TIMES WE DON’T WRITE

Sometimes being a writer means not writing, and that’s what’s been up with me since my latest book came out. In addition, I’ve been proofing the next book, which is now set to be released May 1. That’s Arkansas Meals and Memories: Lift Your Eyes to the Mountains. This book of 150 authentic Boston Mountain (that’s in the Arkansas Ozarks) recipes has been greatly anticipated, it seems.

Meanwhile, I’m promoting. When I’m not on the phone setting up dates, I’m on email attempting the same. The rest of the time I’m at a venue somewhere, visiting with the good readers who are my best friends. Because the small communities in the four counties covered by my book often have no bookstores, but have libraries, that’s where I aimed for the first round of signings. Folks in these small towns know where to come for books, whether it’s to buy from a visiting author or check one out.

A writer told me that she’s from Texas and the library nearby will not allow authors to sell books there. How short sighted of them. This might bring people into the library who would later become patrons because of this exposure. Where does the library think their books come from, a machine? Authors are the people who keep libraries open with their contributions.

Thankfully, so far I’ve not run into any library in our region, large or small, that won’t allow me to sign and sell my books there. I always give the library one copy at my cost for their shelves. This works out well for everyone.

Nonfiction books call for a different approach in promotion than do fiction. Try to think of unusual places to hold your book signings. I once held one at a frame shop. It was fun and different. Try to go beyond a simple signing. Discuss research, unusual subjects out of the book or even read a few passages. Then talk straight to your audience, encourage them to ask questions and discuss their experiences with books. And do this with an audience of one or two to twenty or thirty. When we include our readers in our discussion, they feel more important, which of course they are. Without them, we might as well stack our books under the bed.

Another thing I do is donate a copy of my book to each person who went beyond the call of duty to help me gather information and photos. Like the volunteer who works for the historical society and takes extra time to find what I need. Or someone who donates a lot of photos.

So get that book finished and begin planning your promotion, because you’re the only one who can determine how many copies of your book sells.