Posted by Teresa | Under Book Blog Tour
Tuesday Mar 9, 2010
I would like to introduce you to a wonderful and positive spirited guy. Author, Joe Heuer aka the Rock and Roll Guru.
Joe recently published a book called, #DreamTweet: 140 Enlightened Inspiration from a Rock and Roll Guru.
I have the honor of conducting a virtual book tour for #DreamTweet, published by ThinkAha books.
So I hope you will check back often to read and follow along the book tour for #DreamTweet to find out more about Joe and the book.
So let’s get started:
Author Interview with Maria Palma at BlogTalkRadio show Studio 747.
I receive questions from authors and writers about using online newsletters for helping promote their writing and/or their book(s) on the blog or website.
I share some of the benefits for writers and authors to establish an online newsletter (aka ezine) as a marketing tool as part of their online promotional plan such as:
1) Offering articles about the genre of your writing
2) Sharing your writing process and systems you use while you are writing your book
3) Profiles of your characters
4) Articles about writing a book
Neat week last week. Continuing to work with some wonderful writers and authors. One of my clients called and told me in celebration she finished writing her book! Whoohoo!
Also, this past Saturday, I co-hosted an event in Gulfport with Local Shops1.com called Resolutions Resolved. See pictures on Facebook. It was a nice event with some wonderful speakers such as Michele Northrup of Intensity Academy, who talked about how to SPICE up your brand, and Margo Hammond, former editor of St. Pete Times and co-author of Between the Covers, who discussed how to go after your dreams at any age.
So, here we go. Let me share with you some Tweets and Blog posts for Writers and Authors:
@thecreativepenn tweets about how big time publishing house, Simon & Schuster , have re-done their site and how it contains great posts and links about the importance for newbie authors as well as established authors to use social media, blogging and video to help market their books. She (@thecreativepenn) shares with you some of her favorite resources for blogging, social media and video.–>I noticed she mentions Wordpress (for her blog) and HostGator (for her hosting). I use the same and recommend them as well.
This post also had a nice little post about tips on how to do a book trailer.
@wahmrevolution tweeted about getting your writing noticed. This is a post from Authonomy, website for writers done by the book editors at Harper Collins. I did notice they have a tips page, which contains some nice articles from authors like Barbara Taylor Bradford. As an author, writer, editor or publisher, you can add a few chapters of your work (after you register) or join in the forum to support and ask questions. –>neat site for authors and writers. I signed up.
@georgeangus tweeted about one of his latest’s blog posts called, How to Publish an Ebook to Amazon Kindle. –>George takes the time to explain and give great tips about how to do this task right. For instance, he reminds you to not skimp on the details when doing the description of your book. Also, be sure you have a quality book cover (people do judge a book by the cover).
@annemazer tweeted about A Writer’s Best Friend is….Failure?She talks about how the most beloved books (and writers) are the ones that make us think, give us something to shoot for because they overcame adversity (failure) in their lives. Failure can be a great motivator. So don’t look at it as a bad thing…you can choose to use it as a positive in your writing.
@inkyelbows tweeted about an interview about her writing and her (really neat) comic strip, Will Write For Chocolate.–> Very cute for writers…but really for all entrepreneurs.
@juliannemaclean posted a great (and cute) distractive (video) done by three NYT Best Selling Authors – @TeresaMederios, Eloise James and Connie Brockway. –>great job ladies!
After that—there really isn’t anything else to say, except, “Don’t let fear stop you. You are a great writer. Your readers will love your writing. Keep writing!!”
I have the distinct pleasure to interview one of my favorite people and good friends, Heidi Richards Mooney to discuss her latest ebook, Quirky Marketing Calendar. As I am a huge fan of using holidays and special events to help promote books, products or services, I am aware of these special days, but I even learned a thing or two (really more than that) by reading Heidi’s newest book.
I asked Heidi to share with you more about her and her ebook, Quirky Marketing Calendar.
Please tell us a little bit about you.
