Guest post by Children's Author Penelope Anne Cole
Those questions are pretty easy for me to
answer. Harder for me are ones are like:
What’s it like being a published author? On the one hand, I’m “pleased
as punch” that I’m published and love seeing and holding my books, reading them
to kids, and having people want to buy them. On the other hand, publication is
just another step in the process. After publication you need to get book
reviews, interviews, and promote your book. What do you do for promotion and
marketing? You need to do as many school author visits as you can. You need to
enter award competitions. You need an online presence, a website, a blog, if
you can keep it up, a Facebook page, plus a Twitter account, lots of Linked-in
connections, a Pinterest account, a Skype account. You need to post on your
blog, comment on others’ blogs. You need to tweet, share on Linked-in and
Facebook, post on Goodreads (if you review books like I do), and pin to
Pinterest. You need to continue to build your social media and online presence
and constantly sell, sell, sell. Don’t forget the flyers, media releases,
bookmarks, business cards, conferences, workshops, meetups, parties, fairs, writers
groups, library and bookstore visits, and critique groups you have to have. The
business part of being a published author was what I wasn’t prepared for at
all, and it is neverending.
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Before
writing and reviewing children’s books, Penelope Anne Cole taught every grade
level. She tutors elementary, middle, and high school students. Reading to children to
help them read on their own and love books is a special joy for Ms. Cole. She
is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the
Fremont Area Writers Group of the California Writers Club, and is a Certified
Phonographix Reading Therapist with Read America, has a California Multiple
Subject Teaching Credential, a Liberal Arts B.A. (English Major), and an M.A.
in Education. She lives in Santa
Clara , California
with her family and their rescued dogs and cats.
Ms. Cole's Magical Matthew (2012) is the first in her Magical series. Magical Mea is second (2013). Mágico Mateo (2013) is the Spanish Version of Magical Matthew. Next is Magical Mea Goes to School, with Magical M and M to follow. Magical Matthew won a Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal, Creative Child Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, and NABE’s Pinnacle Book Achievement Award. Magical Mea won Creative Child Magazine’s Preferred Choice Award, NABE’s Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, and was a Readers' Favorite Finalist.
Connect on the web:
Hi Penny,
ReplyDeleteYou certainly tell it like it is about being a children's author. I'm happy that you and magical Matthew are doing well.
Hi Barbara, thanks so much for your supportive comments and positive outlook! Wishing you much success in your writing, too!
DeleteYou packed a LOT of helpful information into a short article I know your efforts will show results and you're helping others as well. Great job!
ReplyDeletePenny,
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you! Yes, promoting a book can be a challenge. It certainly keeps me very busy. I wish great success with your book promotion endeavors.
Penelope: This is a great list to refer to for authors when they have a book coming out. I think you have covered just about every aspect of marketing, and it is tiring. But you are also very good at it! :)
ReplyDelete