with attendees and
autographed books.
A
couple of weeks later, and feeling more comfortable now that we’d gotten to
know one another better, the three of us repeated our program at a public
library in another city with even more success.
Sharing
the program with one or more author colleagues definitely takes the pressure
off! That’s why, when Dora asked if I’d be interested in working up a joint
program for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library System 2012 Summer Reading
Series, I immediately said yes, and soon we were hammering out a talk on
“Writing Inspirational Fiction” that would be presented at two different
libraries.
We
organized our talk in a “she said/she said” format, beginning with each of us
sharing our personal background and highlights of our writing journey. We went
on to discuss our individual writing styles, where we get ideas, advice about
finding an agent, and an overview of several Christian publishing houses. Each
participant received a handout with a list of our favorite craft books and
writing websites.
We
ended the program with Q&A, which was a great opportunity to zero in on
participants’ individual needs and interests. Afterward, we stayed around for
book browsing and more casual conversation. Overall, the program seemed to go
over quite well. In fact, so well that this past summer Dora and I collaborated
again to give three library presentations on the subject of creating memorable
characters.
Now
for the good, the bad, etc., etc.
Good:
People who attend library events are avid readers.
Bad:
Library patrons like to check out books, not necessarily buy them.
Good:
It’s fun and inspiring to chat with people who are really interested in books
and writing.
Bad:
Turnout is unpredictable. At some events we had 10-15 or more in attendance. At
one of our first summer programs we had only two.
Good:
Librarians are your friends. Get to know them and they will recommend your
books to readers and suggest upcoming releases as possible library additions.
What
works: Contacting libraries well in advance of your desired program dates.
What
doesn’t work: Expecting the library to get you on the program calendar within a
month or two. It can take several weeks to several months to get library
approval.
What
works: Planning ahead of time whether you will address primarily readers or
writers and adjusting your content accordingly.
What
doesn’t work: Not clearly advertising your program as Christian or “inspirational”
(if that’s central to your topic). People have been known to walk out at the
first mention of faith.
What
works: Promoting the event on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc.; also finding
out what forms of promotion the library will be using.
What
doesn’t work: Scheduling your program either too early or too late on a
weeknight evening.
What
works: Arriving early enough to get your table and book display set up, visit
the ladies’ room, get some water, and mingle with attendees as they arrive.
What
doesn’t work: Misjudging rush-hour traffic, then arriving so close to start
time that you’re flustered and out of breath. Also, trusting Google Maps only
to be sent to a nonexistent location!
What
works: Giveaways (bookmarks, postcards, chocolate, etc.) and handouts
containing supplemental information.
What
doesn’t work: Sitting shyly behind your book table and waiting for people to
talk to you.
What
works: Interacting with attendees, asking them about their reading interests,
and suggesting other authors (yes, your competition!) you think they might
enjoy.
What
doesn’t work: Not verifying whether the library has copies of your books in
circulation.
What
works: Donating a copy of your book to the library prior to or, at the latest,
the day of your program.
What
works: Remembering to send a thank-you note to the program organizer and
mentioning your interest in working with him or her in the future.
Bad:
Preparing talks and doing programs definitely takes its toll on your writing
time.
Good:
But in the end, it’s usually worth the sacrifice!
Have
you braved the library program circuit yet? What do you like most about
speaking events? What do you find most challenging?
Any
librarians in the audience? What advice would you offer authors interested in
presenting a program to your patrons?
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| Purchase Link |
About When the Clouds Roll By: Annemarie Kendall is overjoyed when the armistice is signed and the Great War comes to an end. Her fiancé, Lieutenant Gilbert Ballard, is coming home, and though he is wounded, she is excited to start their life together. But when he arrives, her dreams are dashed when she learns Gilbert is suffering from headaches, depression, and an addiction to pain killers. This is not the man she had planned to marry. After serving in the trenches, Army Chaplain Samuel Vickary is barely holding onto his faith. Putting up a brave front as he ministers to the injured soldiers at the hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he befriends Gilbert and eventually falls for Annemarie. While Annemarie tries to sort out her confused feelings about the two men in her life, she witnesses firsthand the bitterness and hurt they both hold within. Whom will she choose? Will she have the courage to follow her heart and become the woman God intended her to be? As the world emerges from the shadow of war, Annemarie clings to her faith as she wonders if her future holds the hope, happiness, and love for which she so desperately longs.
About Myra: Award-winning author
Myra Johnson writes inspirational romance and women’s fiction—emotionally
gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She is a two-time American
Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award finalist, most recently for her novel A Horseman’s Hope. Her novel Autumn Rains won the Romance Writers of
America 2005 Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript and was a
2010 Carol Award finalist. Married since 1972, Myra and her husband are the
proud parents of two beautiful daughters, and are also grandparents of four
rambunctious grandsons and two precious granddaughters. Although Myra is a
native Texan, she and her husband now
reside in North Carolina and share their home with a very spoiled
lapdog. Myra writes full-time and is currently serving as president of Carolina
Christian Writers (ACFW--Charlotte Chapter).
Myra has seven novels and an
anthology in print and has recently completed a historical romance series for
Abingdon Press. Book 1, When the Clouds
Roll By, releases this month. Visit her website at www.MyraJohnson.com. Myra can also be
found at www.Seekerville.net and www.facebook.com/MyraJohnsonAuthor.
Follow her on Twitter at @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen.
