Local promotion

As writers, we are constantly reminded we also need to promote our works if we want people to buy and read them. We need to build a platform, have a website, use social media, send out press releases, etc. There are many other methods to promote our works. One person I noticed doing this very successfully is Lois Szymanski.

I saw Lois recently signing books at Constellation Books in Reisterstown. I’ve seen her signing at A Likely Story bookstore in Sykesville and the Farm Museum’s Author Day and at a meeting of the Carroll County Maryland Writer’s Association. More than 90 people attended her recent talk, with a pony outside, at the Finksburg Library. She was even signing - and hopefully - selling books at the Union Mills Flower and Plant Show, an appropriate venue, since she has published seven Gettysburg Ghost Gang books with Shelley Sykes. She is available for school visits and critiques. She has a website, www.loisszymanski.com and an occasional blog.

 (Pictured above is Lois Szymanski, sitting, and Lauretta Nagel, of Constellation Books)

Lois is also a good example of “write what you know.” Her favorite book as a child was “Misty of Chincoteague” and she has loved horses ever since. She wrote a Charming Ponies series and  several non-fiction books: Chincoteague Ponies, Untold Tales and Out of the Sea: Today’s Chincoteague Pony and The True Story of Sea Feather. She is a key supporter of The Feather Fund, an organization that helps by Chincoteague ponies for children who can’t afford them.

Lois teaches about writing for children at Carroll Community College. She writes a regional column and feature stories for the Carroll County Times and is active in SCBWI (the Society for Children Book Writers and Illustrators).

Another local writer, Laura Bowers had a successful signing of her newest book, Just Flirt, at a Flirting Tea Time from 3:00 to 5:00 pm July 21, at Constellation Books in Reisterstown, MD. I was there to support one of our local writers. Laura also wrote the hilarious Beauty Shop for Rent. You can find out more about her at laurabowers.net.

In the September 2012 issue of The Writer Erika Dreifus writes about “5 free and easy ways to promote your book” in addition to the “tried-and-true techniques.”  There is no question that authors need to promote their books. Books, magazines, writers’ groups and blogs give us ideas, but the methods we use can differ greatly.