Roundtable – Choosing the Right Book Contest

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Victor Volkman
In this special Roundtable episode, Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman discuss book contests and how to make the most of your marketing dollars. Irene Watson is the managing editor of Reader Views, a book review and author publicity service located in Austin, Texas. Irene is well versed in today’s topic Choosing the Right Book Contest as this is her 5th year in running an awards program.  Victor R. Volkman is the owner of Loving Healing Press, Modern History Press, and the newest imprint Marvelous Spirit Press.   Together, these imprints have produced more than 100 titles in five years in paperback, hardcover, and eBook editions of same.  This evening we chatted about the how and why of book contests including:

  • What’s the purpose of entering a contest?
  • What kinds of contests are out there?
  • How are contests judged?
  • How do I enter a contest?
  • What can I do with the awards?
  • What about poetry and short-story contests?
  • How do I choose a category that I can win in?
  • Local, regional, vs. national contests: is bigger always better?
  • What’s a reasonable fee for entering my book?
  • What about contests where “everyone is a winner”?
Irene Watson started Reader Views in 2005 when she published her first book and realized a need wasn’t filled. Listening to authors she continues to create online sites to fulfill their needs. The latest being First Chapter Plus, an e-Catalog of self-published and small publisher books targeted at libraries and independent book stores.  Ger first authored book won an IPPY Honorable Mention. She is the author of several books including The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference, Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers, and most recently co-author of Rewriting Life Scripts: Transformational Recovery for Families of Addicts
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Posted in Book Contests, Irene Watson, Victor Volkman | Leave a comment

Kim McDougall – Creating Sizzling Book Video Trailers

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Victor Volkman
On June 3rd, 2010 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with artist, author, and book video director/producer Kim McDougall of Blazing Trailers.  Kim has produced more than 100 book video trailers and hosts more than a thousand of them on BlazingTrailers. She shared her hard won experience in producing and also critiquing these latest promotional marketing tools.  Her laser-sharp focus in marketing really showed us what does and doesn’t work for videos.  Some talking points included:

  • Why make a book video trailer?
  • What makes a good trailer (good, bad, or ugly)?
  • How do I use my trailer effectively?
  • Can I include a Special offer in my video?
  • Walk us through a typical experience with you working with an author
  • Should I make my own trailer or have someone make it for me?

Kim McDougallKim McDougall
Kim McDougall is an fantasy author, fiber artist and photographer. She writes children’s and YA fiction under her married name, Kim Chatel.  Some of her books include Angel Venom, the Twisted Tails series and Luminari, She has a bachelors degree in English literature from Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec. She was born in Montreal and has lived in Nice, France, Toronto, Long Island, New York and now beautiful Pennsylvania.

She is also the founder of Blazing Trailers a site designed to showcase video book previews. After creating 100+ trailers she has picked up some tricks for promoting with this hot multimedia tool.
Blazing Trailers

Blazing Trailers
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Posted in Book Video Trailers, Marketing | 4 Comments

Katharine Sands – Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Victor Volkman
On May 20th, 2010 Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with Manhattan literary agent Katharine Sands of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. She helped educate us on the basics of good “pitchcraft”, including

  • What is pitching?
  • Why is pitching your work so important?
  • Why there is such a relentless emphasis on platforming a book…
  • What are some rules for pitching a book?
  • How does self-publishing play into this equation?
  • What do I need to know about becoming a full-time nonfiction author
Katharine Sands‘ new book Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye is  a collection of pitching wisdom from leading literary agents. Actively building her client list, she likes books that have a clear benefit for readers’ lives in categories of food, travel, lifestyle, home arts, beauty, wisdom, relationships, parenting, and fresh looks, which might be at issues, life challenges or popular culture. when reading fiction she wants to be compelled and propelled by urgent storytelling, and hooked by characters. For memoir and femoir, she likes to be transported to a world rarely or newly observed.
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Jonathan Maxwell – Arranging Public Appearances

