Friday, October 22, 2010

Our Friday Friend - Celia Yeary






Welcome to Celia Yeary, author of Texas Promise, who's going to tell us about her very interesting promotion idea - a "Texas Tea and Book Party".



Three years ago, the release of my first novel excited me, yes, but it also threw me into a dither. A dither, if you’ve never been in one, is similar to mild hysteria and confusion. All other authors I knew at the time talked about book signings, and I attended a couple of them. In my opinion, this might not work for me, as they don’t seem to work very well unless you are the author of Harry Potter. How many readers would drive to a bookstore and buy my book? I fear not many, and there I’d be, all alone in public, people walking past me, ignoring the books on the table. The thought of buying a big stack of books and not selling them didn’t make me comfortable either.

So, I wondered what else I might do. I decided to have the book signing at my house, instead. I know many people in town since we’ve lived here thirty-five years. I’ve had gatherings at my house, and we have a lot of parking space—near the house and out on the road.

First, I created a half-page invitation on Word and printed it on pink paper. I explained about the book: title, genre, a brief plot, price, and a link to buy it in eBook or print from my publisher. On a separate line, with a different font, I explained I would be happy to order it for them, give a one-dollar discount, and I’d pay the postage. With my publisher’s generous author discount, I’d still make a little over three dollars on each book. Besides, I was more interested in numbers of books, not the dollar amount.

I instructed the reader to send a check for the amount to me, or send an e-mail to reserve one and pay later, or tell me in person and make sure I wrote down the name. I said I would place the order in two weeks.

As an added incentive, I invited each buyer to my house on a certain date and time for a Texas Tea and Book Party! Instructions included my address — which almost everyone knew — and look for the Lone Star Flag out by the road.

Everywhere I went, I left a small stack of the half-page notices. If someone picked one up, fine, if no one did, fine. I didn’t even look. At the end of the two weeks, I had orders for sixty books.


Now, about the party. The food was easy: Texas-shaped chips, salsa, nuts, Texas Pecan Cookies, assorted cheese tidbits, and peach iced tea. I shopped at a warehouse with highly discounted everything!—and bought plastic cups, and small paper plates and napkins the color of a Texas bluebonnet. All this cost about twenty-five dollars.

My husband worked as the parking lot attendant, and he stayed on our wide front porch and greeted people, too.

Before the party, since I had everyone’s name, I pre-signed all sixty books. That alone took a long time.

With the release of my second book, I sent out almost the same announcement, except I did not have a party. Instead, I delivered the books, or took them along when I knew I’d see some of the buyers at a meeting or gathering.

I now have a reader base that waits for my next book—if it’s available in print. Since I live in Texas, I write about Texas, whether it’s a Western Historical or a contemporary. Each time I send an announcement, some of the readers will ask: “Will you have another party?” Maybe with my next release in print, I’ll consider another party.

Thank you for reading today, and my heartfelt thanks to my host and new friend, Paula Martin.

TEXAS PROMISE:Buy Link:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-109/Celia-Yeary-Texas-Promise/Detail.bok

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texashttp://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.celiayeary.com/

New ReleasesTexas Promise-eBook-Desert Breeze Publishing
Making the Turn-print & eBook-Wings ePress

26 comments:

  1. Hi Celia,
    What a fabulous idea hold a book signing at home. I never thought of such a thing, but sounds like it worked for you. I guess that is the name of the game,you have to be inventive.

    regards

    Margaret

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  2. I love this idea! My book is coming out and many people in my town are not too computer savvy as far as ordering their copies on line. This will work great.

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  3. It's a fantastic idea, and I know some writers who would really benefit. Good luck with your new releases!

    And aren't these writing meters neat?

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  4. Wonderful idea, Celia, and clearly a success! I wish you the same with your latest release.

    Hi Paula! (Waving like mad.)

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  5. MARGARET--thanks! If only I could think up another similar idea as good. Celia

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  6. KATHY--yes, it works really well when you know so many readers who can't or won't order anything on-line. And if the readers only want the print. Celia

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  7. LINDA--thanks! I hope my new releases do well, too. Yes, the writing meters are so good! Celia

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  8. LINDSAY-ah, so you know Paula! It's such a small world! Celia

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  9. Unique idea. Congratulations on thinking outside the box.

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  10. What a great idea. Love it and may steal it! Jillian

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  11. Thanks! Actually, it's because I'm afraid of a bookstore signing.Celia

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  12. SHERRY--be my guest! Please do try it--it's much more fun with people you know and they want your book. Celia

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  13. Celia,

    What a great idea! I'm thinking of doing one at my church next month during the Thanksgiving dinner and bazaar. You've inspired me again.

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  14. CAROLINE--ahhh, now that's a good idea, too. I'm thinking about other ways, but nothing have solidified yet. I'd like to do a mini-book-festival with my three writer friends--The Write Girsl--at a senior citizen center that hold all sort of things, plus they have a tea room. This place is decorated almost like a Victorian mansion, very pretty and attractive. Thanks for stopping by--Celia

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  15. HI Celia,

    Thanks for joining us today. Sorry I'm a little late "coming to the party", but it was a busy day at work!

    What a great idea for a book signing/party. And a fabulous way to build a reader base. Congrats!

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  16. I'm also late due to work. Celia, thank you for guesting today! And bigger thanks for sharing such a great idea. When do you expect your third release?

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  17. DEBRA--thank you for dropping in after a long day at work. I do appreciate it!And yes, it has built a reader base for me, as long as the book is in print. Just eBook? forget it in my town. Celia

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  18. ANA--third release. Hmmm, I'm on my fourth now--more to come--some in eBook, some in prints. Thank you for inviting me to your blog--I've made some new friends! Celia

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  19. I love what you do to sell your wonderful books! I would like to sell my Christmas books and have some kind of a party and take book orders ahead like you did. You are so creative and smart, Celia! And who can turn down salsa and chips...love your food choices.

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  20. Celia, I'm late to the party as normal, but wanted to say how inspiring you are as a marketer! After all that, a bookstore signing would be a cinch, but probably less successful since less personal. ;-)

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  21. DIANE--thanks for the compliment, but I think I'm more of a coward than anything. I was just looking for a way to stay out of a bookstore signing! Christmas is a great time to sell books--people are in a buying mood! Celia

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  22. LK--I'm sure this party worked just because I know so many people! Still, I attend events in town and someone will say, "I just heard you're writing novels!" I erroneously thing everyone already know--Celia

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  23. Thanks so much for being our Friday Friend this week, Celia. You've given several people a very good promo idea - including me! Hope you'll keep popping in to see us!
    Paula

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  24. And thank you, Paula! It was so thoughtful of you to ask me to be a "Friday Friend," and now maybe I can be a year-round friend. I hope someone does have a book party and tell us all about it! Celia

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  25. Great idea, and it helps to have a house and parking area big enough for something like that. Good thinking and planning.

    I'm not sure I even know that many people in my town. Wow!

    I've got to get out more. Lovely idea though.
    Blessings
    Rita

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  26. Thanks, Rita--I'm a social creature and although I'm not in as many activities and groups and work forces as I once was, I still have contacts. When you basically live in the country--but close to town, too--there's lots of space to park. Thanks for stopping by--Celia

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