Get noticed, get feedback, get an agent.

Here's a chance to have your project reviewed by one of the agents at The Knight Agency. Submit three compelling sentences (150 words max) about your completed, unpublished manuscript to submissions@ knightagency. net. Write BOOK IN A NUTSHELL in the subject line or it will not be deemed elligible. One submission per project, please. Twenty of the best submissions will be chosen and requested by various agents who will then give feedback on your work...and it may even lead to possible representation. Hurry, the deadline is April 20, 2009. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2009.

Why Authors Must Catch up to the Social Media Wave before the Fail Whale

The dreaded fail whale. lol.

This morning I received a group email from a writing buddy regarding the usage of a social media tool. Usually I skim through my email and only respond to questions are specifically addressed to me or I know that my answer will benefit the group conversation, so I answered it. Yet after a little thought I felt a little concerned.

Pam Perry, owner of Ministry Marketing Solutions is a friend/biz bud and book marketing coach. We have worked together through the years and last night had one of those we haven't talked or connected in far too long kind of conversations. We recorded it on Utterz-a micropodcasting social media service just for the kicks. And the gist of our conversation came down to we have to be proactive about connecting with people. We have to use all tools out there to facilitate that connection.

I have to admit I haven't spoken to Pam in a while. She'd shoot some email here; I'd shoot some tweet there and we veered away from the commonality between us. In short we fell off each other's wave. Pam talks in her book Synergy Energy about connection and using shared connection to expand and engage the marketplace. I agree.

A part of that expansion, however, doesn't just happen because you write a book, record a CD, set up a Facebook page, become a Twitter user. Becoming a catalyst for expansion means having the discernment to catch the wave before it passes you by.

In a nutshell this morning my reply to my writer's group was a breakdown of some of the drawbacks of the service and a mention that the service has morphed into a Facebook appi. Most importantly, this change happened two years ago.

Two years ago.

If we are going to be enact change, build communities, engage with our fans we must not be on the tail end of the wave, else we may be kicked off of it.

For the past three weeks I have been meeting every Thursday with some of my author clients for a group coaching session on Social Media. I am honored that some of my clients have taken this free opportunity to learn from me. It is my mission to get them up to speed before the next wave comes in. And yes there is a new wave. I've had the opportunity to beta test some appis that will blow your mind.

March 30th Pam will be hosting a free seminar for those who have no clue what a blog is, but know they need one. I encourage you to please take this seminar.

Moreover, next month I will be hosting three events:

1. April 16 I will be giving a seminar on The Business of Book Events at the Virtual Fiction Writer's Conference. For those of you who are still chatting about CBE or Book Expo or NBCC prep this is the seminar for you. I will be talking about how to Hack your next book event.
   
2. I will be hosting a free teleseminar on How to Build a Better Birdhouse on Twitter: Tips on Using Twitter to Reach your Psychographic. Follow this Blog or subscribe to my Twitter Feed to stay posted on the date.
   
3. My 90 day social media bootcamp for authors. It is free to my clients, but not free to the rest. However, the cost is very affordable. That bootcamp begins April 28-August 4(I'm taking a week off for the Faith and Fiction Retreat.)

So my question to you: What are you doing to stay on the Social Media Wave? If not, what do you plan to do?

1. 
   

Pam Perry's Candid Chat on Social MediaMarketing

Dee Stewart and PR Pr Pam Perry chat about eblast services for authors, Book marketing via twitter, author marketing swaps, Twitter, the Christian Book Expo, techniques, why sharing matters & much more

Mobile post sent by deegospel using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3

Pam Perry's Candid Chat on Social MediaMarketing

Dee Stewart and PR Pr Pam Perry chat about eblast services for authors, Book marketing via twitter, author marketing swaps, Twitter, the Christian Book Expo, techniques, why sharing matters & much more

Mobile post sent by deegospel using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3

Christy Awards Finalists Annnounced

Zora & Nicky Finaled

From what I read the CBE missed its mark, but let's be fair, this is its first year. At least my galpal Claudia Burney, finaled in the Christys. Yeah, girl!!!

Christy Award Nominees:

Romance: Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group); Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House Publishers); and Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney (David C. Cook).

