I’m not much of a horn tooter. I prefer to be in the background, the slow lane, or a quiet corner. But this was all before the publication of my debut novel. Since then, I discovered that horn tooting has its benefits. I don’t mean literally landing on the horn, but rather, making a little noise when it comes to playing the publicity game.

I learned that promotion begins before publication. To play along with that piece of knowledge, I dove into social media by joining Facebook and by upping my Twitter game. Then I took initiative, contacted local bookstores, and asked to have a book signing, fingers crossed. I wasn’t sure what to include in the asking. I mentioned my tagline, my award, my former life, my dogs and chickens and anything else that would convince a book store to want to host me. The bookstore in my neighborhood was my first choice. I’m a long time patron and it’s one of the greatest bookstores anywhere. Plus, the second floor has a fabulous used book collection that carries everything from Nancy Drew to E Phillips Oppenheim, two of my favorites.

Afterward, I expanded to other bookstores, near and far. Not all responded, but most did. Next I tried another favorite hangout of mine: libraries, emailing to ask if they had interest in hosting mystery author panels. Almost all said yes. I did the same with Writers’ Conferences with equally remarkable results. Do you notice a pattern here? What’s the key to promoting yourself as an author?

One of my favorite quotes:
There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, we have to be people who make things happen. – Jim Lovell

How do you make things happen in terms of promo? By asking. If I hadn’t asked to be hosted, no one would have said yes. As challenging as it may be sometimes, to have the kind of life we desire, we have to be proactive in creating it. I really wanted to appear in bookstores, libraries and conferences. If I didn’t have contacts, I tried to find an opening to make it happen. For instance, before my novel was released, I contacted the San Francisco Writers’ Conference and asked to be included on a panel. I had an “in”. I was a past scholarship recipient. But that wasn’t enough. I was invited to participate…in a two minute introduction at the start of the Conference. Not quite what I had in mind.

Fast forward eight months later: I’m a panelist at the spectacular Santa Barbara Writers’ Conference. I look out into the audience of over 100 and recognize the organizer of the San Francisco Writers’ Conference. This was my chance. I told the audience what a great impact the SF Conference had on me – in all sincerity it had. I don’t believe I’d be a published author but for the scholarship opportunity. Later that day, I had the chance to speak to the organizer. I asked him in person. And again via email and again. And I was so grateful to discover that asking (which is my way of tooting my horn) worked. Sometimes, just asking will open the door.

2016 has been kind to me and I’m very grateful. I had the opportunity to experience a small slice of author life which turned into a wellspring of happiness for me. I met many lovely authors, librarians, booksellers, and readers that I’d never have had the pleasure to meet, but for publishing a novel. And the conferences were phenomenal. Hooray!

As a newbie author, the public speaking aspect was daunting…at first. But I’d like to share a few body language tips I found helpful in promoting confidence:

1. When all else fails, paste a small, calm smile on your face throughout the event. That smile will warm you up and in turn, warm the audience. The audience won’t always remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel (to paraphrase the great Maya Angelou). Practice the smile before wearing it in public to ensure it’s the look you want to share. Believe it or not, a simple smile may be just the confidence booster you need.

2. I have a bad habit of slumping in my seat. Do I want my body to display discomfort, insecurity, or unease? Do I want to look like I’m hoping to disappear into the woodwork? Absolutely…NOT. Remind yourself over and over to sit straight, chin parallel to the ground, stomach tucked in. This reeks of confidence. And don’t underestimate the power of eye contact. It communicates sincerity and engagement.

3. Maintain a positive attitude. Remind yourself of what a wonderful place you are in your life. I love looking out at the audience and reminding myself that I’m there because I’m a published author, a dream come true and an instant attitude lift.

4. Be nice to everyone that crosses your path. Kindness makes the world around us a better place and keeps us confident and happy. Do it in your own best interest and in the interest of others. Studies show that kindness begets kindness. A single kind act can spur dozens more.

5. Your tone of voice matters. Talk to your audience like you would to someone you care about. A dear aunt, a favorite pet, a good friend or anyone that brings out the best in you. I’m at my highest potential when I can speak passionately, but in a calm voice to someone I know or someone who exudes interest. Keep in mind that audience members typically want to be there, want to hear what you have to say and hope to go away having learned something of value that they can take and use in their own lives. Our job when speaking is to give them what they want and more.

When I start writing the draft of a book or an article, the laptop is my constant companion. My fingers scramble across the keyboard to move and arrange my thoughts along quickly. It allows me to jump back and forth between paragraphs and pages, and, once completed, makes it far easier to read than my chicken scribble. I can switch fonts and change page layouts galore. But once the draft is done, the pages are printed; the hard copy combed over with a pen. According to an article from The Guardian, reading from a hard copy may allow for better concentration, while taking longhand notes increases understanding and retention. Not to mention, reading longhand is easier on the eyes and brings this writer closer to the feel and smell of a beloved book. My soul is more easily poured onto the pages with a pen, the words charged with emotion. Taking the time to physically write (and yes, scribble counts as writing) forces the writer to stop and think, take note, and decide what works and what doesn’t. Notes can be made in margins and notebooks to be considered later. These notes become a road map, leading the writer to invent the best possible way of reaching a conclusion and seeing all the various creative stages.

For this same reason, I write thank you notes in longhand. They just wouldn’t have the same impact and meaning for me if the words are typed and sent in an email. I’m old school that way.

When I had the privilege of appearing on an author panel with the wonderful Anne Perry, she informed us that she writes the entire manuscript in long hand and has an assistant do the typing. That could explain the success behind her books.

All this doesn’t mean a writer should do away with electronics when it comes to completing the manuscript, but for me, it means, using a combination of the keyboard and handwriting to propel the story we want written forward.