Website Design for Book Authors

I mentioned last week about finding a book that teaches authors how to sell books on the Internet. I haven't read it all yet, but I've read enough to know I need to change my website.

The message was to keep it simple. People tend to scan rather than read web pages, so we only have a matter of seconds to get their attention. I'll go into details about the book later when I write a review.

What I want to show you today is what I came up with for the first page of the redesigned website.

If the image above is not clear, go to http://sidneywfrost.com/ to see the real thing.

From this initial page, you'll eventually be able to link to:

• Events: This will be a page that will show any scheduled events such as book signings, virtual blog tours, etc.
• Media Info: Here will be links to various sized images of the book cover and the author, plus a link to press releases.
• Blog: This links to http://christianbookmobile.blogspot.com/.
• Author: This will be a page containing my bio.
• Description: This will be a more detailed description of the book.
• Review: This will be a summary of book reviews

As you can see, I'm still in the design phase, so if you have any suggestions, let me hear from you.

Donate a Book to Your Church Library

Several friends have told me they purchased copies of Where Love Once Lived to give to their church libraries. One brought me a copy to sign before giving it to the church.

I talked to the person who oversees a church library at one church in town, and she said there is no budget for their library. They get books donated, but often end up with too many copies of the same book, or they get nonfiction books, but not enough Christian fiction books. She said they were planning to sell the surplus books to raise money to buy the books they need.

I'm sure most church libraries have the same needs. So, if you have Christian books you no longer need, consider donating them to your church. And tell them you don't mind if the book is sold. That way, if they don't need your particular book, it will give them a way to raise funds to get what they do need.

As a book reviewer for a Christian publisher, I get free books and then donate them to my church after I've read them. I recently purchased a Christian novel on CDs for a trip and afterwards decided it should go to the public library where it would get more use. In fact, since this particular book (Hand of Fate) doesn't look or sound like a Christian book, someone without a church may check it out and learn how some people love God.

So, please feel free to buy an extra copy of Where Love Once Lived so you'll have a copy to donate to your church library or other worthy organization.

From Book Signing Worries to Confidence

Yesterday I Googled "planning for a book signing" after I realized I didn't know what I was doing and the book signing for Where Love Once Lived was schedule for September 25, 2010.

Surprisingly, I found three excellent articles on what to do before, during, and after a book signing. One of the writers, Penny C. Sansevieri, was especially helpful, so I checked Amazon to see if she had any books on the subject of book marketing. I found one called Red Hot Internet Publicity, and was glad to see there was a Kindle edition. I ordered it and started reading. I'll do a review on the book later. Right now I need to sell books.

I read that she developed the idea for the Virtual Author Tour™ and that reminded me I had planned to do a virtual blog tour. Bonnie Hearn Hill had told me how successful that had been for her. I already had a list of blogs that would be good for my book. However, I haven't contacted any of them yet. There was a call for authors to be interviewed and/or books reviewed by a blogger on the American Christian Fiction Writers group. I sent her a book to review and she sent me some questions to answer for the interview. But, I need to do 20 or 30 more before I will see the benefits of the virtual blog tour.

As I read the book signing tips, I remembered this won't be my first book signing. The first was so unremarkable, I probably stuffed it deep into the memory banks.

My first book was a non-fiction called Automated Law Office Systems, published by West Publishing Co. in 1983. I was a member of the Austin Writers' League, now the Writers' League of Texas, and we set up book signing tables in the mall near Sunset Valley where the south Central Market is now. The tables were arranged in a circle with authors sitting inside the circle. My editor, Bill Newsom, was with me and I think he sold more books than I did. Bill, by the way, was the person who made the book readable. He didn't get his name on the cover, but he did share in the royalties.

Next to us was Kathy Cronkite, Walter's daughter, with a book called On the Edge of Darkness. It is still available of Amazon, but I see it is dated 1995 so it must be an updated edition.

On the other side of us was Dr. Ira Iscoe, who had been my Educational Psychology professor at the University of Texas. He was the one responsible for my finishing college, getting a BA and then an MS. Why? Because he said I couldn't. He said most people who drop out of school and then go back, never graduate. I told him about it that day. He was pleased. I don't remember what he was selling, but I was proud to be at the book signing event with him.

So, just thinking about the book signing helped me think about ways to sell Where Love Once Lived. It also reminded me that I can overcome the average college dropout and succeed. That's what makes writing this blog so much fun.

My Next Book is on My Mind Today

Yesterday, Celeste asked about my new novel after I told her I worked on it between classes. Then, today, when I talked to my sister, Barbara, she asked about the new book. So, I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

I told them both about the new publishing company looking for manuscripts ready to go for 2011. The neat thing about Harbourlight Books is that they are affiliated with White Rose Publishing, the company that almost published Where Love Once Lived, until they discovered it wasn't really a romance and all they publish are Christian romance.

