Another library, more promo

Well, my mum and I managed to find Croydon library on Saturday. I got to speak to one of the children's librarians who took some of my promo stuff, a book and my contact details. She said she'd pass the stuff to the Head of the Children's libraries, and gave me the email address and phone number of the lady. I will wait until Wednesday to hear from her, and if I don't then I will phone her to ask about possibly doing an event there. I have decided that if I do do any more library events, they will be based wholly around my book and my writing as I feel that is a subject I am more comfortable talking about.

Will let you know what happens.

Library talks

I heard back from the Head of Children's libraries the other day. She asked me how I thought my talk went, so I said OK but thought the Q&A session afterwards went better so might focus on that area in future. She told me that as I don't have a medical background she was concerned that I might be misinforming the children about what I am talking about and wants me to email her my next talk so she can have a look at it to see if it's suitable or not. I have revised my talk to make it more interactive, another thing she advised, as well as mentioning books and websites which she also advised to include. I have decided that I might just do talks and sessions about my book and writing in future for libraries, if I get the chance again. Once I've reworked the talk I will email it to her saying that that would be what it'd be like if I talked about healthy eating again.

Meantime I am still waiting to hear from one library and the Head of Bromley libraries. And I have started writing chapter 1 of Georgina's story.

See you soon.

New promo chances

I went to another library yesterday to see if they could display some of my book promo materials. The receptionist said that the woman I needed to see wasn't in but gave me her email address. I am sure she said that this woman is the Head of the Children's libraries in Bromley. Anyway, I emailed her today asking if we could meet up to chat about promoting my book. I am still waiting to hear from the other Head of Children's libraries in my borough. Left a message on her ansamachine on Friday. I also went to another Holland and Barrett's but they said I have to contact their Head Office, which I might do.

Then yesterday whilst reading my emails, I found 2 emails from the editor of Crystal, one of the small press magazines I subscribe to. She wanted me to let her know asap my news, which I did do, and wanted permission to print off my website the page about Rosie. I gave her permission. She wants to put it in the next issue of the magazine so it will be circulated. Who knows, I might get more sales from that. This gave me the idea to email the editor of the other small press magazine I subscribe to. So I emailed her with my successful news. That magazine is based in Cyprus and has a more global circulation, so who knows what can come of that. All I have to do now is sit and wait. Mum said to me why can't I let it sell on its own now. I don't want to and want to carry on promoting it for the next 2 months at least. I feel that if I do that, then Pegasus might see how serious I am about promotion and take me on again with a normal contract for Allie.

Watch this space.

My library talk

Well, I had my first library talk and how did it go? I think it went quite well, although I feel that I did bore the school girls a bit. I had an audience of 4 school girls, the library youth worker and 2 female police officers and the man working on a laptop behind them. I think the girls were more interested in the fat causing strokes side of my talk, so that is what I will concentrate on more when I do another talk. Although I didn't get to sell any books, no one had money on them, I gave out my free dried fruit anyway, as well as my bookmarks and postcards. After the talk I answered a couple of questions and we got chatting about strokes and healthy eating, which I found went better than the talk. The library worker is Afro Carribean and she said that a couple of her relatives have had strokes and she has found she's got high cholesterol so has had to relook at her diet. I told her that I'd read that people of her background are at higher risk of strokes and that. I am pleased that I did the talk as it was good experience, and I now know what I can improve on and what I need to talk about more. I would like to do more library events but think I will gear them to more question and answers and general discussion about writing and healthy eating as I felt that went better than the talk. I will be visiting another library this weekend to see if they can promote my book and maybe get something there.

Now to get working on my 3rd book.

Writer's News

A couple of weeks ago I emailed Writers' News magazine with my success story. I got a reply back saying that they have a big backlog and would get a member of staff to write the news up. I didn't think more of it, until Monday. I got an email from the Assistant Editor saying that she was writing an article for the Members News page about my book and asking me a few more questions. I wrote them out and replied yesterday attaching an image of the cover. So hopefully in the next issue I will be in there. Will put it on my website when I see it.

Must get on with work now.

Rosie and Allie

This week I have managed to sell the 6 out of 8 books I took to work. Only 2 more to go before I've sold the whole box I was sent of 23. I have already opened the other box of 27 as one of my aunts whom my mum sent the paper article to wrote to me asking for a copy. Hurray another sale I thought. So Mum has sent that off. I hope to sell some of the box at the talk later this month. Will let you know how that goes.

I got an email from Pegasus during the week acknowledging receipt of Allie and saying that it will now go forward for further consideration for their lists. Be patient as it could be a lengthy process due to the amount of work they've taken on recently. So another several weeks before I know if they want the rest of it or not. I still have one reference page to type up for it which I will do during my holiday in two week's time.

Meantime I have almost finished writing up the talk. I have decided to add about food intolerances too as something I know about. I tested it out yesterday and it only came to 11 minutes and I'm supposed to be talking for 30 mins. So hopefully now it will at least be double that time with the added info.

Well, I am now going to try to put the photos of my launch on my website. Ho hum...

Allie's gone

I sent the first 3 chapters of Allie to Pegasus on Monday, so that baby has now gone for consideration. Hopefully they will get it today if they didn't yesterday. So now I have a few weeks wait to hear from them if they like it enough to want it as well as Rosie. Meantime, I have started to work out Georgina's story. I have written out her timetable, who her teachers are and now am working out what magical powers to give her to help the girls and the school. I'm already looking forward to writing this story.

I am going to start practising my talk later this week after I've finished writing it. Just need to write a little bit how cholesterol causes strokes and I'm done. I've decided to talk as though I'm chatting to the audience and see how that goes.

Will let you know when I hear from Pegasus about Allie, so watch this space...

Back to work now.