De-Stress for the Holidays, Part II

Note: This is Part II in a series of posts written by my scrapbooking friends on how they de-stress over the holidays. Be sure to check back on Dec. 15, 18 and 23 for more installments--Joanna

We are big outside light decorators. We have about 15,000 lights. So we enjoy also seeing other's displays. A nice way for us to de-stress is to do dinner out and take a drive looking for Christmas lights. Tonight we did just that and my Mom was with us. I was happy to see how much she enjoyed the other display and then we got back home to ours. This is our first Christmas without my Dad, he went to heaven in June. So she is spending the holidays with me and my sister, some time with both of us. As avid scrapbookers we need to remember to make memories not stress!

Mira

How Stephanie Meyer Did It

As many of you know, I've been working every weekend doing signings in local bookstores. Because I'm usually at the front of the store, I get a lot of questions. And the one I get asked most often is, "Where can I find those Twilight books?"

Here's a great article on what Stephanie Meyer did to build her brand. More importantly, notice that she didn't reach a tipping point (see Malcolm Gladwell's book Tipping Point for a better understanding of the term) until Book #3 in the series.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-twilightnet29-2008nov29,0,7574826.story

And here's the link to an archives of articles by Malcom Gladwell

http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/index.html

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet

You are a real TWIT.

Well, it used to be a slam, but today it might be a compliment.

As part of my new goal to become more social network savvy, I've been twittering. You can follow me at twitter.com/joannaslan I think. Who knows how all this works?

Meanwhile, here's an interesting article on using Twitter for business:

http://www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-business/

How can an author use Twitter?

1. Tell folks about your upcoming signings.
2. Keep fans "in the know" about your progress on your books.
3. Promote other authors--it's the right thing to do.
4. Notify your Tweeties of recent blog posts. (Okay, I need to get into the habit of this.)
5. Beats me...any ideas?

De-Stress for the Holidays, Part I

Note: Last year I asked my scrapbooking friends to tell me how they de-stress during the holidays. I loved their answers so much that I decided to post one every Tuesday and Thursday (Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18 and 23) until Christmas. So be sure you can follow this blog for a very special treat--some welcome ideas for making the holidays a lot BRIGHTER because they aren't powered by STRESS energy!--Joanna

Spending several days away from my home at my parents' home, as much as I love them, can stress me out. Plus, I have a difficult time sitting and doing nothing and my parents need to sit and rest much more than I do and want me sitting with them. So, I've learned to take some sort of craft/activity that I can talk and do at the same time. Gives me something to keep my hands occupied and de-stresses me at the same time. Sometimes, my mother gets involved as well, which is another plus. The crafts/activities? So far, sorting through decades of non-digital prints for scanning onto CDs (and discussing the memories), making button trees with styrofoam trees/buttons/decorative straight pins, painting and decorating a kraft paper house into a Halloween decoration, etc.


Deborah P

He's Joe the PLUMBER, Not Joe the AUTHOR

Here's a great editorial by Timothy Egan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/opinion/07egan.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

True, there are all sorts of people whose lives are fascinating, whose thoughts deserved to be shared, and who are NOT by trade writers. But...I seriously take exception with the idea that every book by a minor celebrity deserves to be published. Egan's opinion piece is about Joe the Plumber, and Joe's book. Joe's book! Give me a break! Crikey! Hello! Aren't we teaching our kids that celebrity is more important than substance? Than anyone who stumbles into the limelight deserves a book contract and more attention?

Here's a way to make this stop: Don't buy Joe's book.

Winter 2008 Ezine Arrives!

If you didn't get your copy, email me at savetales@aol.com and put EZINE in the subject line. We'll send you your very own FREE copy.

What's in this issue?

* What's Hot and What's Not--A brief look at scrapbook trends.
* Green Scrapbooking--A continuation of our ideas for using recycled and found materials on your pages.
* Contest Announcements
* Freebies--Yes, you can get a free file full of fun (how's that for alliteration?) hand-drawn art to download and use on your pages.

We've already had 20+ requests for the Freebies and the ezine is only just going out now!

Don't forget--You can go to my website www.joannaslan.com and sign up so that you AUTOMATICALLY get your copy. That's a great idea, because we have a special issue going out on December 20, a BONUS issue with all sorts of cool holiday art.

A Writer's Journey: From Author to Book Promoter

© Marta Stephens 2008 all rights reserved

Joanna's note: I find Marta to be one of the most savvy book promoters in the known universe, so I've asked her to share some of her wisdom here. Consider it an early holiday present! Enjoy! Oh, and you might want to make sure you're following this blog through your RSS feed or whatever so you don't miss a posting by this incredible talent.


Whether we have taken formal writing courses or went the self-help route, the need to create is what nudged us forward and to heck with the sacrifices and rejections we’ve endured on the road to getting published. The problem is, during the years we studied plot and character development, imagery and all the other critical components of fiction writing, most of us neglected to consider one of the most important pieces of the puzzle—book promotions.

One misconception about book promotion is that the publisher will handle all of it. The fact is, campaigns will vary from one publisher to another, but regardless of the size of the publishing house, the bulk of the responsibility will fall squarely on the author’s shoulders.

The narrowest definition of the role of a publisher is that they make information available for public view. A reputable publisher will assign an editor to work with the author and provide copyediting, graphic design, and will initiate production – printing. In some cases the publisher will make the book available in print and in electronic media. They will also secure the legal rights of the author and purchase the ISBN.

Several months before a novel is released, the publisher will send out advanced review copies (ARC) and will continue to submit the book for reviews throughout the contracted period of time. Most publishers will spotlight their authors on their website, they may promote their books at key events that attract book sellers, will seek out interview opportunities, will submit the books to writing contests, and will make them available to the public via online bookstores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million and other traditional bookstores. The publisher may also sell the international rights to the book (have the book translated) and assist with film rights if it comes to that.

These are the building blocks to a book’s success in today’s market, but they don’t address the issue of book promotion. That’s where you, the author, come in and take charge and the best place to start is by developing an Internet presence.

Imagine yourself standing in the middle of a 5-circle bull’s eye.

1) That inner circle is you; who you are, your experiences, and what you know. It also includes your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Anyone you come in contact with on a regular basis.

2) The next circle includes potential readers within your community who you may know, but with whom you’re not in contact with on a regular basis. It also includes people who don’t know about you or your book. The hometown advantage is on your side though. With word of mouth endorsements from those within your inner circle, local press about your book, and book signings or other events, you have a good chance to reach a portion of the population.

3) The third circle from the center includes individuals you have contact with on a professional basis. These are more than likely other authors; members of author groups and organizations where you self-promote on a regular basis.

4) The fourth circle includes people who have bought your book.

5) The outer fifth circle represents potential readers in a global market. That’s your goal -- to take your promotional campaign from your inner circle to the outer circle. The only way to get there is by having an Internet presence. It will draw readers, but more important, the publishing world demands it. The good news is that the Internet provides authors with unlimited ways to promote their books and most offer free or low cost options.

Ironically, the key to a successful promotions campaign is not to discuss your book. Instead, allow potential readers to get to know you. Through your communications, readers will acquire an interest in you and your books. Post a variety of information about yourself and your writing on several sites. Take every opportunity to expand your network of contacts. Cross promote with other authors so you can all benefit by reaching new readers on each other’s blogs. Eventually, you will gain a following. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Develop a brand identity. What makes you, you? What is it about your writing that sets you apart from other authors? Can you tie your writing to a charitable cause? What are you known for outside your writer’s life? Does your expertise have any connection with your writing? Pinpoint what it is about your story that readers seem to identify with and develop it. For an example of this, check out the Nero Wolfe website: www.nerowolfe.org/index.htm. Include that branding in all your communications, printed material, the design of your website, blogs, etc.
Think about your strength(s) as a writer. Are you particularly good at writing dialogue, plot development, or characterization? If so, write a “how-to” article about it.
Write a piece about your writing journey; where you’ve been, what you’re doing, and where you’re going.

What’s the story behind the story? I’m always fascinated to learn the origin of story ideas.

Develop a boilerplate and tack it to the end of every article you write and add it to your e-mail signature so readers and e-mail recipients will have easy access to your website and a way to learn more about you. Here’s my boilerplate:
Marta Stephens, author of the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series published by BeWrite Books (UK).THE DEVIL CAN WAIT – (2008), SILENCED CRY (2007)Honorable Mention, 2008 New York Book Festival, Top Ten, 2007 Preditors and Editors Reader Poll (mystery)http://www.martastephens-author.com/

Send queries to interviewers and ask if they would be willing to send you some questions and post the interview on their site. Not sure where to find interviewers? Study fellow authors’ websites and make a note of who has interviewed them then contact those sites. Ask fellow authors if they would be willing to interview you and post it on their website, blog, or a social network you have in common. Some review sites offer interviews as well. Make sure you read and follow the sites’ submission guidelines before you contact them.

