Saturday, August 18, 2012

Southwest Book Fiesta


Albuquerque Convention Center Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 10-12, 2013

The Southwest Book Fiesta will bring together authors, publishers and the reading public in a family-friendly community event at the Albuquerque Convention Center on May 10-12, 2013. The Book Fiesta focuses on both nationally-recognized as well as local Southwest authors. The mission is to recognize and encourage the literary accomplishments all across the Southwest, especially of authors in New Mexico and Arizona. The show is being organized by Sunbelt Shows, producer of the National Fiery Foods and Barbecue Show, with support from the largest book publishers in New Mexico and the New Mexico Book Co-op. In addition to over 200 vendors, readings and special author events will feature some of the best books and authors from the region.
Proceeds of the Book Fiesta will be donated to the New Mexico Library Foundation, the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy, and a yet- to-be-named organization in Arizona and will be used to promote literacy and reading programs in the region.


    Features
  • 20,000+ attendees (projected)
  • Over 300 author/publisher vendors
  • Book talks with local and national authors
  • Book-signings
  • Family-oriented activities
  • Workshops on writing & publishing
  • Native American and Hispanic books
  • Children’s books
  • Poetry
  • Electronic books
  • Hands-on demonstrations
  • Celebrity chefs & cooking demonstrations
  • Arts & crafts
  • Food & entertainment

    Sponsors
  • Media
  • National publishers
  • Regional publishers
  • Local & regional media
  • Libraries
  • Literacy programs
  • Regional cultural organizations
  • Government organizations

    For more information call 505/873- 8680, 
    email emily@fiery-foods.com or 
    www.swbookfiesta.com
Importance of books

• over $16 billion are spent on books every year in the U.S.
• at least 35% of the U.S. population visits a bookstore at least once a month. In fact, Americans visit bookstores more often than any other type of store, except for the mass market chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart.
• According to a Gallup poll, during any given week, 22% of Ameri- can adults bought at least one book.
• e-book sales have been growing exponentially by as much as 177% per year.
• 53% of e-book readers say they now read more books than before.
• Based on Census data, almost 50% of New Mexicans and Arizo- nans could benefit from literacy programs.
• Usage of libraries in Arizona and New Mexico has been increasing by as much as 10% per year.
• Patrons of the Albuquerque Public Library checked out over 4.5 million books and magazines last year.
• Libraries in Tucson, Phoenix, and Albuquerque were visited over 21.6 million times last year!

Other Book Festivals
  • Baltimore Book Festival — 40,000 attendees, 100 exhibitors
  • Texas Book Festival — 40,000 attendees, 200 author events
  • Tucson Book estival — 100,000 attendees, 250 exhibitors
  • Los Angeles Book Festival — 140,000 attendees, 150 exhibitors
  • Miami Book Festival — 200,000 attendees, 200 exhibitors 




    Be a Part of History...Be a Part of the First Annual Southwest Book Fiesta

    Though Albuquerque has had book fairs before, this is the first time publishers, authors, book printers and producers, libraries, literacy groups, and other companies have banded together to support literacy, books, and reading. Regional books need to be noticed as much as national ones, and we will celebrate the many wonderful authors that have chosen to call the Southwest home.
    The First Annual Southwest Book Fiesta will be in the Albuquer- que Convention Center on Mother’s Day weekend, May 10-12, 2013. Here are just a few of the highlights we have planned, in addition to the trade area of booths and tables:
    • Author and publisher vendors
    • Food vendors
    • Cooking demonstration stage
    • A performance stage, with readings of poetry and children’s

    books
    • Five individual rooms for workshops
    • A Mother’s Day Brunch
    • A publisher’s panel discussion and other industry talks

    Planned presentations inclued talks by WordHarvest, Southwest Writers, and the New Mexico Book Co-op, featuring such topics as ebooks, marketing, Centennial Authors, writing, children’s books, poetry, and a publishers’ panel. Celebrity authors from the Southwest and across the country will also speak.
    This will be a true family activity to celebrate books and reading. Show management is handled by Sunbelt Shows, the producer of the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show, the largest show in New Mexico for 24 years. The Southwest Book Fiesta will bring together authors, publishers, and the reading public in a family- friendly community event at the Albuquerque Convention Center.


    Net proceeds from the event will be donated to local literacy and library groups. 



