Murders of Conveyance takes First Place for Fiction Adventure-Drama!
Award-winning Murders of Conveyance
What a memorable year 2019 was!It seemed like yesterday when I returned from my Autumn 2018 trip to Portland, Oregon, and began looking ahead to the spring 2019 Tucson Festival of Books. Although I was caught by a second round of flu at the beginning of summer, I managed to complete several projects, and even win an award!
2019’s MAJOR EVENT ~I was delighted to present the hardcover edition ofMurders of Conveyanceat theTucson Festival of Books [one of the largest book fairs in the U.S.]. In November, I was honored to have this third Natalie Seachrist Mystery winFirst Place for Fiction Adventure-Drama in the 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards!It even inspired my to send out a news release.
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ~I redesigned my author website with an expanded offering of Island Recipes and the addition of Tales of Tucson. I also rebuilt the Imaginings marketing tips website, with greater linkage to my author site. Are YOU providing both internal and external hyperlinks in your websites and social media pages? It’s a great way to invite visitors to all of your platforms for self-introduction!
~A new professional page on Facebook is allowing me to more fully reach out to friends, colleagues, and readers.When you have a piece of news or a new feature on one of your online sites, share the information everywhere! I direct FB friends and followers to drop in at my websites whenever I have uploaded new information or recipes.
~A shortened version of one of my blogs, “Coloration for Authors,”was featured on theHometown Reads website, which unites the interests of both authors and readers! You can read the original version of the blog athttps://hometownauthors.com/book-marketing-tips/coloration-for-authors/.
~ Traci Halesvass interviewed me on “Write on Four Corners,” which airs on San Juan College’s radio station KSJE, a New Mexico affiliate of Public Radio International. You can hear our conversation athttps://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-dwzci-c12784.
~ You’ll also note that I’ve upgraded this blog to include more color, images, and selected audio samples from my work, as well as that of co-authors ofUnder Sonoran Skies: Prose and Poetry from the High Desert.
~In 2019 I launched my first paid news release.Depending on the work you perform, you might want to consider this means of promotion through cost-effective packages of interviews and ads.
PLANS FOR 2020 With the announcement of the award, I’m currently updating marketing materials. And, with Microsoft discontinuing support for Windows 7, I’m now backing up all of my electronic files in preparation for installing a new computer. Fortunately, by having my computer custom built, I’ll be able to view my programs as though they were operating in Windows 7.One note of caution, no matter how many forms of backup you utilize, something can go wrong. So consider printing samples from your most important projects!
Although the New Year is opening with a focus on computer issues, I’m hoping to participate in an event with fellowauthor and artist Beth Surdutsoon. And, in mid-March, theTucson Festival of Bookswill again feature heavily in my schedule, as I anticipate being present in the Tucson Sisters in Crime booth on both days. Later in the year, I am planning a major trip to Honolulu to participate in theHawai`i Book and Music Festival…and unite with a few friends and readers!
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
Creative tablescapes dynamically introduce your unique work!
Make your participation in a retail, wholesale, or non-profit event memorable for both participants and attendees!
Recently, I participated in an art fair that reminded me of the need to anticipate inherent challenges you may experience in any event. As the old adage notes, you have only one opportunity to make a good first impression. One way to effectively introduce your unique work to new audiences is with a creative tablescape! While thinking about the elements that make your work remarkable, consider the following issues…
As a seller of the books I write, I have many opportunities to introduce my work. Sometimes the events are large like the Tucson Festival of Books[one of the largest book fairs in the U.S.]. At others, the occasion is small and cozy. Regardless of size, each event provides a chance to review your self-introduction and marketing from a new perspective…
BASIC ISSUES
Selecting Venues The holiday season presents many occasions to participate in community or targeted audience events. With probable limits on the availability of time and money, you will want to choose among your opportunities carefully.
Appropriateness Will the event you are considering increase public awareness and appreciation of your brand? While I now live in Tucson, Arizona, most of my work focuses on Hawai`i. Accordingly, I seek venues that appeal to a broad demographic of attendees and am unlikely to participate in a western-themed event.
Location and Travel Considerations Is the event located in or near your city? How far will you have to travel to participate? The distance you must travel from your home to the event will affect the cost of transporting yourself and your product[s].
Event Size The size of an event will impact the numbers of people with whom you will have contact. That may affect the nature and dimensions of your materials and tablescape layout. Do you already possess the materials you will need, or are there extraordinary expenses to be paid or traded in one opportunity over another?
Attendees Some events, like a county or state fair will attract diverse types of people. Others may be focused on a niche market. Ask yourself, which among your top opportunities is the best fit for meeting your current customer/reader base and what might appeal to a new demographic?
Cost of Event In addition to the fee for participating in an event, there may be additional expenses such as: Lodging; meals; parking; secondary transportation such as delivery and setup of your product[s] and display elements; paying for assistants. There may even be financial transaction fees, as some non-profit events charge a percentage for each sale you make.
Secondary Benefits of an Event Beyond the event itself, are there any benefits to be realized, like connecting with family, friends, colleagues, and your editor and/or publisher? Might there be an opportunity for you to combine the benefits of this event with something else…an advertising campaign? A book signing at a store or library? A podcast and/or interview?
PACKING PRODUCTS & SUPPORT MATERIALS
Carefully pack your products and promotional materials with an eye toward unpacking and setting them up for the event. For example, if you will be using tablecloths, it is a good idea to have them available for immediate use upon your arrival at the venue. As an author, I am also careful to place my supplies of books at the bottom of carts and boxes as they are heavy and could damage lighter weight décor and other display materials.
