Help! I Can’t Break the Doors Down

I’m back from my four day weekend. I really cannot say it was much of a vacation. I spent most my time dealing with my teething baby or painting my kitchen. Of course, my hubby did most the work in our kitchen since our teething baby never slept unless mommy was holding her.

Our son was luckily enough to escape the craziness of our house over the weekend. He went camping with a bunch of friends at Lake Powell. From what my son tells me . . . they were blasted by a sand monster in the middle of the day and late into the night. However, the boys faired well against the creepy crawlers of the night, the blood sucking flyers, and water creatures. The five year old was not so lucky. She spent most of her time in the back office with her four legged furry brother and sister . . . Taz and Speedbump.

So after the weekend ended, I thought it was time to start promoting my book. I have been pounding on doors left and right, but not one door has opened. I’ve contacted my local school district to update them on my new school visit programs. I sent out media kits on Babysitting SugarPaw to most of our locally owned bookstores. I have even looked into booth spaces for upcoming events, but no one seems interested in having an author share the love of reading and writing. What’s up with that?

I have concluded I must be doing something wrong. I do live in a small town compared to my old home back in Los Angeles. But one would think a small town would be more open when a local is looking to promote and join in community events. However, it does not seem to be that way where I live. I had more success back in Los Angeles with my marketing than I do here in Southern Utah. It seems you need to know someone who knows someone who knows someone who can help you out.

The thing is . . . I need to get moving on marketing my picture book, Babysitting SugarPaw. I want to meet with children, share my love of writing and the World of Ink. I want to get kids excited about reading. I want to help parents who have small children afraid of babysitters. There is so much I want to do, but just can’t seem to get going.

It’s funny how as writers we spend so much time worrying about getting our books published that when it is time to market them we are so unprepared for failure. I have been successful with social marketing and online marketing, but in person marketing seems to be my locked door. I am not going to give up. If it comes down to it . . . I will get out the ax and chop the dang door down!

World of Ink Interview with author Judy Snider and Illustrator Cady B. Driver

Judy Snider , Joan’s sister lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, Gil, and two silly cats. She is the author of the CWA award-winning children’s picture book, Goldy’s Baby Socks , and on a team of authors of The Scared Purse . The Writing Mama Interview with author Judy Snider VS: What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Judy: It is easier now that my kids are in their 20’s and out of the home. I get up very early, and some of the best writing I do is in a sunny place with a glass of water or coffee and my silly cats nearby. When my oldest was a baby, I took a write-away-course, and would write when he took his naps. Some of my best writing was at a table while I waited in those days for them at parties, video arcades, etc. I work out of my home on projects, so working with my sister on our latest book, and the phone usually did Cady Driver, our illustrator. VS: How long have you been writing? Judy: I wrote my...

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