Author needs help!

“Not me, you silly people, my tediously boring life would not interest anyone and I have no discipline or patience..no, I am talking about Joan H. Young, known fondly as "Sharkey". I met her on my recent trip wandering around Michigan's UP..she stopped me as I was leaving the Hilltop restaurant in L'Anse to ask if I backpacked (my car was stuffed with camping equipment) as she had spotted a book by Bill Bryson in the car (about the English Language!) She told me she had just published a book about hiking the NCT...I returned to the restaurant and she, her friend Marie and I spent way too much time talking up a blue storm...they were both great gals (a term used by those of us of a certain age when talking about our contemporaries... )! I bought a copy of her book from the back of Marie's SUV and found it a great read as I camped all over the U.P. It isn't a guidebook but rather a trip report..she writes very well, is funny and Marie took many of the pictures in the book and was with her on many hikes. I didn't expect the book to be as engaging as it was...it's really good!

Now, her problem, which Eric Hansen will understand, is getting people to know about the book...

It's titled North Country Cache: Adventures on a National Scenic Trail. ...she's hiked over 2,000 miles of the NCT and backpacks year round...she's around my age and as thin as I so I find that impressive...

Any ideas helping her publicize her book would be welcome...ideas? anyone?
last edited: 9/11/05 9:48:04 PM”

“I am not sure what the best way to promote a book. Eric is having a slide show in Milwaukee at one f the book stores, this will help him promote his book.

I met Joan at the North Country Trail Associations annual meeting. She was autographing and selling books there - I should have bought one but I did not.

Posting here and other web sites also helps.

Word of mouth also helps. I mentioned to owner of the one hiking store that I go to, that they need to start carrying Eric's book.

Just a small part, a lot of details behind the scenes in promoting a book that I do not know.”

“Did she self-publish? Otherwise I'd think the company would help her out.

I get a weekly newsletter from here (now... to just put my columns together into a book OR write a book)... Anyway, Angela Hoy always has lots of good ideas on marketing for self-publishers.

http://www.writersweekly.com”

“You can buy her book at the NCTA web site: helps her and the organization :)

https://cerulean.site-secure.net/northcountrytrail/shop/boutique.html#books
last edited: 9/11/05 10:22:29 PM”

“or find it here..she's self-published:
http://www.booksleavingfootprints.com/

Lizs, you can read an excerpt at the above link...thanks for the link...I'll get it to her...
last edited: 9/11/05 10:39:38 PM”

“She should try and hook up with the NCTA and also the MUCC. Donate a very small portion of sales to their organizations. They both have magazines that sell books related to hiking in MI and the NCT out of the back.”

“Even if she doesn't want to contribute to the organization perhaps if she shared her book with them they'd review it and publish an article about it or something.”

“Sassafras, The NCTA already sells her book..she's very much involved with them...she is president or past president of the Spirit of the Woods chapter of the NCTA...thanks for the idea anyway...I'm linking her and Eric Hansen up..”

“MHH, surely she must have some idea how to promote a book? It doesn't seem to me you'd end up with a published book and not have any idea how to promote it, I mean, if you've gone to the effort and expense already.”

“I wonder if she's tried to go to REI to do a workshop-- perhaps they would be interested in carrying her book if she can do a workshop for them?

Maybe she can contact some other hiking groups or even the state or national parks in Michigan (well, actually the State parks vs. the National ones.. :-) )

There's also some "Made In Michigan" stores around the state-- that would be a good place for her to market them.”

“I don't know, Lizs, she just asked me for help and I offered to do what I can...I'm sure she has some ideas but realizes others may have better...I wouldn't di it if I didn't enjoy the book so much...

whoops, hi pinkbubelz, I posted on top of your thread...good ideas! thanks..
last edited: 9/12/05 2:35:21 PM”