Whether traditionally published, indie published, or even published by a vanity press, book marketing and promoting should be high on any author’s list of priorities. Sales can’t happen without people knowing about your latest creation.
In our area every Spring, one of the largest gatherings in the south happens as a way of celebrating the written word. On May 20th, 2023, Knoxville, Tn will hold its annual Children’s Festival of Reading at World’s Fair Park. With up to 15,000 families attending each year, this is one of the best opportunities for authors to promote their books.
But what if you don’t have any books to sell or maybe just one?
Don’t let that stop you. Be creative!
For the first five or six years I had a booth at the festival, I was a pre-published author. I spent those early years networking and making friends with various authors all over the globe. When festival time came, I reached out to my friends and THEIR signed books began to pour in! I did a series of giveaways using those signed books and created an email list from the people who entered the giveaways. All my friends also included plenty of swag so people visiting my booth was able to walk away with freebies galore!
This year, I’m doing something a little different. I’ve invited another local author to hang out with me at the Story Catcher Publishing booth where they will get the chance to promote their own brand. I wanted to help showcase an author writing in a different genre than what Story Catcher Publishing releases and I found the perfect partner in Susan Weaver Jones. Here’s more about Susan…
Susan Weaver Jones, a local author and retired elementary educator, resides in Farragut, Tennessee. She has taught students in kindergarten through eighth grade in Florida, as well as Tennessee. In addition, she has written a total of six leveled books for beginning readers in Hameray Publishing Company’s Kaleidoscope Collection and their Zoozoo Animal World Collection (www.hameraypublishing.com). Look for her books on Hameray’s website: We Recycle, Service Dogs, Hide and Seek, Spider Monkey, Toucan, and Yak. All six titles are available in English and Spanish.
This is Susan’s first time participating at the festival and I’m sure she will have a blast!
Story Catcher Publishing will also be showcasing our entire line of released titles, including our picture books, our award-winning historical fiction chapter books, our young adult fantasy novel, our memoir writing journal, and our latest release…THE WARRIORS THREE (a sport adventure chapter book)…coming just in time for the festival!
Mark your calendar, tell your friends, and hop on down to our booth at the Children’s Festival of Reading on Saturday, 5/20, from 10 am until 3 pm. The event is free and there are plenty of fun for everyone!!
And coming this fall, Story Catcher Publishing will open it’s doors to author submissions. We are a hybrid publisher offering services and support to authors everywhere. And as our mascot, Finnigan, says, “Catching Great Stories…Together!”
************
Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Alliance of Independent Authors, and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
Want to connect?
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays
Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays
LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/Story Catcher Publishing
Goodreads: Donna L Martin
Mail: Donna L Martin
c/o Story Catcher Publishing
P O Box 27788
Knoxville, Tn 37927