I am what is popularly referred to these days as a serial entrepreneur. I have had several businesses over the years including a child care center, a bar, restaurants, a retail florist and most recently a coaching and consulting business ~ Redhead Marketing. I am also the author of 8 books (printed), and co- author of 2, and collaborator, creator of several dozen ebooks including my latest release “Quirky Marketing: 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany and Non-Traditional Holidays. In addition to sharing marketing and PR ideas with clients and my audiences, I am passionate about helping clients get their FACEBOOK, TWITTER and BLOG on…. I am also the founder of several organizations for women including the Women in Ecommerce and Inventing Women. For the past seven years I have been studying the Internet and Social Media particularly as it relates to growing a business online. I currently participate in more than a dozen social networking sites including Twitter, FaceBook, Linkedin, RYZE, MySpace, eCademy, Xing, Yahoo Groups to name a few.
What makes me an expert? In addition to interviewing hundreds of experts on the topic including bloggers, email experts, forum leaders and Internet celebrities in the top ten Social Networking Sites, I have personally developed my own skills and applied them to my businesses resulting in double digit growth over the past several years. Of course, when the economy took a nose-dive in 2008, it affected my retail business but with all the skills I had learned along the way, I have been able to bounce back quickly, unlike many of my peers. In 2003, I caught the attention of the International Virtual Women’s Chamber of Commerce and was named one of 50 women shaping the Internet. In March of 2009 because of my steady and strong presence on Twitter, I was fortunate enough to be listed by Only2Clicks.com as a Twitter Woman to Follow. And in April of last year my story appeared in the Book Twitter Success Stories featuring Internet Marketing guru Willie Crawford and 16 other social networking experts. In 2009, HER Mastermind Group ~ one of the top 20 networks on RYZE in the US ~ named me Networker of the Year. .
When did you start writing? It seems as though I have been writing for years, and in reality at least since I was 8 when I wrote my first poem. Since then I dabbled in poetry and nothing more until 1997 when I started writing articles for the floral industry. Like most association publications, they had a difficult time getting content. I don’t think it is quite the problem today because people are much more savvy and know that “content is king!” At any rate, I had written 9 articles when the publisher of the magazine called me and said “Maggie (he called me the Maggie Mitchell of Miramar ), these articles are really good. You ought to think about writing a book.” I said, “Walter I can’t write a book! I don’t know the first thing about writing!” to which he replied, “Nonsense! You already have 9 chapters.” I thought about it for a few days and said, well what the heck. I can try. I had just finished reading Chicken Soup for the Soul and one of the Stories in it was about “burying your cants.” So I figured it might be a good time to do just that. To make a long story short, 9 months later in early 1998, my first book “Rose Marketing on a Daisy Budget” was born.
For those whom are beginning writers (or those who wish to write but are apprehensive), what is your advice? The best advice I ever got was to pick up the pen and just start writing. I think it is still the best advice. Some people will say but what do I write about. Write about what you know, about your day, about your kids, pets, food, whatever turns you on. Get comfortable writing. Once you do, then the thing you really want to write will start flowing from you. Another thing I tell my clients is to carry either a pad of paper and pen or journal with them at all times or a small recorder so they can record those ideas as they come. Believe me, you don’t want to leave it to memory. Sometimes an idea is so fleeting you get it and almost instantly forget what it was. At least in my case. I have pads of paper by my nightstand, by my couch, in the kitchen and even in the bathroom. I drive with a little mini recorder next to me and can pick it up at any stop light or when stuck in traffic and can “jot down” or record some notes. It has helped me get clarity on articles, ideas for chapters of books and so much more. By the way, it took me more than a week to finish this interview which to me is the perfect example of “just doing it.” I kept putting it off for other things and when I got around to it, it just flowed. Took me less than an hour to complete.
Please let us know your inspiration for the ebook, Quirky Marketing Calendar? I mentioned earlier that I am also a florist. Early in business I knew that in order to stand out from all the other shops we had to market differently from our competitors. I actually created a holiday called “Get out of the Doghouse” day and that was really the beginning of the journey. Seeing the power of marketing “quirky” unknown holidays gave me the idea to do research for more any holidays and so I did and started doing that on a regular basis. My customers, prospects and the media love it.
