Relationships: All About Friends

They say social media is all about relationships and I agree. This week my guest was Frankie Sherman and as I predicted we had a blast! I met Frankie's publicist via social media. When the firm sent me Frankie's bio the information contained her accomplishments (such as writing the book, "Why we need Girlfriends") but it also contained the details that she was from the south, and loved sweet ice tea. I in turn was born in New York, now live in the south, and love unsweetened ice tea! 

While opposite in many ways, we are kindred spirits. She inspired me with her love for the Lord, her hard work and the attention to details. She was a choreographer for the Georgia Peach Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl Halftime Show. Now her stage is packed audiences waiting to hear her message that is laced with humor and truth. Just as she choreographed the half-time shows, she now works on her presentations. You can see a clip of her video on youtube from her website: www.frankiedsherman.com

Frankie has written a book that is a Bible study. This study is unique in that it focuses on the perspective of two Biblical girl-friends, Mary the mother of Christ and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist. Through this study you will learn that we all need someone to lean on, an ear to listen and most of all the strength that comes from the Lord to face all that we will in this life.

In receiving a copy of this book I was immediately engaged and hope to soon purchase a copy to give one of my friends in the hope that we can complete this study together. What a wonderful blessing to take a friendship, a relationship to the next-level. Closer to each other and to Christ!

In typical Frankie Sherman style here is her list of more reasons we need girlfriends...

Only our girlfriends understand-

Why we cry at weddings

Why we need 5 pairs of black shoes

Why a pack of M&M’s and a Diet coke is a balanced diet

Why hair spray is the 8th wonder of the world

And only girlfriends understand…other women.


Frankie also added these sober statistics...

1 in three marriages end in divorce

1-in four had been violently abused by a husband boyfriend-the person who told them “I love you.”

10 million diagnosed with clinical depression

1-8 have or will suffer from breast cancer.




We all need friends and sometimes friendship can be found in a book with a caring author. For those of you aspiring to be authors, think about the impact your book can have on another and write from the heart. That will surely inspire, and create a lasting impact in the lives of your readers. What a wonderful legacy you will leave the world. Thank-you Frankie Sherman for leaving your mark for future generations.

Marketing Strategy 10: It's all about YOU

Do you want to know the secret weapon to selling your book?

You.

Not the answer you wanted to hear? It reminds me of a parenting class I took many years ago. I couldn't wait! I was going to hear an expert's advice about how to "train" my children to be the obedient, little angels I always hoped they would become. The first words were, "Parents in order to have obedient children, you need to change yourself and the way you think about discipline."

Not what I wanted to hear!

As an author you too have to change your frame of mind. Your wonderful book isn't going to jump off the shelf into the hands of an eager reader unless you are enthusiastic about the product, topic or consider yourself an important element in the mix. Words have the power to do many things but without the author they are a set of letters with no order or reason.

You are the person who can not only put those words on paper to craft a story or teach about a topic, but to inform others about your work. How do you feel about your topic or story-line? Are you excited? Are you passionate? Do you want to shout from the rooftops (or at the very least send out 100-tweets) that your book is nearing completion? (Please do not do this, it is a joke!)

If you are not passionate about your work then no one else will be, either. If you are passionate, discern the reason. As an author you need to sell, sell, sell. Perhaps you mistakenly thought an author needs to write—write—write! You do, but that is half the job, as any editor or publishing house will tell you. It is a partnership, you and the publisher. Maybe you want to self-publish? If that is so, then it is all up to you.

Today’s reader is savvy and now with ebooks and ebook readers finally coming of age the market is going to explode. So much so that mainstream publishers are jumping on the vanity publisher band-wagon and creating a branch of their publishing arms to print books that authors pay to have created. Authors make money when books are sold and publishers are taking a gamble by investing their money into not only the literary work but the author. If the author has an online presence with a blog following or other social media contacts, this will work in the author’s favor if it is between two similar works.

Writer's often are not the most gregarious bunch. Really good authors spend time researching, studying, and writing their books. That doesn't leave much time for social networking, in person or online. Still, somehow, you need to convey your enthusiasm for your work and let everyone know. One easy and low cost way is through calling cards.

I create cards for the books I author as well as those I publish. This example gives you an idea of how an enthusiastic author can give out her card, leave it with a tip at a restaurant, and let everyone know about an upcoming title. http://www.mediaangels.com/secretcodetime


Regardless of the work you have done in creating your masterpiece, the work is not over until you have eager readers purchasing your products. This can only come about with a well laid out marketing plan. Do you have any insights that have worked in marketing your book? Any promotions like the one above? Please share your ideas with me.