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WRITERS – CREATE A STAY AT HOME RESOURCE KIT Fellow Writers, I suggest that you create your version of a STAY AT HOME RESOURCE KIT. What is that? It’s any combination of links, essays, videos, music that fits in with the theme of your book. Everyone is home working, attending classes online, or not working. Think about what these various people need and how that dovetails with your book. My title is generic, I am sure you can think of something snappy and original for your kit: Mazie’s Amazing Marble Cake for Staying at Home Recently, I was in a webinar sponsored by the Independent Book Publisher’s Association. According to one panelist, who was a publisher, there are three categories of books that readers want right now: Young Adult non-fiction, cookbooks, and escapist literature. I am sure she is right, but all sorts of people are looking for all kinds of books right now. Your book could be one of them. Is there a single parent trying to work at home and supervise homework for a fourth grader? Of course, the school has sent home curriculum, but maybe you have a children’s book that would fit right in with this grade level. Lead with various activity suggestions or links that would be useful. At the end of the list, send a chapter of your book or a description of the book and a link to your website where the parent can buy the book. If you don’t have a website, now is the time to set one up. (See LATEST BLOW TO BOOK INDUSTRY- posted on Amazon Forum) What about people who want to use this time to create more home cooked meals? For instance, a cookbook writer could include easy-to-cook recipes for nutritious meals, with emphasis on the best foods to boost your immune system. End with information about your book and a link to your website. Okay, so you get the idea. An Extraordinary Life: Josephine E. Jones tells my mother’s life story interspersed with African American History. It traces the racial, gender, and class discrimination that she faced and overcame. I write a (mostly) monthly article, including sources, on a black woman or man in American History on my website for my email list. Because I was so active celebrating Black History Month in the physical world, I had not done it online. And here it was near the end of March and I hadn’t done anything for Women’s History Month either. I knew Ida B. Wells would be upset with me. The kit was my atonement. I listed what was in the kit ending with information about The Culinary Art Portfolio of Josephine E. Jones with photographs by John Turner, my next book. I am offering a link to the kit here not just as an example, but because I think you’ll find the information worthwhile. Click on African American Literature Book Club’s s link on my website and you’ll come right back here. Here, along with my wish for everyone’s good health, was what I sent to my email list: STAY AT HOME RESOURCE KIT: 4 - Inspiring Quotes 2- African American Biographies Black History Month Baptist preacher and civil rights advocate (Not the one you think.) Women's History Month Protested segregated transportation system (Also not the one you think.) 2- Links and descriptions of two incredible websites: Internet Archive and African American Literature Book Club - access history, literature, film, discussion groups, book clubs and more. At the Internet Archive I saw a 1905 silent short, read part of Henry "Box" Bibbs' 1849 enslavement narrative (he shipped himself to freedom in a box), looked at several Oscar Micheaux (the first African American feature movie director, producer, author - 44 films) film posters (couldn't find the movies here, but Youtube has a few), and watched Trevor Noah's March 24, 2020, Covid-19 Program (interviews guests only on video). All that on my first visit to the site. Thanks to my life partner for discovering this nonprofit site. I have highlighted African American Literature Club before, but they have new features, such as the online book club, so it's worth taking a look again. Information about my next book Consider it like a box of chocolates, a plate of oysters, or a basket of strawberries: take what you want and leave the rest. Feel free to pass it on. This is safe to spread around. Please scroll down below Pauli Murray's picture--which jumped from further up the page where it belongs, but it does make the STAY AT HOME RESOURCE KIT easier to find. If you click on the links for the missing pictures you'll leave the website. You will need to click on the link below to come back. Here's the link to my website: https://idabellpublishing.com/thoughts-updates/ Fellow writers, I hope this has been helpful.

@Troy "... spend most of my time adding content to the site." FACTS. This is a special topic! To be clear, I'm not anti-social media, rather, pro-time management. Feeding into your website, craft and community will grow your audience for the long haul. Then, it's imperative that you're ready for the evolution and attention garnered. When you envisioned the perfect audience, what did h/s/they look like and where did they shop, dine and play? Are they into giveaways or more inclined to utilize your work for scholarly reference? Once the assessment of your target reader is complete, use that data to set-up mental real estate in their minds; this is the fun part! Are they coffee drinkers who read and sip? *Pre-pandemic approach* - $5 gift cards with a nice note from an author (sending them to your platform) would brighten the day of most. Be ready for the views! - Time Commitment = 45 mins - Budget = $25 - Subject = 5 customers --> informal author meet & greet (WOM, brand recognition) - Goal = Brand introduction to your market. Your neighbors now have an "Author" in their midst... groovy AND lends credibility. - Assess = Review platform analytics to gauge success... Set-up an email capture and constantly quality improve your process. Are they the group of ladies who sip and chat? *Bonus pandemic strategy - Zero F2F interaction* - Gift a copy of your work to a professional book club for the sophisticated ladies. - Time Commitment = 30 mins - Budget = $0 --> always have a few promos on hand. Otherwise $7 postage/handling. - Subject = 1 base --> WOM w/i the (target) community of people who ENJOY leisurely reading - Goal = Brand introduction to your market while building loyalty - Assess = Review platform analytics to gauge success. Always follow up with a handwritten note... they will remember you, and most people appreciate kindness. I could go on... However, "Guest Who?!" isn't going to write itself. Social media, in my humble opinion, is more or less, a branch on your growth tree. Focus on watering, nurturing and strengthening the roots. Then, branch out. Pun! Stay safe.

Young. John. Lewis. Wanted. To. Be. A. Preacher. He. Was. Put In -Charge Of. The. Family. Chickens. He. Thought. Chickens. Made. A -Good. Congregation. . He. Begin. Preaching. To. The. Chickens....He-Did A. Lot. . .Book. By. Jabari Asim ..