MARKETING MAVEN

Tomorrow is the fifth workshop in the Borderline series "So You Want to be a Writer..." We will be meeting at the Overland Hastings from 10:00-12:00. Former literary agent Rosemary Sneeringer will share her experience and marketing tips. Rosemary is now a freelance editor for Borderline Publishing.

The next series starts in July at Borders in the mall, so if you missed any of the workshops, this will be a another chance to attend. Or if you have a friend interested in writing, please let them know of this free opportunity.

PATH TO PUBLICATION

Tomorrow I get to speak at the Pacific Northwest Association of Church Libraries. I'll be talking about my journey of becoming an author, as well as the journeys of the other authors here at Borderline.

Most authors didn't have the headstart I did. Because of my mom's passion for writing, I had my picture and stories about me published in magazines when I was little. (Yes, that really is a photo of me with the Dorothy Hammil haircut.) So submitting my own stories to magazines when I wrote them was a natural next step. And it's a great first step for anyone interested in writing.

I always recommend to authors that they submit excerpts or articles to magazines to help promote their books. It's like getting paid to advertise. And it looks good in your bio.

What is a magazine that you could submit to? Which magazines do you read? Which would be interested in the subjects you have experience with? Look up their submission guidelines and give it a try. Writing an article is definitely good practice for writing your book.

BIG OL' BORDERS BOOK-SIGNING

Come meet a group of Borderline authors at Borders on Saturday, April 24 from 1:00-3:00. Whether you are interested in buying a story set in Idaho or you want to ask the authors about their publishing experience, this is a great opportunity to do so. We will have all kinds of books available from middle-grade mysteries to non-fiction self-help to redneck humor. Please visit our website for more information on any of these titles:

1. Creative Writing for Counselors and their Clients by Steve Flick
2. Puzzle Bones and Mystery in Dark Island by T.A. Smith
3. The Last Confederate Battle by John J. Cline
4. The Little Black School House by Sylvia Griffin
5. A Father's Advice by Kelly Ready
6. Mystery at the Log House Restaurant by Brad Epperly
7. Poor Fishermen With Boats and others by Jim Schwartz

These are the kinds of events we are planning to offer our authors quarterly. Hope to see you there.

WEBSITE DESIGN

As an author, it's imperative to have a website. There are lots of options for doing this, but I'll just rave on my website designer Gabe Heter for a second. He's economical and creative. If you're not sure which way to go, he can help give you direction. He's been great to work with.

I'm in the middle of a site update right now, but you can visit me at www.angelameuser.com. Having your name as your web address is really the best way to go. It doesn't have to be anything fancy at first. Just start with your homepage along with a bio page and a page for your book. You can always add to it later. Things to add include a blog and a way to sign up for your mailing list. Then keep these pages current.

So that's your writing prompt for the day. Not exactly writing, but it still takes creative energy. And it will make you and your work more markteable.

GET IN THEIR HEADS

Yesterday I got Borderline author T.A. Smith invited to speak and sign books at a national Christian skateboarding convention this September in Fort Lauderdale. His book series The Boardunders Club is action/adventure revolving around four fifth-graders who love skateboarding. It's a great hook--so great it snagged the attention of Random House. But until they take over, I get the honor of working on this project.

Tweens can't get enough of this series, and one of the reasons why is for the quirky characters. For example, you know what kind of person Aunt Jane is by the dinner she makes--she microwaves pancake mix on a paper plate. I love it. (The characterization, not the dinner, so don't worry kids.) Then there's the mentally handicapped guy who lives with his parents and works as a pizza delivery man. As well as a scrawny kid who would do anything to keep the title of Ninja Man.

How do you bring your characters to life? I like to do a character profile sheet--taking the questions way beyond height and hair color. You could even "interview" them. What kind of New Year's resolutions do they make? What would they say if they smacked their thumb with a hammer? What are they a sucker for? And once you get that all done, maybe even try a personality test. Take it as if you are the character. Get inside their heads so that they read as if they're real.

Update: Just got an email from skateboard evangelist Tim Byrne's agent. He's interested in endorsing PUZZLE BONES--Book 1 of The Boardunders Club.

