The Pruning Principle
3 years ago
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Meet Me in North & South Carolina This Weekend
Itinerary for For Sister's Only Charlotte Event This Week
Come support Christian Fiction in the Carolinas this weekend and meet me, too!
Come support Christian Fiction in the Carolinas this weekend and meet me, too!
FSO Literary Café Stage
Saturday May 16, 2009
Blake Hotel
555 McDowell Street
Doors open at 10am
11:30 AM – 11:35 BLUZ INTRODUCTION TO THE LITERARY CAFÉ AND INTRODUCTION OF OMAR TYREE
11: 40 AM -12 PM OMAR TYREE’S BOOK SIGNING
12:30 PM – 12:45 PM- MUSIC BY JOCELYN ELLIS
12: 50-12:55 PM: PERSONAL ADDRESS BY DWAN ABRAMS
12:55 -1 PM: Personal ADDRESS BY SHANA BURTON
1:00 PM TO 1:30 PM - DWAN ABRAMS & SHANABURTON BOOK SIGNING
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM - THE QUEENS COLLECTIVE
1:50-1:55 PM: PERSONAL ADDRESS BY TIFFANY WARREN
1:55- 2 PM – PERSONAL ADDRESS BY SHERRI LEWIS
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM - TIFFANY WARREN & SHERRI LEWIS BOOKSIGNING
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM - ROGER DAVIS PERFORMS & POETS
3:30 – 3:35 PM - BLUZ INTRODUCES DONNA GRANT & VIRGINIA
3:40 PM – 4:30 PM – DONNA GRANT & VIRGINIA DEBERRY
BOOK SIGNING
4: 30 PM – 5:00 PM – POETS
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM – THE CLOSING OF THE LITERARYCAFÉ STAGE
6:00 PM Literary Cafe Closes/Real Eyes Book Event: We will be leaving for Real Eyes Bookstore for our own Literary Event.
The addy for RealEyes is: 3306 N Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Sunday
10:45 AM EST Departure for Spartanburg: Cornerstone Baptist Church
Addy: 700 S Converse St,Spartanburg, SC 29306
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Join me for May 30: Book Marketing MasterMind Session
(African American Authors in Atlanta)
Up to 30 Author presentations and readings
All genres from Spirituality to Erotica
May 30th, 2009
9:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Wyndham Garden Hotel
175 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta 30303, 404-659-2727, X 352 or 353
Special Wyndham Discount for Attendees: $89 per night/King or Double Queen
Readers Full Day Admission: $40/$50 with shuttle transportation
Registration: 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. (Registration includes membership to Jean Holloway’s “Aceoholics” Book Club)
Buffet Breakfast: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (includes Book Marketing Mastermind Session with me, Dee Stewart)
12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Authors reading excerpts from such novels as:
at the Peachtree Library, 1315 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, 30309
Shuttle transportation provided between hotel, library and Uptown ($5.00 each R/T)
OR join us from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. at The Uptown Restaurant and Lounge
201 Courtland St. Atlanta, 30306
Admission to Uptown ONLY $25.00 and includes FREE autographed copy from attending author of your choice.
Authors & Readers meet & mingle. Enjoy smooth jazz, hors'dourves and Cash bar.
Professional Massages will be available for $1 per minute.
All attendees can enjoy Dinner & a Live Band from 7-10p. with no additional cover charge.
For tickets, register at: http://quada.eventbrite.com
Questions: email jeanholloway@deckofcardz.com with “Quad A” as the subject.
All events and participating authors may change without notice.
Midweek Reality Post: Do You Know the Rules of Getting Published?
Today Sandra Bishop posted a nice allegory on Literary Agent Chip McGregor's Blog about how veteran writers should lend a hand to newbie writers, how they should prepare writers who are seeking publication by sharing the knowledge they know, and how writers should ask before they pitch. She states...
Based on the queries and submissions we receive, I'm sad to say there is a staggering amount of evidence that tons of folks don't bother figuring out the rules of the writing road. Don't think to read between the signs along the way and think about what they're getting into. They see the promise of treasure and plunge ahead, ignoring guidelines, books on craft, the market.
Here is my response below:
Great allegory
There are many great author friends in publishing who share everything about the process. Some of my write-or-die chicks have built brilliant stories, had a laundry list of endorsements from other authors, paid for copy editing, attended workshops, were rejected multiple times, and believe that this work is a part of the process, so we write again and start all over until some great agent or editor picks us up.
