Attending a Major Convention: Marketing Children's Books

Heading to Philly

The American Library Association conference starts on Friday and runs through Monday in Philadelphia.

I am as ready as I can be: books, new business cards, flyers, schedules, lodging, restaurant recommendations, umbrella, and Tylenol. They are expecting rain on Saturday. And after standing and walking for miles while looking at books, I’ll need that Tylenol.

Keeping Expectations Real

When I go to teach a writing retreat in some fabulous location, I remind myself that I’m not there to sightsee. I’m there to simply meet some amazing writers. Otherwise, my expectations set me up for failure.

It’s the same for a conference like the ALA. I’m going to meet some great writers at the Library Insights Summit on June 27, 2025 (That is this Friday!). It’s sponsored by the Foreword Reviews magazine and IPBA, so I’m hoping to meet folks from those organizations and make a couple new friends. I hope people will listen to my opinions on issues related to indie publishing and marketing of children’s books.

Then, on Sunday, I’ll volunteer at the IPBA booth and sign copies of my forthcoming book, NOT EXTINCT.

I sent ARC (advance reader copies) to appropriate committee members and invited them to come by the booth. I’m a dark horse for the awards (appropriate term for NOT EXTINCT, don’t you think?) , but you just try these things.

To manage my expectations, though, I’ll be happy if I meet some enthusiastic librarians. At a huge, national conference, you can only meet a couple dozen people. You just hope they are the RIGHT people.

So, I don’t expect the conference to make a huge difference in how well this book does; but I hope it does.

Hope will always win the day.

Details, details, details

To be absolutely sure I know what I’m doing, I typed out my schedule. It includes times, contact people, and locations. For example, one letter I received about the Library Insights Summit said, “Enter the lobby at Arch and 12th Streets and follow the signage for Room 108.” That level of specificity is helpful! The convention center is huge, but now I won’t be lost.

Look for a report next week.

KICKSTARTER

Meanwhile, I’m getting very excited about the forthcoming Kickstarter for PUBLISH: Find Surprising Success Self-Publishing Your Children’s Book. Coming on September 15, 2025, if you back this Kickstarter it will ensure that you receive the book in November, instead of waiting for January, 2026. Click the image and sign up to be notified when the Kickstarter goes live.

A NOTE ABOUT WHY I’M DOING A KICKSTARTER

Kickstarter is a crowd-funding platform, but it’s not a charity like GoFundMe. Instead, Kickstarter requires an actual product that the backers will receive in return for funding the project. It’s a unique kind of marketplace that happens in the early phase of a project. The products need to be new, never seen before!

That means, you get a book! You can choose ebook or paperback.

And you get it early! PUBLISH comes out on January 6, 2025, but the exclusive Kickstarter edition will be shipped in early November. It includes exclusive timeline checklists to help you plan and execute your launch.

FAQ

1. Does Kickstarter take away your Amazon customers? Or customers from other platforms?

   No! The Kickstarter supporter is usually someone who is looking for new, special, or exciting new projects. They aren’t as price conscious as retail customers because they expect extras in the project. It’s a great way to pick up new customers who wouldn’t find you any other way.

2. Can I just wait and get the book in January?

   Sure. But the Kickstarter edition will include extra checklists. And you’ll have a couple months head start on your competition. Beyond that, your support for my work is greatly appreciated. That sounds cliched, but nevertheless, it’s true. Supporting my Kickstarter means I recover costs early and get a jumpstart on reaching people who need the book. In the end—I just want the book to find the right audience. Kickstarter helps me do that.

   Do you have questions about Kickstarter projects? Ask away.