Before I began reading The Author’s Guide to Planning Book Events: Tips and Tools for Bookselling Success by Carol Hoenig, I thought I knew quite a bit about book promotions. While I have not yet finished my first book, I’ve been reading about how to write book proposals, build a platform, and promote a book for several years. (Yes, it’s time for me to get off my “buts” and finish writing a book!)

But Carol Hoenig’s book offers excellent, creative advice for everyone from first-time authors who may not know how to market their book to professionals who’ve written multiple titles and are looking for book promotion ideas that will set them apart.

Publishing is especially competitive today, with so many self-published titles competing with books from traditional publishers. People today have even less time to read and many people believe they can find all the information about a topic on the Internet. Authors compete not only with authors of other print books, but with eBook authors, as well.

The Author’s Guide to Planning Book Events covers a very important aspect of promoting and selling your books, and it covers it concisely (in just 135 pages, including photos and an index) and comprehensively.

About Carol Hoenig

The author of the award-winning novel Without Grace, Carol Hoenig has worked as an events coordinator for a major bookstore chain for more than 11 years. She worked with Suze Orman on her first book, and booked signings for former President Jimmy Carter — twice. In addition to being a published non-fiction author and novelist, she is a freelance publishing consultant and editor.

In short, Carol Hoenig knows her stuff… and she shares significant amounts of her knowledge about coordinating book events in this title.

About the Book

The Author’s Guide to Planning Book Events is divided into three parts, with numerous chapters within each.

1. Before You Publish – Covers the planning that must go into building your platform before your book even hits print. You should be considering your audience, and determining where your audience hangs out, so that, when it’s published, you can bring your book to them.
2. You Have a Due Date – The meatiest section of the book, the chapters of this section cover exactly how to create a media kit, approach event planners to set up book events, and even how to create a memorable book launch.
3. Tips and Techniques – Expanding upon previous sections, this part covers what to do during your book events — and how to prepare. Hoenig talks about what to do if you feel overwhelmed by the tasks in front of you, as well as how to use serendipitous events to your advantage in promoting your book. She even talks about how to work a book event into your vacation.

Should You Buy This Book?

With its unique perspective and creative ideas (including unique locales, other than bookstores, to hold events), I’d go so far as to call this book a “must-read” for any published author. I especially like Hoenig’s suggestions to tie your book promotions into a not-for-profit cause, if possible. These are the types of ideas (there are lots more!) that I haven’t seen in other books and articles on the topic.

Those with experience in PR and marketing may find themselves skimming the first chapters, which cover the basics of writing press releases and building media kits, and also stresses professionalism above all else.

I’d recommend authors read every page of the book, even if it seems like review. We can all use a reminder about always projecting professionalism. (I feel terrible as I’m writing this, because earlier this month, I completely blew off an interview with the book’s author. It was a comedy of errors. I won’t make excuses. Suffice it to say, it is not like me and I hope — by the time this review goes live — to have re-connected with Hoenig for a nice, informative chat.)

I found the entire book exceptionally inspirational — another reason to read it cover-to-cover. As a soon-to-be published eBook author, I’m eager to begin implementing Hoenig’s suggestions. And one thing I learned in this book is that it is NEVER too early to begin building your platform and promoting your book.

In spite of its title, The Author’s Guide to Planning Book Events covers more than just setting up a book event, book signing or book launch. (You’ll learn the difference between the three within its pages.) Because promotions, platform and book events are all inextricably connected, it is impossible to discuss one without covering the others, as well.