DISPLAYS
Your tablescape should be a stimulating yet tasteful presentation of your product[s] should include consideration of maintenance throughout the activity as well as the distinctive elements of your branding! What are colors and textures distinguish your brand? What will be the backdrop for your space? Can you hang a colorful curtain…on the back of a tent, or perhaps a screen behind your table display? Might a montage of book jackets make an appealing branding accent? Are there elements in your tablescape that can be easily dislodged by visitors?
Fliers, folding business cards and bookmarks, and bookplatesare the primary handouts I offer visitors. At the art fair, I found that fewer readers desired bookmarks than in the past, and no one wished to leave their contact information, even if they were returning customers. Thank goodness my other handouts assure people can contact me if they wish to do so! And, with my distinctive name, I think everyone will be able to find their way to “Contact” forms on my websites!
I continually monitor the restocking and alignment of the elements of my tablescape. This includes business cards, bookmarks and fliers, which means I have to select bookends and containers that are sturdy enough to keep your display tidy. With three titles and several editions in the Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries, plus other projects, I’m contemplating using folding metal shelving to display my books to full advantage…
OPERATIONAL SUPPLIES
What secretarial/display supplies might you need? While you can prepare a standard container of supplies, review your collection prior to every event. When I will be outside, I make sure to include a few heavy items to keep paper materials from being caught up in unexpected changes in wind or other weather conditions.
~ Pens.In addition to pens for general writing purposes, I must include a few that are waterproof and can flow appropriately across title pages at book signings.
~ Secretarial supplies.These might include scissors, pencils, tape, plastic bags [for storage and product purchases], paper clips, rubber bands, string and/or cording, a lined note pad may prove useful to fellow vendors if not you.
~ Transactional supplies. Receipt forms/books, note pad for random reminders of products to order, etc., and a mechanism for taking electronic payments.
PERSONAL PREPARATION
Dress appropriatelyfor your product and the event. Have afilling mealbefore the event and drink fluids during it.Snack foodsshould not be messy nor create crumbs you cannot swallow easily. Carry several bottles of plainwaterthat are not too cold. Carbonation may cause digestive discomfort; and anything with color can become a disaster to clothing or products if spilled. If you will be speaking for prolonged periods, you consider adding lemon juice, but only if you’ve tried it previously. Remember to have a go-to-bag with a comb, tissues, disinfectinghandwipes[good for post cash sale usage],lip balmand/or lipstick to moisten your lips.Throat lozengeswill also moisten your mouth, freshen your breath, and can provide an emergency boost to your sugar level.
PUBLICITY AND MARKETING
While there may be a limited potential for making sales at an event, can you gain positive attention for your work before, during and after the event? For the art fair, I added announcements to the News and Events pages of my author and marketing tip websites, as well as my personal and professional Facebook pages. In addition, I included a notice about the event in general emails sent to a couple of hundred people and organizations in my data base. Your options may vary from mine, but consider them all…especially social media!
POST-EVENT CONSIDERATIONS
~ Preparing for Departure.Hopefully, you have sold and distributed much of the product and promotional material with which you arrived. Keep in mind that that is no guarantee that everything can be repacked in the methodical manner in which you arrived. If you will be participating in frequent events, have aplan for repackingin preparation for the next occasion, with heavy items on the bottom and more fragile pieces on top.
~ Expressing Your Gratitude.Customized expressions of gratitude will help assure that your participation is memorable and that you may have made significant contacts for future! This includes thanking event organizers and media outlets that may have enhanced the experience for both event vendors and attendees.
~ Announcing the Results. To truly benefit from the exertion it takes to participate in even a small event, you will find it appropriate to notify colleagues, the media, and followers of many types about the results of the event. On the last day of the arts fair, my latest Hawaiian mystery,Murders of Conveyance, took first place in the category of Fiction-Adventure in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.This provided me with an excellent reason for contacting many people and organizations in my database!
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
With 2019 quickly unfolding, authors and artists face a multitude of challenges and opportunities. Beyond financial planning and tax preparation, this is the ideal time to strategize and schedule events, design and/or revise our websites and social media outreach, and shape marketing materials to support these endeavors. While professional service providers can address many of these issues, there are expenditures that can be avoided if we are able to do some of the work ourselves. The essential question is whether we possess the skills and artistic vision to do so…as well as the time that will be required. Fortunately, like book synopses, several elements of biographies can be utilized repeatedly. Your picture, logos and slogans, descriptions of your work, and biographies of varying lengths and emphasis will all prove useful eventually. Today, I will suggest requisite elements of effective biographies.
WHEN WILL YOU NEED AN EMPOWERING BIOGRAPHY? You are invited to view points raised in a humorous discussion of the need for biographies atimaginingswordpower.com/bios-to-empower-you.html. The gist of the piece is that everyone, both in and out of public view, has a need for one or more biographies…ranging from single sentences of self-introduction, to paragraphs for professional publications, and even a lengthy eulogy that will enumerate key aspects in one’s life.
WHERE TO BEGIN SHAPING YOUR BIOGRAPHY By reviewing hardcopy and electronic files that contain materials addressing your life and work, you can gather facts, as well as previous stylistic choices from which you can draw. In addition, I suggest you create files of bios that have impressed you. These can include materials from colleagues and co-authors, as well as the brochures of professionals whose offices you visit.
Regardless of whether you work on a computer, or with pen and paper, begin listing words, phrases and other verbal images that you find attractive and worthy of positive public attention. At this point, do not be concerned about the length of your notes, their chronology, or even the vocabulary you are utilizing. For example, if you were writing a physical description of yourself, you might begin with the basics of hair and eye color with simple words like “brown” and “black.” You can add interest later by replacing “brown” with more dynamic words like coffee, chestnut, or charcoal.
IS THERE AN IDEAL LENGTH FOR A BIOGRAPHY? If you are a professional, you will interact with colleagues and the general public in differing ways. Each time you are required to produce a new bio, you will face varying requirements in length and style.
