Bringing a book into the world . . . opportunities abound!
It’s an exciting time for a writer when their book is finally out in the world. And because we want to let readers know about it, we tend to be very public.
Maybe the first thing is we do is stage a book launch event and invite everyone to come and celebrate with us. Mine was Saturday, Oct. 21. I was honored to be invited to hold my book launch at San Diego Central Library in the beautiful Shiley Special Events Suite on the 9th floor. Here’s a photo of the special display with the fabulously flashy sign, a gift from Amy Boyd and Kathleen Maynard. Thanks JIll G. Hall for introducing me and everyone for coming out to support us!
We make appearances at bookstores and literary events. I have a few coming up in November: Friday, November 10 at Bookworks in Albuquerque with Amy Wallen and Monday, November 20 at The Book Catapult in San Diego, also with Amy Wallen. More to come. I’ll post as they do.
And we do interviews on various media outlets, podcasts, and the like. It’s been a treat to be featured on several preceding the release of the book, with more coming up, including The Launch Pad’s Bookish Road Trip, which will be aired Thursday, Nov. 9 at 2 pm PT.
I was honored to be on the Women Over 70 podcast, (#262) “Traveling Solo to Find My Way,” which was aired on Jan 17, 2024. Here’s a link to the video.
We post often (some say too often) on all the socials (I’ve yet to do a TikTok video; probably won’t. Make that for sure won’t). But you can find me on Facebook and Instagram. Stop by if you can.
We send out special mailings and newsletters; sometimes we’re honored when our book is featured on someone else’s website or in their newsletter or on their socials. Thank you Leslie Johansen Nack, Jennifer Silva Redmond, and Betsy Morro, for the shout-outs in your Substacks, and thanks for the interview, Betsy.
We send copies out for book reviews and ask readers to share a review for us (note: reviews are always welcome! If you’ve read my book and liked it, I’d love for you to tell others. Even a couple of lines are helpful. A review helps readers decide whether the book is for them. Here’s where to post one if you can.
Sometimes we’re invited to set up shop at author events, such as many of us did at San Diego Writers, Ink Fall for Writing Conference on Friday, Oct. 27, where we get to meet with readers and talk book talk. Here my book and I are sitting beside Ron Salisbury, the first Poet Laureate of San Diego. We were among 18 other writers and their many books.
If we’re also teachers, as I am, we get invited to lead workshops at writing conferences and online. I’ll be at Book Passage in Corte Maderia with “Moments to Memoir” on Saturday, December 2, and at the San Miguel Writers Conference in San Miguel de Allende February 19-23, 2024.
And maybe one day:
This is an exciting time for me. I love the part where I get to meet and talk to readers and other writers and share our stories. I hope to see you sometime, someplace soon.
Oh and you can get copies of my book at any of my in-person appearances, at your favorite indie bookstore (they can order it for you) or at Bookshop.org and Amazon.com