Best Indie Book Store Creates Best Book Launch with Karen White!

Foxtale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, Georgia was recently named by Atlanta magazine as the Best Indie Bookstore in the Atlanta area.  That's quite an honor because there are lots and lots of amazing bookstores around.  I love Foxtale for many reasons but probably the main thing I like about them is their book launches.

I recently attended a book launch for Karen White's newest book, Return to Tradd Street.  Some of my friends are avid fans of this series about psychic realtor, Melanie Middleton who solves mysteries and sells houses while nurturing her on and off romance with Jack Trenholm.  I had no trouble enticing them to attend the book launch.  My youngest daughter was in town after the holidays and once she heard cupcakes were also involved she was eager to attend as well.  She took a picture of us after we decorated our cupcakes at the cupcake bar...

Karen White arrived with her dog in tow.  She explained to the crowd that he was not only the inspiration for General Lee, the dog in the book, but he is also her constant writing companion. 
  

Karen shared lots of information about her inspiration for her books, her writing process  and her plans for upcoming books. Gracious and personal, attendees felt like one of her inner circle.  One of the women present was such a fan she single handedly created an interest in some of Karen's earlier books which have been out of print. There was an opportunity to buy a raffle ticket and win a basket of her books and other goodies. Another giveaway was the chance to have to have your name used as a character in an upcoming book.  Proceeds from the raffle benefitted the Wounded Warrior program which is near to Karen's heart due to a nephew who was injured in Afghanistan.  The event ended with an opportunity to have a book signed and to spend a moment talking personally with Karen.

Although I bought the newest book, I haven't started it yet because Karen's books are so addictive, I know I won't be able to put it down.  I'm waiting for a few days of free time to relax and relish the story.  You know, one of those lazy evenings in front of a fire and no work to report to the next day....

Foxtale and Karen White are experts at putting together a successful book launch.  I've written about it before but here are some of the key components and how they were incorporated into this book launch.

How to Create a Magical Book Launch

Be Remarkable---Most of the book launches have a theme, decorations and refreshments that coordinate with the theme of the book.  Return to Tradd Street, begins with the main character pregnant, so the cupcake bar featured decorations and icing in pink and blue.  There have been book launches that included coffins and book launches that included costumes.  You just never know what new thing will be featured but you can count on it being unique.

Be generous--Karen's use of a raffle to benefit the Wounded Warrior program was a wonderful way to give to a charity.  Once guests understood the reason for the raffle, there was an outpouring of support.

Develop relationships--Karen was as interested in hearing from her readers as she was in sharing herself.  She took time with each to talk and share.  In addition, she gave away two opportunities through the raffle for readers to get their name used as a character in her book.  This was a truly clever way to engage readers! Writers who stay engaged with their readers through Facebook and other social media continue to nurture those relationships.  Currently, Karen is touring various book stores and she keeps readers up-to-date with regular posts and pictures.

Be grateful-No one likes someone who feels the world owes them something.  I haven't met many writers like this but they are out there.  A successful writer (a successful anything) puts others first and is more interested in giving than getting.

Be real-Readers love to know the ins and outs of writers' lives.  Karen shared that she has many qualities in common with the main character in her Tradd Street books including perhaps alphabetizing her spice shelf and being just a teeny bit structured...

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Do You Know What You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

 

Last night I attended an Aspiring Authors event at Foxtale Book Shoppe, my favorite little bookstore in Woodstock, Georgia.  The place was packed with friends and family of the authors who were there.  I spent the first few minutes chatting with several of the authors, then listening to their three minute talk about their book and why they were inspired to write it.

 

What Inspires Writers to Write

It was interesting to me how many of the authors were writing now as a second career.  For many it was a long time dream but they were either discouraged from writing early on in their life or as one put it, "life got in the way and I had other responsibilities."  I spoke to a Gail Heller, a special ed teacher who retired after 38 years and now has written a mystery with two other children's books in the works.  I listened to Sara McDaniel H. Kemp, a 91 year old woman who has enthralled her children for years with her stories and who has now put her legacy into a book for all to enjoy.  I listened to Sharon Kiser, who was told in kindergarten that she would never amount to anything because she colored her autumn leaves blue instead of brown, yellow or red.  Her novel about a young girl who feels plain and unloved is a reflection of her own experience and she has spent a lifetime as a speaker encouraging others to recognize their true potential .  I was struck over and over again by the unlived and unexpressed dreams of so many people who finally took that first step and then followed the path to the completion.

