Indie Author Day

Welcome to the Author Audience show, the podcast that helps you reach more people with your message, create a book, connect with your audience, change lives. Here's your host, Shelly Hitz.

Welcome to Author Audience, where I'm on a mission to help you reach more people with your message. It's time to let your light shine. Today I'm rolling out the red carpet and inviting you to join me for this expert interview with Ally McKinney. Hey, Allie. Welcome.

Hi. Thanks so much for having me.

You are welcome. I'm Shelly Hitz and I'm the owner of Author Audience Academy. And I'm a true believer that success leaves clues. So that's why I love doing these interviews and introducing my audience to authors and experts that have amazing success and are willing to share their tips and strategies. So Allie McKinney manages programs that support author library relationships throughout throughout the United States and abroad. And I really wanted to have her on the show because I know so many of you have not really dove into this whole area of libraries. And so we're going to be talking about several different things today, but she works a lot in that area and she works for Biblio Labs, where she coordinates opportunities for libraries to make an impact on the indie writing community, like Indie Author Day, which we're going to be talking about, and self e. So welcome, Allie. I'm so happy to have you.

Yeah, it's great to be here. I'm really happy to be able to offer any advice that I can for your author base.

Yes. And I am really excited to dive in more to Indie Author Day and how your company, BiblioLabs is supporting that and what it is and how authors can get on board, but also talk a little bit about libraries. So. So let's just dive right in.

What exactly is Indie Author Day?

That's a great question. So Indie Author Day is an opportunity for libraries to support their local writing communities and to feature independently published authors, whether they be self published, published by an indie press, or hybrid authors. You know, it's often difficult for indie authors to get out there and get featured within the library system. So this is just helping libraries to do that in an easy and compact way and for authors to make that crucial connection within the library system as well.

I love that. And, you know, it is. There's so much noise out there, there's so much competition. But local communities is a great place to start when you're wanting to promote your book. What is the exact date of Indie Author Day?

The date is October 8, 2016. So it's right around the corner.

Okay, awesome. And what are some tips or what are some things that authors can do to take advantage of this date, which is October 8th? You guys write that down. Get out your calendar. October 8th looks like it's a Saturday. What can they do to take advantage of this to promote their books?

Yeah, that's a great question as well. So the first thing is just to check out the website, which is IndieAuthorday.com and see what other people are doing. On the homepage, we have examples of what people have done in the past. And authors can also click onto the where page to find out which libraries are hosting events. So that's pretty crucial to find out what is my closest library that is hosting an event? And then just reaching out to your local library and finding out, seeing if they. Some libraries might have an event up on their website. Some are still in the planning stages. So if your library is still planning, you know, being able to see if you can sign books and get involved in that way, or just attending, because there's going to be people from all across the industry available at your library to talk to and learn from and learn from one another. So it's a really good way to meet crucial influencers, to really make a connection with your local library. Librarians are, you know, they're the people recommending books. And local is very important to librarians, so meeting you is important to them as well. So really just getting out there. And we also have a forum on our website where authors can reach out to us and let us know if they want to get involved, if their library is not hosting an event or if they just want to be in touch with the librarian as well.

Yeah, that's awesome. I'm going to. After I get off this call, I'm going to look up and see what my library is doing.

I would love to have you getting out there and speaking.

Yeah. Now, if their library isn't involved, do you think reaching out to their library and letting them know about this, or do you think all libraries already know about it? And if they're going to be involved? They're already involved. But do you think there would be any benefit to talking to a library if they don't have something already planned?

Definitely. So the deadline's coming up. It's September 1st for libraries to sign on. So if they reach out through the website, we will actually help them out with getting in touch with their library.

Okay, cool.

Yeah, we have a template email that makes it really easy just so that they can get started and it tells what Indie Author Day is so they don't have to find that language. And then we also give them a contact who would be most likely to be organizing an event if that particular library was to do one.

I love that. That's great. Now, is this something that will be ongoing every year?

Yes, it will. So we're right now working on nailing down a date for next year and should have that up in the next couple of weeks. And then beyond that too. We're planning on keeping this going throughout the next year. So just offering library and author resources and helping them to connect as much as we can in the time between this year's and next year's Indie Author Day.

Yeah, I love this. It's such a great idea and I'm so glad you guys are taking the initiative and offering this for authors. But what are some of the types of activities that the libraries who are participating in Indie Author Day? What are some of the types of things that they will offer authors during Indie Author Day?