Study the interview questions you’ve received. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to write entire articles based on your responses to some of the more thought-provoking questions. Don’t stop there though. If you read an interesting interview, consider how you would answer one of the more difficult questions and develop your answer into an article.

Post links on your website to the articles you’ve written, your interviews, and reviews you’ve received that are published on other blogs or sites.

Consider the various sites you belong to. Develop an announcement about your published works mentioned above to post on these sites as well but be sure to tweak your post to fit your readership in each group.

The consequences of becoming a public figure is something most writers don’t fully consider when choosing this career path. Whether on the Internet or in person, how an author breaks out of his or her shyness will of course depend on their comfort level. But at some point the author will need to break out of that shell if he or she expects to sell books.

Regardless of your goals; to reach that small target audience within the two inner circles of your bull’s eye or to connect with a global market, make yourself accessible to the public. Remember that no one knows your story and characters better than you so who better to promote them? If you love what you do, it will show and your enthusiasm will spark a desire and spread like wildfire.

Marta Stephens is the author of the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series published by BeWrite Books (UK).THE DEVIL CAN WAIT – (2008), SILENCED CRY (2007) Honorable Mention, 2008 New York Book

Jumping Off the Facebook Cliff

Groan.

I was nagged into it.

When my husband started bragging about all his Facebook friends, and how he communicated with our son through Facebook, I caved.

So I spent this morning trying to woo friends. Turns out, I have very little IDEA how to get more friends...especially on Facebook.

I know social marketing is important. I keep buying books and reading articles, and you know what? It's all GREEK to me.

But I'll keep trying.

So if you aren't my friend, won't you be my friend? PUH-leeze!

Shhh! How I Handsell Books

Don't tell anyone, okay?

I've found standing in front of the table is best. I think if you read about body language, behind a table or desk is always considered more intimidating. I hold my book up in front of me like the perfume salesladies do--that sort of warns folks that I'm hawking my book. So they know I'm not trying to get their cell phone biz. Then I say, "May I tell you about my book?" Or better yet, "I'm a local author signing here today. May I tell you about my book?"

Usually, they hesitate, then say, "Uh, okay." If they say, "No." I thank them politely and step away. Often they come back by. The trick is to be friendly and CALM. I've found that sounding very, oh, confident but not excited works best. (It's hard because your heart is pounding.)

If they have a child with them, I ask the child, "Can you guess how many words are in this book?" They never can, but I give them a bookmark for trying. Parents appreciate anyone being nice to their kids, and they love the fact you are giving their child something to keep him/her occupied while the parent shops.

I'm averaging selling 8-10 books an hour this way. I keep refining my pitch. This is the best training for getting to know your audience ever. And the booksellers start to get really excited when they see how your book is coming through the check out line.

One of my friends said, "I could NEVER do this."

Yes, you can. If you believe your work has value, you can do it. In the beginning, you'll feel absolutely sick at your stomach with terror. You'll search their faces and see NOTHING and think, "Oh, my God, why did I ever sign up for this? They HATE me. They think I'm stupid." Then to your surprise they'll say, "Could you sign that?"

It's just amazing. I figure I sell one out of four or five people I approach. It's strictly a numbers game. But one I'm willing to play to move my books.

Winners

Here are the winners of the contest in the back of Paper, Scissors, Death:

* Stacy C. of Minnesota won the Grand Prize of a Scrapper’s Dream Vacation including dinner with me! (I promise to use my company manners, Stacey.)

* Debbie F. of Tennessee won the Second Prize, the Snapfish Premium Photo Album.

* Molly F. of Minnesota won the Third Prize, the Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Pack.

And here are the winners of the Best of British Scrapbooking Contest 2008:

* Overall Winner is Kim Tomlinson

* Best New Talent Winners are Jane Knight and Sarah Bond
* Best of British Winners are Jo-Anne Cavanagh, Julie Kirk and Michelle Jackson-Mogford. Below is First Noel by Jo-Anne Cavanagh.

When Do You Need an Agent? Part II

Last weekend, a book buyer surprised me with this question: "Did your agent come find you? Or did you find your agent?"

I had this quickie mental image of my agent, Liz, going door-to-door in the neighborhood and asking, "Any writers in the house?"

But I bit back a chuckle. I suppose someday an agent might "come find" me or one of my friends. But right now, most of the authors I know actively sought out an agent.

When do you need an agent?

Well, it's sort of like, when do you need a real estate agent?

When you have a house.

For most of us--and remember, there's always an exception--until we have something to sell, we don't "need" an agent. So I pitched Liz at SleuthFest on representing me AFTER I'd finished writing what became Paper, Scissors, Death. Oh, yeah, it would be nice to have someone to help you decide what to write. Or someone to discuss this crazy business with us. But...until you have a manuscript to sell, you have little or nothing to show an agent. And agents get approached all the time (at least, this is what I've seen at conferences) by folks who have an idea for a book, but do NOT have a manuscript, much less a finished product.

Jordan Dane has some great thoughts on retaining an agent. Check it out at

http://www.jordandane.com/writers.php

Why You Need an Agent--and Query Letters that Worked--Part I

I promised to write about agents, so here I go.

Let's start with the four ways for getting an agent that I personally know work:*

1. Pitch an agent at a writers' conference--meet the agent face-to-face and tell him/her about your book. SleuthFest is a great writers' conference for this. So's Crime Bake. Why? They offer face time with agents. You will need to craft your pitch so you can say it in your sleep. Try it on several friends and watch their reactions. Do they smile? Do their eyes light up? Remember that agents expect you to be nervous. Heck, they've done this before. And be prepared to send at least 50 pages of your work-in-progress. Better yet, finish your book first. If you're writing fiction, they've been pitched by dozens of folks who never finish their manuscripts. So be prepared--have yours done.

2. Pitch an agent online. In this age of Internet, this is a great way to get a speedy response. Use a guide to agents such as the excellent one by Jeff Herman. Go to Predators and Editors athttp://anotherealm.com/prededitors/ Join the Guppies--which is a special interest group for not-yet-published authors who are members of Sisters in Crime. (You must be a SinC member first, then you pay a small fee to join Guppies.) The Guppies have a list of editors they'll share. Or use the Writers Market guide to editors. Make a list of those who will accept online queries. Then, work your list.

3. Get a referal from an author. This is the hardest of the the opportunities. If you haven't already published a book, haven't established yourself as a professional, it can be very tricky for another author to recommend you. After all, she or he will be sharing an important asset--the name and contact info for his/her agent. So don't count on this method. And never, ever just walk up to an author cold and ask for this info. That's rude.

4. Send a query packet or query letter to an agent--cold turkey. It can work. But to do a good job you need to write a GREAT query letter. There are examples at Gumbo Writers. Check them out at http://www.gumbowriters.com/

* I have friends who have used these methods or I have tried them myself.

The Magic of Friendship

"Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

-Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

My friends have been the most magical portion of my life. I met Shirley Damsgaard and Angie Fox before I had a contract for the book that became Paper, Scissors, Death. Even though I had been published ten times in non-fiction, I still felt like a pretender. But neither woman thought of me as a “wannabe.” They both treated me with respect, as an equal. And that’s part of the magic of friendship—our friends see us as who we can become, not just who we are. They believe in us when we forget to believe in ourselves.

Early on, Shirley and I fell into the habit of brainstorming plot ideas. It was fascinating to me to hear how she would start with a germ of an idea or a scene and spin that into a manuscript. Shirley is a smart cookie and one of the best storytellers I know.

Angie and I found common interests in the promotional side of writing. She’s another wickedly smart woman, but she and I tend to talk more about how to reach our readers. Angie is an astute observer of the marketplace.

In Paper, Scissors, Death, I wanted to re-create the magic of friendship. I chose to give my heroine Kiki Lowenstein two very different role models. There’s Mert, the hardscrabble cleaning lady with her homey wisdom and nurturing ability. And there’s Dodie, the “tough” businesswoman who teaches Kiki to be self-reliant and not to hide from unpleasant information. Both women help my heroine grow into a more confident, capable woman.

Of course, there’s also hunky Detective Chad Detweiler, but he’s a special sort of friend. I named Detweiler after a guy I knew in college who was a friend. Not a boyfriend, but a real friend. And I named Kiki Lowenstein after the therapist in The Prince of Tides. Remember the scene where Nick Nolte is driving his convertible over the Cooper River and repeating, “Lowenstein, Lowenstein, Lowenstein”? To my mind, a good therapist is a paid, professional friend—and in the movie and book, her belief in him sets him free.

After all, that’s what Shirley and Angie have done for me. When I lack confidence, they fill my empty cup with praise and reminders of what I’ve achieved. When I feel like I’m not capable, they put the cherry on top that gives me an extra bit of moxie.

How about you? What have your girlfriends done to make your life better? Who makes the magic in your world?

About Literary Agents.

Rick Frishman posted this interesting take on literary agents.

