New year, new direction

Look at the three of us! This photo was taken by Armor Todd in Sedona. He runs the Sedona trolley you may see around town if you've ever visited. His wife Patti is the PR representative for Sedona Rouge. The three of us in the photo, me, Christine Bailey and Teresa Bitler, were in Sedona two weekends ago giving a presentation about Arizona. We were also there to sell and sign our books.

Since late last year, we've joined forces to form the Arizona Authors & Adventurers, and I wanted you to meet us. You can find more about us and what we're doing together if you click on the link at the top of this page--on the right-hand side. But for now, I wanted you to know that this is a new direction I'm taking this year, and I expect it to be a very productive one. Each of us work on our own as well, but we thought it would be fun to figure out how we could work together to promote Arizona travel and our books.

Don't worry. I'm still the BIKE LADY. I'll still be coaching. I'll still be speaking and teaching my BIKE Lessons. I'll still be coming here. It's my passion. But from time to time, you'll be hearing about what the Arizona Authors & Adventurers are doing as well. I hope you don't mind. It's just if there's anything I've learned about the social media networks it's that you don't benefit if you don't use them. So use them I will.

And while you're here, be sure to keep me updated on what's new with you in 2010. It's a new year. Are you seeking any new or additional directions?

Road tripping

I'm having the time of my life right now promoting my book. The sky is the limit in terms of thinking up ideas on how to do this successfully. I have book signings, travel talks, and a launch party in the works. I'm looking at buying tabletop displays, banners and postcards. I'm all over this on the Social Media Networks.

It certainly takes an open mind to embark on a project that seems overwhelming at first, not to mention never-ending. But I learned a long time ago--especially during the final few weeks of writing this book, when more tears than words spilled onto the page--to take big projects one little bit at a time. If you can do that, it makes a gargantuan task seem so much smaller, thus do-able.

Along that same line of thought, I'm hoping to get together with a few other Arizona guidebook authors to promote our books as a package. A gift basket, perhaps? A group signing? Share a table at a book festival? I'm not sure yet--maybe all of the above--but these are some ideas I'm hoping to discuss more seriously with the writers very soon.

We met last week and touched on these thoughts during that meeting. Now that I've had time to consider this more fully, I think whatever we do together could be a very worthwhile project for all of us. As you may already know, I'm all about working together for the good of all. That's why I'm road tripping--getting excited about the path ahead. It's been a great ride; it's only going to get better!

So tell me, what are you "tripping" on these days?

Countryman Press authors meet

Promoting your new book is easy amongst friends. That's what I'm reminded of as the big release day for mine approaches. I'm on the final countdown now--three days to go--and here I am with Kim Grant, acquisitions editor for Countryman Press (on the far left), my publisher.

She arrived in town yesterday on assignment at the Royal Palms and scheduled a meeting between the four of us pictured here--all Countryman Press authors. Sitting next to Grant is Christine Bailey (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona and Central Arizona Great Destinations: A Complete Guide), then me (Backroads & Byways of Arizona) and Teresa Bitler (Great Escapes: Arizona). Grant answered so many questions for me about the promotional process, what we can do on our own, what we can do together, how we can cross-promote (Arizona gift baskets, anyone?)...

I wish we had several hours more to chat about the process, but since I'm the newest author in the group, I didn't have as many questions (aside from a few basics) as Christine did; she's on her second edition. It's been two or three years since her book came out. I was told when my second edition time rolls around, I'll need to add several more chapters to the guide. The first one includes 12 trips. I'll need to add six more to the next edition. That's fine with me. I've already got a few ideas for that, based on what early viewers have requested. But I think I'll focus on this first one for now. It's got to sell.

Grant shared with us the bad news: books aren't really selling in this market. But she also had good news: Countryman Press is still looking for pitches. Great! I have a few of those as well.

The road ahead? It's going to be a long one. But I'm definitely on it!

What big road lies ahead for you? Are you prepared to ride it all the way through? Share the steps you're taking here.