Well, each library is different and their events are geared towards their specific community. But some libraries will be hosting workshops throughout the day to really help work on all the different skills that their authors need. Some will be doing book signings and readings and will be more patron based. Some will be doing presentations or panels. Some libraries in particular, they have local authors who are independently published and then some that are traditionally published and they're going to be doing panels that kind of will talk about their publishing routes and why they went the way that they went to just help educate other authors who might be interested. And you know, some are doing mixes of all those different things. But at 2pm Eastern, everybody will be joining together for a digital panel presentation. So it kind of has a global effect as well as local.

Oh, cool. Like where, where will that be streamed from? Or will that be online? Then the digital panel gathering?

Yes, it'll be available on YouTube so that even if you don't have a library anywhere near the vicinity, you can still pop in and see the panel and learn from everybody on it.

Cool. Where do you access that?

So we are setting up the URL now and we'll be posting it on our website within the week. So it'll have information just on what the YouTube page is looking like. And we plan on keeping things up to date on there as well throughout the next year.

Awesome. So they can find everything@the indyathorday.com website? Yes. Okay, cool. Now you know this. It's just a really fun thing. I've been an independent author since 2008 and I just love that, you know, there's some, some connections now happening between libraries and independently published authors. But who do you think is more excited about Indie Author Day? Authors or librarian? Like libraries?

That's hard to say. It's really great for libraries because it's often difficult for them to find these indie authors and meet the authors in their community. So it's a well packaged event. We're helping them to find who's nearby and interested in the event and helping them to put on the event, sending posters and that sort of thing. So they're very excited. But authors, especially indie authors, are feeling like they finally are getting the recognition that they need. And that's super exciting for everybody.

Yes, I love it. I really do. Now you guys, you also work with what's called Self E. Talk to me a little bit more about that. I've looked into it some, but I haven't fully dove into it myself. And I know I would love for my listeners to learn more about it too.

Definitely. So Selfie is a program that's helping to get your ebooks physically within the library. So authors submit their books and the first level of the program is that we have a local curation of all the books submitted to Selfie that are available statewide. So you would have like Indy New York would be one collection that would be available throughout libraries that are subscribing in New York. But then there's also another level where your book goes over to library journal reviewers and they take a look at it and they pick the very best. And these best books are curated into genre based collections that can be accessed by libraries all over the US and Canada. So it really is a good program and it ties nicely into Indie Author Day since, you know, it helps you to get your book into the library so that any patrons that are coming on Indie Author Day could go and get started reading your book. And we often suggest, you know, putting in your first book in a series or something that you think would hook readers so that they go on to continue reading and purchasing your other books.

So the Self E, or you call it Selfie.

Selfie.

Okay. Those of you listening, it's Self E. So that's why it's like my brain is having this confusion. I don't know why. But anyways, so Self E, you submit your book and it's basically like offering it for a free promotion or it's for free to get more exposure. Is that correct?

Exactly. And within California, we saw for instance, one author submitted the first book in a series and the second book in a series. And we saw that within the. In November, I believe his book was one of the top read books in California, the first one in the series. But then the next month, the second one in the series was one of the most popular. So it shows that he's kind of hooking writers by having it in there and then all of the writers book in a series. We spoke with him and he said that they increased in sales within that time period as well. So it really is just a great way to get exposure and to introduce yourself to people who might not be able to find your books elsewhere.

Oh, yeah, I totally am all about discoverability. And I know a lot of. There's a lot of debates on whether or not you should do free, but I totally believe that when you are not discovered yet putting, you know, a first book in a series, one of your books out there for people to find you, whether it's a free promotion or it's like this within selfie, it is such a great opportunity. And does it cost any money to submit the book to selfie?

No, there's no cost to authors.

Okay, so there's no cost. There's really no risk. Right? I mean, you're getting new readers. Maybe you'll even get new reviews. You never know. But you may actually get loyal fans because some people, once they read your book, they're hooked, like you said, and they want to read your next book and your next book. So that's awesome. I love it. Now explain to me a little bit about how BiblioLabs is involved in Indie Author Day and selfie and all of that.

So BiblioLabs is one of the partners with selfie. So it's bibliolabs and Library Journal.

Okay.

