“Wow, It’s My Anniversary!”
“It’s My Author Anniversary!”
The word, Wow!, sums up the emotions surrounding the month of February. I became a published author on February 2, 2023. Since that time, I have been blessed to publish four books.
The Grace series of adventures consists of three books. Grace’s friends continue to grow as a new boy character, Daniel, was introduced in the recent book, Grace And The Power Of Prayer. In addition to Grace’s current messages to kids, another message specifically for teenagers was written in a short handbook. The book is titled Putting God First: An Inspirational Guide for Teenagers. Both books were released this month. Wow!
I have learned so much in the last two years about being an author. A major lesson learned is how to connect with readers. Social media, podcasts, and blogs are great avenues to connect and showcase projects. My favorite platform is author events. I love in-person author events! I hosted my first author event of the year in February. So, in honor of celebrating another anniversary and the release of two books this month, I wanted to share what I have learned about organizing and hosting a successful author event. I hope this is helpful.
Promote the event. Reach out to the local community and announce the event on local television shows, newspapers, libraries, and schools. Community involvement is essential.
Create digital invitations. Send invitations to special groups such as churches, youth groups & organizations. Digital invitations are easily shared via text, email, and social media posts. Also, consider designated seating and acknowledgement of special guests at the event.
Arrive Early. Allow yourself time to set up for the event and a “cool down” period. Allot an extra 10-15 minutes to collect your thoughts and be ready to greet the guests.
Fellowship with everyone. Extend hospitality. Be sure to thank your guests for attending the event and supporting your projects. Prepare something to give to everyone of all ages.
Prepare a bio and / or press release. A prepared document ensures a proper introduction of you as an author. Remember, you will meet new people who are unfamiliar with your work.
Designate someone to take photos. Hire a professional photographer or ask someone to take photos or video segments of the event. Photos allow you to capture special moments of the event.
Engage your audience. Read an excerpt from your book. Begin a discussion about the character(s) or message(s) in the book. Encourage your guests to share their thoughts. For those that are shy, provide index cards to write down questions to be read aloud.
Be flexible. If speaking, prepare an outline but stay open to spontaneity. Crowd participation is important.
Ask for help. The main purpose of an in-person event is to connect with people. Designate a person to manage the merchandise table so that you can focus on talking with guests especially when signing books.
Stay connected. Provide business cards, display QR codes which link to social media pages, and create a contact list for guests to sign up for news and updates. Remember, we are building relationships.