Tell the readers what makes this edition different from previous editions. This edition is 40+ pages longer. It has at least 70 additional holiday marketing ideas, an expanded resource section AND we also included fill-in-the-blank forms that I use in my own marketing strategies and projects.
Can you share a few tips from the ebook? Sure! Here are 3 of my favorite that have resulted in increased sales, media exposure and were just plain fun to do:
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month ~ Every year during January the local bloodmobile parked outside my retail shop and people in the community would show up and give blood. Everyone who does so, gets a free bouquet from my shop as a small thank you. The bloodmobile does all the promotion ahead of time, including sending media releases to the local newspapers and radio stations and postcards to past donor (approx. 5,000). They also create a flyer for us to pass out to our customers prior to the event and to those who stop by the clinic as well. We generally get at least a mention in the “what’s happening” calendar in the 3 local papers and have even had half page articles written about the event. It’s a media dream come true and we are doing good in the community. A win-win.
This one is from a friend of mine: January 23rd is National Pie Day ~ The American Pie Council created this day simply to celebrate the pie. National Pie Day is a special day that is set aside to bake and cook all of your favorite pies. On this day, you are also encouraged to bake a few new pie recipes. And most importantly, it’s a day to eat pies! So what could you do to celebrate National Pie Day? Here’s what one Savvy Marketer Did: Lenore Nolan-Ryan’s Cooking School & Catering Company created a “Let’s Bake Pies Together Day at her cooking school and invited her customers and prospects to Come bake with Lenore in her kitchen to honor those you love. In her marketing she wrote: “Pie”triotism … Whether it’s baking or buying a pie for a member of the military or their family, a local fireman, teacher or parent, the gift of the pie is the sincerest gesture of kindness. Give that certain someone, that hero in your life, a Pie! Join in! Come early or come late, but don’t miss out. Put on an apron and roll out the fun or call and place your order for a pie and we will roll it, fill it, bake it, wrap and ribbon it for delivery or pick-up! Whichever way you slice it, love is the main ingredient!” You can learn more about Lenore’s cooking school at www.LenoreNolanRyan.com.
As I mentioned earlier, July is National “Doghouse Repairs” Month ~ Dog treats are a hit with animal lovers, the people kind. Give away cookies in the shape of a dog bone… wrap them individually in cellophane with a little bow, add your business card and pass out at networking events or in your establishment. I purchased the dog bone shaped cookie cutter at a local craft store, took it to my local grocer/baker and they baked us 1,000 cookies for this promotion. We then took them on trays to local radio and TV stations delivered by a local actor in a “Scooby Doo” – like costume. We were a big hit, on the news and in one radio stations newsletter. Traffic to our website went up, a couple of the radio employees became customers and one station interviewed me about the holiday.
You launched your book in February and the book is an annual calendar. That being the case, why would someone want to buy the book say in June? The ideas in Quirky Marketing Calendar are TIMELESS! It does not matter when you buy it or where you start because these are holidays that occur every year! You can buy this calendar TODAY (or any day) and use it for the next 12 months, 2 years or the life of your business!
You decided to publish this as an ebook instead of a traditional print book? What were your reasons for this decision? Mainly the costs involved in printing it. Because of the size (it is an 11 by 8.5 inch book) and it has color pictures inside. To me Quirky is a very visual idea and so the graphics inside are in color. I will loose that when it is published in grayscale. The cost to produce in color would make the calendar about $50 each. While I think that is a good price for the type of information in Quirky Marketing, I also know that most small business owners are on limited budgets and this book really needs to be affordable for companies of all sizes. I am currently negotiating with some print on demand companies for a good price. We are likely going to offer a printed version for around $39.00. The other issue is timeliness. With a digital issue I can add ideas as they come to me keeping the book current. Right now, all new holiday marketing ideas are being posted to the Quirky Marketing blog. They are designated *NEW so people reading them will understand they are not yet in the current edition. It also gives the site fresh content without devaluing the purchase of the book because there are so many more ideas in the book than will be posted to the site.