Harbourlight Books, on the other hand, will publish only Christian fiction books that are NOT romance. So, my thinking is that both my novel will be a perfect match for Harbourlight.

All I need to do to finish Vengeance In Mine is write two more scenes, scenes I've already outlined, and then edit the whole book for the upteenth time and the manuscript will be ready. All the publisher wants initially is a synopsis and the first chapter, but they want to know that the book is complete. If they like the synopsis and first chapter and ask for the whole thing, I want to be prepared.

It's not that I'm unhappy with the approach I'm using for Where Love Once Lived, that is, using CreateSpace and the print on demand method, but it would certainly simplify everything to have a publisher take care of the details.

Besides, I love what White Rose is producing and I think Harbourlight will be under the same management. White Rose produces great covers and ebooks. They have an appealing website, dedicated writers, and supportive editors. It would be fun to be part of the group.

My thought is that if Harbourlight contracts my new book, and if the sales of the current book are satisfactory, they may want to publish it as well.

What do you think?

Book Signing Date Set

 I have to admit I'm a little excited about having my first book signing on the calendar. Hill Country Bookstore in Georgetown has these book signings for authors every Saturday, sometimes several at a time. They let me pick a date, so I selected September 25 to make sure everything is prepared and we have time to publicize the event.

I'm scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. alone, but that doesn't mean another author won't be added at the same time. It's a small store, so I don't think they will have more than two at a time. The manager said sometimes the authors set up outside on the sidewalk, but it's been so hot, that might not be an option.

She also said the author that follows me is doing a lot of advertising and will have a violinist playing during the signing. This made me wish I had a gimmick of some kind. Wouldn't it be nice to have a real bookmobile to park out front? That'd been too expensive. Any other ideas?

So, all you people within driving distance, put it on your schedule. I need all the support I can get. And tell your friends.

BookPeople, in Austin, has a consignment program that includes a book signing event with three other local authors. I'll let you know when that is scheduled.

I'd also like to schedule something with a Christian bookstore, but I haven't researched that area yet.

BOOK REVIEW: Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl and April Henry

I purchased the CD edition of the book, read by Pam Turlow, for a long automobile trip and enjoyed it so much I bought the first in the series when I got back.

Hand of Fate is the second book in the Triple Threat series, so named because of the three main characters, Allison Pierce, a federal prosecutor, Nicole Hedges, an FBI special agent, and Cassidy Shaw, a TV crime reporter. These three are friends and have a history of being in college together.

The story begins with the murder of a radio talk show host in Portland, Oregon, and the main goal is to find the killer, or killers. One of the trio is a close friend of the victim and the other two had scheduled a meeting with him before he was killed because he was receiving threats. Unfortunately for Jim Fate, he was killed before the meeting.

The story moves along quickly with suspense, action, and realistic characters. Each of the triple threat women have subplots going on in their lives not directly related to solving the mystery, but these subplots did not distract from the story. There were many twists and turns along the way, just like in any good book.

I would recommend Hand of Fate to anyone interested in a good mystery.

BOOK REVIEW: Starburst by Robin Pilcher

This is a story about seven people and how their lives touch each other during the annual Edinburgh Festival. Tess, the recently married young woman who works for the Festival, Roger who does the fireworks for the closing of the Festival, Angélique, the young French violinist who performs at the Festival, Albert, Angélique 's manager who has kept tight reins on her, Rene, the mom turned comedienne who performs at the Festival Fringe, Leonard, the retired cameraman who ends up financing a film made at the Festival, T.K., Leonard's apprentice, who fights to stay out of jail for stealing cars, and Jamie, the young owner of the boarding house in Edinburgh who brings most of the other characters together.

This book came out in 2007, but I just got around to reading it last month. I've read other Robin Pilcher books as well as books written by his mother Rosamunde Pilcher and have enjoyed them all.

Actually, I listened to the first half of Starburst, from CDs checked out at the public library while on a road trip. However, we got home before the finishing the book, so the last half was read on a Kindle.

The book uses English and Scottish dialogue so I'm glad I had a chance to listen to it first. The reader, John Lee, did an excellent job with the accents. So, by the time I started reading the Kindle, I could still hear the accents of the various characters.

This is a good, entertaining story with some suspense and some romance. It's not quite what I usually review for my Christian Bookmobile blog, but I would recommend it to anyone. There are some emotional parts that will bring tears to your eyes, but you'll also laugh out loud in places. I love the type of story were good things happen to good people, and I wasn't disappointed.

I've been to Edinburgh several times so I had a good feel for the locale which was the background for the story. However, I've never been there for the Festival and now I would like to go. This year it is being held as I write this review, August 13 to September 5, 2010.

BOOK REVIEW: Angel Song by Sheila Walsh and Kathryn Cushman

This is the story of Ann Fletcher, a New York City home and office staging designer, who finds herself at a crossroad where she must choose between success in the big city and what she knows deep down is the right thing to do.