Literary agents have emerged as the publishers' gatekeepers. They are middlemen (and women), go-betweens and facilitators. Approximately 80 percent of the books that publishing houses release were brought to them by agents. Most publishing houses give agented submissions more attention because editors have a high level of confidence in agented submissions. They know that it's not in an agent's interest to waste their time because they have ongoing business relationships with editors that they don't want to jeopardize.

"An agent is effectively a vendor. He or she usually has already worked on the proposal, which gives me quality control and a partner in the creation of the book," Jeremy Katz, super literary agent, says. "The author isn't really my partner until I buy the book, but I'm in business with the agent."

Publishers rely on agents to screen submissions for several reasons:

* Cost savings. Since agents read manuscripts and proposals, publishers don't have to hire more screeners.

* Selectivity. Literary agents usually have experience, know quality, and know what sells. They usually won't try to interest publishers in stuff that's weak, except when it's written by a big celebrity.

* Insider knowledge. Agents usually have a feel for the pulse of the industry.

They are adept at spotting trends and usually know what's hot. Agents are often great talent spotters, and the good ones know what particular publishing companies and/or editors want and like. On the flip side, publishers know that agents are commissioned salespeople and their livelihoods are directly tied to selling the books they pitch. Agents receive a commission, usually 15 percent, on whatever their writers receive. While publishers won't automatically sign every writer that agents recommend, they usually will read what their clients write. Legally, agents represent authors; they are their sales agents. When publishers pay authors for advances and royalties, they send checks to the agents, who deduct their fees and remit the balance to their clients. Since some agents tend to work with the same publishers or editors, they can become beholden to them. This can create delicate situations and agents must balance the interests of two, often conflicting, parties: authors and publishers. An agent's primary job is to represent the writer and protect his or her interests. Much of this involves the selling of the book and negotiating the contract and fees. The work of a good agent continues long after the ink on the contract is dry. A good agent monitors the publisher's actions, sees that they are keeping their bargains and putting forth their best efforts to promote and distribute their clients' books. They also are watchful for future opportunities and push for follow-up books, additional printing runs, added publicity, and other benefits. For most writers, getting a literary agent isn't easy. Agents don't make money unless they sell books, so they're selective about the clients they take on. Most agents simply can't afford to waste their time and energy on writers whose works won't sell. Increase your chances of getting an agent by understanding the process from the agent's perspective.

Note: Rick offers a list of literary agents he works with in his Million Dollar Rolodex.Get it at http://www.rickfrishman.com/

Reprinted from "Rick Frishman's Author 101 Newsletter"Subscribe at http://www.author101.com and receive Rick's "Million Dollar Rolodex

Tomorrow, I'll tell you what I think about agents, and I'll tell you how to get one.

Busy, Busy Fall

Tonight, of course, is the fundraising virtual booksigning for the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue Group. I've been told books are selling briskly. To be involved, drop by my chatroom. Just go to my website, http://www.joannaslan.com/ and click the chatroom button in the lower right hand corner. I hope to have some of my author friends show up as guests. The chat begins at 6:30 p.m. CST

Boy, did I ever have fun last night.

I was part of the Fiskateers Chat, hosted by the remarkable Angela, who whipped folks into a true Fiska-Frenzy for Fiska-Fall doings. The conversation was fast-Fiska-paced, and my little fingers Fiska-flew over the keyboard trying to keep up. Check out Angela's stellar wrap-up at

http://www.fiskateers.com/blog/2008/10/28/tuesday-night-wrap-up/

I offered them the same thing I offer all of you--if you wish to use Paper, Scissors, Death as a bookclub selection, let me know. I'll come "visit" virtually or in person if possible. I'll send you signed bookplates to be adhered in your copies of PSD, so your book is personalized. I'll also send along bookmarks. I might ask for SASEs--which are Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelopes, so I don't go broke paying for postage!

Meanwhile, I'm prepping to go to Manhattan, Kansas, with a stop tomorrow night at St. Joseph, MO, where I'll teach making a "slam" album at the St. Joseph Library. I'll visit scrapbook stores in Columbia, MO, along the way. In Manhattan, on Saturday, around 9 a.m., I'll be giving a presentation at a coffee shop on scrapbooking and journaling and including your religion in your album. Then at 11 a.m., I'll go to the Ben Franklin store in Manhattan KS and teach slam books again until 1 p.m. From 5 to 5:45 p.m., I'm part of a discussion about pets in books--and author Marion Hill and I will give away a basket of pet items, plus her cookies.

I plan to set aside time to chat with my mentor and friend, Nancy Pickard. Her CASTS system for writing has dramatically improved my work.

And I'm on page 164 of 274 pages of Book #3. Whew. Keeping everything straight is a challenge.

Meanwhile, I offered the attached image to Camille Minichino (Margaret Grace) for our Killer Hobbies newsletter. Isn't it cute?

JUST for ME Contest Winners, and a Review of the Past Wild Week!

JUST FOR ME Contest Winners





As I promised, here are the names of the Just for Me Contest Winners:


Christy K. from Louisville KY


and


Lynn H. from Lawrenceville GA


I'll be contacting them via email and sending out their gifts.

Meanwhile, keep checking this blog and reading it carefully as I think I will mention other ezine readers' names--and if YOU respond, I'll send YOU some sort of fun gift! My gift cupboard is overflowing. I love picking up trinkets as I travel.

MAGNA cum FUN and a SMALL CONTEST

Wow. Another whirlwind week. Just returned home late last night from Magna cum Murder, the fantastic conference held at Ball State University (my alma mater) in Muncie, Indiana. Here's a photo of me and my pal Monica Ferris. Isn't her hat to die for? (That's sort of a joke. Her new upcoming book is called Thai Die!) Do you love hats? I sure do.


Be the first to comment on the photo of Monica and me, and I'll send you a Ball State University coffee mug!

By the way, I also connected with Louise Penny. She's a wonderful, soulful woman. I'll try to get her to guest post here.


TEACHER, TEACHER--"Getting Published"



Last Tuesday I filled in as an instructor for a Lewis & Clark Community College Class called "Getting Published". Since it has been a while since I taught a class, and that one I fell into at the last minute, I was a bit nervous about the evaluations. I opened my email today to read these:



"I have learned more than what I thought I would. The class was grrrreat! I knew it would be good, but it was wonderful. I loved it!"



"The instructor was obviously aware of the topic -- I found her to be smart, informative -- FAR exceeded my expectations!"



"This course is a 'must attend' course for anyone wanting to pursue a writing career. Information is invaluable and well worth the money spent."



"OMG (oh my god)! Her knowledge taught me so much, I would pay for this class again!"



"Being a working journalist I had a basic overview of writing, but having aspirations as a novelist it was a great help to get me started."



"I liked how Joanna asked each individual what they expected to get out of the class, wrote it on the blackboard and reviewed that each expectation was met."



"The instructor made everyone feel very comfortable. She was very professional yet down to earth. She left time for answering questions and open discussion."



Yes, I've been invited back. I'll try to post the new class schedule here. If you live in the southern Illinois or St. Louis area, maybe I'll see you.



LUCI, THE POISON LADY

I've asked my pal Luci Zahray if she would be a guest blogger here. No one knows more about poison than Luci. So...she tenatively said, "Yes." I know she's busy, and she loves to research, but isn't so keen on writing, so let's keep our fingers crossed!

Building a Platform

"I've been frantically researching what it means to build an author's platform, what appears to be the key factor in breaking into the market these days...I'm starting to think publicly about my writing instead of privately."

That's from an email I recently received.

What is a platform?

It's the audience an author can bring to his or her work.

Now, some folks might argue with me about that definition--in fact, one woman did at Love Is Murder last year--but that's the best one I can devise, and it dovetailes my personal experience.

Let's break it down...

1. Why does that matter? Because every publisher has a limited and finite set of resources for promoting any book. So...if you already have an audience, the publisher knows a.) you have established yourself as a public person b.) you KNOW how to establish yourself as a public person c.) they don't have to do all the heavy lifting.

Quickly, why should a publisher care if you are a public persona rather than a private one? Probably because the publisher hopes to sell books. If you are comfortable in public settings, if you are willing to put yourself "out there," if you are socially adept, if you understand that being a public persona means being "on" even when you don't want to be "on," then you can handle the demands of being a public persona--and think about it, who would be a better bet to sell books? Someone who goes to a conference and sits on the edge of her bed clipping her toenails? Or someone who gets out there and makes friends? Duh. (You laugh, but the first activity was reported to me by a roomie of a would-be author. The would-be author said, "I don't like meeting people I don't know." Then why on earth spend the $$$ to go to a conference? Hello?)

2. How do you establish a platform? There are a million-zillion ways. Usually it starts with becoming a known expert or spokesperson in a topic. That means you might a.) give interviews to the media including bloggers b.) write articles c.) give presentations or teach a class d.) head up an organization.