~A casual meeting or elevator speech requires a single sentence of self-introduction in a first-person voice
~Casual reference by another person requires similar length, but should be written in a third-person voice
~Your brief self-introduction, should be about three sentences in a first-person voice
~A brief introduction by another person requires similar length, but should be written in a third-person voice
~Detailed self-intros often range from a paragraph to a page, written in a first-person voice
~Complex intros that are to be delivered by someone else should be similar in length, written in a third-person voice
~ Anything longer can be used for slow elevators or tall buildings
BIOGRAPHY ELEMENTS Regardless of usage, I recommend you utilize verbiage that expresses your personality, as well as the products or services you offer. This allows readers or listeners of your promotional materials [especially prior to an event] to feel they have actually met you. You should consider including the following.
~Education and training ~Career highlights and focus of work ~ Professional accreditation and affiliations ~Photographs are optional and may be appropriate to only some uses. Authors can be photographed holding one of their books and artists may wish to show a sample of their art. Head and bust shots, as well as images of you standing on a stage or at a podium will all prove useful someday. If you have action shots featuring other people, you should obtain a signed release from them.
BIOGRAPHY LAYOUTS Biographical layouts vary with length and purpose. To maximize harmony with other promotional materials, your biography should utilize elements from your style sheet with your signature font[s], colors, logos, slogans, etc.! USAGE OF BIOGRAPHIES Once you have created biographies of varying length and style, you can utilize them in numerous places. Bios can be placed in several places on the internet, including: One or more pages of your website[s], your blog; Facebook and other social media sites; a framed copy can face visitors to your office or studio.
I send copies of appropriate bios to organizers of public speaking engagements twice; once when arrangements have been confirmed, and just prior to the event. I also carry copies to the event in case the host does not have one. Depending on the purpose of the engagement, the bio/intro may be short or long. If short, I print it on cardstock, as well as 8.5 x 11- inch stationery. I also carry a copy with bulleted key points in a non-glare archival quality sleeve in my presentation folder…for those unexpected occasions when I end up having to introduce myself. [With bulleted data, I can choose to add or delete points that I may decide are, or are not, appropriate to the day’s audience.]
FYI: I recently received a call from a radio personality wanting to interview me. For a mere $125 per quarter of an hour, I can be featured on a drive-time radio show…This has reminded me of other [free] opportunities I have had. Not only am I glad to have varied bios at the ready for those I choose to pursue, but I’m thinking about preparing a series of questions that I might want an interviewer to ask…
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
Every year brings a mix of high and low points. Hopefully, you have experienced positive outcomes in both your personal and professional lives. I’m delighted to say that that has been true for me in several ways. On the personal front, my husband John was declared free of cancer. This September was especially memorable. I was able to visit friends as well as readers of theNatalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries in a visit to the city of my youth, Portland, Oregon—after an absence of more than twenty years.
MERGING OF PAST AND FUTURE When I used to travel from Honolulu to Portland, I often planned a gathering of friends, which allowed us to catch up on one another’s lives. This was not possible on my last trip. However, each day I was able to see people who mean a great deal to me. The first evening, I saw had supper with Jerry Lesch, one of my favorite directors at the Portland Civic Theatre. We briefly met with my editor, Viki Gillespie, who was delivering marketing materials that I had shipped in advance. Although he was not aware of it, he had met Viki many years earlier during my performance in the play A Shot in the Dark, which Jerry directed. Later, her daughter had taken drama classes with him in high school.
The following morning, Viki took me on a tour of the city. I found that the trees had grown phenomenally and the city seemed much hillier than when I lived there. Later, I enjoyed dinner with my former Highland Dancing teacher,Bonnie McKenzie and her husband Colin, a renowned bagpiper and composer of classical piebroct music. My next event was passing out Hawaiian candy at my 50th high school class reunion. The following week, I gave public addresses at my high school and a combined meeting of book clubs of the American Association of University Women. What a wonderful visit to the past, while gliding more firmly into my public life as an author!
Successful cover art is the product of teamwork. In November 2018,Murder on Mokulua Drive[the second Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian mystery] won several awards. Notably, it wonSecond Place for Published Fiction in the 2018 Arizona Literary Excellence Contest. This was due in large part to the superb editing ofViki Gillespie, who has helped to refine each of the books in the series. LikeProspect for Murder, MOMDalso wonFirst Place for Cover Art Design in the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards, where it was also aFinalist in the Cozy Mystery Category.
Let’s examine how the winning cover art for this series has been achieved…
TEAMWORK Regardless of what you do in life, one of the major keys to your success is teamwork. Even when you are the primary producer of a product, you will be relying on the merchandise, talents, and skills of others. If you are an artist, you utilize a variety of products to create your art, and usually employ a framer to present your finished work to the world. Authors, whether self-published or working with a publisher, are likewise dependent on the output of others to finalize their creations. First, capturing their thoughts depends on a variety of manual and electronic tools. Succinct editing services are also required. Then there is the issue of layout, fortunately provided to me (along with overall publishing skills) byGeoff Habiger of Artemesia Publishing. Of course, he cannot complete his work without the final art designs brought to fruition by fine and graphic artistYasamine June.
MY APPROACH TO ARTISTIC PROJECTS While I possess some skill as a design consultant and can produce certain graphic art elements for marketing materials and my websites, I lack the tactile skills to produce truly refined artistic images. So where do I begin art projects? First there is the overall concept, generally driven by text I have already composed. For a book cover, the first consideration is determining the images that will evoke the essence of the story I need to highlight.