Contemporary (Series, Sequels and Novellas): Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group); Summer Snow by Nicole Baart (Tyndale House); and You Had Me at Good-bye by Tracey Bateman (FaithWords).

Contemporary (Stand-alone): Dogwood by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House); Embrace Me by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson); and Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas (Moody Publishers).

First Novel: Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan Lake (David C. Cook), Rain Song by Alice Wisler (Bethany House Publishers); and Safe at Home by Richard Doster (David C. Cook).

Historical: Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing Group); Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin (Bethany House); and Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser (Bethany House).

Historical Romance: Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishers); From a Distance by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House); and The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen (B&H Publishing Group).

Suspense: By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer (Tyndale House); The Rook by Steven James (Revell/Baker Publishing Group); and Winter Haven by Athol Dickson (Bethany House Publishers).

Visionary: The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka (Harvest House Publishers); Shade by John B. Olson (B&H Publishing Group); and Vanish by Tom Pawlik (Tyndale House).

Young Adult: The Fruit of My Lipstick by Shelley Adina (FaithWords); I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke (Moody Publishers); and On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson (WaterBrook Press).

Winners will be announced at ICRS in July

Gospel Dream 2009 Auditions ANnouncement: Christian Fiction Blog

Gospel Dream Is Back! Auditions This April and May

Auditions To Be Held in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando & Seattle

Season Premiere Set For June 6

ATLANTA (March 17, 2009) – Gospel Music Channel announced today it will once again invite performers to audition to compete for the chance to win a record & music video deal, among other prizes, in nine audition cities, for a fourth season of Gospel Dream.

The cities and dates scheduled for Gospel Dream auditions are:

Seattle – Northwest University Chapel – 5520 108th Ave. NE Kirkland, WA 98033	April 1
Minneapolis – 3 Degrees – 113 N. 5th St Minneapolis, MN 55403	April 8
Dallas – Open Door City Church – 8421 Boulevard 26 N. Richland Hills, TX 76180	April 10
Los Angeles – Dream Center Angeles Temple – 1100 Glendale Blvd L.A. CA 90026	April 14
Oakland – Shiloh Church – 3295 School St. Oakland, CA 90026	April 15
Nashville – Marathon Village – 1305 Clinton St. Nashville TN 37203	April 25
Orlando – Northland Church – 530 Dog Track Road Longwood, FL 32750	May 1
Atlanta – Wagon Works – 1514 East Cleveland Ave., 2nd Floor, East Point, GA 30344	May 2
Detroit – Wayne State University Student Center Room 29 – 5221 Gullen Mall Detroit MI 48202	May 4
Locate accommodation options near audition events

Specific times, locations, and official rules and required forms for the auditions will be provided shortly. Stay tuned to gospelmusicchannel.com/gospeldream for the latest information.

Singers from all Gospel/Christian styles, including traditional, rock, pop, country and soul are invited to audition for Gospel Dream 2009. Solo artists age 16 to 40 are eligible. Between 30 and 35 contestants from the audition cities will be selected to compete for the crown in Nashville.

Gospel Dream will been seen Saturday nights at 9 PM ET on Gospel Music Channel beginning June 6, culminating with the grand finale coronation of the new Gospel Dream winner on July 11.

“Gospel Dream is the original music reality competition on television that celebrates aspiring artists who desire to inspire, as well as to entertain,” commented Charles Humbard, founder and president, Gospel Music Channel. “The show connected with our viewers in the first three seasons and season four competition promises to be even more compelling and will be seen by even more viewers thanks to our tremendous growth in distribution.”

Elvin Ross is the creator, executive producer and musical director of the Gospel Dream series.

Gospel Music Channel is the fastest-growing network in television and can be seen in more than 42 million homes on various cable systems around the country and on DIRECTV on channel 338.

Entry Process (Two Steps)

1) Read rules & complete online form
2) Download, print, and fill out entry and release documents.

1. Gospel Dream Registration Entry & Rules
2. Release Form*

* You must bring the Gospel Dream Registration & Rules and the Release Form with you to your audition

Tips to Get the Best ROI on your Book Event

Join me as I answer your questions about pr and publicity. Today's question is: How can you get the best ROI of out of your book event, expo or conference?

If you have a question you would like me to answer on Media Candy's MidWeek Midday Chat leave me a comment here.