3. What media can a person use to establish a platform? Of course, the one most young people will immediately consider is social networking. But here's an important question, "Just because all those people are your friend in Facebook, does it automatically translate that they will BUY your book?" The answer is MAYBE. Only time can tell, and you probably can't. That doesn't mean I'm discounting social networking, it simply means think hard about the network you are attracting.

4. How else can a person establish a platform? Here are some ways: a.) head up a group of like minds b.) start a blog or guest post on other people's blogs c.) write articles d.) write letters to the editor or comments on prominent bloggers' blogs e.) publish a book or ebook that's authoritative f.) start a special holiday like John Riddle did with his I Love to Write Day (brilliant idea!) g.) make industry contacts--which might mean going to trade shows or helping out at a booth h.) start a newsletter or electronic magazine (ezine) i.) write a column for a newspaper j.) give speeches k.) give talks on a subject l.) get quoted by other experts m.) do booksignings n.) meet booksellers o.) make friends with prominent people in your industry (not just contacts, but friends!) p.) serve on boards q.) closely related to "p.)" is volunteer.

Basically, we're back to the old idea of networking. Yes, it's simply good old networking dressed up in a fancy tuxedo.

But it works.

I came to Midnight Ink with a platform. Acquiring Editor Barbara Moore knew that. But since then, I've worked hard to build and extend that platform. Because platforms sell books. If you doubt that, check out Joe Konrath. He's a whiz at building his platform. I've seen him in action.

Getting Published--Additional Resources

Last night I taught “Getting Published” to a group of about 20 people at Lewis & Clark Community College in Edwardsville, IL.

My "students" were great. What a terrific, thoughtful and motivated group of people. Wow. They really kept me on my toes.

To follow up, here's a list of resources and a few terms that might be helpful to anyone wanting to write and get published:

Groups and Resources That Can Help

* St. Louis Writers Meet Up

Also google "writers meetup" and a plus sign (+) with the name of your particular geographic area.

http://writers.meetup.com/34/

* National Novel Writing Month

Next month is National Write a Novel Month. This group will help you get on track and encourage you along the way.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

* Writers Market

Notice the free 30 day trial period. This is where you’ll find all the information about magazines, periodicals, publishers and agents. Use it like your own personal encyclopedia. Remember: You can look up the publications by topic, then read about how they want articles, etc., submitted. But whenever they offer an online link called “writers guidelines” go to that because it’s likely to be the most current information. You could buy the hardback version, but online is probably a better value.

http://www.writersmarket.com/

* Sisters in Crime

A group of mystery authors—male and female. Join their “Guppies” group which is a resource group for unpublished authors. You can join Sisters in Crime nationally, then pay an extra but small fee to join Guppies. Go to the link below and scroll down to “guppies”

http://www.sistersincrime.org/chapters.html

* The Newbies Guide to Publishing

A blog by Joe (J.A. Konrath) with all sorts of information, and a critique form that’s a very helpful device for any critique group to use when assessing a book.

http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/

Publicity and Marketing

For a fun look at how an author interacts with a publicist, check out Dennis Cass’s hysterical YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxschLOAr-s


Books

For those considering Self-Publishing, read these:

John Kremer--1001 Ways to Market Your Book

http://www.amazon.com/1001-Ways-Market-Books-Sixth/dp/091241149X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224690185&sr=1-1

Tom and Marilyn Ross—Complete Guide to Self-Publishing

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Self-Publishing-Self-Publishing/dp/1582970912/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224690043&sr=8-1

Dan Poynter—Self-Publishing Manual

http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Poynters-Self-Publishing-Manual-16th/dp/1568601425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224690229&sr=1-1

Remember, self-publishing is a BUSINESS. You must approach it that way, or you’ll regret it.


Helpful Terms

ISBN—International Standard Book Numbering—like a social security number for a book. Helps anyone find your book. A necessity.

Query letter—a letter sent to “query” or question an editor as to whether he/she would be interested in your article. Usually accompanies a non-fiction article proposal. It is appropriate to follow up after a reasonable period of time by phone. Use Writers Market to determine what that reasonable period might be, as Writers Market lists how long the publisher/magazine will take to respond. (But that time period is always a lie.)

Blog—short for “website log.” A website that allows easy and regular updating so that it becomes an online diary or journal of information. Many are free. Go to http://www.blogger.com/ and you’ll learn more. But there are other blog providers, so do your research first. Typepad and Wordpress are two more providers.

Book Proposal—a package sent to an agent or publisher in advance of sending a whole manuscript. Should include a cover letter, a marketing plan, why you are uniquely qualified to write this book, three chapters and an outline or synopsis.

Synopsis—different from an outline because instead of going point by point, this tells the story in third person of your book. (Obviously it’s for a fiction offering.) It’s as if you were telling a friend about the book. There are many good books on submitting manuscripts. Your Novel Proposal from Creation to Concept is my favorite.

Novel—this is a fiction book. Some or all is made up.

Non-fiction—the material within is true. If there’s a mix of truth and fiction, the book is always considered fiction.

E-book—a book that is offered as a file, online. Readers can choose to download and print out the book or read it online.

POD—print-on-demand. Book doesn’t exist on paper until an order to purchase it comes in. POD publishers don’t command the same respect, generally, that a traditional publisher does. Also, because you don’t have large quantities printed at once, these are more expensive than a traditionally published book. Therefore, if you are a new author, it might be hard to convince readers to spend that additional sum on you since you aren’t established.

Galley—a copy of your book, with the pages printed out pretty much as they will appear in the final draft. However, the pages might not be bound together, just loose. This is used to proofread for mistakes.

ARC—Advance Reading Copy—a copy of your book that will look almost exactly like the finished product, except usually with a cheaper cover. These are sent to reviewers in advance of the publication of your final product. There may still be proofreading problems in this version, and it may not have endorsements from other others or reviewers in it.

Character arc—the journey a character makes through the course of a book or a series. This is the emotional growth pattern of a character.

Blurbs—a complimentary comment that will appear on the cover (inside or outside) of a book to promote the book. Usually your publisher helps arrange these, but you might also ask any author friends if they would be willing to read your book and give you a blurb.

Mass market paperback—the type of paperback you typically see sold at a grocery store. Usually small, say five by six inches. Costs the least of all book types, except an e-book.

Trade paperback—considered a cross between a mass market paperback and a hardback book. Larger than a mass market paperback, still having a paper cover, but the cover is generally of a higher quality, thicker stock. Cost is somewhere between that of a mass market paperback and a hardback book.

Advance—the loan made to an author which is to be paid back by the author’s portion of sales, which is a percentage of the net (not retail) cost of the book.

**

And here's something to get you going...

November 15 is I Love To Write Day

Founded in 2002 by Delaware author John Riddle, I Love to Write Day iscelebrated every November 15th by having everyone spend some timewriting -- a poem, a letter, an essay, a greeting card.
If you go to and www.ilovetowriteday.org sign up to participatein the day you can get two free reports from John. Just send John an email (johnriddle@sprintmail.com) telling him how you'll help spread theword and he'll send you: How I Made $66,270 in 9 Months Writing forWebsites and Getting a Book Contract in 30 Days or Less.

Kingsport (TN) Times Women's Expo

Whew.

I rolled in last night after being on the road eleven straight hours. I'm dizzy, ditzy and tired today after attending my first Kingsport (TN) Times Women's Expo. (Thanks again to my gal-pal and BFF Shirley Damsgaard who helped wrangle me an invite!)

On Friday, I gave a humorous speech to kick off the event. It's been a while since I delivered a keynote and I was stressed. Still, somehow I found my "funny person" inside. You know, you can practice and practice but unless you're in the groove, it won't happen. And after the warm welcome given to me by the organizers, Sharon and Lydia, I was definitely feeling good. Read about it at Jennifer Estep's blog

http://www.jenniferestep.com/blog/?p=604#comment-9055

The next day I sat beside Valerie Ramsey, who at 68 is proof we can age both gracefully and beautifully. That's Valerie in the red jacket. Check her out at http://www.valerieramsey.com/ She's a dear, and I enjoyed chatting with her in-between selling books.

I really wanted to get to know Teresa Medieros, Beth Williamson, Lora Leigh, Julia Quinn, Trista Ann Michaels, and Kay Stockham better, but honest to Pete, we were so busy talking to readers there just wasn't the time. (And let me say that there must be some magic to writing romance because all these women were gorgeous. I'm standing between Kay on the left and Teresa on the right. I came home determined to NEVER eat again! Fat begone!)

I did take time to smell the roses. I spent a couple of hours on a private tour of the Bays Mountain Nature Preserve. My heartfelt thanks to Karen Travis.

Check out my blog post at http://www.midnightwriters.blogspot.com/ to read more about my weekend.

Schedule Through November 2, 2008

Here's my schedule for the weekend and the week ahead I'll add details later:

Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker at the Kingsport (TN) Women's Expo Authors Dinner.

