Can someone please point us in the right direction

[Amanda Harrison]

Hello, yesterday Hugh My Husband had his first book signing. What a complete wast of our time. I felt like screaming out in the shop . We went self publishing and have lost so much money . I know that we have to try things out but we are learning. The sad thing is that Hugh has got another childrens book in the pipeline, but we cant afford to self publish again.If anyone lives in the uk and has gone self publishing I would like to hear your views on this. This wednesday Hugh will be on southern counties radio at 16.45 pm and they have got a guest speaker, from Random house. so we are keeping things crossed that this will help us even more.Regards AmandaHarrison

[Amanda Harrison]

Hello, Thanks for your reply. As we are in the uk its really awkward to get into the book shops with out being utterly ripped off here in uk. Its not easy at all. The book signing was not great one customer. So I am sending the book off to several publsihers too see if they can help. The weather also was really cold and not many children were around as it was a very quiet day. We will wait till may and maybe have another book signing, Regards Amanda Harrison

[Roger C. Parker]

Dear Amanda:
Thanks for your reply. BTW, Have you tried children's story hours, instead of signings?

Have you read your book at libraries or schools, day care groups?

Where do parents gather, and how could you get your story in front of them and their children?
Any community access radio or TV?

Keep persevering.

Roger

[Amanda Harrison]

hello, Thanks for your reply. At the moment most of our schools are on their Easter holidays till mid april. When they return I will chase a few of them up and ask them. We have been on local radio a couple of times, but to no avail at all. I will try our local Tv and see what happens their. Anyway Thanks for your help. Its very frustrating having gone self publishing as we cant afford to get the next book up and running. Just wish some one would sponsor my Hubby then we would be home and dry. But England is suffering into major money cut backs and everyone seem to be cutting back. Regards Amanda Harrison

[susie hawes]

Hon, try your local hastings and booksamillion. You can have a good book signing, in a high-traffic bookstore. Make sure to have copies on hand, and they will agree to sell them on consignment. They pay 40 % but it's better than nothing. Price your book accordingly.

They won't usually order from some of the self publish publishers, but you will run into that in a lot of places.

Lurk and find out what the best selling books in your genre are going for and price around that.

When you do the book signing, get a bag of cheap candy and copy some of the pics from your book so that the kids can color them. Check out your local library for other give away ideas. I gave halloween candies cause my book was a horror and it was mid october.

Try to schedule these book signings for close to child friendly holidays, like christmas. Many decorations and candies for holidays aren't too expensive and you can use them to promote interest in your book. Just be sure not to use too many that do not directly reflect the book's cover or subject.

Try to offer copies of your book art to places like the local kids library, your newspaper, local child care places, (you can also sechedule book readings for these places). Be sure the kids can color them, and that if you did not draw the art be sure to get permission from the artist or the publisher. You can use a copier and typing paper to generate small colorbooks, with a caption. Don't spam the coloring books or pages, just a simple url down at the bottom to a web site.

Design your web site to have kids games and links to educational sites - think of parents as well as kids. For squirrels, go to http://www.preschooleducation.com/afall.shtml and check out fall ideas like these two:

Nut Painting added 9-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: a Nut, box lid, paper, and paint

Directions: Use nuts like marbles for painting.
Make squirrel tracks added 9-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Potato, paint and a paint roller

Directions: Cut a potato into paw prints. Use potato like a stamp. If you use
the footpads you need to roll the paint on with little paint rollers.

You can take these activities and use them in a local kids art museum or preschool (also contact home schoolers in your area: the associations may either credit you and use the idea in their newsletter: in which case don't use the idea directly from the web but change it to something that is your own, just use it as a place to start in a brainstorming session) or
if you're lucky and find a group that meets then you might give either a demonstration to the parents at a meeting or be invited to a group activity to work with the kids.

The ingredients and or supplies are cheap and you can improvise. Be sure not to violate anyone's copy right. Web sites can be contacted and asked permission, or ideas (And recipies for goodies) can be altered significantly to become your own.

also, you ccan get a book review forom this site http://www.preschooleducation.com/brhow.shtml

[susie hawes]

On that one site there are all kinds of ideas. Imagine this http://www.preschoolprintables.com/paper/pbird.shtml
with a banner at the top deaturing your book art

[Amanda Harrison]

hi Thanks for your advise. Its difficult out there as neither of us drive so cant get out to schools. We have tried sending Rufus off to several publishers including New york.This book is for boys aged 6-9 year olds as its an adventure of Rufus a Red squirrel and the battles between the grey squirrels and Rufus wins the day . Thanks again regards Amanda Harrison

[carol stanley]

I think the best part of book signng is the publicity you get ahead oftime...Internet marketing is where it is at...Little money, lots of time but worth it. If you have any questions on this please let me know...

[susie hawes]

Try internet marketing. Set up a free web site and use the ideas you can get online to build up a fun and informative kids/parents site. You can also get interviewed online and publish articles or short stories online.

I did pretty good with e books sold through fictionwise. The publicity is garnered without leaving home, and if you can start a newsletter online for parents or home schoolers, you can add a bit about the book in each edition.

I'm disabled, as are many authors that I know, so mobility is limited for me, as are resources. You can brainstorm with other authors of children's books, and perhaps put out a newsletter together or try some other form of publicity venture that might work if a group shares resources.

Try the chilrens book writer network here on ning. http://childrensbookwinp.ning.com/

Don't be discouraged. I had a book signing with only one sale too. You just have to keep going.

[Amanda Harrison]

Hi Thanks for the link , very helpful this might be so useful to us. Kind regards Amanda and Hugh Harrison

[Jim Misko]

Hi Amanda
I'd suggest you and your husband start having "child hours" where you read from his book to children who are age appropriate. Day care's; kindergartens; schools; etc will undoubtedly host you and it gives you a chance to see if the book resonates with the supposed audience. If the kids like it they will ask parents to get the book. Then it is a numbers game. The book signing should be done at a reading to children with the children asking parents to get the book for them. May it go well with you. Jim Misko

[C.F. Jackson]

Amanda,

It sounds as if you've place stigma on how
your book came to be. It's a book like the others
and it has it purpose like the others.

Then the words you use of "have lost so much
money" deflecting all the possiblities of what
can come.

I reside in the States and have independently
published my work. I see everything as an
investment into my legacy.

Amanda, I've noticed you don't have a website!
You have to build your foundation on solid
ground. How can people learn about you by
chance or intent at 3:00 am without a website?

Last, you have a children's book. You and your
husband can contact all the libraries and schools
to schedule a reading for the kids.

We have to ask ourselves the right questions in
order to receive the answers and results we desire . . .

The question is this:

What do I need to do?

Everything else will be answered. Allow yourself out
of your box and let the creativity of creating a plan
to let the youth and their parents know about your
work.

Remove the inner doubt and begin building on the
expectation of success, then take positive action steps
to make it happen.

Continue to make this your day!

Live Life to Leave a Difference,
C.F. Jackson

http://www.CFJackson.com

[Amanda Harrison]

hi Thanks for your reply. I have a blog already set up on google. So hopefully this will help. I have sent a couple of copies to the USA to publishers in the hope that they might be interested in the book.Luckily Hugh owns the rights to his book Thank-you again regards amandah