A Dream Come True

I too have a story of wanting to be a writer but instead following the path of a career in counseling.  Early in my career, I worked as an addiction counselor, a social worker in a nursing home and a rehabilitation counselor on a stroke and head injury unit.  I eventually found myself in the perfect setting to not only be a counselor but also to explore my dream of being a writer.  As an elementary school counselor, I spent much of my day encouraging and listening to children and their stories.  It was a path that was long and winding but once I set the intention of publishing my childeren's stories, I moved steadily in that direction until now, four years later, I've just had the most successful book launch yet of my fourth book, Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Giving.  It's a dream fulfilled and a continuous journey as well. 

Deciding Who You Want to  Be When You Grow Up

 

It's important to determine your mission in life.  Most people spend more time planning a vacation that lasts two weeks than they spend planning their life.  Most people survive the week just to get to relax for two days and then do it all over again.  What if every day you were living your purpose and discovering your mission?  What if you lived in the present tense rather than holding out for the future?  What would that look like? 

 

One of the things that I enjoy doing is helping people discover their mission, set goals and move forward in achieving them.  Creating a mission statement that clearly identifies your purpose is the first step.  Here's why it is important:

• Decision making is easier because it gives you something against which to  measure your activities
• It connects you with what is true about your life and helps you cut away what is false
• It keeps you from getting tangled up in the details of your life and helps you focus
• It keeps you from responding to the urgent rather than the important
• It grounds you in the present rather than the past while planning for the future

Determining a mission statement is an introspective and contemplative journey that takes committment and time but the result is amazing.  It brings clarity and focus to each day.   

 

The Called Woman Conference 2014

March 15th is the third annual Called Woman Conference in Marietta, Georgia.  If you are interested in discovering your mission or taking your goals and dreams to the next level, this is the conference for you!  I'll be speaking on:  Where Do I Go From Here-Finding and Fulfilling the Calling You Were Meant to Live.  You can learn all about the conference and some of the amazing speakers we have here: 
The Called Woman-Reinvention Convention 2014

I hope to see you there. In the meantime, Keep on Dreaming!  Like the authors at Foxtale, it just might be your time to make those dreams come true.

Want to learn more?  Join the Called Woman Creative Team, Sunday, November 10th for a free webinar: 
Taking the Leap:  How to Get Unstuck without Becoming Unglued!  You can sign up here:  Taking the Leap Webinar

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The importance of FINISHING IT!

Saturday night was a typical night at Foxtale Book Shoppe. Wild.  Laugh-out-loud-funny. Entertaining.  Good times. 

 

Oh and by the way, there was a terrific New York Times bestselling author there too.  Edward Kelsey Moore, author of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat watched in astonishment as the three foxy ladies from Foxtale Book Shopphttp://www.foxtalebookshoppe.com/e, portrayed their version of the three main characters in his new novel.  Shaking his head, he later said, "I've been introduced at book events all over the country, in England and Germany too... and I can truthfully say, I've never experienced anything like that!" 

The Author's Unfinished Story

Every author has a story of how they became a writer.  No matter the genre or the style of writing every writer has a story to share. Some overcome great difficulties or tragedies.  Some overcome personal challenges.  Some are inspired by events or needs in the world around them.

Although Moore always liked to write, he pursued his love of music and became a professional cellist. Upon turning forty however, he decided if he was going to write something he better get busy. An ongoing challenge, was his tendency to start stories and never finish.   He decided to enter an annual short story contest but in typical fashion, he began but never got around to finishing and submitting his story.  Later, he showed up for a professional engagement, only to find that he would be playing his cello at the event honoring the winners of the short story contest that he never submitted his work to.  That night became a turning point for this musician/writer who could never finish his story.  The next year, he not only finished his story and submitted his work, but won the contest!!  That event became the springboard for completing his novel, overcoming the multitude of rejections that are inherent in traditional publishing and becoming a New York Times bestselling author.  What a difference finishing can make! 

What is Your Unfinished Story?

What is keeping you from following your passion? Are you like Moore great at starting but never finishing something? Are you struggling to find your direction and passion? Are there obstacles that you can't seem to find your way around? We are all called to a greater purpose and we are all given the gifts we need to fulfill that purpose.  There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that we are moving down the path with intention and perseverance despite the challenges we face. 


Need help finding your purpose and passion?  Join our free Webinar on Learning How to Live a Life of Purpose on Purpose:

http://webinars.acalledwoman.com/purpose-webinar/

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