She is happily progressing in the business world until the death of her sister Sarah brings her back to her childhood home in Charleston and the reality that she is all alone in the world.

Sarah's friends show Ann the same Christian love they had shared with Sarah, but Ann only wants to sell the house and get back to New York. She is torn between wanting to let Sarah's friends into her life and pushing them away so that it won't hurt her so much when she leaves Charleston. Sarah's neighbor Tammy and her son Keith get close to Ann as does Ethan, who feels compelled to help Ann. Keith, who has Down's Syndrome sees angels, and points out the ones who are always with Ann. Ann doesn't believe in angels, but she hears music (angel song) she can't explain.

The overall message of Angel Song is inspiring, without being preachy. Because of the way it is crafted, the angel element of the story is believable. The book moved slowly in places and it wasn't until near the last one-fourth of the book that I became more emotionally involved.

One message in the book is that we always have choices. Even when Ann had to make decisions that might negatively impact the lives of her friends and her friend's children, she had a choice. Another message is that no one is alone in the world.

This book is worth reading, just give it time to hook you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” After reading the book, I gave it to San Gabriel Presbyterian Church Library in Georgetown, Texas.

Where Love Once Lived Press Release

I won't show you what I got from the publisher, but what you see below has been changed greatly. When I first saw what CreateSpace came up with, I knew something was wrong, but wasn't sure what it was. So, I sent it to Bonnie Hearn Hill, who has seen many press releases for her books and who once worked as a newspaper editor. I thought she might have a good example I could look at. Instead, she rewrote my press release, using Microsoft Word change tracking so I could see exactly what was added, deleted, and changed. I made a few changes after that and here is the final (let me know what you think):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Novel portrays romance rekindled

Author says faith inspired award-winning love story

AUSTIN, Texas – Where Love Once Lived by Sidney W. Frost follows a man at a crossroads as he seeks to regain the love of his former college sweetheart.

Forced to leave Karen by circumstances beyond his control, Brian returns to his hometown after 30 years to find Karen doesn’t want to deal with the memories of his painful and unexplained departure. She has worked hard to put her love for Brian behind her and rebuffs his advances. Brian can see that winning her over again isn’t going to be as easy as he had hoped, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes.

“The story of Brian and Karen shows that, with God’s help, it’s never too late to find happiness,” says Frost. “My hope is that their story makes readers laugh, cry and learn a little more about God’s love.”

Frost was inspired by his faith to create Where Love Once Lived. The importance of a relationship with God is a major theme in the book. In the novel, Karen’s faith in God grew stronger after Brian left, leading to fulfilling work as a lay minister. As she becomes reacquainted with Brian, Karen begins to share with him the strength that can come from faith. Brian, who had turned away from God, eventually comes to realize that the void in his life was not just the loss of Karen but also the loss of God.

Where Love Once Lived is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author

Sidney W. Frost earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Long Beach and a master’s degree from the University of Houston. He currently works as an adjunct professor at Austin Community College. Frost is an elder in the Presbyterian Church and has been a member of several choral groups, singing in numerous productions with the Austin Lyric Opera Chorus. The novel won first place in the inspirational/spiritual category of the 2007 SouthWest Writer’s Contest and first place in the romance category of the 2007 Writers' League of Texas Contest.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sidney W. Frost
E-mail: sidfrost@suddenlink.net
Phone: (512) 694-6449
Web: http://sidneywfrost.com
Blog: http://christianbookmobile.blogspot.com/

REVIEW COPIES AND INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE

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Proving Your Past Achievements

I mentioned in a previous post that the publisher had asked for verification that Where Love Once Lived had won first place in two manuscript contests and how I was able to prove it. Yesterday, they contacted me and wanted proof that I had been in more than 40 Austin Lyric Opera productions. How do you prove that?

My first reaction was to tell them to forget the reference to singing. It didn't add anything to the value of the book. But then I thought, this is something I'm proud of and there is a significant number of words in the book about singing. Tony, the Austin Lyric Opera Chorus member in the story will be featured in a future book and I wanted the readers to know I have experience in this area.

So, I started looking for ways to prove my participation in the chorus. I have a stage photo with a wide border with the signatures of everyone in the production congratulating me for my 35th production. I probably have programs for every opera I was in, but both of these items would be difficult to copy. I wanted to find something digital to send to CreateSpace so that they could finish the press release.

Let me say here that I'm glad the publisher is concerned about accuracy of what they send out. That is comforting to me.

I checked AustinLyricOpera.org, but they seem to be in the midst of a website update and nothing useful was available. I couldn't even find email addresses to send to CreateSpace for contacting them.

So, here's what I ended up with:

• The photo of me in a variety of costumes shown above
• A list of operas I've been in from an old chorus website no longer in use
• The name and phone number of the chorusmaster

I don't know which one worked, but I got the press release today.