Also speaking will be Valerie Ramsey, the remarkable woman who "lived her life backwards" by becoming a top model at the age of 63.

**

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday

Kingsport (TN) Times Women's Expo

I'll be appearing with Valerie, and such fabulous authors as Julia Quinn, Teresa Medeiros, Lora Leigh, Kay Stockham, Jennifer Estep, Mary Wine, Beth Williamson, Trista Ann Michaels, Jessie Verino, Tammy Robinson Smith, Lisa Hall, Elizabeth Barker, Gayle Trent, and Daphne Matthews.

**

Tuesday, October 21, 6:30 p.m.

"Getting Published"

I'll be teaching this class at the N.O. Nelson Campus of Lewis & Clark Community College, 600 Troy Road, Edwardsville IL

**

Wednesday, October 22, evening

Bad Girls Book Club

A virtual meeting! Can't wait!

**

Friday, October 24, 2008

Got 2B Scrapping

I'll be doing a scrapbook demo, making a holiday slam album at this store in Effingham, IL.

**

Friday, October 24, 2008-Sunday, Oct. 26

I'll be at Magna cum Murder in Muncie, IN

**

October 28, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. CST

Fiskateers Chat

An online visit with the Fiskateers and friends.

**

October 29, 2008 at 6:30-8 EST

Great Dane Rescue Group Fundraiser and Booksigning Virtual Event

Online book event with the Great Dane Rescue People. Go to my chatroom on my website www.joannaslan.com and click the chatroom icon to participate in this fundraiser

**

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Scrapbooking Demo at
St. Joseph, MO Library

Another scrapbooking demo.

**

Friday, October 31-Nov. 2

Manhattan Mystery Conclave

**
Saturday, November 1, 2008

Scrapbooking Slam Album Demo at the Ben Franklin Store in Manhattan KS

The Tremendous Power of a Thank You Note

Disclaimer: I'm not nearly so good at writing "thank you" notes as I should be. But I try, I really try.

Lately, I've been spending at least a portion of my day writing them. And I think quite possibly that a "thank you" note is the most accessible form of magic that we can create. I've noticed that writing them seems to make me happier--and that shouldn't be surprising. Martin Seligman, the psychologist, found that people can improve their overall feelings of happiness by writing a letter to someone who made a positive difference in the writer's life. So, it seems to me, that even a short note of gratitude reminds me that I have much to be thankful for. It causes me to pause and pay attention to the myriad of small generosities of spirit that come my way.

Of course, it also creates magic in the recipient.

Last weekend when I was at The Big Read, I finally got to meet Danielle from Left Bank Books, the young lady who organizes their author events, in the flesh. She and I shook hands and then she thanked me for my "thank you" note. In fact, all the other Left Bank Books employees in the booth weighed in, telling me how much they'd enjoyed what I said.

I wrote about how it felt to stand in the place where so many greats had stood. (You can read my blog about it, and that's pretty much a longer version of what I said to them when I wrote my note.) I took the time to think through why that event was special to me. Whenever I write a "thank you" note, I try to figure out exactly and specifically why I'm saying thanks. Just a blank "thank you!" doesn't really cut it. That's a cop out.

While the group from Left Bank Books thanked me for the "thank you" note, one of the owners Chris came over and joined our conversation. She told me about their plans for their second location and I told her I'd love to be involved.

Was it because of the "thank you" note? I don't know for sure, but I bet it was, at least in part. You see, I think we enjoy working with people who are appreciative. Why wouldn't we?

So if you are feeling stuck, or low, or like your marketing efforts aren't bearing fruit, instead of asking for more, maybe you should stop a minute and say "thanks."

Couldn't hurt.

What I Miss Most...

Last Wednesday I participated in Chill Me, Thrill Me--a panel of mystery authors who spoke at the McClay Branch of the St. Charles City-County Library. Saturday I moderated a panel and taught a class at The Big Read. So my "social" calendar for promotions has been very full.

And I miss writing.

You see, as I write I tell myself a story, and I indulge in that world of my fantasy. When I don't get to work on a book, I find myself cranky and sad. I miss Kiki Lowenstein and her friends. I miss the creative outlet of immersing myself in another world. I get very lonely.

So in the evenings, I always try to work at a craft. Lately I've been experimenting with markers making journaling boxes and embellishments. I'm using several stamps, stamping the images, and trying a variety of coloring and shading techniques. It keeps my hands busy and helps me feel productive. Because that's something I need, and something crafts provide...a feeling of being productive. (See my The Big Read Journaling Box here.)

Preview of a Busy Week

Looking forward to this week, it will be very busy. Tomorrow early I have a radio interview. Tomorrow night I'll be at a book club at Suzanne Hooper's house. She's a neighbor, the wife of my friend Tony, and a trainer of Support Dogs. I admire Suzanne's work and her fantastic spirit. Suzanne's not afraid to engage anybody and chat! You should have seen her at my book launch at Main Street Books. She'd buttonhole shoppers with that huge smile of hers, a megawatt smile, and say, "Have you read Joanna's new book? You need to. It's set here in St. Louis."

Then on Wednesday I have an interview with Diva Craft Lounge. That's the "big daddy" (or "big mama" I suppose) of all scrapbooking Internet radios. On Thursday, our wedding anniversary, I had to Kingsport Tennessee. On Friday I speak at the Authors' Dinner of the Kingsport TN Times Women's Expo. So I'll be busy working on my speech until then. Yes, I practice. I break the speech into bits and actually say those out loud. I'm working on a little song to the tune of "Downtown", the Petula Clark hit, but I suggest you go shopping instead!

About AllTop...

As you might have noticed, I've joined AllTop. Check out the badge at the bottom of this page to learn more. AllTop is an aggregator service. That means they scan all the blogs and put together a listing of the top blogs in different categories. They add a line or two about the most recent posts.

Why is AllTop important? I don't know about you, but I don't have time to scan every blog I should so that I can keep up with all the news in my field, scrapbooking and in my profession, writing. So AllTop does that for me.

Okay, I promised myself some writing time after I posted this. Now for dessert!

Addendum to Marketing Your Book Class

As promised yesterday when I was presenting at The Big Read, here's a list of resources every writer should consult. Please also go to my older blog posts and look up my February 22 post, as I have a list of books there to help you with publicity.

Note that I haven't organized these--I simply pulled everything off my top shelf and started typing. In that respect, it represents a snapshot of the resources I have used most frequently in the two years since I sent out into the marketplace with my manuscript, which became Paper, Scissors, Death.

Some books are on how to find a literary agent. The keyword to know when looking is actually an acronym: AAR, which is Association of Authors Agents. That means the agent belongs to an organization with industry-respected standards. What I don't have on my list is a current copy of Writers Market. It's a great resource, but it's not inexpensive and since it's updated every year, you should get your hands on the most recent copy.

Here's the group:

* Sell Your Book on Amazon by Brent Sampson
* Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron
* Electronic Publishing : The Definitive Guide by Karen S. Weisner
* Mastering Online Marketing by Meyerson
* Seven Strategies in Every Best-Seller by Tam Mossman --This provides a good way to check your manuscript against the books it might be competing with BEFORE you try to sell it.
* Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass -- See above remark.
* Guide to Literary Agents by Kathryn S. Brogan (also check out Jeff Herman's book on agents. It was interested to cross-reference these two books and see who was in both.)
* Your Novel Proposal from Creation to Contract by Camenson & Cook -- Invaluable for how to deal with agents DURING the submission process.
* Plug Your Book! by Steve Weber
* The Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter
* The Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book: 20 Steps to Succeed by Susan Page
* 12 Keys to Writing Books That Sell by Kathleen Krull
* Take the Mystery Out of Promoting Your Book by p.m. terrell -- I can't say enough good stuff about Patricia. She's a whiz.
* Non-Fiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write by Elizabeth Lyon

These books are definitely worth your time and attention.

If you are in this for the long haul, you need to educate yourself.

One Book at a Time

My friend Angie Fox told me that she read this startling statistic in USA Today: 85% of all Americans want to write a book.

Wow. That's...that's just an enormous number.

I've been thinking a lot about how to make this blog special. As many of you know, I also blog over at http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com/ with six other writers of craft cozies. That's a pretty free-wheeling blog, although we often write about our crafts.

And I contribute to the InkSpot, which is a blog written by a group of Midnight Ink Authors.

So...what can I do here that will be unique?

I think I'll chronicle the day-to-day work of a debut author. If you really want to write a book, you need to know that your work doesn't stop when you sign a contract. Contrary to popular belief, your work really BEGINS with the contract. You see, the contract only marks the end of a phase. That phase is the publisher's acceptance of your book.

What really matters--in my humble opinion--is the public's acceptance and interest in your book. Because unless you get the word out, and unless people start buying your book, your career is over, fini, done, stick-a-fork in it and take it out of the oven.

