Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Jenny Sanders for supplying book and author pictures. Other images from Unsplash and Pixabay (forwarded by Jenny Sanders). Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.
It was such a pleasure to welcome back Jenny Sanders to Chandler’s Ford Today last week where we discussed her new devotional book, Polished Arrows. Devotionals are a specialised form of writing and she discussed the joys and challenges she faces here.
This week, Jenny is sharing thoughts on marketing and book launches. There are some great tips here for any writer thinking along these lines which may prove useful to you.
So without further ado, it’s time to talk with Jenny again.
1. What are your launch plans for Polished Arrows? What book launches have you had? What were your favourites? What would you say would be a successful launch and what can writers do to help themselves here? Also for a devotional book, the audience is different than the one for fiction, so how would a launch work for something different?
The launches I’ve done before have had to be online. The great advantage is many people can come without having to worry about geography, parking, traffic etc. While it’s nice to see people face-to-face, in some ways those launches are more work as you have to organise a venue, refreshments etc. On the upside, you do get feedback and responses in a way that doesn’t happen on screen.
For the children’s books, I’ve read extracts to tickle the literary tastebuds and hopefully raise smiles and giggles. I’ve also been able to have my illustrator present to talk about her collaboration. She lives in Cornwall but an online launch was no obstacle.
When we launched Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and Other Stories in November, I was in Cape Town, two hours ahead of GMT. I chose the time to suit the majority of people who were in the UK. I invited some of the children who had read and reviewed the book during October half-term. It was special to hear from them about which story or character they enjoyed most.
When I launched Spiritual Feasting we were in lockdown so it wasn’t possible to do anything apart from online. I asked one of my friends, who is also a vicar who endorsed the book, to MC the evening. It was important to ask someone who knew the content so we could do an interview format that wasn’t stilted. It included videos from two of the six people who shared their stories within the book, so they could speak from the heart.
Different voices helped it flow and we ensured it lasted no longer than one hour. We had people join us from France, Switzerland, South Africa, and Canada, which was wonderful. This time, I’ve asked Steve Petch, who is an old friend who leads a church in Woking and wrote the foreword for me, to MC an online launch. Once again, I’ll be able to have people join us from all over the country and beyond. I’ll pick sections to read to give a flavour of the book and work with Steve on questions so I’m not taken completely by surprise on the night!
I always ask people to bring their own refreshments and have had my own celebratory bubbles a couple of times. Not quite the same as sharing cake together but less clearing up!
2. All writers, regardless of what they write, must find ways to reach potential readers. Could you share three top tips here?
It helps I am also a speaker at events, meetings, breakfasts etc. This means there’s a natural outlet for selling my non-fiction books. My husband speaks and preaches in various places and is a great champion for advertising my books too.
As far as my children’s books are concerned, I take bookings from primary schools for the 7-11 year age group (Key Stage 2) for author visits. I’ve developed creative writing lessons from each of the six stories in the collections – twelve in all – so I can (theoretically) return to schools without repeating a session. I always ask to sell books in the playground after school. That’s a great way to follow through having connected with the children in the classroom.
3. Devotionals have a specific market. Does that make marketing easier or more difficult? Please share three tips you’ve found useful for marketing.
The specificity of the non-fiction market is easier in some ways because it’s focused. On the other hand most people have someone in their lives for whom the children’s books are a great fit: children, grand-children, nephews, nieces, and godchildren, or even children in their church community or friendship circle who would enjoy escapist, nonsense stories. I think all children need that more given they are in a culture where social media makes them increasingly aware of some of the darker aspects of modern life.
I’m no great shakes at marketing but have connected with people and sold at fairs and through library events. Local libraries are often keen for ways to bring more people through their doors. In December I collaborated with one in Surrey while communicating the event to two primary schools within walking distance of the venue. That worked well.
4. Do devotionals have a specific word count requirement? Flash fiction has a maximum of 1000 words but you can write to any word count up to that point. Do devotionals work in a similar way? What do you like in the devotionals you use?
I haven’t found that, but it depends on your format. The series of four devotionals I first wrote were written to provide one reading per day. They consisted of a secular quote as well as a biblical one relevant to the day’s topic, followed by an exploration of that topic and concluding with a challenge, reflection, or prayer. I wanted it all to fit on an A4 page. That way it wasn’t overwhelming for a reader, and it looks appealing on a page. I always planned to print them in A4 format.
Although there is a devotional element in Spiritual Feasting and Polished Arrows, they are written in chapters. Feasting has an index like a menu, moving from the Aperitif (Introduction) through the Appetisers (three chapters), Main Courses (ten chapters), Desserts (two chapters) and finally the Coffee & Petits Fours (the conclusion).
Polished Arrows follows the pattern and process of making a medieval arrow by the arrow maker, blacksmith, and fletcher. Each of the twelve chapters is followed by ‘Target Questions’ for personal or group study and a ‘bonus’ short chapter which is a biblical example to illustrate the application of what is explored in the main chapter. It comes in at about 85,000 words excluding endorsements, so it’s a meaty read. Spiritual Feasting is a similar length.
5. The Association of Christian Writers seeks to equip, encourage, and inspire Christian writers, whether they write specifically Christian material, or are Christians working in the secular market, or do a combination. What would you say were the advantages of having the support of ACW? What would you say were the benefits of being involved with writing groups generally?