Fortunately, when I began writing the series, I composed timelines, chapter synopses, and descriptions of settings and characters. Even a cursory review of these elements reveals a list of those that may be appropriate to a book cover and supportive marketing materials. While some authors create new art for each of their works, I chose to present certain images with consistency including Miss Una, Natalie’s silent but fleet-footed feline companion and images like palm trees and ocean waters reflecting Hawai`i. In addition, I have conceived a recurring gold frame based on Hawaiian heirloom jewelry. I also utilize pagination folio art that I designed, and a gold hibiscus flower that Yasamine has refined. At the point that I have a list of elements that might be good for book jacket art, I begin roughing out a tentative layout in a graphic art software program.
ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT As I examine my list of suitable artistic elements, I manually draw a few pictures that fit the requisite portrait layout of a book cover—knowing that the final product can easily be converted to a square layout for an audio book. So where did the award-winning cover ofMurder on Mokulua Drive begin?
First of all, Natalie’s life has shifted from a high rise in Waikīkī to a cottage in the beach community of Lanikai on the windward side of the island of O`ahu. Next was consideration of the fact that the murder in this story occurs at night. What does this add up to? A nighttime beach scene which includes the Mokulua islets, the moon, a palm tree, footprints in the sand, and Miss Una. Additionally, although I will not be completing the design, I try to allow space for the insertion of Titling in my signature Peignot font so that there will be no overlapping of images and text. Here is the initial layout I sent to Yasamine which was a rough copy and paste of elements I found evocative.
How did Yasamine’s magic polish this concept?
Since this is the second book in the NS mysteries, I had been through the publishing process for the series once. Additionally, I was able to draw on my experience as art director for the well-received multi-author anthology,Under Sonoran Skies, Prose and Poetry of the High Desert. For that project, I featured a picture I shot of the desert at sunset from my back lānai.
Whatever your artistic needs may be, I urge you to be involved in the process, even if you are unable to finalize the images yourself. The input you provide to a professional artist will ensure a product that reflects your own work and the goals you may be setting for future projects…Here’s a look at the before and after images for Murders of Conveyance, which was released in early 2019! As I edit this in April of 2021, I can happily report that this third book in the Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries was a finalist for art and WINNER FOR FICTION ADVENTURE-DRAMA IN THE 2019 NEW MEXICO ARIZONA BOOK AWARDS!
As noted, the award winning book covers for the Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries [as well as that for the forthcoming Conversations with Auntie Carol] were designed by Yasamine June. Her many talents include: Creative Direction; Fine art; Graphic Design; Illustration; Photography; Typography; and Videography. You can learn more about her at YasamineJune.com/about.
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
PREPARATION FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING ENSURES QUALITY BRANDING!
A shortened version of this third blog on using public speaking as a means for enhancing your branding identity first appeared on the websitehttps://hometownauthors.com, which offers a variety of articles from guest authors of who are members of Hometown Reads. Before reading this blog, you may wish to reviewEffective Materials for Public Speaking and All the World’s a Stage. Today we’ll explore making these events more than a presentation of an author’s books, forpublic speaking can be one of the most important aspects of any creative professional’s branding program…
FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING It’s time to hit the road! You’ve prepared for speaking opportunities by shaping marketing materials, bios, introductions, and handouts for varied audience. Yourmedia releases require only the details ofWho, What, When, and Where. You’ve verifiedvenue featuresand obtained equipment necessary for this and future appearances.
All you have to do is pack everything and hit the road…right? Not quite.
PREPARING TO BE A STELLAR PUBLIC SPEAKER I hope you’ve been vocalizing daily—in song [for those who can], vocal exercises, and oral readings. Many events place a time limit on speakers, so timing readings can ensure completing your presentation with agenerous Question and Answer segment.
Next, consider your appearance. You can’t lose weight quickly, but how are your hair, skin, and nails? Do your clothing and accessories look good on you…and travel well? Perhaps you’ve worked with a stylist to determine your optimal color palette, hairstyle, clothing designs, and accessories tomaximize expressing your personality…
Look professional, knowing you can remove a tie, loosen a collar, or remove a jacket. [SeeResume and Career Tips. Because my work centers on Hawai`i [especially with theNatalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries], I wear dresses in tropical greens and jackets with Asian or floral designs. Depending on the neckline, I affix a name badge (with magnet) and avoid necklaces (which can become uncentered). To minimize distraction and sound interference, I don’t wear dangling earrings or loose bracelets. I complete my theme with an artificial orchid for my hair—since fresh flowers don’t last through multi-hour events.
MULTIPLE PRESENTERS Panel discussion speakers are usually seated at a table or in a semi-circle or line of chairs. Whenever you’re in plain view, be aware of your attire and stance…to insure you’re not providing a less-than desired floor show! A dress that looks lovely when I’m standing, may not look professional when I’m seated. Male or female, check out other participants’ attire to harmonize overall appearance. For samples of color combinations, please visitPlays on Color.
CALLING FOR ATTENTION ~ Event organizers may generateMedia Releases, as can you—in your hometown and locales where you’ll appear. Consider also sending out event follow-up releases, toencourage members of the media to seek you out. ~ Add a news page to your author website and blogs that highlights your travel. ~ Social media can be more important than traditional media. Publicize where you’ll appear with contact information. If your events aren’t open to the public, announce cities where you’ll be. ~ Take event pictures [book in hand] for immediate release and future marketing materials—asking permission to use images featuring other people.
TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS ~ Ship books and marketing materials in advance when possible. ~ Allow one day for restand preparation prior to your event. ~ Purchase travel tickets permitting change of schedule. ~ Plan ground transportation minimizing strain on you, as well as cost. ~ Hotels often provide airport transport, valets, safes, and restaurants. Private hosted accommodations lessen privacy. A B&B may be appropriate when driving. ~ Financially,notify credit card institutions you’re travelling. Obtain cash for tips. Determine if you need atax or sales license. Decide whether to accept credit cards, electronic payment, and/or cash for sales. ~ Carryemergency clothing, accessories, medicines, and toiletries in hand-held luggage, in case checked bags fail to arrive. ~ Personally carry hardcopy masters and electronic files for reproduction. ~ Dress to attract attention while travelling—name badge, book image, and business cards at the ready!
