ACFW conference/booksigning

» Posted on Sep 15, 2008 in Blog | Comments Off on ACFW conference/booksigning

ACFW conference/booksigning

This week is the American Christian Fiction Writers’ annual conference in Minneapolis. I will be attending and actually this year presenting a workshop on how to write an inspirational romance. Talk about an interruption in my writing schedule!!! But a welcome one. I can’t wait to see everyone, and if you are attending, please stop me and say hi. What is neat is we are having the booksigning at the Mall of America. If you live in the area, this is a great opportunity for you to see some wonderful Christian authors with great stories.

Who: 126 Christian novelists
What: Mega Booksigning and Author Panels
When: from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2008.
Where: the Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
Best Buy Rotunda, Bloomingdale’s Rotunda, and the connecting hallways
Why: Because we love books and readers

If you would like the list of participants to post, I can email you the document, or you can link to the page on the ACFW website:
http://www.acfw.com/publicbooksigning.shtml.

One of the activities that authors do at this conference is pitch a story to an editor or agent. Below I have some suggestions if you are one of those authors pitching at the conference.

How to Pitch

One of the most important reasons to go to a conference is to pitch to an editor and/or agent. Many CBA publishers do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. This is a good way to get yourself before an editor you have targeted.

1.Know who you are pitching to

2.Prepare the pitch and practice

3.Be professional in dress and manner

4.Prepare questions you may have for the editor or agent

5.Anticipate questions and practice answers

6.Get a business card, if possible

7.Make notes after meeting

8.Breathe, smile and have fun!