So we kind of offer the technological structural background for it. While Library Journal reviews the books in selfie. And Indie Author Day came about through selfie, actually. So we were already doing these events for the libraries to help them to reach out to their selfie authors and feature them within the library. So from that we were like, what's a way to make this more significant, you know, for the library, more successful, more likely to get more people coming into the library? Well, if we pick one day and all of our customers host these events on that day, it would be much larger than just one small library hosting a local event. So we kind of ran with that, and then we're amazed to see that it took off and it caught the attention of so many libraries beyond our customer base, who just wanted to get into that and meet those authors. So we figured we would open it up to everybody. And then we got great partners coming on board from all across the publishing industry who are interested in helping as well. So it's really just now become something not just a biblio Labs or not just a selfie program, but something that's within the industry and is growing. You know, every single time we turn and see another library sign on, we get excited.

Yeah, it is. It's very exciting. Now, if an author is listening right now and they have an opportunity to, you know, they have some independently published books, their library is participating in Indie Author Day, would that be something where they would be able to do a book signing? Is that what I heard you say? Or how would that work as far as, like, if they want to do a book signing or wanted to have their books there?

Yeah. So there are a lot of libraries that are hosting book signings. There are a few that might have restrictions. You can't sell books in the library, that sort of thing. But it seems that the majority who are hosting events are also having signings of some sort going on as well on the event. So I think the best thing to do is just, you know, if your library is participating, reach out, let them know that you're interested in getting involved and that you have. You would be willing to do a signing or if, I mean, there's some people too who are super new and just want to enjoy the experience and maybe they want to pass out flyers or something smaller. But in any way that you are able and interested in getting involved, you should definitely let your library know and they'd be excited to have you.

Yeah. So awesome. So our time is winding down. Do you have any other, like, tips for indie authors on working with libraries or getting their books in libraries?

I think the biggest thing is just letting librarians know that you have your book. Selfie is a great program. Just because if your book is really high quality and Library Journal marks it with their stamp of approval, that's a big thing too. You can talk to libraries about and say, oh, well, Library Journal said it's a great book. So instead of just coming in unknown, unvetted.

They can already feel comfortable that you have a high quality book. So that's one thing. But in general, just making those crucial connections, starting local and working your way up and not forgetting about the library. You know, if you do books in bookstores, why can't you go to Libraries across the US or anywhere that you go.

Yes. We live in Colorado Springs and we have an extremely amazing library system. Like, I was just there last night for a training. Like they have an entire video studio, an audio studio that we can use. Like, I'm going to record my next audiobook there. It is amazing the things they have. But I was just thinking, oh my goodness, like, I need to be doing more in my library.

Definitely.

And they have so many things. I mean, smaller towns, it's, you know, granted there's different library systems around, but I just love that you guys are doing this and I just would love to see more authors get involved. And you know, authors are usually book lovers, so it kind of goes hand in hand. Now. I love to end my sessions with a take action tip. So. So there were several things that we talked about. What would be the specific actions that you would recommend an author take after they get, after they finish listening to this interview?

The biggest thing would be to go to indyathoday.com and see where in your area a library is hosting an event. And then just from there, seeing how you can get involved, reaching out to your librarian or filling out the form on our website and, and seeing what they need. You know, that's the biggest thing, is just finding out how your, what you have and your knowledge and your experience, how that fits with their event.

Great. I love this so much. Thank you so much for being here, Ali. I really appreciate it. And by the way, my niece's name is Ali, so that's near and dear to my heart.

Thank you. Thank you so much for being here. What is the best way for people just to connect with you? Like, is it through Indie Author Day or do you have another website that you'd like to share?

Indyathurday.com is a great way also if they want to go to selfie.libraryjournal.com that's self e.libraryjournal.com that's another great way to reach out if you're more interested in that side of the program. But authors can also email me@infoindiauthorday.com if they want to learn more as well.

Awesome. Thank you so much, Ali. And thank you to all the listeners for joining us for this episode. I hope it got you excited. I hope it got you. Just looking forward to how you can join in with your libraries, be featured that indie authors are not forgotten. And thank you again, Emily for sharing this with us. And we'll see you next time. Bye bye.

Thanks for listening. To this episode of the Author Audience Show. Connect with us online@authoraudience.com where you'll find all the resources mentioned in today's episode. While you're there, grab Shelley's free video training on how to write and publish your book using her Six Step Ascent method. Join us again next week to learn how to reach your audience with your message.