SET YOUR STAGE…WHEN YOU CAN ~ Place a banner or picture on podium front. ~ Check equipment–lights, sound, and projection. ~ Position supplies for speech–large watch, laser pointer, pen, props, travel mug with slightly warm water. ~ Set up display near front of entrance–signage, marketing materials, books, handouts, and sign-up sheet for future event notifications. Man display when possible. ~ Be aware that electronic projections often fail because of file format incompatibility between source and venue operating systems and versions of software. ~ Maximize visibilityof necessary folders and files on or near podium. ~ Carry backuphardcopy of your presentation for you and handouts of primary points for your audience.
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER PERFORMANCES ~ Warm upvocally and physically. ~ Provide your bio and a short introduction to event organizers. ~ Pace yourself…allow time for Q&A tomaximize audience interaction. ~Conclude with an inspiring thought. I often hold up a pin with a single word appropriate to my message… ~ Make periodic eye contact with your audience.Let attendees feel you care about them individually. ~ Sending gracious Thank You cards/gifts helps maximize an event’s long-term branding value. Carry mailing labels, packing supplies, and postage.
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
What are your earliest and favorite sense memories? Most of us think of the five physical senses as we are experiencing them. The toast looks and tastes all right, but it has a slightly burnt smell… I wish the kids would stop screaming, my ears are starting to hurt… I love this faux fabric, it almost feels like my cat’s fur…
THE CREATOR’S SENSORY PERCEPTION As a writer, or other creative person, sensory perception can be an important element in preparing a stimulating picture via words or graphic images. We may not be aware of it, but the way an image or scent impacts us personally can greatly impact or work. One of the most effective devices for creating believable images is by consciously drawing on our memories. This is because referencing something we’ve encountered personally provides a depth of authenticity in whatever work we are undertaking.
THE TRUTH OF ONE’S EXPERIENCE This does not mean that we have to reveal our personal circumstances in order to truthfully share a sensory experience. Of course, that may not be true if we are presenting a work that is a memoir or similar personal expression, for which we are obligated to reveal this aspect of our lives. The truth of our sensory experiences can be shared without revelation of the circumstances in which they occur. Isolating the experience from its original circumstances, can encourage us to revisit the specifics of what we saw, smelled, heard, touched, and/or tasted with greater accuracy.
For example, while we may wish to describe the beauty of a star-lit night from our honeymoon, we do not need to provide details of the circumstances in which we viewed it. Even when we need to describe something we have not experienced, it’s good to seek out the concrete memories of those who have. In describing Shanghai in the 1920’s forProspect for Murder, I drew on images shared by people whose fascination with the city transcended the actual era in which they traveled. And despite their degree of positive or negative reactions, I was able to utilize their perspectives to provide images of the bustling streets and even the scents they encountered in their sojourns.
InMurders of Conveyance, the third book in the Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries [Winner for Fiction Adventure-Drama in the 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards], my heroine overhears a conversation in Chinese from outside of the building in which she stands. I’m sure we can all think of times when we’ve accidentally overheard a conversation, whether in a language we speak or not. When I moved to Honolulu at the beginning of the 1970s, there were many occasions in which I heard languages I couldn’t understand, nor even identify. Because I needed my heroine to feel connected to foreign dialogue, I inserted phonetic sounds that allowed Natalie to guess the speakers might be referencing someone she knew.
STIMULATING VOCABULARY Sometimes we are fortunate to be able to utilize vocabulary or pictures that effectively mimics the images we wish to share. I find the following words and phrases can bring clarity to a description, sometimes reaching beyond a single sense: wispy; screech; a snapping branch; wrinkled; razor’s edge; staccato; fragmented; shrunken; glassy; whispered; fiery.
The perception of other words often relies on those who read or hear them. Reference to an Upscale dining experience may arouse the taste and ambiance of a five-star restaurant to one person, and a fast-food joint to another. While the phrase Opulentjewelry signifies a strand of synthetic pearls with rhinestones to one reader, someone else may envision weighty crown jewels. Vintage clothing could generate a disco scene from the 1970s for a millennial, whereas someone my age may picture a flapper dress from the roaring twenties—the 1920’s that is. Similar variances can arise with an author or artist’s use of color and shape, as well as a composer’s insertion of pauses, changing rhythms, and escalating tones.
I’m fortunate that many of the images I wish to share in the O`ahu setting of the Natalie Seachrist mysteries practically write themselves: the sparkle and whooshing sound of incoming surf on a moonlit night; the stickiness of teriyaki sauce on a barbecued chicken thigh; the fresh fragrance of a flower lei, the stench of rotting plumeria blooms beneath an aging and neglected tree. But although I bring personal insight to such images, I must avoid cliché verbiage that will bore the veteran traveler.
YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE This brings us to a brief discussion of one’s audience…one’s target market. If you’re working within a recognized genre of literature, art, or music, there may be standards to which the majority of your audience will expect you to adhere. If you are striking out on your own to create a variant or wholly new artistic expression, you can move in any direction you wish…keeping in mind that you will need to attract some degree of a following in order to achieve any degree of success.
