I realise that this blog in now no longer in chronological order but I must record that I sold lots of books at these two events as well. 31 in York and 20 in Gateshead. I've not had any money as yet from Borders and my author friend Jerry Ibbotson says you wait a very long time and need to keep ringing them!!
Still, I thank Borders for encouraging new talent. Warterstones could learn from that!
Monday, 23 March 2009
Fulford School Book group
Today I went to speak to about 30 teenagers aged between 11 and 16 about my journey as an author. It was a really positive experience. the children were full of enthusiasm and really wanted to know more about the process of getting work published and writing it in the first place. The staff were lovely and bought two books for the library.
Also today I sent 100 books off to Amazon so people can actually buy it on line. I'm now sending out emails to people to pass on to publicise the fact that you can buy it on Amazon.
The bookshop in Princes Risborough are now stocking it so that the children from the schools I went to can but it easily.
I've also been planning my visit to Lumley school and got in touch with local journalists to get them to come and cover the visit. They are hopefully sending a photographer. All ofthis is very wierd to me and feels uncomfortable in many respects. But I know I have to get publicity for the book to sell and get known.
Oh I also got a new job today, teaching full time for 5 weeks, so all this is suddenly going to get harder, but at least I'll have some money coming in, for which I am very grateful to the Lord.
Also today I sent 100 books off to Amazon so people can actually buy it on line. I'm now sending out emails to people to pass on to publicise the fact that you can buy it on Amazon.
The bookshop in Princes Risborough are now stocking it so that the children from the schools I went to can but it easily.
I've also been planning my visit to Lumley school and got in touch with local journalists to get them to come and cover the visit. They are hopefully sending a photographer. All ofthis is very wierd to me and feels uncomfortable in many respects. But I know I have to get publicity for the book to sell and get known.
Oh I also got a new job today, teaching full time for 5 weeks, so all this is suddenly going to get harder, but at least I'll have some money coming in, for which I am very grateful to the Lord.
Saturday 14th March Book signing Borders Leeds
Ian and I arrived in Borders at 11am. They put us right at the front door. Oh goody we thought. But the first two hours went very slowly and we didn't sell many. People were marching through those doors on a mission, and they weren't stopping! Also there were not many children in the morning. However, as predicted by the lovely floor manager, they came in greater numbers in the afternoon and we stepped up our campaign, virtually grabbing people to get them to stop and talk. By the end of the day we had sold 31 books!! It was a great feeling. We met some lovely people too. We met a teacher from a deprived area of Leeds who was interested in having me visit the school. Another teacher who bought books for her reading group to study, some very enthusiastic children and a muslim guy with an orange beard who wanted to talk to me for ages!
All in all it was a very positive day and I felt on a high! And Ian did not drop the banner on his toe this time like he did in Gateshead, so that was a bonus!
All in all it was a very positive day and I felt on a high! And Ian did not drop the banner on his toe this time like he did in Gateshead, so that was a bonus!
Monday, 2 March 2009
Schools Events
The week before Feb half term I toured 5 schools in Bucks and Hants doing Drama workshops based on my book My wicked Stepmother. They were a huge success in terms of the children enjoying themselves and learning what it is like to write a book and market it.
The drama scenarios helped the children to think about characterisation, putting themselves in other people's shoes and into different scenarios.
The children had lots and lots of questions, which I tried to answer usefully. Some were about my writing and some about their own writing.
I gave away a book at each session as a prize for the best author question. (I covered the cost of these books with my travelling expenses. At least that's how I eased my mind at giving them away!!) I've had some lovely emails from children who've read it though.
The drama scenarios helped the children to think about characterisation, putting themselves in other people's shoes and into different scenarios.
The children had lots and lots of questions, which I tried to answer usefully. Some were about my writing and some about their own writing.
I gave away a book at each session as a prize for the best author question. (I covered the cost of these books with my travelling expenses. At least that's how I eased my mind at giving them away!!) I've had some lovely emails from children who've read it though.
I'm learning a lot with this self publishing lark!
Since the beginning of the year I've been trying to keep a diary of what I'm doing to achieve my goal of getting my book known and selling loads of copies. Mainly it's to prove to myself that I'm workinghard at it (which I am!)
In case anyone other than me reads this:
My Book My Wicked Stepmother - a children's book for the 9+ age group, was published in Nov 2009. So far I have sold 170 copies. It retails at £4.99 and can be bought from my website www.karenlangtree.co.uk or from www.Amazon.co.uk
What I've done to date in terms of marketing - a brief summary:
loads of internet and verbal research collecting info on book stockists, book shops, schools etc
Lots of emails and letters sent, and phone calls made to schools, shops, libraries and places to promote my book.
Having two articles written about me in the York Press and the York Local Link.
Getting a wonderful banner made for publicity at events. Thank you Ian for buying these for me.
Time and effort put into what I wanted them to look like. They were superb.
Preparing Drama workshops to do in schools toproote the book.
Book signing event at Borders York (see separate entry)
A week of events with 5 schools in Bucks and Hants (see separate entry)
Its all keeping me very busy and time to be creative does get squeezed, not tomention trying to earn some real money!!!!
today I've been buying the domain name - karenlangtree.co.uk, taking to my printer of more publicity bookmarks, and setting up this blog. I must do some writing up of the score for y new musical this afternoon.
In case anyone other than me reads this:
My Book My Wicked Stepmother - a children's book for the 9+ age group, was published in Nov 2009. So far I have sold 170 copies. It retails at £4.99 and can be bought from my website www.karenlangtree.co.uk or from www.Amazon.co.uk
What I've done to date in terms of marketing - a brief summary:
loads of internet and verbal research collecting info on book stockists, book shops, schools etc
Lots of emails and letters sent, and phone calls made to schools, shops, libraries and places to promote my book.
Having two articles written about me in the York Press and the York Local Link.
Getting a wonderful banner made for publicity at events. Thank you Ian for buying these for me.
Time and effort put into what I wanted them to look like. They were superb.
Preparing Drama workshops to do in schools toproote the book.
Book signing event at Borders York (see separate entry)
A week of events with 5 schools in Bucks and Hants (see separate entry)
Its all keeping me very busy and time to be creative does get squeezed, not tomention trying to earn some real money!!!!
today I've been buying the domain name - karenlangtree.co.uk, taking to my printer of more publicity bookmarks, and setting up this blog. I must do some writing up of the score for y new musical this afternoon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)