Meet this years Book Publishing Professionals at the SLPA Service Provider Showcase

 Wed Aug 9 at Richmond Heights Community Center

Meet the Local Publishers

How to Build & Maintain Your Author Platform

Wednesday January 11, 2017

In the digital age, with the number of books being published at an all-time high, it’s more important than ever to efficiently and effectively reach your readers. Even if an author pairs with a larger publishing company, every additional bit of marketing can help. The first step to marketing is building an author platform: a following based on who you are and what you do. It is much deeper than a marketing campaign for a single book.

An author platform can vary wildly between authors, based on their personalities, books, and target audiences. At the monthly SLPA meeting on Wednesday, January 11, we’ll explore what should be included in all author platforms, as well as different options that may work well for you, such as: growing an email list, choosing and managing social media profiles, creating a website, blog, vlog, or podcast, scheduling and attending events, and more.

A smart author platform draws on other important pieces of the writing puzzle — such as your business plan, target audience, and market research — and should be in progress before you start querying authors and agents. It could mean the difference between receiving a publishing contract or a rejection.

Jennifer Geist is the publisher at Pen & Publish, Inc., and its imprints: Brick Mantel Books, Open Books Press, and Transformation Media Books. With experience in editing, book compositing, photography, graphic and web design, marketing, writing, and more, she manages every book from acquisitions to publication and beyond. Geist received her bachelor’s degree in creative writing with a focus in small press publishing through Southeast Missouri State University. She has worked with numerous small presses, and her stories and photos are published in a variety of literary magazines.
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Our regular Monthly Meeting location
(the second Wednesday of every month)

THE HEIGHTS: Richmond Heights Community Center
Argus Room
8001 Dale Ave.
Richmond Heights, MO 63117
Here's a link to Google Maps for location and directions.
Doors open at 6:30 PM for networking. Business meeting begins at 7:00 PM and continues till 8:30 PM or so with networking continuing afterward till about 9.
Monthly Meeting Admission 

• Members – FREE
  
• Non-member Guests – $10 per person, cash or check at the door
  

(Guest fee will be applied to Membership if you decide to join at that meeting)