Accordingly, I sprinkle snippets of pan-Pacific and world history across my mystery plot-lines. And while I present a fair number menu items within each book, I place actual recipes on my author website, rather than completely bogging down a story. As to the cast of characters, folio art framing page numbers, chapter aphorisms, and linguistically and historically detailed glossaries, the reader can choose to appreciate or ignore them…
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
Your book series is doing well! This truly is an accomplishment to cherish! What must you do to ensure your writing career continues on an upward trajectory? Regardless of whether you have a publisher or self-publish, there are problems that can arise during the complex process of production. Some we must live with and bypass with minimal discomfort. Others we can take steps to remedy in order to bring greater harmony to past as well as present tasks…
PUBLISHING ERRORS
I’ve previously discussed issues an author faces in publishing a series—regardless of genre. Fortunately, the process of publication is seldom the responsibility of a single person. Of course, as the author, the quality of the final product reflects on you—for it is you who will be facing the public.
As a reader, as well as an author, I have not heard of a book that arrives in a reader’s lap without flaws of one type or another. They may be barely perceptible, and actually may be a matter of choice rather than outright error.
DISCOVERING FLAWS The process of finding errors can be simple or complicated. In writing a series, you probably have a written or mental list of flaws you’re prone to make. As I awaited publication of Murders of Conveyance [Winner for Fiction Adventure-Drama in the 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards]and the publishing of Yen for Murder,I’ve found that the following errors appear frequently:
~ Repeated Words and Phrases My favorites, myriad and R & R.
~ Overuse of Prepositional Phrases Mine frequent the beginning of sentences.
~ Complicated Action I’ve found scenes in which a character would need three hands to accomplish what I’ve described. I’ve also struggled to explain how hidden compartments are accessed…
~ Character Flaws Misspellings of names, and their pronunciation in audio books can easily occur, and did in the audio edition ofProspect for Murder. Titles of officials and their organizations can be misstated or may change over time. Evidently my love of British police procedurals produced my mixing of the word detective with the ranks of police officers. In actuality, most police forces in the U.S. [including Hawai`i], do not do that. A sergeant with the Honolulu Police Department who becomes a detective is simply referred to as detective, with higher ranking officers being referred to by their rank.
~ Major Errors You might think that writing fiction means that few errors unrelated to grammar will materialize. But issues of consistency still need to be addressed. My own inconsistencies have included changing the floor on which protagonist Natalie has a condo and the color of the truck of her boyfriend and detecting partner Keoni. While regretting even these minor mistakes, at least they do not interfere with the reader’s ability to follow the story. I’m not sure the same can be said for the two lines of crossed-through text inMurder on Mokulua Drive.
One thing that cannot be ignored or casually dismissed is the erroneous reporting of a historical fact. I was particularly embarrassed to discover that in copying and pasting text in the Glossary ofProspect for Murder, I mistakenly dropped a sentence relating to Hawaiian Princess Ka`iulani into the description of Queen Kapi`olani. This is an obvious mistake to readers who are familiar with the lineage of Hawaiian royals and a serious detraction from my desire to share Hawaiian history with a global readership.
VARIATIONS…NOT ERRORS As a series unfolds, it is to be expected that improvements in writing style and changes in book layout may occur. This doesn’t mean that earlier editions of books are necessarily flawed. Happily, my publisher opted to offer embossing on the vibrant cover ofMurder on Mokulua Drive. And, as I like reference material to be readily accessible, we are enlarging the font that introduces Glossary sections. Similarly, we are inserting spaces before and after the hyphens between author birth and death dates in chapter aphorisms.
WHOSE FAULT? In truth, no matter how much effort [and sometimes treasure] you invest in maintaining the quality of your work, unexpected flaws can emerge. They can arise from both overt errors, as well as from actions you failed to take. Most of my errors come from copying and pasting text and repeating favorite words. Unless one closely and repeatedly reads the edited text, words may end up out of sequence, or can be wholly missing.
MAKING CORRECTIONS Having determined the cause of a problem, you face correcting it. This can be fairly easy with the publication of a digital book, and other on-line pieces…That is, if you are capable of altering the text within the template that generated it. If you cannot do so yourself, you may have to return to the typographical artist who originally laid out the book. If you are not able to reconnect with them, you will have to find a new source of help. Fortunately, my publisher is working to correct the MOMD Ebook error regarding Queen Kapi`olani.
Matters are more complex in correcting flaws in printed editions. Unfortunately, the error regarding the Queen can only be corrected when further batches of the books are printed. I wish I could send out errata labels to everyone who has a copy of the book…The one thing I have done is to publish a message of Mea Culpa on Facebook!
AVOIDING REPETITIOIN OF THE CRIME Once you’ve pinpointed the sources of flaws, you can seek appropriate ways to dodge their recurrence. This challenge is exacerbated in the production of a series. To keep my projects separate but harmonious, I’ve prepared and continually update detailed reference notes listing aspects of appearance, voice, attire, movement and behavior. I also have spreadsheets that pinpoint chapter elements [such as when Natalie has which vision] and the family trees of major characters.
I’m glad that most of my readers enjoy references to daily life in the Hawaiian Islands—especially food. There are, however, some who would prefer little discussion of food, beverages, relationships, history and cats. At this point, I don’t foresee removing these elements from my tales—nor would I detract from plot lines by inserting actual recipes. However, recipes that reflect Natalie’s life, local restaurants and menu items one might expect at an Island gathering, do appear on my author website. This has necessitated my keeping records of the food and beverages I write about for review during the writing of each book.
Fortunately, while outright flaws need to be addressed, developments in an author’s style of writing and the presentation of their work can be things of beauty!
