We CAN! promote our books

"Cleaning House"

Jeanne Dennis here. I don't know about the rest of you, but every now and then I feel compelled to clear out my files and piles and start with an empty desk and a fresh perspective. It's amazing how ideas start to flow when I do.

A Song of Your Own

Jeanne Dennis here. I arrived home last night from the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), so I apologize for being a day late. On the counter waiting for me at home last night was a bird book, complete with descriptions, illustrations, and a device that plays a particular bird's song when you key in the correct code. My husband bought the book for me, because I've always wanted to be able to identify birds by their songs.

My gift reminded me of the time I spent at ICRS this week, observing various publishers' and vendors' booths and talking with other authors.

Jeanne Dennis here. Last time, we began an interview with new CAN member Kathi Lipp. You can find part 1 here. Kathy was telling us about her new books, The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, which will be released by Harvest House in 2009.

Kathi, has your speaking built a platform for you on the topics of your books? If so, was this by design, by accident, or something else? Please explain.

While I wasn’t speaking specifically to wives over the past few years, I was speaking to audiences that contained my target readers. So I would say it was half on accident, and half on purpose. I knew that, whatever book I wrote, my reader would be a woman 25-55, and through women’s retreats, MOPS groups, and teas, I was naturally overlapping with my future reader, no matter what the specific topic was.

Interview with New CAN Member Kathi Lipp

Jeanne Dennis here. A popular speaker, Kathi Lipp, has just joined CAN. Her first two books, The Marriage Project and The Husband Project will be released in 2009. I asked Kathi to tell us a little about her journey and how she plans to promote her books through speaking.

Kathi, you speak 40 to 50 times per year and your first two books will be released by Harvest House in 2009. Will you do anything differently in your speaking or speaking promotion in order to create a larger market for these books?

Book Tour Report

Jeanne Dennis here, back from my book tour with Cheri Cowell. I have to say that it was a wonderful experience, even though we didn't sell quite as many books as we had hoped. Traveling with a fellow author has to be one of the most enjoyable ways to travel by car. During our driving time, we talked about everything--growing up, our families, our dreams, our dilemmas, our faith. We also shared writing, speaking, and marketing tips and experiences. We even had time to brainstorm a new title for Cheri's latest book proposal.

Cheri spoke and I spoke and sang at several churches. We also had book signings at bookstores almost every day. The photo was taken at a book signing in South Carolina. We enjoyed meeting all the people, especially at the churches. They seemed so appreciative that we took the time to come to them. At one bookstore, the manager told us that we had the nicest display they'd ever had for a book signing. He seemed excited that we didn't just plop our books on an empty table as most of his authors have done.

One of the best parts of our tour was staying with fellow author Vonda Skelton. We had such a great time with her. She even arranged for us all to have dinner with two other author friends, Edna Ellison and Linda Gilden.

Next time I'll post some of the things we learned on our tour, both good and bad. Meanwhile, I'm going to get some much-needed rest!

Preparation for Book Signings

Cheri Cowell and I have been working hard to prepare for our book tour. Although this may be old hat to many of you, I thought I'd talk about what we're doing in preparation for our book signings, for those of you who need to know.

Piggyback Book Promotion

Hello, Jeanne Dennis here. I'll be teaming with Jeanette Hanscome, posting every other Thursday.

My latest two books came out in 2006, the year my life went crazy. At the prime time for promoting these books, I was moving across the country so that I could be close to my aging parents and other family who needed help. For the two years prior to the move, I often had to leave my home and teaching job in Colorado to help my extended family—when Mom got cancer, when she broke her hip, when my sister had her twins and needed help with her other three children, and then later when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Everyone's health had improved by 2006, so I had dreams of spending quality time with family in Florida, but on my schedule, with plenty of writing and promotion time in between.

But two weeks after we moved, my cousin died. My sister's cancer returned at fourth stage in her spine, my dad was diagnosed with diabetes and a deforming skin cancer, our new home had numerous problems that required hours of correspondence and months of work . . . and that was only the beginning. Though I took time out to appear on The Harvest Show and do radio interviews, of necessity, my book promotion had to take a back seat. Family and home had to come first.

So what can one do when the window of opportunity for timely book promotion has passed? Some would say nothing, but as long as a book is in print, I believe its author should continue to do everything possible to promote it. So when I heard that my friend Cheri Cowell was conducting her own book tour in nearby states, I asked if I might tag along.

Cheri has arranged to speak at several churches in the Southeast next month. At one church, Cheri will share her allotted speaking time with me, which is generous of her. At the others, I will sing both before and after her presentation. When I introduce the songs, I will be able to talk a little bit about topics in my books. Afterwards, I will help with the book table and have my books available along with hers.

If you like the idea of tagging along on someone's book tour but don't have a solo voice, perhaps you could do an introductory skit, serve the speaker as part of his or her prayer and counseling team, present a fun craft, or demonstrate something from your book. Use your imagination. Just don't give up. An old adage says, "As long as there's life, there's hope." Well, when it comes to our books, as long as they're in print, we can promote.

The Motivation Behind it all

Jeanne Dennis here, standing in for Jeanette Hanscome, who is teaching at a writers’ conference this week.

Speaking of writers’ conferences, I was looking through some of my old conference notes in preparation for Florida and Mount Hermon when I came across a quote from Dick Foth, last year’s keynoter at Mount Hermon. He said, “When someone gets me as a friend, they automatically get Jesus.”