    May 10-12, 2013

    Convention Center Albuquerque, New Mexico
    Reserve Your Spot in New Mexico’s Largest Annual Literacy Event Today! 

    www.SWBookFiesta.com

    Booth and Table Fees

    Show off your books or products at the Annual Southwest Book Fiesta! Now is the perfect time to make a reservation for a booth. You can select a great spot on the show floor and save 10% if you sign up now. Tables start at $150 for authors and booths start
    at $400. Space sharing is permitted. 50% Deposit for booths or full payment for tables required with all reservations. Balance on booth spaces is due on or before March 15, 2013. Table or booth sharing is allowed; a maximum of three people allowed at tables. Only one person or organization will be included on the list of reservations.

    Table (6’) - $150

    Undraped, with two chairs
    For authors, publishers, companies, other groups (non-profit literacy and library groups are eligible for a $50 discount; contact show organizers for approval)


    Booth (10’x10’) - $400

    Draped, with two chairs (Corner booths $50 additional)
    Reservations can be made easily using the automated process on the website at 

    www.SWBookFiesta.com


    Booth and Table Sharing

    Sharing of space is permitted, under the following guidelines:
    1. Tables are for authors and organizations only. Sharing is
      limited to three at each six foot table.
    2. Company booths may be shared by no more than two
      companies.
    3. Organization booths may not contain companies, but any
    number of organizations may share a booth.

    For More Information

    Emily@fiery-foods.com

    505.873.8680

    www.SWBookFiesta.com 

Board Meeting Minutes for August 2012


Officers and committee chairs in attendance: President  Bob Sanchez, VP Sally Spener, Secretary  Dick Schwein, Treasurer, Isaiah Barrett, Janice Brooks, Sulta Bonner, and Tina Dwyer.

President Sanchez called the meeting to order at 1:00.
The treasurer’s report determined we have more than adequate funding on hand.
A discussion took place on dues for 2013. A motion was made ans seconded that dues be reduced from $40.00 to $25.00 effective 1/1/13. The motion was amended to set yearly dues at $15.00 for students and active duty military. The amended motion passed by unanimous vote.

Sulta Bonner reported on the details of today’s general membership meeting with distribution of Border tapestry and the reading first place winners entries. 

Sarah Purcell discussed the September meeting that will concentrate on receiving and processing contest materials. Entry forms and instructions will be distributed today. Second and third place winners may read their entry while the processing is underway.
A nominating committee for next years officers is being formed.

At 1:40, there being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Dick Schwein
Secretary

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Twitter: A marketing tool for writers

As a writer, you've almost certainly been bombarded with promotions from people who want to sell you their publicity services--sending out press releases, mass mailings, print or online advertising. Take it from someone who's tried some of that: It really doesn't help you much, but it sure lightens your wallet.

One way around this is to do your own promotion. Yes, it's work, but at least you're advancing your own cause and not throwing money to the four winds. Let's talk specifically about Twitter at http://twitter.com. You've heard about it. Once upon a time, only birds tweeted. Now even politicians do it. More to the point for us, so do a lot of writers and readers. You must be brief, composing each message in a maximum of 140 characters, which isn't hard once you've had a little practice. The idea is that you get followers and people follow you. If a tweep (yes, that's the nickname for people who tweet) likes your tweet, he or she can retweet to their followers.

For example, say you have 1,000 followers, and you send a tweet. Someone likes what you posted, and they retweet to their 5,000 followers. Suddenly your message is magnified.

I'm not going to go into Twitter in great detail here, but here are a few facts to know:
--It's free.
--It's easy to follow people and obtain followers.
--It's okay to self-promote.
--It requires reciprocity. If you retweet for others, many will do it for you. Everyone benefits.

Here is a sample tweet I've posted:

Getting Lucky: a gritty P.I. tale bitly.com/bobsanchez #crime #kindle #amazonprime "the plot swerves and turns" 4.6 stars

That's 121 characters, including spaces. (Go ahead, count 'em. I dare ya.) Three people retweeted this the other day, reaching about 9,000 more people. Notice the bitly.com/bobsanchez -- that's a link to where people can buy any of my books. You really, really need to tell people where to buy right then and there, or they won't do it.

I have only used Twitter to sell ebooks, because they're priced so people can buy on impulse.

If members show interest, I will post more information about Twitter and free marketing. But go and explore Twitter. I think you'll find it worth your time.

--Bob

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

-------BORDER TAPESTRY RELEASE--------


 ---REMINDER---REMINDER---REMINDER---

                                       El Paso Writers' League August Meeting 
Saturday, August 11, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Dorris Van Doren Library, 551 Redd Road. 
The El Paso Writers’ League will host a launch party for its literary magazine, Border Tapestry, a collection of award-winning entries from the League’s 2011 writing contest. Featured writers will give readings of their prize-winning work. Refreshments will be served. For more information: 915-760-6536