A book signing tip from the authors of Launch Out Into the Deep

by

Aaron L. Slaton and Acacia Beumer

The first edition of Launch Out Into The Deep! was completed around 2006. My sister set up a lot of local book signings in the local metro Atlanta area, with hopes of getting the book noticed and selling a good amount of copies.

I remember the first book signing was at Barnes and Nobles. If I remember correctly, I think we almost sold all of our books that day. We were unknown authors with a self-published book, which makes the odds of any success with a traditional book signing very slim. It’s hard to get anyone to look your way as they walk into the bookstore, let alone sell any books. So what did we do that was so special on our first book signing?

How to Find Humorous Inspiration

by

Betty Collier

An editor for a magazine in which I ran an ad to promote my book, Living Inside The Testimony, asked me to come up with “A HOOK” that she could use as the headline for the ad. She said it needed to be something “catchy” that would peak the curiosity of radio and TV producers.

This is what I came up with:

• I Became an Author Overnight, and I Remember the Exact Night it Happened

• How to Become a Best Selling Author Overnight

• When You Live Inside a Testimony, You Can’t See It

• Why Read a Book Written by Someone Who Never Wanted to Write One?

• Is it Luck or is it all Part of THE MASTER’S Plan?

• Is Your Life Part of a Master Plan?

She considered all these suggestions, but after she read the book for herself, this is the headline she created and used for the ad:

Marrying Your High School Sweetheart is Great: Until Your Kids are in High School

Don’t Miss this Woman’s Fun Advice About Life

Having said all this, my point is simply that the book takes on so many different faces. It was written to be inspirational and encouraging, but it offers much more than that. It’s hard to categorize it only in the inspirational genre because it has so many other facets that are neatly tied together to flow very smoothly. The editor said she was definitely inspired, but felt the main thing I had been missing in my promotions was to stress the humorous side of the book also. She thought it was very funny, but also full of life, love, and faith. It has enough variety to appeal to the general population, whether you share my faith or not. If you read the book, you will see that my journey has been inspired by faith, hope, humor, romance, and a lot of love. As one reader told me, "It's like being on a roller coaster. I didn't know what to expect next. I was laughing on one page and crying on the next...This book is a masterpiece!"

Rev.David Smith on spirituality and druidry

Rev. David Smith is the author of two non-fiction books Honoring the Sacred Earth, A Path to Spiritual Awakening and Under the Expanse of Oaks: one on druidry and the other on spirituality. Both are geared towards beginners on their path towards enlightenment.

As a spiritual person he is a practicing Druid Priest, and member of many Druidic Organisations. He is interested in all forms of religion and spirituality, and hopes to share his knowledge through his books.

I asked Rev. Smith a few questions about his faith, his books and life in general:

Your full title is Rev. David P. Smith - a clergyman for the Christian Church - how can you be a druid? Isn't that witchcraft?
Now that is a good question. Though used mainly by the Christian Faiths the title Reverend is often given to any ordained member of the clergy. I am ordained through the Ancient Order of Druid’s in America http://www.aoda.org/ and their affiliation with the Universal Gnostic Church, as well as the Universal Life Church http://www.ulc.org/ . Druidry can be a religion but to many it is a philosophy so there are most definitely Christian Druids. As for being Witchcraft, Druidry and Witchcraft do have similar roots but are not exactly the same. I am personally currently Pagan in my belief system.

Has druidry moved on since Merlin times?