On the other hand, I have witnessed writers whose manuscripts had heavy grammatical errors, poor plot construction, dry themes and yet became published. I've even had agents come to me to help their author client build a better marketable book to pitch, and those authors were published. Those writers--for whatever reason-- didn't need to know the list to get through.
And that's the rub for me and many other writers, who are doing what they do, yet know for a fact that "the list" applies to those who aren't friends with the List maker.
So I would also add that we writers should not just encourage and share, but also be a soft place to fall when good writers(and we know who a good writer is) need a measure of our faith to hold onto when they feel weak on this journey.
What is the List for getting a book published? Are their hidden items on that list? And if so, what are they and why are they hidden? Let's have a Real Talk discussion today. I encourage any agents, editors, writers, publishers to join in and if need be debate. I'm doing some spring cleaning today, cleaning out the past year's crap in my pr life. Let's Go.
You can logon to the chat at Noon EST at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mediacandy or call in at (646) 649-1066
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Could You Be The #1 Reason Why Christian News Coverage is Dwindling in Local Media?
Garbage- My lovers box photo by cordero_pastillero
Last week the Dallas Morning News moved its religion reporters to covering suburban news. However, today their Religion Blog is still up and running. When Christianity Today asked the Bob Mong, the editor why the section was cut in '07. He stated:
In a time of flat revenues, we simply could not generate the advertising to break even on the section," said Bob Mong, editor of The Dallas Morning News. "I don't think any paper in the country tried harder than we did over the years."
So why dropping the two writers who remained? I think a combo of interest and poor ad campaigns on the part of Christian businesses is at hand.
Here in Atlanta Faith and Values is now infused in the Living Section of the AJC. As a Christian and a publicist who specializes in promoting Christians I wonder if local media's decision to cut these sections are reflection on our current society, a paradigm shift in what it means to be a Christian or stinking thinking on the part of the Christian business community?
Even when I look at some of the artists I represent and writers I applaud the ones that get the most media attention and the most buzz from the peanut gallery are artists who are shifting from proclaiming their Christianity. They believe that their base would be broader if they move from calling themselves Christian artists to urban inspirational. It leads me to wonder if Christian singers, playwrights, authors, actors are being on the DL about their faith, then why should the media be responsible for singing their praises. Afterall, don't they automatically and voluntarily opt out of being covered by Christian news now?
Moreover I wonder for those artists seeking PR (pr = print media placement, not public relations/marketing support as they should be seeking) realize that their silence bears the fruit of dwindling PR opportunities.
On the other hand, when I share advertising opportunities to Christian biz friends, clients and colleagues they continue to have a "marketing my ministry should be free/if He builds it they will come" mentality. If God called them to write, act, sing, build a church, pastor a congregation then why should they pay to advertise? Why should they pay for praises to be sung? Why should they shout God's message to as many who have ears to hear?
A few months ago Christian authors registered and attended The Christian Book Expo. Although I had my own misgivings about the project that was unrelated to the outcome of this event. (Let's face it: The AA Author's Pavilion wasn't its downfall.) What concerned me was reading many posts by my author friends, who were disappointed in the turn out--who lived near the area and/or had a significant readership around the area--but did poor if any marketing to alert their readers that they were coming. How can you be upset that noone came to your table when you told no one you would be here?
I am always shocked by events we create at DGP, then to find many of my author buddies do not advertise the events they will participate in or at least contact their readers via blogging or email marketing. I am never shocked, but always floored.
Granted. It is a fine line between being humble and being a shameless promoter. With prayer and hiring marketing pros who share your faith (and I'm not plugging me or Christian Fiction Blog at all: Jean Wynne, Pam Perry, Kathleen Y' Barbo, Robin Ware, Marina Woods, Rebeca Sietz, Don Otiz, Amy Curry, this list goes on) they can help you stay on the right path toward glorifying God in your business. But if we don't market effectively and that includes working alongside your publicity department, publicist, marketing team, street team, and ad execs to ensure that you receive the best coverage. I don't think it's fair to knock Dallas News when the only ads I've seen consistently for months is Fireproof.
I fear if we don't wake up, then another religion that has no problem spending marketing dollars toward promoting their philosophy will shift religion news that is covered.
Your thoughts...
Monday, May 11, 2009
TMA: Elunch with Me & Bonnie Grove on Book Trailers Rebroadcast
Christian Fiction Author and Novel Matters Blogger, Bonnie Grove ate Media Candy with me last week. We discussed how to have an effective book trailer, Christian writing and Talking to the Dead. Click more to see the book trailer before you here the discussion. Then come back to the blog this week as we break down book trailers some more.
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