We’re getting closer to the big day, the official Kids ♥ Authors Day on Saturday, February 14, 2009. Here’s what’s next for the Author-Indie Lovefest:
Where are you going?
We've matched the over 110 authors and illustrators with one of the amazing indies who have signed up. Check out the Kids Heart Authors site to find out where you’re going and who else will be joining you. We’re excited that you’re going to meet new booksellers and fans!
The bookseller has your contact info and will be in touch soon to discuss event details. The events are scheduled from 10 am – 12 noon, but it’s likely that the bookseller will want you there a bit earlier; they’ll be in touch – and we’re leaving it up to each store to fine-tune the program.
Event promotion
Press: Deborah Sloan will be sending out press releases both regionally and locally. We'll be posting it on our site, so feel free to use it any way you'd like.
Swag: Order your Kids ♥ Authors t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, and pins to wear and give away from our Cafe Press Store set up by participating author Laya Steinberg. Proceeds benefit Reach Out And Read, a Boston-based national non-profit that promotes early literacy by giving new books to children in pediatric exam rooms across the nation.Poster: We’ve created an editable poster for each store to customize. They’ll be using it in store windows, on their website, via emails, on their blog, etc. Perhaps you can use it too? Feel free to edit it and reach out to your fans, friends, family.
Bookmarks: Download and give away these fabulous free bookmarks created by bookseller Jennifer Hopkins at the Woodknot Bookshop in Newport, VT.
Buzz: Spread the Why Authors Love Indies message. Use your quote as well as that of your colleagues to share the love that authors have for indie bookstores’ passion, energy, and knowledge with your fans.
- Include a quote a day on your website
- Include a quote a day in your blog
- Include a quote a day on your Facebook/Twitter/Myspace page
- You're creative people; go for it!
- Add the event to your website
- Blog about it on your blog as well as those of friends, community groups, etc.
- Spread the word via your public and school librarians, local teachers, churches/temples, etc.
- Talk about it on your Facebook page – or send an invite via Facebook
- Create an event day on Facebook
- Use Evite to send out invites
- Tweet about it (on twitter)
- Include mention of the event in your email signature ("Come join me/us for Kids Heart Authors Day at XXX Bookstore, 2.14.09 from 10 – noon to get a signed book for your Valentine!"
- On the day of the event, be sure to get some photos
- Share these photos with kidsheartauthors@yahoo.com and we’ll load them on the site – and send them to trade media as follow-up (the sooner the better, thanks!)
- Share them with your local media for event follow-up publicity
- Use the photos on your website, blog, etc.
- Take video of the day. Post the video on Youtube, your blog, website, e-newsletter – or send it to us at kidsheartauthors@yahoo.com. Tweet about the video.
- Consider making a podcast of the event: Interview fellow authors/illustrators as well as the bookseller and customers about their take on the event. Share the podcast on your website, with us, etc.
Any questions, just give a shout. One weather-related item: if it looks as if there’ll be a massive blizzard that shuts down all of New England that day, check the website as we’ll look to reschedule for Mother’s Day.
May your event be crowded, may the kids/families think you’re the coolest show in town, may the kids fall in love with new books and authors, and may this become a new Valentine’s Day tradition ...
Thanks for joining the party and here’s to sharing the love!