So, what is on the horizon for you and your business for the rest of 2010? I am working on another book which has been in the works for about 2 years. The subject is writing a book. I have found it to be more difficult to write a book about writing a book than about other subjects. I think it’s because it has been done so many times. So I am working on my own slant. We will see how it unfolds. Also working on publishing a book that includes works by my late daughter Alexis. She passed away in 2007 and left an incredible legacy of poetry which must be shared with the world. I plan to compile her poetry with mine and that of my mother. My father is also a poet and has written 2 books of poetry. So it’s in our genetic makeup. I don’t write much poetry these days simply because I am so busy running my internet businesses, writing articles and coaching clients.
I am also putting a proposal together to submit Quirky Marketing Calendar to major publishing houses. It is unique enough that I believe at least one visionary company will be interested in making it a mainstream business publication. This is the fourth edition and to my knowledge the original Holiday Marketing Calendar. There may be other “copycats” out there on a smaller scale, but they don’t have the same unique and little known marketing ideas this book includes.
Here is a question just for fun—what is your favorite food and why? I don’t have a favorite food. I love food of all cultural backgrounds especially Italian and Mexican. However I recently learned how to make Shepherd’s pie and gee, it’s hard to beat. That and quiche. My husband is Sicilian and a fantastic cook. I only cook when I am in the mood (not too often about once a week or so). Can’t compete with his cooking so I don’t even try!
How can others get in contact with you and purchase your ebook? The best way is email me at heidi@successandthensome.com or call me at 954-625-6606. You can also find me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/heidirichards.mooney and Twitter at http://twitter.com/heidirichards. You can purchase a copy of Quirky Marketing at www.QuirkyMarketingCalendar.com for $19.95. The book currently comes with more than $1,700 Bonus products and services generously provided by my colleagues. While you are there, be sure to sign up for the RSS feed so you can get all the new holiday marketing ideas as they are posted. I have posted 12 new marketing ideas in February alone.
I had the privilege to interview a lady whom I have been connected with for awhile online but haven’t yet had the pleasure to meet in person (one of these days though, I hope!).
Carolyn Howard-Johnson (follow her on twitter at @frugalbookpromo) is author of the How to do it Frugally series, with her first two books in the series out titled, “The Frugal Editor and “The Frugal Book Promoter” and a few more she will talk about in the interview below.
So enjoy getting to know these great lady and author, Carolyn Howard-Johnson.
When did you first start writing?
When I found out that the cute boys in high school were on the newspaper staff.
What inspires your writing?
Just about everything. It’s about connecting, spirit to spirit. Travel is especially good. But so is networking!
You write different genres- so you never picked a genre?
Yes, I’ve never picked one. I started out in journalism. Still love it. Moved to novels. Then short stories. Then poetry. I still do all of those things. Each informs the other, which goes back to what inspires my writing. (-:
[By the way, see my signature below for some of the places you can find my different genres. www.budurl.com/ShoppingPlaza gets you to my buy page on my Web site but it isn't even caught up yet.]
How long did it take you to write your books?
My novel took about 40 years. I am not kidding. It coalesced into an idea as a teen-ager and I didn’t start writing it until I was nearly 60. It fermented, changed, and grew in that time. But I’ve also written first drafts of nonfiction books in a week.
Do you have a your system for writing?
Oh, sure. But I don’t follow it. I tell my clients and students, do I say, not as I do.
What three tips would you offer beginning writers to help them?
The keywords are persistence, passion and education. With each new genre comes a new learning curve. With each new book. If we don’t do the homework, we only look unprofessional.
What were some writing books you read when you first started to help you with your writing?
I love John Gardner’s book on writing short stories. It helps with writing novels, too. I love Tom Chiarella’s Writing Dialogue and recommend it to my students. Go to www.storyfix.com for good advice on writing. But writers should also bone up on publicity and promotion way before they’re published. Thus, my multi award-winning series of HowToDoItFrugally books for writers including the one on editing. Editing, believe it or not, is a form of marketing yourself. One of the most important.
