OPEN TO MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS

(OJAI, CA — December 17, 2019) There are so many questions to be answered for an indie author about publishing. Do you have a story you need to write, but have no idea what to do when it’s finished? What about social media or a website? Have you thought to yourself, “do I even really need an online presence?”
 
“Book Marketing 101- the basics you need to sell books,” features speaker Kathleen Kaiser, and is the topic of the next meeting of IWOSC/SPAWN Ventura County on Monday, January 13 at 7pm at the Goebel Center in Thousand Oaks. Ms. Kaiser is an author, book publicist, marketing expert, and president of SPAWN. The monthly meetings are a collaboration between the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC) and the Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network (SPAWN), a national literary nonprofit.
 
Book Marketing 101 delivers a roadmap to follow that begins before a writer has finished their manuscript. Today’s market requires an online presence easily a year or more before the book launches, to build a following and develop potential readers.
 
“Today the world is online,” Kaiser said, “and, as an indie author, most of your sales will come from Amazon and other e-retailers. Start early to master one or two social media platforms. I don’t know one successful self-published author who doesn’t have a strong online presence. Remember, people need to find you. The more your name is online, the more they can find you and your book.”
 
In her talk, Ms. Kaiser will go over:

• Once the book has gone to be edited, what the next steps and opportunities are for authors
• An author website and why it’s the core of everything an author does with marketing
• Social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter – and how to find like-minded people
• As the book nears release, what is required – media kit, reviews, metadata
• And finally, once released, what are the options for extending the life of your sales cycle

This IWOSC/SPAWN meeting will find the answers to so many of these questions. Everyone is welcome to attend. RSVP at www.iwoscspawnvc.com or walk in.
 
The Ventura meetings will be held on the first Monday of every month, starting in February with author Kimberly Davis Basso who will present the Mechanics and Money of Self-Publishing:  From Promotion to Production.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER…

Over the last twelve years, Kathleen Kaiser has been involved with the new, emerging world of indie authors, self-publishing, and digital book marketing, along with being a published author and president of the Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network. Her previous work as a marketing executive gave her a broad understanding of the changing world of book publishing as it went digital.

One thing she found was a lack of understanding by writers that they needed to market their work to sell it, especially if the book’s primary outlet is Amazon. She has been a publicist in multiple industries over the last 40 years including rock and roll, digital technology and conference/tradeshow industries. Kathleen Kaiser & Associates opened 27 years ago and continues today helping out authors and nonprofit arts organizations.

IWOSC and SPAWN are California nonprofits. Learn more about each organization at: www.IWOSC.org  or  www.SPAWN.org