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Victor Volkman
On May 6th 2010, Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with successful nonfiction author and speaker Jonathan Maxwell. He is the author of Murderous Intellectuals: German Elites and the Nazi SS (2009). Jonathan has tirelessly promoted his books at bookstores, libraries, museums, colleges, and K-12 schools. Today, he shared his wisdom about

  • The Importance of Making Public Appearances (sales, marketing, buzz)
  • Alternatives to Public Appearances (reviews)
  • Obtaining Public Appearances (libraries, schools and colleges, museums, bookstores)
  • Charging Fees (why, when and how much)
  • Becoming a great speaker(tips and tricks)
Jonathan Maxwell is an Atlanta-based writer, editor, and critic. He holds a BA in English from Berry College in Rome, Ga., as well as a psychology minor. He also holds a paralegal certificate. Murderous Intellectuals: German Elites and the Nazi SS is his first book. Released in November 2009, the work has since received considerable critical acclaim. Maxwell’s next book- Piltdown Man and Other Hoaxes- will be released late this year. This book is a lighthearted examination of scientific frauds through the centuries. In addition to book-writing, he has composed op/ed pieces in newspapers great and small, penned reviews for literary journals, and has written chapters for history textbooks. As a freelance editor, he was worked for the publishing giants Harcourt and Pearson.
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Awakening The Power Within – May 15th, 2010 in Ann Arbor

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Victor Volkman

Special offer good only for readers of AuthorsAccess.com!  Bring a friend and saves $10 on the cost of TWO tickets! HURRY offer ends April 30th at midnite!  Click here to take advantage of this special offer or call tollfree 888-761-6268

Come join us for a day of inspiration, education, and renewal at the Awakening the Power Within conference at Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor, Michigan on May 15th 2010 from 9am to 4pm.  Conference registration is only $25 and includes Weber’s fabulous sandwich buffet lunch. We’ll have a diverse selection of motivational and spiritual presenters:

Time Speaker Topic
9:00 Registration Coffee and networking
10:00 Robin Marvel Energize, Revitalize ~ ChakraCize!
10:55 Marian Volkman Practical Happiness
Noon — break — Lunch provided by Weber’s Inn
12:50pm Rick Ritter Reorganizing the Self: After it has been shattered
1:45pm Jane Saylor The Power of Self-Help:  What you accomplish

in this lifetime is all up to you
2:40pm K.J.M. MacLean Consciousness, Feelings, and Self-Empowerment
3:30pm Networking Meet and greet presenters (until 4PM)

Our Amazing Presenters

  • Kenneth J.M. MacLean advocates applying spirituality in a practical, common sense manner to daily life for success and happiness. He’s the host of the Interview with Spirit Show and the author of eight books including The Vibrational Universe: Harness the power of thought to consciously create your life.
  • Robin Marvel is an inspirational speaker, spiritual workshop leader, and radio host. She is the Senior Editor of Marvelous Spirit Press and the author of the Awakening Consciousness series books for boys, girls, and women.
  • Rick Ritter MSW, LCSW is a trauma therapist in a small private practice, disabled vet of 40 years who works at practicing what he “preaches” toward his clients/audience. He is also a father, grandfather, organic gardener (3 acre garden), beekeeper, handcyclist who is extremely blessed. He is the author of Coping With Physical Loss and Disability
  • Jane Saylor is a Life Coach and Motivational Speaker. She is also the author of “The Road You’ve Traveled, How to Journal Your Life”.  Learn more at her new website  www.ThePowerOfSelfHelp.com
  • Marian Volkman has worked in the fields of trauma resolution and personal growth for more than 40 years. She teaches Applied Metapsychology, including Traumatic Incident Reduction in the US, Canada and Europe, and maintains a practice working with individuals. She is passionate about development of human potential, among other things. She is the author of Life Skills: Improve the Quality of Your Life

    • Share this Flyer with your friends!

    PDF Flyer about this event

    Register by Phone at 888-761-6268 or visit www.AwakeningThePower.com

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