Book Marketing Tips, Hoosier Indie Author Book Fair Info and Registration Form

Indie Authors Association Newsletter #5

Welcome to the Indie Authors Association (IAA) Newsletter #5. Thank you for taking your valuable time to read these updates. I hope you find them helpful.  

I am at the Taylor University Professional Writers Conference the rest of this week, learning lots of indie author publishing and book marketing tips to share with you!

Today was jam-packed full of helpful indie author advice from bestselling author Lydia Sherrer and her marketing guru/game-designer husband, David Sherrer.

My top three takeaways from their day-long event: 

1. Join 20BooksTo50K® https://www.facebook.com/groups/20Booksto50k. Both Lydia and David sang the praises of this group for having searchable professional advice on about any indie author publishing and book marketing question you can think of. It is one of the largest groups of indie authors!    

2. What are you willing to give up to achieve what you want most? Right now, I’m tired. I’ve been thinking and sitting all day, which sometimes feels as exhausting as physical labor. I want to stretch across my bed and watch Purple Hearts on Netflix! But, I’m writing instead because I want to grow this newsletter to 100 subscribers and >10 members by the end of the year. That’s one of my SMART goals that Lydia also covered, along with advice about creating an LLC and a Business Plan. She gave lots of helpful tips on business principles for indie authors, including recording everything, keeping your business and personal funds separate, and investing in a good tax accountant.

3. See and be seen. Lydia recommends attending 8-10 conferences a year. I’m lucky to attend one. This is something I need to improve. I’m working on it. As an introvert, being seen is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I know it’s necessary to grow my indie author business. Lydia also makes sure she is seen on social media. She said her rule of thumb is 90% giving and 10% asking. The gift doesn’t have to be anything big. An ebook or authentic glimpse into your life - hobbies, food, pets, etc. Anything that connects you with your fans. https://www.instagram.com/lydiasherrer/

I meet with both Lydia and David tomorrow morning for my one-on-one mentoring session. Meeting with the presenters is a nice benefit of this writing conference. Be sure to subscribe so you get my takeaways from this session. 

BONUS takeaway: “Series are king!” Lydia’s Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus story is soon to be a 12-book series. One marketing ad can cover a series as opposed to separate ads for individual books. Readers are also more likely to read through your book collection if it is a series. 

SUBSCRIBE

AUTHOR FAIRS & WRITING CONFERENCES

September

• Indiana Incognito Author Extravaganza, Cambridge City, Indiana, Friday, September 30, 2022, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Saturday, October 1, 2022, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. This free event is hosted by The Friends of the Cambridge City Public Library. All children are welcome. Over 20 authors have signed up to showcase their books and help support children’s literacy programs. I will be a guest author at this event, Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 12-2 p.m. Stop by and say hi if you are in the area. I would love to meet IAA Newsletter readers in person! 

November

• 20Books Vegas 2022, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 14-18, 2022. Indie Authors Conference with 2500 authors and publishers. Can’t make it to Vegas? Attend 20Books Vegas 2022 virtually!

• Hoosier Indie Authors Book Fair, Honeywell Center, Wabash, Indiana, Small Business Saturday, November 26, 2022, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. This event will be hosted by Teresa Keefer and the Indie Author Association. Registration info and form to follow. There are only 25 tables available, so if you are interested in networking and selling your books at this event, please send in your registration ASAP.  

HOOSIER INDIE AUTHORS BOOK FAIR #hoosierindieauthors 

AUTHOR INFO & REGISTRATION FORM

Small Business Saturday #shopsmall

Saturday, November 26, 2022 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Honeywell Center ~ 275 Market Street ~ Wabash, Indiana

The first Hoosier Indie Authors Book Fair will be held in the Legacy Hall at the Honeywell Center. The entrance at the northwest side of the building is closest to the Legacy Hall. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for setup. 

Please complete the Hoosier Indie Authors Registration Form and mail it along with your payment to: INDIE AUTHORS ASSOCIATION, 700 Race St, Jonesboro, IN 46938. If you prefer, you can email the registration form to kathy@indieauthorSassociation.com and send payment via Paypal to the same email address. 

Completed registration is required by October 31, 2022 to give us time to promote authors and the event. We are limited to 25 tables, so secure your spot ASAP. 

Questions or suggestions to make the Hoosier Indie Authors Book Fair the best it can be for YOU?! Email kathy@indieauthorSassociation.com.

Hoosier Indie Authors Book Fair Registration Form

First Name _______________________ Last Name _______________________________

Pen Name _______________________ Email Address ____________________________

Address  ____________________________________________________________________

Phone Number ___________________ Website _________________________________

Please attach photo & bio or link for publicity/promotion ___________________________

Author Table and Amenities (Check all your preferences)

___ 8’ Table $40 

___ 4’ Shared Table $20 

___ Table Cloth/Skirt $12 

___ Electrical Outlet $10

___ Event Sponsor $100 - Name/Logo on promotional material.

___ Promotional Table Donation $5 - For authors who cannot attend, but want to send business cards, bookmarks, or other promotional material. Please send items with the completed registration form. NOTE: Material will not be returned.  

Total Enclosed $____ 

Make check payable to Indie Authors Association. Mail to: 700 Race St, Jonesboro, IN 46938.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Please note: Books and tools I recommend may contain affiliate links that help support the Indie Authors Association. There is no additional cost to you.

Books

“If you care about your career, you will read these books! Full-time writers read these books.”  ~ Lydia Sherrer

Well, when you put it like that Lydia, I’m on it! I love to learn from authors who are where I want to be. Lydia has sold 250,000 books. That’s enough encouragement for me to follow her advice! Interestingly, all three of the independent publishing business books she recommends are by Mike Michalowicz. 

• Profit First: Transform Your Business from Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz

• The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business In Any Field

• Get Different: Marketing That Can’t Be Ignored by Mike Michalowicz

Podcasts

Reach: Create The Biggest Audience For Your Book With Becky Robinson. This podcast interview between Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn and Becky Robinson author of Reach echoes what Lydia was talking about today in giving generously to grow your audience. 

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Would you like to know about opportunities and resources for indie authors? Subscribe for free weekly updates!

Are you an indie author looking for support with the business side of writing? Become an Indie Authors Association (IAA) premium member to receive insider info and promo. 

IAA premium membership benefits include a feature about you and your books in an IAA Newsletter, a link to your website in every IAA Newsletter, and discounts to our editing services, courses, and events.    

Indie Author Association Members

Teresa Keefer