What else is in the works for you for the rest of 2009?
Oh! Oh! Brand new. Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy. It may not even be on Amazon by the time this goes to print. But the e-book is available here. I’m excited because it’s helpful in small, easy-to-take doses and frugal. Only 6.95. It was hard bringing it in at that price.
Where can people learn more about you and pick up copies your books?
Unlike many authors, I love Amazon. Sure they can be a pain but they are also a powerhouse that sells books for you. Writers can find my blog and my published books on my profile page there, www.budurl.com/CarolynsAmazProfile. My Website is also full of resources for writers as well as information on my books. www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
Thanks so much Carolyn. I know my readers will enjoy reading your post.
Thank you, Teresa. By the way, your readers should know that you and I are a good example of what marketing and networking do. They make friends for you, friends who help one another. I do hope they will ALL read The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) because I know it can make the difference between a book’s being successful or languishing.
Posted by Teresa | Under Writing Lessons
Monday Feb 22, 2010
Folkheart Press and Key Business Partners ran a “True Love” writing contest where we ask for an essay to describe your true love.
Well, we have a winner!
Dalton Teczon’s essay “One True Love Memory” was selected by you the voters to be the First Place winner!
Second Place goes to Jenn Krentz who wrote “True Love”.
Both winning essays will be featured on the Folkheart Press Blog in the coming weeks.
1) You wrote about true love – what would be your advice to others who seek it?
Don’t go looking for it, it will find you when the time is right. Sometimes you need to first believe that you deserve to be loved as well as are willing to give love.
2) And in a few words…what does true love mean to you? It’s the feeling of total completion. It’s as if there was no other life before and could never be a life without your true love. Love is unconditional, longsuffering, forgiving, nurturing, strengthening, it’s life itself. It’s being two idividuals, but of one soul. You feel part of you is missing if the other is not around.
3) Other than poems, do you write other formats (short stories, novels)?
Yes I do, I write novels and screenplays.
4) How long have you been writing? I started writing when I was 13 years old.
5) Do you plan on enter more contests in the future? Yes
6) If you have other writings, please share with us where we can view and/or read them.
I have a few poems on poetry.com and I am in the process of finding a literary agent/publisher for my novels. And I also have written two celebrity biographies on tv.com.
http://www.tv.com/julia-english/person/167077/summary.html?q=julia english&tag=search_results;title;1
and
http://www.tv.com/ric-marlow/person/65702/summary.html?q=ric marlow&tag=search_results;title;1
This week while watching the half pipe (I think that is what it is called) at the Winter Olympics, I noticed some of the girls were either listening to their i-pods or texting (or tweeting) something on their phones. I thought, “They are in the midst of one of the biggest dreams of their careers and they are taking the time to send a text to someone or tweet something. Wow!”
I even saw on one of the new reality shows when a business owner got shafted by one of her clients, she mentioned she was going to post something on Facebook about this person. Even a bigger wow!
It really does go to show you the “power” of the social networks these days.
TWEETS-ACULAR for Writers and Authors
:
February 19th
@writerscoach tweeted about her blog post titled 5 Easy Ways to go from Unpublished Writer to Published Writer at @missyfrye Incurable Disease of Writing –>great advice about submitting your writing to article directory and small local publications to name a few.
@peggybechko tweeted about a post at Pick the Brain blog called 10 Writing Tips from Masters. –>Right from the top of the article it starts with a good one. Every time you are included to use the word “very”, replace it with the word “damn” and most likely you won’t mind taking it out of a sentence. Another one is about learning to “love” criticism. –>I know this was a bit hard for me to get used to when my editor started editing my writing. But quickly I learned it was for the betterment of my writing.
@merlynkevans tweeted via @thecreativepenn about how to become a Amazon Kindle Bestseller by @jakonrath. He shares his story about his ebooks he sells on Amazon Kindle. He even talks about a plant called Kudzu. –>Great story about how writers shouldn’t give up and sometimes it is about finding the right path for your writing.
I hope you have enjoyed this week’s Tweets-acular!