With that in mind, what have I been doing since my book Paper, Scissors, Death was released in September? Well, I've been trying to hand-sell (that is sell by personally suggesting) my book to as many people as possible. That might seem pretty hopeless. After all, that's pushing these puppies into the market one book at a time.

But I recall a moment sitting in a bar in Florida with Robert Crais. (Yes, he really is that dreamy looking.) A group of us mystery writers and author wannabes (myself included at that point) were sitting with him and talking about sales. He pointed out that in the early days of your first book, because print runs are generally small, your efforts can have great impact. For example, if your print run is 5,000 and you get out there and hustle so that your efforts cause you to sell 500 books, you've sold 10% of that run BY YOUR OWN EFFORT.

Crais went on to say that as you move up the food chain (I call it the food chain, he didn't), the print runs get bigger. So your individual efforts don't matter so much.

Right now I have this small, golden window of opportunity. If I hustle, I can make a difference in sales. So far, here's what I know I've accomplished:

* sold 400 copies to Archivers and now they've placed a chain wide order. With 45 stores, and assuming they buy at least a box each, that's 1620 books. Add the initial 400 and that's 2020 books.

* working with Barnes & Noble. Got Paper, Scissors, Death modeled here in St. Louis. That means the local stores will stock at least two copies. Next up, I want to sign at as many B & N stores as possible. My goal is to sell a box of books per store. I figure there are four, maybe five stores in the area. That would be 180 books, and if I can have an impact on regional sales, I think they might model the book chain-wide.

* sold books at Borders event. I handsold 28 copies. That's actually better than it looks because when you move that many books in an evening, you prove to the booksellers that your book has legs.

* sold books at Left Bank Books. I figure we sold 18 copies or more. Again, the value is in introducing the book to the booksellers.

* sold books at The Mystery Company in Indianapolis. See above. Curiously, the number seems to hold steady. Since the average number of books sold at a signing is 4--and no, I don't know where that number came from or how true it is--I'm doing better than average. I know the booksellers have been pleased.

* sold books at Main Street Books in St. Charles. See above. About the same number sold.

* I've been going from independent scrapbook store to independent scrapbook store, and I have events upcoming on their schedules. This is the wild card. A box of books here and there can really add up.

* I have a full calendar of conferences, etc., to attend such as The Big Read in Clayton MO this weekend, the Kingsport TN News Women's Expo next weekend, The Manhattan Mystery Conclave the weekend after. My goal is to always have more than one "event" per location. Otherwise, I might be wasting my time driving.

What I really miss in all this, besides the sleep!, is the time to write. Writing is my escape and my sanity. I did some work on Book #3 yesterday while at the hair salon. Bless my stylist's heart, he was kind enough to work around the computer! When I finally had to close the file, a felt a tug at my heart.

I miss writing. I really do.

Standing in the Footprints of Giants

Last night I did a signing at Left Bank Books.

My heart was banging around in my chest like a pigeon caught in a trap. I was that nervous, and since I'm accustomed to public speaking, the question was, "Why?"

Well, Left Bank Books is the premier independent bookseller in St. Louis. All the biggest names in literature come to town and sign at LBB. In fact, just the week before, I'd been in the audience to hear what John Lutz had to say. And last night, he and his lovely wife Barb were so generous with their time as to be there for me.

I thought John's approach to his signing was a good one, so I "scraplifted" (copied) it. I set the scene and then read a chapter. John had inserted "he said" and "she said" to help the listeners keep track of who was speaking. A smart move, that.

After I read Chapter Two, I talked a bit about scrapbooking and showed off some pages. I figured that at least some of my audience members probably wouldn't have any idea how complicated layouts can get. There were lots of "oohs" and "aahs" over the layouts.

I showed off a big poster of Orion, Keri Murphy's dog, my model for Gracie.

I read another scene--this one a funny one. Then I answered a few questions about the writing process.

All in all, it was rather like a dream. I forgot to give my husband my camera, so I can't share pictures. But that's okay. It's engraved in my mind.

A Brief History of The Best of British Contest--and How That's Been a Great Promotional Tool

I started The Best of British Scrapbooking Contest to encourage the growth of scrapbooking in the UK. You see, scrapbooking became big here in the US due in part to contests which spotlighted new talent and added excitement to the marketplace. I lived in the UK in 2001-2 and I was there when the first dedicated, independent scrapbook store opened. No one there was doing a contest for talent, and having seen how that worked here in the States, I knew it could work in the UK, too.

Here's what it took to make it happen:

1. I had to hire a solicitor in the UK. My friend and neighbor Lesley Hindmarsh was kind enough to find one for me. I submitted rules and then made the necessary adjustments so all was legal.

2. I had to announce the contest so we'd get entries. The strongest and most popular website for scrapbookers in Europes was and is UK Scrappers. I announced the contest there to good result.

3. We needed judges. Mary Anne Walters and Beverley Stephenson of UK Scrappers were natural selections. Shimelle Laine was the first person to win two contests in the same year here in the US. They all agreed to help me.

4. I answered ongoing questions about the contest. Meanwhile, Lesley's home was the gathering spot for the entries. Poor Peter, her husband! On the one weekend day he chose to sleep in, someone decided to have her entry specially delivered and woke him up to accept the package!

5. I flew to the UK, met with the judges and we went through the entries. It was hard work--and it's gotten harder--but we found our winners. We actually expanded the number of winners because we had so much great material.

6. We requested that winners send their original art to Mary Anne, who graciously packaged it all up and sent it to me in the US. (We held our collective breath that nothing happened en route.)

6. I worked for about 12 months with a graphic designer to create the book. I personally scanned and extracted art, one pixel at a time. My hand was cramped from the effort at the end of each day. But I wanted crisp, vivid images. We spent nearly $12,000 on getting everything just right, including having a professional photographer shoot the cover art. I actually sat down with our graphics person and we compared the original layouts to the on-screen layouts and adjusted the color for accuracy.

7. We sent the files to Malaysia for printing. This cost about $20,000.

8. While all that was happening, my original distribution deal fell through. I sent out packages and called folks to get distribution. Which I did. (Believe me, I have all sorts of respect for any publisher. You don't know panic until you've invested $30,000-plus of your own money in a project which might wind up sitting in your garage.)

9. We sold the books. We covered our costs. Most importantly, we didn't lose any money.

10. ScrapBook inspirations Magazine asked me if they could "take over" the contest. This was a natural fit. They were there in the UK, so they could much more easily administer it. For legal reasons, they asked me to be the judge, which I agreed to. I sure didn't want to see all that hard work come to an end. And the contest now had a rep. ScrapBook inspirations vowed to continue the high standards, which they have.

How have I benefited? (I'm sharing this for the edification of my writer friends who look to this column for marketing ideas.)

1. The contest keeps me current with the marketplace. Now that my mystery is out, people keep asking, "Do you scrapbook?" Well, I do, and I feel my involvement with Best of British helps me stay on top of trends.

2. My name is associated with the contest, so I get numerous mentions which I hope will translate into attention when Paper, Scissors, Death is released in the UK.

3. I get a nice warm, fuzzy feeling. Yep. I remember that as the color galleys were due to go back to the printer, I received an email from Sarah Wheatley's husband. Sarah was losing her battle with breast cancer. One of her life goals had been publication--and she was one of our winners. I Fed Exed the color galleys to her. She was able to see her work in print, and two days later she died.

No contest is perfect. No judge is always right. But when I look back at all the names of scrapbook artists (and I think of them as artists) whose work now appears in various publications, I take pride that many of them were "discovered" through the Best of British.

So, yes, the Best of British has been a good promotional tool for me. If I'd spent that time and money in other ways, I might have had the same or a better return. BUT...I wouldn't have had the satisfaction of seeing the names and work of others receive well-earned recognition.

You have to give back. That's a rule in nature, in life and certainly in business.

What's HOT Across the Pond

Whew. I finished judging “The Best of British Scrapbooking” a few minutes ago and sent my results to Rosie Waddicor, one of the editors. It was hard. Really hard. There were so many great entries, and I wanted to give out a lot more prizes than allowed. But enough of that.

Recently, someone forwarded an email to me from Debbie Macomber. Not only is Debbie a great read, she’s also a keen judge of the marketplace and emerging styles. Debbie noted, and I have reason to concur, that trends here in the US often start in the UK and work their way over. That’s particularly true of scrapbooking. So allow me to share some trends, and tell me if you think you’ve seen them, too.

1. 3 – D embellishments. Used to be, all scrapbook pages were flat. In this group of entries, I saw ribbons looped up and stapled down to stick up like roller coasters. One memorable page had “google” eyes on a cartoon character. Those are those bubbly eyes where the pupils roll around. Yep, texture is definitely jumping off the pages.

