Seven authors participating in the 5th Annual Faith and Fiction Retreat are featured in the June issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Click here to read more.
The Pruning Principle
3 years ago
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
10 Things to Do the Month Before your Book Releases
My novel, A Good Excuse to Be Bad has its national release June 28, 2011. When I noticed how I close I was to the book launch date I realized that although I have had the busiest, most trying, family in crisis year than I’ve ever had still needed to apply the action items I often encourage my clients and my Dee Goody Mail members. So as a reminder to myself and to up my accountability, I am sharing my checklist here.
Continue reading "10 Things to Do the Month Before Your Book Releases" »
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
6 Reasons Atlanta Made Amazon.com Top 20 Most Well Read Cities in America List
Amazon.com announced its list of the Top 20 Most Well-Read Cities in America. Atlanta placed 20.
Why did Atlanta make the list?
1. Vibrant Book Club Culture
Atlanta has a vibrant reading culture. In every county you can find bookclubs meeting in libraries, coffee shops, winebars and hosting their own events. RAWSISTAZ Book Club has its annual RAW Affair in September, the National Book Club Conference meets here every year in July, and many more.
2. Book Events Galore!
a. The AJC Decatur Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the country. Last year some of the most popular authors in the country were there like Jonathan Franzen and Emily Giffin. (Shameless plug. You can meet me[Miranda Parker] there this year. The DBF doesn’t just work the 3 day Book Festival it hosts year round literary events. This month they hosted a dinner with NYT Bestseller Kim Severson.
b. The Georgia Center of the Book is the state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Dekalb County Library is its host and sponsor. It funds some of the best literary events in the city. June is going to be an incredible month with Tayari Jones and Mary Doria Russell visiting.
3. Reading and Reader Hot Spots.
I’ve spent many date nights at Barnes & Noble Peachtree Starbucks. The Grounds Coffeehouse is a nice place to listen to author readings. The now gone Vino Libro (Wines and Books) was a great hot spot for readers and wine connoisseurs. There are also nice spots for poetry reading and spoken word artists like Hank Stewart’s White Linen Affair.
4. Popular Authors in Resident
- Emily Giffin
- Pearl Cleage
- Kathryn Stockett
- Joshilyn Jackson
- W. Dale Cramer
- Natasha Trethewey
- Karen White
- Karin Slaughter
- Jelani Cobb
5. Independent Bookstore Haven
Atlanta also houses nationally recognized independent bookstores like:
- Foxtale Bookshoppe
- Blue Elephant
- Outwrite
- Charis
- Medu
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Eagle Eye
- Acapella,
- to name a few
6. Strong Reading Initiatives
a. Atlanta’s R.E.A.L. Men Read is a great organization and mentoring program for Atlanta Public Schools
b. Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta is an organization that assists with adults with learning to read.
I’m sure other cities have a great reading culture. These are just my reasons why Atlanta made the list. What should I add?
To Read More about Amazon’s Top 20 Most Read American Cities list Click here.
Monday, June 06, 2011
10 Things to Do the Month Before Your Book Releases
- Relax. (you don’t have to do anything us, but enjoy it all. so chill)
- To enjoy this time throw a party.
- Now promote that party in every free outlet you can find.
- Get some door prizes for the party.
- Promote the biggest door prize on your site and every where you can near the venue two weeks before the event.
- Book a second event, because this party will be so cool. Your buddies will not want it to end, so have another place for them to meetup and provide an invite at this party.
- Invite people who matter to you and gift them for being such a great help.
- Prepare what you will read. Practice it.
- Pay for an ad in your local paper or local email blast.
- Prep the venue staff for your party. Early visit. Take your book. See who will be working for you. Give them a phone script in case someone calls wondering are you actually there.
Bonus. Have Fun. If no one else have fun, you better! LOL
One more thing. Today is the last day to enter to win a free autographed copy of A Good Excuse to Be Bad. Click the Good Reads pic or the link above to enter.
Dee Stewart is an inspirational book reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine, contributing writer to Hope for Women Magazine, staff columnist for Christian Fiction Online Magazine, owner of Christian Fiction Blog and DeeGospel PR, an entertainment PR boutique. She is alsoMiranda Parker, novelist for Kensington Publishers Dafina Books. Her debut novel “A Good Excuse to be Bad” releases July 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Women Soldiers Memorial Day Tribute
This weekend a friend shared a link with me that honored Af-Am Women Soldiers who had fallen during their tours in Afghanistan or Iraq. It made me pause. Many of them were mothers. They are all someone’s child. As we celebrate this weekend, please carry them and their families in your heart.
If you would like for us to pay tribute to a fallen loved one, please leave their name in the comments.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A Good Excuse to Be Bad GoodReads Giveaway
Enter to win an advance copy of Miranda Parker’s A Good Excuse To Be Bad via GoodReads First Reads.
Giveaway dates: May 14-Jun 14, 2011
5 copies available, 121 people have already entered
Countries available: US
terms & conditions
- If more people are interested in a book than there are copies available, we will pick the winners at our discretion. The factors that go into our algorithm are: randomness, site activity, genre of books on your shelves, current phase of the moon, and more.
- No purchase necessary. Only one entry is allowed per household. You must be 13 or older and a legal resident of one of the countries this giveaway is listed for.
- The publisher or author, not Goodreads, is responsible for shipment of books to winners. To list a book, the publisher or author has already agreed never to send you anything except the book in question.
- You are not required to review the book if you win a copy. However, we encourage you do to so, as it's the reason the publishers are giving us free books in the first place. People who review the books are also more likely to win more advance copies in the future.
- By accepting an advance copy and posting a review, you grant Goodreads and the publisher an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid, worldwide license to use, copy, perform, display, and distribute your review.
- In compliance with FTC guidelines, please disclose in your review that you received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Click here and enter to win
To learn more about Miranda Parker on Good Reads or www.mirandaparker.com
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Reviewed: Miles to Go
MILES TO GO
by Richard Paul Evans
When widower and former advertising executive Alan Christofferson loses everything, he makes a decision to walk from Washington state to Key West. But after he’s viciously stabbed on the side of the road, he’s homeless and bed bound until he is saved by a woman named Angel. She takes him into her home but she needs him to save her before he can continue his journey. Read the full review in May’s RT Book Reviews Magazine (on newsstands now or click here .)
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