Customer Reviews

Class Act: Sell More Books Through School and Library Author Appearances

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Award winning author, Barbara Techel, presents a comprehensive plan for selling more books through school and library author appearances, gaining recognition as an expert speaker, and booking personal appearances in her book "Class Act."

Techel draws on lessons learned from her experiences while promoting her "Frankie the Walk `N Roll Dog" book series. She uses these lessons to lead the reader step by step in a process of preparing presentations with helpful checklists, pointers for developing an event organizer, tips for fulfilling book orders, and ways for incorporating modern technology to enhance and generate speaking and promoting appearances.

"Class Act" is jam packed with valuable tips, eye-catching illustrations, public relations samples, testimonials, and helpful forms. A complete index provides a ready reference for future use of the book as a resource guide. I found the interviews and suggestions from other successful writers and authors added another dimension to Barbara's own content and credibility. The format of the book is attractive, reader friendly, and inviting. Techel's writing is well organized, relevant, and timely.

I plan to add "Class Act" to my reference shelf of Writing Resource guides. I want to have it handy as a reference and also plan to recommend it to the members of our local Writer's Critique Group.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from author. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines.

After attending a SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) workshop on how to make a living from children's books, I realized that selling books only counts for a small part of the typical children's book writer or illustrator's income. The real money to be made is by teaching classes and conducting author visits.

I've read many books on writing, publishing, and marketing. This is the only book I've found specifically on the topic of author visits.

There's a lot of information here, and most of it is good. There are, however, three reasons why I had to lower my opinion of this book from "love it" to just "like it."

First, the book is only 112 pages, including the seven pages before the introduction and the three pages in the middle that are completely blank just so chapters can start on the right. Get rid of those, and the book is a little over 100 pages. Get rid of the repetition and the story and pictures of her dog, and the book probably has about 70 useful pages. But those are 70 pretty good pages with helpful information, and they're worth the price of the book (even if you do go from feeling warm fuzzies about her dog to "will she please stop talking about that dog??" by page 50).

Second, she talks about digital slide presentations as if everyone knows what those are and how to set one up. I honestly do not. I'm guessing it involves some sort of projector and laptop hookup, but do the schools provide those? Does the author need to buy them and bring them along? If so, what kind should the author get? How do you pick one? How do you connect it or does it work remotely? Fortunately, I know how to set up a PowerPoint presentation, and I have a Skype account, but there's a lot of places in the book where the reader could be completely lost. If I were the writer, I would leave out all the repetition--particularly regarding the dog--and replace it with a lot of information about digital slide presentations, PowerPoint, and Skype, keeping in mind that some readers might be completely new to this or that. I would also include a list of things writers will need to be able to handle these visits. She uses two computers for Skype visits, but is that really necessary? If so, that should be on the list.

Third--and this is the part I found troublesome--she recommends that writers write their own reviews.

I'll give you a minute to pick your jaw off the floor.

She quotes author Mary Shafer's suggestions about what writers should do when asking for testimonials. Say, "'Tell you what: How about I write a few bullet points or even a full testimonial for you?' . . . One wonderful byproduct of this arrangement is that you pretty much get to write your own glowing review."

I don't think it's ethical to write your own reviews for your books, and I would never suggest that another writer do that.

I was on the fence about whether to give this book three or four stars, but Amazon considers three stars an "It's OK," and I honestly do like this book. It gave me enough information to be worth the price. If you're a children's book writer or illustrator and you're interested in supplementing your income with author visits, this book is a good place to start.

I hope the author will put out a more informative revised edition that explains things like digital slide presentations, PowerPoint, Skpe, and what a writer should buy soon.

Barbara Techel (and her Walk 'N Roll Dog, Frankie) have presented in hundreds of schools, libraries and other audiences, both live and virtually via Skype, and she has sold thousands of books as a result. In this comprehensive reference, she documents how she does it. She provides guidance and an exhaustive list of references for every step in the process. She also includes insights from over a dozen other successful authors who have had success selling lots of books and presenting to these audiences. As an author who is just starting to pursue this audience, Class Act is a priceless guide for me. Absolutely a 5-star read!