MARKETING MATERIALS

The parent company to Borderline Publishing is Treasure Valley Digital Printing, which is an awesome relationship to have--especially when your job is marketing, like mine is. :-) Just this weekend my mom was asking me for promotional ideas for the tea house she's opening in Leavenworth, WA. I suggested she send out postcards with coupons on them, adding that we can print the postcards for her and beat the price of any company online. And that's just the beginning of what we offer.

The picture above is of a display that we printed for Lee Read. And as I'm typing this, Jeff came in with some more gorgeous signs hot off the press. Other materials include business cards, bookmarks, brochures, pamplets, flyers, and foam core mounted posters. These are items that any author can and should use to get the word out.

Basically, writing the book is only part of the job of an author. For more ideas on getting your work out there, read 1001 WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BOOK. And them give us a call.

NICHE MARKET

If an editor were to ask you who the audience is for your book, don't say, "It's a book for everybody." While this may be true in a case like Harry Potter, even that series was originally marketed to middle-grade boys. As Idaho author N.D. Wilson explained to me, you first have to be put into a box before you can find a way to break out of it. Here are three niche markets I'm currently working on with Borderline authors in hopes that word of mouth will spread to a broader audience.

1) Jonathan Craig's motivational memoir YOU ARE THE REASON. Jonathan is an intellectual and spiritual teacher who has been living with HIV for 27 years. And while his book would touch all who read it, there is definitely a specific community looking for a message like his. For his international book tour, I'm scheduling him to work with AIDS Walks, speak at Universities, tour research facilities, teach at spiritual centers, and do book readings at gay and lesbian bookstores.

2) Todd Bennett's self-help book 90% RIGHT CAN BE 100% WRONG. Again, a book that would benefit everyone, but because of his Christian background, his launch party/dessert will be held at a church, and I'm working on getting him booked for Christian radio interviews. Beyond that, he will start taking his marriage seminars nationally and is currently working on another book for marriage specifically. Having endorsements from well-known personalities in his field and a platform with iquestions doesn't hurt either.

3) John Cline's book THE LAST CONFEDERATE BATTLE. While a fascinating story that would make an amazing movie, Borderline is going to focus on marketing to history buffs for the moment. John wants to hit reenactments and write articles for historical journals. We are also going to get copies of his book into the giftshops at museums.

So where does your writing fit in? Could you speak at sci-fi conventions in costume like Lynn Hardy? Or do you have a connection with New Age boookstore buyers like Sherry Cotton? Consider all the possibilities. Then make it happen.

BOOKING BOOK EVENTS

So, the first book in Lynn Hardy's PROPHECY OF THE FLAME series is re-releasing next month. It's fun to see the following she has developed from attending sci-fi conventions and renaissance faires. There is even a video game being designed based on her characters--which gives me "coolness points" with my son. But the coolest thing about Lynn's book is how all proceeds will be going to Agape Assistance (http://www.agapeassistance.org/) to help get homeless families off the street. So we've cooked up a little event to bring in even more money for the charity...

Lynn and I are meeting with the promotions department at Edward's Stadium 22 today to finalize the coordination of Lynn's book launch with the premier of fantasy movie Percy Jackson. Basically, we are going to be having a little party in the lobby of the theatre Feb. 12-13. We'll have radio stations broadcasting live and models dressed up like the characters from PROPHECY OF THE FLAME handing out information on Agape Assistance. A raffle for movie tickets will also help raise money. Cake will be served. (What's a party without chocolate?) And of course, Lynn will be autographing copies.

Lynn has been a blast to work with. At first we went the sci-fi route, planning to launch her book at a convention, but with nothing scheduled nearby we had to come up with a Plan B. The funny thing is that Plan B is going to B so fabulous that I already have other authors asking for similar movie star treatment.

My response? Don't limit yourself to what's been done already. If you've got a horror book, maybe launch at a haunted house. If you write cowboy poetry, go to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering like author John Cline is doing. Or try to break a world record like I'm going to do when my middle-grade novel THE WATER FIGHT PROFESSIONAL comes out. (Anybody up for the world's biggest water fight?) If it's your book, make it a fun and memorable experience for you.