ACW is a lovely group. I’ve joined it twice. My membership lapsed while I was juggling raising my family and the many demands of leading a church with my husband. Writing had to take a back seat. I’m so glad I rejoined though, especially now we have online communication and community. I’ve met a number of people who would never have crossed my path otherwise, mostly online, but I’ve also been to one of their weekend conferences so I was able to put some faces to names, which was great.
I’m also part of a group of women who have all been published by Instant Apostle and who have been a great mutual encouragement, though we write in different genres. It’s been exciting to see how they’ve pursued their projects and how they’re flourishing.
I’ve often messaged a quick question to someone who I know has experience in an area I don’t because I know it will save time as well as furthering my connection with them. I know I’ve asked you several things, Allison, particularly about flash fiction. I wrote a number of pieces in that genre for Mom’s Favourite Reads when it existed and only found that publication through another ACW member.
Writing groups help you not to feel alone, and writing is by definition a lonely occupation. It’s good to know you’re not the only one who may have hit a wall or who has had a piece accepted somewhere; we can commiserate as well as celebrate together with people who ‘get’ us. That’s life-giving.
Allison: It so is!
6. The dreaded blurb – most authors dislike writing these. How did you find writing the blurb for Polished Arrows as opposed to the ones you’ve produced for your fiction? Did you find this easier or harder to do?
I found this easier for two reasons. Firstly, I had to summarise my content when I pitched my idea to the publisher in a limited word count and, essentially, that hadn’t changed. It served as a good template for the blurb.
Secondly, Instant Apostle have a specific person who oversees this which means it’s always a collaboration. Although that was frustrating when I thought I’d nailed it and discovered I hadn’t (!), it meant there was a sense of team work as we wrestled through it together. The result is much better than if I’d done it alone.
The fictional blurbs had input from the publisher at The Conrad Press to hone them but I used the pattern of the first to create the one for the second collection of stories. They were keen that it be a good reflection of what I wanted to say since it’s the second impression any reader has after the cover. It needs to hit the spot in communicating the content, so it will always be a challenge to do that succinctly.
7. What would you say the purpose of a devotional was? What would you say a good devotional would do for its readers?
I think the goal will always be to help people connect with God in a fresh, life-giving way. We don’t want the writers to become gurus, but we do want to encourage people to discover Jesus for themselves. I’m not a fan of ‘happy thought’ type devotionals. I don’t like the idea of having my ears tickled with fluffy, abstract ideas; I like something meaty.
I feel a responsibility to be truthful and realistic, to encourage, challenge and cheer readers as they run their own spiritual race, as it were. Faith isn’t for the faint-hearted and it’s not an emotional panacea or crutch. Jesus said, ‘In this world you’ll have trouble’ (John 16:33), and that’s our reality. However, he went on to say, ‘But take heart! I have overcome the world.’
In other words, life can be tough, but walking it with Jesus will change your perspective and give you strength, wisdom and grace to navigate it.
I think writers of devotionals have a responsibility to facilitate this.
8. Last but not least, good luck with the launch of Polished Arrows, Jenny. Can you tell us something about what you are working on next? Also, what would you like Polished Arrows to “achieve” for its readership?
I would love it if Polished Arrows helped readers understand God shapes us as we journey in life. Rather than shrink from that, we can embrace it. If we see God as the artisan master craftsman arrow maker and Divine archer then we can engage with the process without fighting it. None of us is as like Jesus as we might want to be, I know I’m not!
We’re all a work in progress and sometimes that’s challenging and uncomfortable. If we’re to have an authentic, robust faith and live in integrity, it’s a process that’s worth while.
What’s next? I have another non-fiction manuscript that needs attention before it’s ready to submit to any publisher, but I have a good idea of what needs doing. So far so good, but it requires a good amount of emotional capacity to return to something and rewrite it so I’m not rushing into that yet. I have some ideas for another children’s collection and writing those stories serves as light relief from the serious stuff.
Ideally I’d love to find an agent who could take some of the weight of marketing from me as it’s not my forte, but that’s still a dream. It would be nice to have someone champion my writing who has more experience and many more connections thanI do.
Conclusion
Many thanks, Jenny, for coming back to Chandler’s Ford Today to share more on what is a specialised area of writing.
Jenny: Thanks so much, Allison. I’ve enjoyed being with you again.
Allison: One thing I love about the writing world is its huge variety. There is everything from fiction to non-fiction, to secular to spiritual, and there is something for all readers out there. What doesn’t change though is the hard work the writers put in before their books see the light of day.
Let’s keep the writing coming. People need books – fiction and non-fiction, secular and spiritual.
JENNY SANDERS – SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website Link: https://jennysanderswriter.co.uk/about/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancingthroughchaos/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennysanderswriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennyhsanders
Amazon Author Central page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Jenny-Sanders/author/B0892XFB2S?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1707809915&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/48527907.Jenny_Sanders
Related Posts:-
Author Interview: Jenny Sanders The Polished Arrows of Non-Fiction Writing – Part 1
Crossing Paths with Jenny Sanders – Flash Fiction, Devotionals, and Short Stories- Part 2
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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