--Gregg Young, author of Reasoning Backward: How Sherlock Holmes Can Make You a Better Problem Solver

Barbara Techel has brought together all the basics in her book "Class Act" for marketing and selling books to schools and libraries. This is practical information, especially making use of low budget to no cost promotional items and events. She provides samples of letters and forms which can be adapted to any genre for marketing purposes. She also has a host of references for further information on specific topics, such as how best to use the electronic highway to promote yourself and your book. This book is an informative and helpful resource for all writers.

I read this book and found it very informative and helpful. It's nice to learn from someone who has experience and get some great tips that I might not have thought about. I am a first time author and I plan to read this book again!

Sandra Lawson, Children's Author: The Best Baker in the World! Tate Publishing

Wow all kinds of great suggestions. Can't wait to check them all out tomorrow. Thank you for an easy straight forward read.

If you're an author considering school or library visits as part of your marketing strategy, this book has a ton of useful information. You don't need to start by yourself from scratch and there's no need to "reinvent the wheel" as they say. Author Barbara Techel has "been there and done that" and is happy to teach you what she knows. Her easy to read style makes the process totally manageable for just about anyone willing to give this strategy a try. Whether you're brand new to speaking to schools/libraries, or you'd like to see how to improve your current game plan, Class Act has you covered.

Class Act neatly lays out a plan for those who make appearances, or wish to, at schools and libraries. It is a comprehensive guide with very good tips for the beginner and the seasoned pro alike. Included are valuable checklists and sound advice on topics including the often touchy question of how much to charge for an appearance. This is a must have book for any author who hopes to promote their book through personal appearances. It will save hours of heartache.

Millions of books appear in print each year. Many authors are unsure how to generate sales for their books. Barbara Techel can show you the path to sales and success through school and library appearances. CLASS ACT emphasizes schools and library settings but also is ideal for any author who wants to speak since she mentions civic groups like Lions Club and Kiwanis.

As Techel writes in the introduction, "In this book, I share everything I wish I'd known when I started out promoting my new books...One of the best ways for you to promote yourself and your book is to get out there and do it. That may sound funny, but it's easy to think your way into an endless cycle of not knowing where to start, and so being afraid to get going. When it comes to book promotion, especially to libraries and classrooms, action is your friend. You've already taken a great first step by buying this book. Read it through, and then begin talking with teachers you know, or friends of teachers. Let them know what you're up to, and what you have to offer. Also with the Internet and other technology we have at our fingertips these days, we have so many options available to help us connect with these potential presentation venues." (Page 7-8)

Key details are covered in this book such as how to put together your presentation, how to locate speaking venues, what to charge, how to pitch and promote. Then Techel includes successful organization and business steps when going to the venue. She also covers details about how to do remote computer presentations using Skype.

As a book author and publisher, I found this book a comprehensive how-to guide book which covers the details. If you are an author of any type of book (nonfiction or fiction children or adult), I encourage you get this book and follow the advice. As they say, "The devil is in the details." CLASS ACT includes the details that you need to successfully sell more books with personal appearances in the classroom or libraries.

Barbara Techel has a unique assistant in a Daschund whose mobility, impaired by paralysis of the hind legs, is helped by a custom made carriage. Frankie, the 'walk'nroll dog,' accompanies Barabara to her venues, and so she can teach children. not only about writing, and her books,but how to have compassion for disability, and Frankie is the patient recipient of hugs and caresses. As a children's author, I have,over the years, done numerous workshops in school, libraries, and other venues, so can endorse most of the lessons in 'Class Act,' The book has been well planned, and the reader is taken from basics, such as how to source prospective venues, to planning, what to charge,and how to plan and market flyers and postcards. New for me is the use of Skype for video meetings, obviously very successful for Barbara. The book is, itself, a good read, and I can recommend it. Do not forget to raise your glass and toast Frankie, a gutsy little dog.