2. Going green. Contestants used a lot of corrugated cardboard, ripping off the top skin of paper to expose the ridges beneath. Also used were bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and slivers of a Coke can cut into the shape of petals. No doubt about it, scrapbookers are recycling on their pages.

3. Doodling. Doodling hasn’t quite caught on here like it has in the UK. Folks here are too restrained. There, scrapbookers take a pen to about anything and add colors with abandon. The result? There’s a sense of playfulness to the layouts.

4. Cartoon art. Anime stickers, cartoon characters, simple line art, every aspect of cartoons showed up. I particularly enjoyed where one contestant cut out a photo of her head and put it atop a cartoon body and paperdollish arms. We’ve gone from one extreme to the other. Once upon a time, scrapbookers used templates to cut photos into stars and what-not. Then no one cropped anything, and now we’re cropping body parts and combining them with paperdoll limbs. It’s really fun.

5. Paint on pages. Paint was used to alter a paper’s original color, to create a background so journaling would stand out, to customize patterns by adding color or design, and to simply add seemingly random funky circles to a plain pattern to jazz it up. Also big is painting on the REVERSE side of an acetate overlay. Say you have a clear overlay with flowers on it. You flip it over and fill in the flowers with paint. Let it dry and use it on your page.

6. Collage and simplicity. I saw both ends of the spectrum. Collage pages included fabric, plastic, charms, photos, fiber, ribbons, epoxy stickers, distressed paper, memorabilia, rubber stamped swirls, embroidery, stitching, ephemera, buttons, brads, and so on. But, a goodly number of layouts were spare, with simple combinations of paper, photo and journaling AND tons of undecorated space to create a refreshing change to the busy nature of collage.

7. Birds. Oh, golly. There were bluebirds, robins, owls, of every sort of paper, color, and pattern. Closely following were dragonflies and butterflies.

8. Acrylic overlays. One was even cut into a body silhouette, secured at the top with a brad, painted from the back and then used to cover hidden journaling. This is such fun, and folks are getting more adventuresome with their usage.

9. Negative space. Okay, if you punch out a form, the empty space that's left behind is negative space. More and more of it is showing up on pages, and the background that peeps through makes this a fun and interesting addition. Not to mention, it can be a thrifty use of your apres-punch leftovers.

10. Flowers. In leather, silk, paper, and plastic. In fact, one trend I could rather do without was too many flowers on pages where flowers did NOT match the theme of the page at all. You see, trends are great fun, BUT…just like in fashion, you have to be careful that you don’t sacrifice what “works” for what is trendy. Just because flowers are hot doesn’t mean you should use them to decorate a page about the Grand Canyon or road racing.

11. Colored buttons. These were used en masse to form lines, to add punch to other groupings, and to act as the center of flowers.

12. Journaling boxes. We call them "boxes" but they don't necessarily have borders on them. These included pages that looked ripped from notebooks, artsy edged boxes, and just rows of lines sticking out from brackets or parentheses. Not only do journaling boxes add style to a page, they also encourage you to write!

You can bet my heroine Kiki Lowenstein will be incorporating this cool ideas in her next adventure!

PS When the winners are announced in December, I'll share some of the names and layouts with you. Until then, mum's the word.

The Real Deal

"Do you really scrapbook?"

That was the question I answered most frequently over my three days at ScrapFest, the nation's largest scrapbooking get together up at Mall of America. As I stood there in the Archivers' flagship store, all I could do was grin. I knew why folks were asking. They wanted to know if I REALLY knew what I was writing about in my book Paper, Scissors, Death or whether I was, gulp, a pretender.

Well, folks, let me be clear: I scrapbook. In fact, I scrapbook a lot. And my husband can tell you, I'm addicted! I have way too much paper and all sorts of toys. I have probably thirty albums. I know how to use PhotoShop Elements (some!). I have even taught scrapbooking here at CKU (Creating Keepsakes University), at what used to be called HIA (Hobby Institute of America, now combined with another convention to be CHA), on cruise ships, and in the UK. I also teach scrapbook journaling online for Writers Online Workshops. (I wrote the class for that one.)

Oh, and I am the author of seven scrapbooking "how to" books, and countless articles on the subject that have appeared in Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers, Scrapbook Trends, ScrapBook inspirations, and the now defunct PaperKuts. So...yeah...I scrapbook.And you can see some of my pages at http://www.scrapbookstorytelling.com/ Click through to the Archives and look at the free scrapbook magazine I've been producing for years. Coming soon...as some of you suggested...I'll put a gallery up on one of my websites!

When Your Book Is Out, the Work Begins

Say It Isn’t So

“I thought you were done after you wrote the book,” said the young woman standing beside me at the presentation by p.m. terrell, author of Taking the Mystery Out of Promoting Your Book. (Learn more about Patricia at http://www.pmterrell.com/)

I was standing next to my pal Angie Fox--that's Angie on the right. We're holding copies of each other's books. (Visit her at http://angiefox.wordpress.com/ ) I smiled at Angie, and she smiled back at me. “No, that’s just the beginning,” I said.

Truth is, I’ve never worked so hard in my life. I have a list of 30 promotional activities I’m trying desperately to pull off. My friend Shirley Damsgaard warned me. “Joanna, I know the kind of person you are. You’re going to have to come to terms with the fact you can’t do everything. Do what you can and move on.” (Visit Shirley at http://www.shirleydamsgaard.com/)

So…what did I get done today, which is Sunday as I'm writing this?

* I wrote a column for the Suburban Journals, circulation 660,000.

* I designed and set out (with David’s help) my first Constant Contact e-blast announcing my book signing dates to our local friends.

* I wrote a post that will run in the Lipstick Chronicles on Saturday, October 18, thanks to the kindness of my friend and sister home-girl Elaine Viets. (She’s formerly from St. Louis.) ( See http://www.thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com/ )

* I began the judging of the Best of British Scrapbooking contest. One section, experienced scrapbookers, has more than 90 entries, and each entrance submitted six layouts. There are two sections. I have no idea how many are in section two, the new talents. I’m afraid to look. I'm happy to do this because the magazine provides great exposure for me in my UK market. Visit the ScrapBook inspirations blog at http://www.scrapbookinspirationsmagazine.co.uk/

* I bought some supplies for my upcoming visit to Scrapfest in Minneapolis—including crime scene tape. (Read more at http://www.scrapfest2008.com/)

* I sent bio info, photo, and book cover for my virtual book signing with the Great Dane Rescue people.

* I discussed via email the handouts for my Sisters in Crime presentation in Minneapolis.

* I explained how to write a review on Amazon to one of my Blog Brigade, the group of scrapbook bloggers who have kindly agreed to read and promote my book.

* I offered a copy of my book to a woman who’s an influence leader in the scrapbook community.

* I started a list of people mentioned in my acknowledgements to whom I owe books.

* I followed up on an interview Claire Applewhite is doing with me for the book blog in our local paper.

* I followed up with p.m. (Patricia), sending her the best of the photos of us together for her to include in her newsletter. (I took the red eye out and fixed the color first.)

I think that’s it. It’s 7:30 p.m. and I haven’t had any dinner. Whew! And you know what? I’m thrilled, just thrilled to have the opportunity to do all this. I am incredibly fortunate to be published. Whenever I think, I want to quit, I pick up a copy of my book and remind myself: This is what I’ve worked for, hoped for, and gone to school to do. And all those efforts are wasted unless I get the word out.

Where to Get Your Copy of Paper, Scissors, Death

1. From your local independent bookstore. Go to
http://www.bookweb.org/aba/members/search.do

2. From your local independent mystery bookstore. Go to
http://www.mysterybooksellers.com/IMBA_Members.htm

3. From Amazon (they can always get copies). Go to
http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Scissors-Death-Lowenstein-Scrap-N-Craft/dp/0738712507/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220476375&sr=8-1

4. If you are a retailer, or a customer, you can always order from
http://www.midnightinkbooks.com/contact_us.php

My Path to Publication...

Ever wonder how an author got her start?

You can read all about mine at Heidi Ruby Miller - http://ambasadora.livejournal.com/

You'll probably get a kick out of why my fellow students at Ball State University thought I'd appeared in drag!

I also am very honest about what kept me from writing a book earlier.

Tracking the Successes and the Not-So-Much Encounters

Patricia Terrell is better known as p.m. terrell, author of Taking the Mystery Out of Promoting Your Mystery. I was lucky enough to chat with her the other day--and we have a meeting upcoming--so I'll be sharing some of the great ideas I learn.

But after looking at my schedule, here's one that immediately comes to mind--tracking your responses.

Patricia keeps a file where she "debriefs" herself after an event. This shouldn't have come as a surprise to me, because that's what savvy motivational speakers do. In fact, one of the absolute best in the business, Jeannie Robertson would note which stories she told and how they went over. If she learned a new line to add, she'd make note of that as well.

And when I did something like this after Love Is Murder, I saw that by stepping away and out of the fray and examining what worked and what didn't, I really forced myself to be honest, to evaluate with care and to make "mid-course" adjustments.

