Author: Kelly Schuknecht

Kelly Schuknecht is a marketer with a background in the publishing industry. She is passionate about all things related to books and loves helping authors navigate the world of social media for book promotion. She recently launched the course Marketing Your Book on TikTok.
Kelly Speaks

London Book Fair

Networking is essential in any career, and publishing is no different. Networking can help self-published authors  make contacts that help move their careers forward. The London Book Fair is the ideal place to make a connection with industry professionals, including those who are interested in international rights.

The London Book Fair is regarded by many as the most important spring publishing event and welcomes tens of thousands of attendees from all over the globe. Capitalize by exposing your book to key industry contacts like acquisitions agents, editors, and translation rights agents.

The London Book Fair takes place Tuesday, April 8, 2014 through Thursday, April 10, 2014. This year’s event features a great group of big names from the world of publishing and Film and TV as well as a wide range of exhibitors, conferences, seminars, and events.

The London Book Fair is a great opportunity to network, find inspiration, learn about the industry, and promote your book. To learn more, visit http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en/Home/.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Poetry Styles Explained

April is National Poetry Month. In honor of this, I encourage everyone to try their hand at writing poetry this month, even if you usually shy away from this genre. To help you get started, here is an overview of some of the popular poetry styles.

Ballad

A typical ballad is a plot-driven song with one or more characters and a dramatic ending. This form uses the show, don’t tell approach to writing. Examples include Ballad of the Goodly Fere by Ezra Pound and  The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Blues Poem

This is one of the most popular forms of American poetry. It stems from the African American oral tradition. It often discusses difficult topics. Examples include Riverbank Blues by Sterling A. Brown and The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes.

Epic

An epic is a long, often book-length, narrative in verse form that retells the heroic journey of a single person, or group of persons. One of the most famous examples of an epic is The Odyssey by Homer.

Haiku

A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count. Haikus often focus on images from nature.

Limerick

This form is popular among children’s authors. Limericks are often comical, and they consist of five lines that adhere to a strict rhyme scheme. These poems are easy to memorize. Nursery rhymes are often considered limericks.

Sonnet

The sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter. It adheres to one of several rhyme schemes. Two well-known sonnet forms are the Petrachan and the Shakespearean.

To learn more about poetry styles, visit Poets.org. It is an excellent resource for all poets.

I’d love to know, what is your favorite style of poetry?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Bologna Children’s Book Fair 201

Book fairs are a great way for self-publishing authors to promote their work, connect with other professionals in the industry, and to learn about the publishing industry. If you are a children’s authors, Bologna Children’s Book Fair is an event you don’t want to miss.

This year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair will be held Monday, March 24th through Thursday, March 27th.

The Bologna Children’s Book fair is one of the most important international events dedicated to the children’s publishing and multimedia industry. It is a wonderful opportunity for authors, illustrators, literary agents, licensors and licensees, packagers, distributors, printers, booksellers, and librarians to sell and buy copyright, find the very best of children’s publishing and multimedia production, generate and gather new contacts while strengthening professional relationships, discover new business opportunities, and discuss and debate the latest sector trends. It really is  the “place-to-be” for selling rights.

For more information, visit  www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 3/18/14

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

Advice to the Self-Publisher

This author shares excellent advice for anyone considering self-publishing. The article discusses the different types of editing and also addresses when to self-publish your manuscript. It is a must read.

8 Rejuvenating Books To Read In The Spring

One of the best ways to improve your writing is reading. This article recommends eight books worth reading this spring.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Self-Publishing an eBook

Choosing a publisher is an important decision. This article raises six questions every writer should answer before self-publishing.

Self-Published eBooks Dominate Bestseller Lists

Indie titles are dominating bestseller lists every month. This article looks at some interesting statistics on how self-published titles are starting to dominate the bestseller lists.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Book Promotion, Contests, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) New Writers Awards Accepting Submissions

Book contests are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain credibility and exposure. Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) New Writers Award for poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction is currently accepting entries. Here is what you need to know:

  • The work must be a first published volume.
  • The work must have been published between Spring 2013 and Spring 2014.
  • GLCA will also accept galley proofs for works to be published in late spring or early summer of 2014.
  • Winning authors tour several GLCA’s member colleges to give readings, lecture, visit classes, conduct workshops, and publicize their books.
  • All entries must be postmarked no later than July 25, 2014.
  • Winning authors will receive an honorarium of $500 from each of the colleges they visit. Travel, lodging, and food expenses will be reimbursed.

The Benefits of Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) New Writers Awards

  • Credibility — This award reflects outstanding literary achievement in the judgment of a committee of scholar-critic-writers who have professional and personal commitments to excellence in literature and the encouragement of creative writing. It is a mark of distinction that confers recognition to both author and publisher in promoting the book.
  • Publicity — The winning authors’ visits to the GLCA colleges, with the attendant local promotion and publicity, should serve to stimulate sales in this Midwestern area.These campus visits expose the authors and their works to large numbers of students through readings, question and answer sessions, and possibly workshop class sessions.

For more information on submitting an entry, visit http://glca.org/programs/new-writers-award.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.