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If you can find a theme in which to talk to elderly audiences, like senior groups, they are great places to sell childrens books because they buy for their grandchildren. You could do a little talk on what inspired you to write or how a book is put together. They don't pay a lot in terms of a speaking fee, but I always did well selling books at these type of venues, beside school visits.
Barbara Techel
Www.joyfulpaws.com
Posted by: Barbara Techel | November 20, 2012 at 04:32 PM
Barbara, thanks for sharing this great tip!
Authors, you can find more book promotion advice from Barbara on my children's book resource page at http://bit.ly/ChildrenYA
Posted by: Dana Lynn Smith | November 20, 2012 at 09:47 PM
I do school readings and incorporate show and tell and a quiz - very easy because my book is set in Egypt so there's lots to share. I also find that blog tours with moms as the target audience are fantastic. Moms being the primary book buyers for kids, the surest way to get your book into kids' hands is to appeal to moms first. I also look for book reviewers that specialise in kids' reading material. This can include some enterprising youngsters who have their own book review sites. Writing guest blog posts about child literacy and reading, although not a direct sell for your book, will help convince parents that you know what you're talking about. Most parents then visit the book site.
Posted by: Fiona Ingram | November 21, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Great advice, Fiona - thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Dana Lynn Smith | November 21, 2012 at 05:43 AM
Fiona, great idea about blog tour with mom bloggers! I've had the honor of having a few kids do book reviews for my books also, and there is nothing better... and more authentic. Thank you for brining up great points about this.
I also wanted to add that speaking to senior groups has led to the grandparent then telling their grandchild's school about me and getting me in for a school visit. Good stuff!
Posted by: Barbara Techel | November 21, 2012 at 08:50 AM