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
This blog first appeared on https://HometownReads.com, which I highly recommend to both readers and authors seeking to learn more about the art and business of publishing books! You can click on https://HometownAuthors.com to view a variety of articles from member authors…
As an author, you may have experienced both lows and highs if you have managed to publish a book series! It’s a true accomplishment, regardless of whether you planned it or not. But while you were promised great things would emerge at this point in your writing career, you are facing more than a few challenges. Allow me to tell you about issues I’ve confronted during the publications ofMurder on Mokulua Drive, the secondNatalie Seachrist Hawaiian mystery…
ELEMENTAL CONSISTENCY Beyond avoiding copyright violation in the chapter-opening quotes I use, I guard againstrepetition. During pre-publication review ofMurder on Mokulua Drive, I discovered I’d reused a quote fromProspect for Murder. My records of aphorisms now indicate when and where a quote is used. Also, I discovered that I changed the color of a primary character’s truck. I have since created an expanding document listing aspects of the series as well as individual characters, their work, their home, and even their pets.
CHARACTER AND LOCAL PARITY ~ Initially, I had a male protagonist. Whoops…my writers’ salon found that “voice” more appropriate to a woman.
~ Names, their spellings, descriptions, and pronunciation must all be checked. Imagine my chagrin in realizing I’d changed a name’s pronunciation mid-way through PFM’s audio edition!
~ While my protagonist thinks in whole words, she speaks with contractions. I now begin each book by reviewing my chart of persons, places, and their characteristics.
PLURALITY Promotional text highlighting aspects of a single book must encompass each title in a series. Having multiple titles often means havingdifferent editions. For PFM, I had hardcover, softcover, Ebook, and physical and digital audio editions. MOMD is currently available in only hardcover and Ebook. I have to remember to omit audio references (like “Audible.com”) when describing the second book.
PRESENTING YOURSELF If you have a publisher or literary agent, they may have guidelines for presenting yourself personally, online, and in traditional and social media. If you’ve never been in the public eye, you may be grateful for their suggestions about wardrobe, hair, accessories, and makeup [yes, men sometimes require makeup].
Beyond any grooming and/or behavioral adjustments you may need to make for public appearances, you will probably need to vary your public stance depending on the venue or type of media. I’m not suggesting that you become a shape-shifting chameleon, but envisioning each audience will help you view yourself as they will. For instance, wearing a suit may be ideal for some locales and audiences, but something less formal may be best for others.
MARKETING YOURSELF Regardless of who directs your marketing, examine media kit samples to see what you should prepare. This will include bios, photos, sample media releases, and relatable stories, covering: ~ Background[family, education, career] ~ Daily Life[home, work, writing locale, pets, hobbies] ~ Writing Methodology[research, writing, editing] ~ Influential People[affecting your work and life] ~ Author Experiences ~ Changes in Your Writing ELASTIC PROMOTIONAL TEXT Were you initially described as a debut author? That’s no longer relevant. What other life changes will impact your self-description. Are you in a new professional position? Where do you live, or travel for research, sales, and presentations? Periodically (and in varying length), you’ll need to restructure text for: ~ Media releasesabout books, awards, appearances ~ Bios for ads, event programs, introductions ~ Submission of your workfor reviews and contests ~ Website discussionsof your life and authorship ~ Social mediaposts, comments, and event announcements
WELCOMING IMAGES Gather images to stimulate the interest of colleagues, readers, listeners, and the general public including: ~ You and your normal surroundings
~ Events in which you have participated
~ Images attracting your interest
~ Organizational and community events in which you have been involved
~ Images relevant to characters, scenery, and activity in your writing
DESIGNING AND REDESIGING INVITING WEBSITES AND BLOGS I must confess that this is a recurring theme in this blog, because the process is never complete. Working alone or with a web master, there are many aspects to consider on a regular basis. First, consider that you may have a website dating from before you became an author. Some of its elements may be recyclable…if you feel the appearance of the original site is compatible with your current work. With bios, book synopses, and pertinent images being available, much of the material you need as an author should be ready to upload. You just need to weave it all together toappropriately reveal aspects of yourself and your work. Consider:
~ Stylesappealing to your target market [realism, art deco, country kitch…] ~ Colors[you like and wear; those describing your work] ~ Shapes reflecting your style and work [linear or curved] ~ Textures, natural or man-made [wood, silk, metal, stone, plastic]
Final thoughts? Well,there’s nothing final about the process of writing…or of marketing your work.As with your compositions, keeping electronic and hardcopy samplesof your promotional material, will help you shape attractive representations of your unfolding life’s work!
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
As I examine the months since the launch ofProspect For Murder[the first book in theNatalie Seachrist Hawaiian mystery series], I realize I have not posted a blog regardingthe never-ending art and science of writing for a long time. I’ve started several, but details of the publishing and promotional processes have interfered with my sharing newauthor strategies… Since addressing the topic of my artistic visionfor thebook layout for Prospect For Murder in a previous blog, it has been released inhardcover, downloadable audio andebook formats, and a9-CD as well as downloadable audio book. Preparing for the promotion of each version has required re-examination of artwork and descriptive text, as each format varies in size and may appeal to a differenttarget market. successful advertising and branding
EVOLVING BOOK SERIES Authors may separate their work into categories ofwriting, publishing, and marketing, but each of these activities should unite under a shared roof ofunified branding. And while today’s book marketplace includes many self-publishing authors choosing to offer downloadable rather than printed books, such works must still be accompanied by attractiveart and typographyto maximize their appeal to thesensory experienceof potential readers.
There are many ways to make the appearance of a book pop within the massive listings of any genre. As mentioned in my discussion of art forPFM, I have chosen to use an Island-themed gold frame based onHawaiian heirloom gold jewelryto distinguish my book and the promotional materials with which I market it.
HARDCOVER BOOKS Book jacket art for the hardcover edition of PFM was the first design project I undertook. After the evocative gold frame was completed, I realized it could be utilized for the entire mystery series. And, with changes in the metallic color, it will be ideal for other book projects as well. Below is the first version of the book jacket, which was clearly too dark!
ORIGINAL 9-CD AUDIO BOOK ALBUMS After I completed recording the 9-CD audio book, it was time to modify the book jacket art. For the CD albums, my job was to shorten text describing the book and me, as well as the snippets of reviews. My artist and typographer Yasamine June [you can view samples of her work atwww.yasaminejune.com] then adjusted the size and proportion of her original artwork and dropped in my edits.
EBOOK AND AUDIO EDITIONS The next task was designingwebsite iconsfor sites offering thedownloadable audio and eBook editions. Our goal was to enhance a visitor’s recognition of the products being offered. Therefore we created a conjoined image of the hardcover book jacket and a square edit resembling a CD case. Wherever possible, this paired image is used to signify thatProspect For Murderis available in multiple formats.
I should mention that during this process, I realized that the original art image was too dark. Consequently, I had Yasamine brighten the cover, especially the dragon fountain. Subsequent to these changes, I was thrilled whenProspect for Murder won cover art design in the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards in 2017.
DESIGNING PROMO MARTERIALS & YOUR WEBSITE
The art of communicationis one of the most vital skills a professional in any field can develop to help them inachieving goals and objectivesin both their public and private living. The following tools can be refined to maximize messages to colleagues, friends and the general public.
ARTWORK I use the iconic paired image of the print and audio editions ofPFMas artwork for both printed promotional materials and my author website. Without intention, the colors forProspect For Murder and Imaginings Wordpowerwere nearly the same, which has greatly simplified my choice incolor palette. I am still contemplating where and how I will utilize the gold frame.
TITLING I have used thePeignot fontfor my promotional business,Imaginings Wordpower [www.ImaginingsWordpower.com] for many years. Therefore, I chose to use it for the titling of book jackets, my author website, and all promotional materials for the Natalie Seachrist series. This decision is especially appropriate since many of the historical details used in the series predate World War II. The Peignot font is anart déco[orstyle modernedating from the 1920s], sans-serif display typeface designed byA. M. Cassandrein 1937 for theDeberny & Peignot Foundryin France. While this font is too stylized for lengthy text, it makes a viable statement for titling and headings.
BUSINESS CARDS Unexpectedly, I discovered that the standard size of a business card and the dark haunting color of thehardcover and audiobook artwas not suitable to my new double-sidedauthor business card. To resolve these problems, I created a new image. I did this by overlapping the frame of the hardcover edition with that of the downloadable audio edition. In the lower right-hand corner, I inserted the gold hibiscus found in the corners of the frames. This has proven effective, since the image is always accompanied by text providing my name and the title of the book.
STATIONERY & FORMS With use of the paired image of the print and audio books, plus the Peignot font, there were few decisions to make in creating my author letterhead stationery. For most purposes, I place the iconic art image in the top left hand corner of the page and all contact information centered at the bottom. This layout works for both letters and business forms [such as invoices].
LOGO NOTECARDS For many years I’ve used what I calllogo notecardsto extend invitations, express gratitude, and confirm appointments. For both portrait and landscape layouts, I place a logo in one quadrant of an 8.5 x 11 inch layout, with text positioned diagonally and upside down from the artwork. The printed result is a sheet of paper that can be folded into a 5.5 x 4.5 notecard that will fit an invitation-sized envelope.
POSTCARDS After discovering that postage was the same for a couple of sizes of postcards, I chose a dimension of 8.5 x 5 inches for my author’s promotional postcard. Beyond displaying recognizable book cover art, this ensures sufficient space for a synopsis and book reviews, plus purchasing options. The art and descriptive text pop against a simple white background, with a high gloss finish on the front side for durability and flat finish on the back, which facilitates use of a pen for personal messages.
Sadly, I discovered a typo after receiving an initial order of the postcards. And having continued to receive positive reviews, I realized I should have printed a small number of the cards initially, to allow for subsequent corrections and additions. As my publisher has declined to reprint book jackets with the latest reviews, I’m glad my second run of postcards allows me to send out books as samples, or for review or sale with up-to-date information.
OTHER PROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
COMMUNICATING THROUGH EMAILS Every piece of communication you generate is a marketing opportunity. And while you may not use an outgoing email layout paralleling your letterhead stationery, you can strategically position artwork, logos, and other information to draw the recipient’s eye. I put the paired book image and purchasing information in the top left-hand corner of each outgoing email. For the signature section for all outgoing emails, I have added a link to my author website [JeanneBurrows-Johnson.com], my Imaginings Wordpower website [ImaginingsWordpower.com],and this blog [Blog.JeanneBurrows-Johnson.com].
WEBSITES DISPLAYING NEWLY RELEASED BOOKS As the release date forPFM neared, the number of websites featuring the book increased. Unfortunately, some had received galleys displaying artwork devised as a placeholder for the book jacket art that was to come. Without proper notification, these sites would continue to display the galley image as being representative of the published book. Therefore, I suggest that authors releasing books through publishers or on their own, remain vigilant in cruising the Internet to ensure that the words and images describing them, as well as their work appear as they intend!
In addition, authors need to be aware that many popular websites selling and promoting books do NOT offer an easy means for having books reviewed or even displayed in categorical listings. Most of the time, an author’s work is only visible if the visitor to a site knows the author’s name or book title. I strive to seeProspect For Murderdisplayed under the following categories for each of its several editions: Hawai`i; Hawaiian mysteries; cozy mysteries; cat mysteries; female authors; female detectives; female sleuths. If you have any tips to help me with this situation, please drop me a note through the contact form on one of my websites…
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,author, consultant, and motivational speaker
To learn more about the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries,includingMurders of Conveyance [Winner, Fiction Adventure-Drama, 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards] and other projects, please drop in at my author’s websiteJeanneBurrows-Johnson.com.You’ll even findIsland Recipesthat might inspire your culinary creativity.
