Calvin Festival of Faith & Writing

For those of you who may have wandered over here from my regular blog, you've just discovered a sneek peak at my next book. I'll make an announcement when things are ready here. In the meantime, please visit my website to download the handouts from our "Reality Marketing" session.

November 15 is "I Love to Write Day"

November 15 is "I Love to Write Day"

Christian Authors Network

CHRISTIAN AUTHORS NETWORK SUPPORTS RETAILERS. Responding to retailers’ concerns about increased competition, Cyndy Salzmann and Carol Umberger will launch the Christian Authors Network at the International Christian Retail Show. To increase store traffic, CAN will use talents of 34 authors for special store events and promotions at no cost to retailers.

Day 5: Be Prepared

Have postcards and/or business cards with you at all times. You never know when an opportunity may arrive.

A friend of mine was standing in line at the movie theatre. She noticed that the person at the ticket window was reading a fiction book in her genre. They struck up a conversation and my friend passed along a business card. With Barnes & Noble a short distance away in the mall, my friend scored a sale.

I had a similar experience at Barnes & Noble. I was settled in with my laptop, researching for my new book. A man saw my stack and started to ask me questions about publishing. I pulled out a postcard for my published book. He took it and walked away. A few minutes later, he came back to tell me that it was out (unfortunate reality for a mid-level book that's been out more than a year), but that he ordered it. I'm sure that if he didn't have that card, he would have forgotten the title...and to purchase!

When creating postcards or business cards, be sure to include:
* cover image
* book title (it may not be easy to read, depending on the size)
* ISBN
* retail price
* publisher
* release date (especially important for pre-pub promotion)
* clear, concise & compellilng copy (25 words or less)
* website and/blog

Day 4: Add "Who Links Here"

Added sidebar link "Who Links Here."

Task: Blogging/Add tracking link
Time Required: 5 minutes

Webcounter: 154

Things that Make Me Go Hmmmm

List of Head Scratchers:

* find a link that allows visitors to subscribe (separate from RSS feeds)
* RSS set up
* dummy's guide to code: how to align text, indent, add/edit buttons
* code for creating calendar with Blogger
* code for categorizing
* comparison chart for different blog providers, both free and pay options

Day 3: Add author links

Tweaked template to include links to author blogs for:

Brandilyn Collins (fiction)
Brian McLaren (emergent church guru)
Faith Chicks (a group of fiction writers)
Mel Lawrenz (christian living)
Renee Alton (memoir)
Tony Jones (emergent church)
Robin Lee Hatcher (fiction)
Traci DePree (fiction)

Task: Blogging/Add links
Time Required: 30 minutes

Webcounter: 146

Wow...that was easy. But is it right?

Easiest book contract ever acquired. I'm a bit stunned, but very encouraged.

Need to pray through pros and cons. Is this the right publisher at the right time?

Stay tuned...

The Importance of Having a Blog

Wow...I'm impressed. The purpose of this blog is simply a place holder for the moment. I set it up late last night and included the tracker to collect research data. I don't know whether to be encouraged or discouraged that over the midnight hours, this blog, with no promotion (and not much information) had more hits than Generation Ex Files, about my book that's already out and available. I've had visitors from the US, Canada, the Philippines, Singapore, Brazil and Korea.

Welcome friends, thanks for stopping by!

Day 2: Add Tracking Links

For lack of a better term, these are links that track visitors. I added a webcounter and a visitor statistic tracker.

Task: Blog/Tracking Links
Time Required: 10 Minutes

Day 1: New Beginnings

Welcome to the blog home of Jen's new book. Stay tuned!!

Task: Blog/Set up Blog
Time Required: 10 Minutes