“Hello, welcome to this week’s meeting. Does anyone have anything new they’d like to share?
“Yes! I just discovered I was accepted into an anthology, releasing late next month. My story is about a woman who wants to change her destiny, and seeks out a shaman who ultimately shows her she’s on the right path.”
“Interesting, and congrats to you! Have you put all the details on social media and your website?”
“Yes. I’m also making flyers and promotional items to display on social media, and at my next event, until my author copies arrive. I’ve also scheduled Facebook ads, and will be featured on six blogs the week it releases.”
“Fantastic. Anyone else?”
“I’ve got news….My book won the prestigious RONE award, and it hit the NY Times Best-seller list yesterday. My children’s book was accepted into all the libraries all across the US, and my publisher informed me last night it’s being translated into all languages. I’m almost ready to release my second children’s book, and several schools have already called, wanting me to come into classrooms and talk about my life as a writer, the whole process, and even having the children purchase my books. Did I tell you how I managed to accomplish this? My best friend happens to be on the school board and when she read my first book, she called all the principals in her school corporation and got me in front of the right people. She won’t do this for just anyone….I guess a mystery author contacted her two months ago, but my friend didn’t like the book, so she put her off. Anyway, now I’m about to go on a small tour of schools across the southern part of the state, since the local paper wrote an article about me and my RONE award. My phone has been ringing off the hook, AND my email is flooded with invitations to appear at this event or that…..”
(Twenty minutes later…)
“….oh my goodness, I didn’t realize it was getting so late. I need to go; I just had this fabulous idea pop into my head. Goodbye everyone!”
“I guess that’s all the time we have for today, folks. Can I ask that whomever’s in charge of setting up next meeting, NOT contacting that person? I think she’s got her marketing down pat. This group is really for those who are clueless about marketing.”
“I only invited her, thinking she’d share some of her ideas, not take over the entire meeting.”
“That, my friends, is called bragging, not marketing. If every other word out of your mouth is ‘I-I-I’, then you’re not listening to anyone. See you all back here next week, when our topic will be about reviews. Plus, if anyone has buy links, or has updated their sites, send them to me and I’ll gladly share them on social media. See you next week!”
The 1st craft fair of the season will be this weekend at East Side Park in Washington, In, a ‘Spring Vendor Fest’. Friday, 4-8pm and Sat 9-2 or 3pm. If you’re in the area, I’d love to see you and talk more about my upcoming projects (no bragging, just info, ha ha!). Plus, I’ve updated my Prize Wheel with better pictures and Velcro to hold them in place, so at least stop by and say hi, and spin the wheel? Mention this post and you might win something better than just candy, ha ha!
Molly's Musings/Kenzie's Korner 
At our RWA chapter meetings, we pass around a bag of chocolate. Everyone takes a piece and tells what they’ve done in the last month to earn it–book releases, new covers, any sort of forward progress on a writing project. I’ve never encountered an example like the one above. Is that taken from a real-life experience?
LOL…..no, that was an extreme exaggeration….but I have been to writer’s meetings where a know-it-all HAS hijacked the topic! Love that idea of the chocolate!
I don’t often discuss my books with other people. “What do you do?” “I’m a writer and editor.” “Do you write books?” “Yes.” “What kind of books do you write?” “Romance.” “Oh, I never read romance.” That’s either the end of the conversation of I try to prolong the torture by asking that person what he/she does read. It seldom ends well.
I’ve got books that are suitable for ages 12 and up, so if I run into something like this, I ask if they have teenagers who like to read. Sometimes the answer is still no, and I HAVE run into situations where a 10 y/o has been allowed to read FSOG, so I tell them to get Mom’s permission (and to bring her over to my table) before they buy any of my titles.
This was so much fun to read. You had me going for a bit lol
Glad you enjoyed it, Cathy:) I couldn’t think of what to write, so decided to have some fun with it:)
Yes, this is how I feel about bragging vs marketing. Enjoyed the post!
Thanks Kate:) I had fun writing it!