Kelly Schuknecht

Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Promotion Strategy, Book Signings, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

5 Ways to Promote Your Book in March

March is National Reading Month and Small Press Month. This makes it the perfect month to focus on promoting your book. Here are five ways you can promote your self-published book in March.

1. Read Across America Day

March 3 is National Read Across America Day, also known as Dr. Seuss Day. This is the perfect opportunity for children’s authors to promote their book. Schedule a reading at a local school, library, or bookstore. You can also get creative and host a Read Across America event for adults.

2. St. Patrick’s Day

Holidays are always a great opportunity to promote your book. Even if your book has nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day, you can get creative with your marketing plan. Perhaps, host a St. Patrick’s Day give away or schedule a St. Patrick’s Day event. For instance, you could schedule a book signing, wear your favorite green shirt, hand out some Irish potatoes to your guests, and promote your book while “celebrating.”

3. Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2014

Bologna Children’s Book Fair will be held March 24-27. It is the most important international event dedicated to the children’s publishing and multimedia industry. Last year, the event had about 1,200 exhibitors coming from 75 countries and 25,000 international professional trade representatives. To learn more, visit http://www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it/en/the-fair/895.html.

4. Book Expo America 2014

Book Expo America will take place May 19-31. It is the #1 book and author event that offers the book industry access to new titles, authors, and education about the publishing industry. BEA is the best place to discover new titles and upcoming books and meet face to face with favorite and up and coming authors. To learn more, visit http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/.

5. Schedule an interview or book signing event

People won’t buy your book if they don’t know it exist, so schedule an event that will help you connect with readers and gain some press for your book. Two great options are a radio interview or book signing event. Start by contacting local radio stations or bookstore to set up the event.

I’d love to know, how do you plan to promote your book in March?

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

Self-Publishing: Getting Paid To Do What You Love

Gone are the days of being stuck in the same career your entire life. Gone are the days of being confined to a boring, 9-to-5 job. Gone are the days of longing to be a published author. Gone are the days of unpublished manuscripts stashed away with piles of rejection letters. With the growing trend of self-publishing and the constant advancements in technology, you now have the power to make all your dreams come true. Here are three ways self-publishing can help you get paid to do what you love.

1. Increase your credibility and build your brand.

Whether you are a yoga instructor, doctor, or any other professional, self-publishing a book is a great way to build your brand and increase your credibility. Many professionals use self-publishing to publish books within their niches. These books are a great way to showcase your expertise and educate current and potential clients.

2. Add to your revenue stream.

Self-publishing is popular among public speakers, mentors, and other entrepreneurs because books can be an additional source of revenue. For instance, many public speakers sell their books at their speaking events. This not only increases their credibility and branding, but it is also provides a simple way to increase revenue at the event.

3. Be the writer you dream of being.

Many authors have found significant success in self-publishing. Depending on your goals and determination, it is possible to earn supplemental or a full-time income by writing and selling your self-published books. While it takes hard work and dedication, it is possible to make a living as a writer.

I’d love to know, what is your dream career?

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

10 Inspiring Quotes on Writing

Let’s face it, we all lose the motivation to write sometimes. Whether it is criticism, writer’s block, fatigue, or any other obstacle keeping you from writing, I am here to help. I’ve collected 10 of my favorite inspiring quotes on writing to get you motivated to start or finish your writing project. Here they are:

1. “This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until its done. It’s that easy, and that hard.” ― Neil Gaiman

2. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ― Maya Angelou

3. “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” ― Madeleine L’Engle

4. “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ― Stephen King

5. “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” ― Mark Twain

6. “And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” ― Sylvia Plath

7. “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ― Anton Chekhov

8. “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

9. “The first draft of anything is shit.” ― Ernest Hemingway

10. “I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I’m afraid of. ” ― Joss Whedon

I’d love to know, what is your favorite inspiring quote on writing?

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

3 Reasons You’ll Fall in Love with Self-Publishing

Self-publishing is transforming the publishing industry. Universities are beginning to offer degrees in self-publishing. Successful authors who previously used traditional publishing firms are switching to self-publishing, and the options available to self-publishing authors are constantly improving.

Once you learn more about self-publishing, you may just find that you love this option! Here are three reasons why:

1. Control

With traditional publishing, the author has very little control over the fate of his or her book. Editors and agents decide if your book is print worthy. The publishing firm decides the cover art, layout, and price point for your book. Once you hand over your manuscript to a traditional publishing company, you are giving up control. With self-publishing, you are in charge. You decide when your manuscript is ready to be published, and you control the final outcome.

2. Quality

The quality of POD books has come a long way. In addition to better printing quality and a wider variety of formatting options, many self-publishing companies offer a variety of professional services (for example, copy editing and cover design) to ensure that you publish the best book possible.

3. Speed

Traditional publishing is a slow process. There is the dreaded query letters. The time spent waiting to hear back from agents or editors. If your book does get picked up by a firm, it can take over a year to see your book in print. The self-publishing process is often completed within a few months (or even just a few weeks). Not only does this mean you don’t have to wait to see your book in print, but it also opens up even more doors for authors. You can now publish books that are current and in response to readers’ desires.

I’d love to know, why do you love self-publishing?

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 2/04/14

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.

15 Inspirational Quotes of Top Self-Published Authors

If you need a little inspiration, check out these quotes from self-publishing authors. This post is a quick, fun, and uplifting read.

Complimentary Self Publishing Guide from BookBaby

BookBaby’s How-To Guide for Writers goes beyond the eBook basics to help you create a digital masterpiece. Whether you’re a rookie or an experienced pro in the eBook world, BookBaby’s How-To Guide has something for everyone.

Follow-Up On Self-Publishing: Readers Are Not Good Gatekeepers

This author provides an interesting perspective on the quality of work that authors self-publish. The article suggests that even if a writer publishers a book that isn’t of the same quality of other writers, it is just a stepping stone to producing better work. The writer urges authors to always strive for their best.

Call It “Artisanal,” And 5 Other Ways To Crush Self-Publishing

Guy Kawasaki, former Apple evangelist and co-author of APE: How to Publish A Book, shares five tips for self-publishing success. My favorite quote from the article is “to be successful the process must be approached with professionalism.”

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

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: