UPCOMING EVENTS
February 9th, 2012 (Thurs) 7:00pm
The Pequannock Township Public Library
477 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
Page Turners
Featuring: JOHN GRANT; (moderator); Peggy Ehrhart, Mickey Flagg; Gary Frank and Keith Smith
February 18th, 2012 (Sat) 2:00pm
Middletown Public Library
55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown, NJ 07748
From Thoughts to Print: Getting Published in the 21st Century http://bit.ly/xxFqqL
Featuring: JON GIBBS; (moderator); Alice 'J.B. DiNizo; Walt Ecklof; Helen Henderson; Jim J. J. Lair and E. F. Watkins
MARCH 31st, 2012 (Sat) 2:00pm
Old Bridge Public Library
1 Old Bridge Plaza, Municipal Center, Old Bridge, NJ 08857
From Thoughts to Print: Getting Published in the 21st Century
Featuring: JON GIBBS; (moderator); Lee Barwood; Alice 'J.B.' DiNizo; Helen Henderson; Hildy Silverman and E.F. Watkins
APRIL 14th, 2012 (Sat) 2:00pm
Camden Public Library (Vogelson branch)
203 Laurel Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043
'I Finished My First Draft, Now What?' http://bit.ly/x0z8QD
Featuring: JON GIBBS; (moderator); Kristin Battestella; Alice DiNizo and Jennifer R. Hubbard
APRIL 16th, 2012 (Mon) 7:00pm
Cherry Hill Public Library
1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Writing for Younger Readers
Featuring: JON GIBBS; (moderator); Shannon Delany; Kelly R. Fineman; Gregory Frost and Jennifer R. Hubbard
APRIL 28th, 2012 (Sat) 7:00pm
Edison Public Library
340 Plainfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08817
From Thoughts to Print: Getting Published in the 21st Century
Featuring: JON GIBBS; (moderator); Mickey Flagg; Donna Galanti; Jim 'JJ' Lair; Marykate Quinn and Dan Wilensky
MAY 8th, 2012 (Tues) 7:00pm
Woodbridge Public Library
1 George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
From Thoughts to Print: Getting Published in the 21st Century
Featuring: JON GIBBS; (moderator); Helen Henderson; Christine Marciniak and Dan Wilensky
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOST AN NJAN EVENT?
If you'd like to host a New Jersey Authors' Network event, or you'd be interested in having one of our members come along to talk to your organization, please contact: admin@njauthorsnetwork.com.
The New Jersey Authors' Network (NJAN) is a free to join/free to use network of writers and authors from New Jersey and adjoining states (including those who are self-published, or whose work is part of an anthology).
Its main purpose is to provide a place (via the network's Yahoo! group), through which local writers can team up to take part in multi-author panel/Q&As and book signings.
ARE THERE ENOUGH AUTHORS IN THE GARDEN
STATE FOR THIS TO WORK?
Hundreds of thousands of books get published in the USA every year.
Obviously, the vast majority of these were written by people who live outside New Jersey, but it’s a safe bet that enough authors live in or near enough to the Garden State to make this network a success.
WHY SHOULD I JOIN?
Whether traditionally published or self-published, authors who are less well-known (ie: most of us) have trouble arranging book signings.
I believe one answer is to organize multi-author events which offer something more than just a book signing, with up to six authors taking part.
From a book store or library's point of view, there's not much additional work involved. On the benefit side, they'll likely generate more interest for the event and (in the case of bookstores) sell more books - it's a numbers game after all.
At present, we do most of our events at New Jersey libraries. With a little planning, a professional approach and enough people doing their bit, we could make multi-author panel/Q&As a regular event at libraries and book stores throughout New Jersey. That's got to be good for everybody.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Nothing. The network is a free to join, free to use service. There's no membership fee, and no charge for taking part in any event. That said, there are no guarantees either. It's up to you to promote each event as best you can. If you don't promote the events you participate in, invitations to take part will soon dry up (see 'guide for participants' and faq).
SO WHAT'S MY NEXT STEP?
Take a look around the site. The 'guide for participants' page tells you all you need to know about taking part in a signing. If
you want to organize an event yourself, use the 'guide for coordinators'.
When you're ready to join the network, follow the link below to join our Yahoo Group.
ADD YOUR INFORMATION FOR PROMOTIONAL USE
Once you join the Yahoo group, add your information to the member database (you'll find it on the left-hand menu), then go to the Files section. Once there, open the folder called 'Pics and 100-word bios for NJAN events.' Once inside that folder, create a new one in your name (if you write under a psuedonym, use that one. Then add the following:
One clearly named* JPG version of your author photo
One clearly-named* JPG version of the book you'd most like to promote
One clearly-named* PDF file containing a 100-word bio
* PLEASE NOTE: A 'clearly-named file' is one which the person putting together promotional information can tell what the contents are and to whom they refer without having to open it.
Feel free to add your other links (in the relevant folders please).
Whoever's organizing an event collates information about participating authors from the Pics & Bios folder. It gets sent to the book store or library hosting the event for use in leaflets and online promotion. Creating these files in this way saves you having to send out your information every time you want to take part in an event (and saves the coordinator having to request it every time he/she organizes one).
When someone wants to organize a signing, they may contact you directly or post a general group message with the relevant details.
DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE
TO ARRANGE THINGS.
Like any other good idea, this will only work if you do. Promote this group on your blog. Invite other NJ authors to join. If you have an agent, ask them to promote it too. If you want to sell your book, you have to put yourself out there.
Hopefully this can help.
Good luck,
Jon Gibbs