You see, an author can be a nimble unit of one, or a bull in a china shop. I hope that if I pause, reflect, and make note, I can use a technique NASA calls "downmoding." When a mission isn't going as planned, the powers that be at NASA pause and decide what's important, what can be salvaged and what objective should simply be dropped.

As I panicked over my huge "to do" list today, my husband asked, "And what happens if you don't get all that done?"

I thought a minute. The answer was, "Nothing. I might disappoint a couple of people, but it's no biggie." And he nodded and said, "Exactly."

So bring it on. I'll be chugged Emergen C and Airborne, and trying to have a whopping good time. Which reminds me of another tidbit of wisdom. I recall hearing that during the filming of Nine to Five, that "old" movie with Dolly Parton, Lilly Tomlin and others, that Dolly never, ever complained about anything. One of the younger actresses remarked on this, and Dolly said, "Before I was famous, I promised myself that if I'm ever lucky enough to make a movie or be somewhere, that I'd always just be so grateful and never complain." Now, that's not probably EXACTLY what she said, but I bet it was something pretty close.

So here's to being grateful, to making adjustments, and to debriefing AFTER the event so that I can spiral up instead of plummeting down.

Upcoming Appearances

(as of August 27, 2008)


Monday, September 1
Release date for Paper, Scissors, Death

Thursday, September 11
Booksigning and presentation: Blast that (Writer’s) Block
7 p.m. CST
St. Louis Park Library
3240 Library Lane
Minneapolis MN 55426
Phone: 952-847-6125

Friday and Saturday, September 12 & 13
Booksigning
1-2 p.m. CST
ScrapFest 2008
Archivers in Mall of America
60 East Broadway
Bloomington MN 55425
www.scrapfest08.c9m

Thursday, September 18
Booksigning
4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CST
At “The U” (the bookstore on the campus of UMSL)
UMSL University Bookstore
One University Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63121
Phone: 314-516-5763

Saturday, September 20
Champagne & chocolate book launch party
6 p.m. CST
Main Street Books
307 S. Main
St. Charles MO 63301
Phone: 636-949-0105


Sunday, September 21
Online chat
7 p.m. EST
http://www.writerschatroom.com/schedule.htm

Saturday, September 27
Booksigning and Craft Demo
Noon and 2:30 p.m. CST
The Mystery Company
233 Second Ave. SW
Carmel IN 46032
Phone: 317-705-9711

Thursday and Friday, October 2 & 3
8:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CST
Missouri Library Association
Millenium Hotel
200 S. 4th Street
St. Louis MO 63102
Venue phone: 314-241-9500

Tuesday, October 7
7 p.m. CST
Booksigning
Left Bank Books
399 N. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis MO 63108
Phone: 314-367-6731

Wednesday, October 8
Panel discussion and booksigning
McClay Branch Library
2760 McClay Road
St. Charles MO 63303
Phone: 636-441-7577

Saturday, October 11
Panel moderator and presentation plus booksigning
The Big Read
Mark Twain Circle and Topton Way
Clayton MO 63105
Phone: 314-863-0178

Thursday, October 13
6 p.m. CST
Program and booksigning
Kathryn Linneman Branch Library
2323 Elm St.
St. Charles MO 63301
Phone: 636-723-0232

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 17-19
Keynote speech and booksigning
Kingsport (TN) Times Women’s Expo
Marriott Meadowview Resort and Convention Center
1901 Meadowview Parkway
Kingsport TN 37660
Venue phone: 423-578-6632

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 24-26
Panel discussion and booksigning
Magna cum Murder
Horizon Convention Center
401 S. High Street
Muncie IN 47305
Venue phone: 888-288-8860
http://wwwmagnacummurder.com

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 31 thru Nov. 2
Great Manhattan (KS) Mystery Conclave
Panel discussion and booksigning
Holiday Inn at the Campus
17th & Anderson Avenues
Manhattan KS 66502
Venue phone: 785-539-7531
http://www.manhattanmysteries.com

Friday, November 7
Panel discussion and booksigning
1 p.m. CST
Jewish Book Festival
JCCA
2 Millstone Campus Dr.
St. Louis MO 63146
Venue phone: 314-432-5700
http://wwwjccstl.com

Saturday, November 8
Craft demonstration and booksigning
Read Between the Lynes
129 Van Buren Street
Woodstock IL 60098-3249
http://www.readbetweenthelynes.com


Tour information updated frequently at www.booktour.com

Seven Days Without Showering--Don't Try This at Home

"I can go seven days without showering and I won't stink at all," said the woman standing next to me inside the gas station outside of Clarksville, Tennessee. She was addressing her comments to the young girl behind the cash register. "That's one advantage of being Native American."

Now I don't know about you, but I love learning new factoids, especially when they are so totally unexpected. So I paid for my bottle of Starbucks Frappacino, my blueberry donut, and asked her, "Really? Why is it that Native Americans are different?"

With one hand, she flipped back the curly black hair that spilled over her shoulder. The color, I noted, was blue-black. A deeper black than I've ever seen. She grinned at me, "Something about our glands. We have the fewest, you know. Fewer than whites, Asians, and African Americans."

"Is it true that Native American men don't have beards? Don't have any facial hair?" I leaned against the counter. The clerk had taken my money, given me change, and now she seemed curious as well. It was midnight, and we were the only three people in the convenience store/gas station. My husband was outside refilling the car for the third time. We were on our last leg of the drive from Florida to Missouri, a trip which took us 18 hours.

Maybe if I hadn't been locked up in a car on Highway 24 for the better part of a day, I wouldn't have been so chatty. On the other hand, this was good stuff. The kind of scoop you add to a book to give it veracity. It was also the sort of conversation you probably couldn't have tried in a formal setting. No sir. It needed the right ambiance: flickering flourescent lights, the sound of cars on the highway whizzing by, and a stacking tray of No-Doz.

"Yes, that's true. None on their chests either." The speaker cocked her head. "Well, my brother does get one or two little hairs right here," and she pointed to a spot between her breasts, "but his wife plucks them out."

"Joanna?" My husband stuck his head in the door. No telling how long he'd been listening. "Um, ladies? I need to grab my wife and get going." And then to me he gestured, "Come on. Time to hit the road."

Rats. And I had all sorts of other questions to ask.

Marketing Lessons from Girl Scouting

Remember Girl Scouts? Thinking back on it, I believe that Juliette Gordon Lowe was actually creating a marketing organization, designed to promote the idea of good self-esteem to young women. She was a remarkable woman, and obviously a smart (Girl Scout) cookie.

Let's rethink some of the precepts:

1. Make new friends but keep the old. Okay, you never know what you'll learn from a pal. I just received an email from Jess Lourey telling me that my pre-release book Paper, Scissors, Death is beating out some releases on Amazon. I didn't know that! I don't know how to surface that info, but Jess does. That's just one tiny example of how friends can help us with this gnarled world of promotion. Secondly, she noted I didn't have my book tour on my website. Gosh, I hadn't thought of that! Now I'll hop right on it! (The tour info is on the Midnight Ink site and on http://www.booktour.com/ But that's not enough.)

2. Do a good turn daily. Each day when my google alerts pull up scrapbooking posts, I try to email at least one of the blogs and pass along an honest compliment. Will that help me? Who knows? I just know I feel good afterwards, and maybe I'm spreading a little goodwill. Of course, I sign the posts with "Joanna Campbell Slan, author of Paper, Scissors, Death: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-and-Craft Mystery."

3. Be prepared. I try to bring bookmarks and business cards (with my book cover) with me wherever I go. In fact, I had this great idea: I'm going to ask my local branch of the public library if I can slip a bookmark inside other craft cozies. I bet they'll say "yes," because they want to keep books pristine and recommend them. This will do both. Slipping them inside is smarter than putting them on the counter.

4. Help other people every day, especially those at home. Well, that's an easy one to overlook, isn't it? My sisters Jane and Margaret would both willingly help me, if they knew how. So it came as a surprise to all of us when I started asking questions: Do you know any mystery readers? Have any friends in book clubs? Turns out that Margaret's school has a book club. I gave her an excerpt booklet and bookmarks to give the to organizer. Jane is an online whiz, so I've asked her to help me when I get my Facebook site going.

5. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I remember something I learned years ago when I was getting my minor in psychology. When you ask a person to do a favor for you, if they didn't like you before, they will after they are asked. You see, we can't hold two competing ideas comfortably. So, the "favor granter "will decide to like the "favor asker " or feel unsettled. I'm telling myself to buck up. To ask people for help when I think they can. A "no" never hurt anyone. I can take it! Especially when the "yes" answers feel so good.

And I plan to wear a lot of green, highlighted by a great big Brownie smile.

PS Like these? I'll be posting the first in a list of ideas I've used to promote Paper, Scissors, Death on the Midnight Ink blog http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/ on August 21.