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Best Practices in Marketing, Promotion, and Reader Engagement

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PART OF THE BUSINESS BOOTCAMPS FOR WRITERS SERIES

Even traditionally published authors are expected to participate heavily in marketing and promotion these days, no matter how much support the books have from the publisher. Moderator Jane Friedman and panelists Dana Kaye, Vaishali Nayak, and Leila Siddiqui will walk us through the timelines for marketing and publicity and explore how authors can collaborate with their publishing teams. This book marketing webinar will address how to engage your readers and grow an audience through avenues such as social media, book tours, blogging, and more, and which efforts you should focus on for various genres.


PANELISTS:

Dana Kaye is a life-long entrepreneur who believes in the power of storytelling and authentic personal branding. In 2009, she founded Kaye Publicity, Inc., a boutique PR company specializing in publishing and entertainment. Known for her innovative ideas and knowledge of current trends, she coaches her clients on how to identify and establish their unique personal brands. In 2016, Dana launched Midwest Mystery Conference (formerly Murder and Mayhem in Chicago), a one-day conference dedicated to crime fiction, with mystery author Lori Rader-Day. She is also the author of two books—Your Book, Your Brand: The Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Book and Boosting Your Sales and The Personal Brand Workbook—and serves on the advisory board of Propel PR.

Vaishali Nayak is a senior marketing manager at HarperCollins Children’s Books. She works specifically with middle grade titles and has managed marketing and social media campaigns for award-winning and bestselling novels including Other Words for Home (Newbery Honor), The Best at It (Stonewall Honor), The One and Only Bob (#1 New York Times bestseller), Pax, Journey Home (New York Times bestseller), and more. Previously, she worked at Scholastic, where she spearheaded the launch of the “Read with Pride” campaign spotlighting LGBTQ+ authors and books. She also worked on acclaimed picture books, graphic novels, and middle grade titles, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Amulet and Wings of Fire series. She’s currently based in Jersey City, NJ.

Leila Siddiqui is currently a Marketing Manager at Simon & Schuster after initially beginning her publishing career at Dutton, Penguin Random House. She works on a range of titles in historical fiction and contemporary fiction, and nonfiction such as memoirs and biographies and has worked on titles by such New York Times bestselling authors as Lisa Gardner, Daniel Levitin, Halsey, and Sean Carroll. She is a People of Color in Publishing communications & events sub-committee member.  Leila is also a writer whose debut House of Glass Hearts published in September.

Jane Friedman (moderator) has nearly 25 years of experience in the publishing industry. She writes and publishes The Hot Sheet, an industry newsletter for authors, which was named 2020 Media Outlet of the Year by Digital Book World.


SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Penguin Random House, and our donors, the Authors Guild Foundation is pleased to make Business Bootcamps for Writers free and open to the public.

Several writers organizations have partnered with the Authors Guild Foundation to help shape these programs. Our deepest appreciation to these organizations.

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