{"id":2768,"date":"2022-10-25T13:49:20","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T17:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vapc.org\/vapc\/?p=2768"},"modified":"2022-10-25T14:07:01","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T18:07:01","slug":"vpc-member-melissa-face-presents-at-fall-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vapc.org\/vapc\/vpc-member-melissa-face-presents-at-fall-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"VPC Member Melissa Face Presents at Fall Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Thinking Outside the Book(store): How to Find Readers in a Crowded Market<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n


Melissa Face\u2019s first book debuted in September 2020 when the pandemic had forced bookstore closures and limited in-person events. Still, she found a way to reach readers, sell books, and find joy in the launch experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face, a VPC member and contest winner, is the author of the award-winning collection I Love You More Than Coffee: Essays on Parenthood<\/em> and I Love You More Than Coffee: A Guided Journal for Moms<\/em>, her latest work. Her writing has also appeared in numerous local and national publications and 26 volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face spoke with VPC members about her favorite things: writing, coffee, and her kids, \u201cnot necessarily in that order,\u201d she noted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beautifully on brand \u2014 Face was dressed in coffee socks, earrings, and a sweater \u2014 she began her presentation by reading an essay from her book that took attendees on her journey of motherhood. She had written many essays for a variety of publications and realized that she could put them together as a collection. She chose a hybrid press route to publication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Face reading from her collection at the VPC fall 2022 conference.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n


\u201cThat was the right option for me because I was in a hurry, but there were upfront costs,\u201d Face explained. \u201cI would encourage you to investigate different options before you make a move if you are on the road to publication.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face\u2019s book was first scheduled to publish in April 2020, but COVID-19 pushed that date back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe silver lining was I had more time to make a plan,\u201d said Face. \u201cI didn\u2019t know much about marketing at the time, but if you are really excited about something, you can learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So she did and  got to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo\u2019s don\u2019t upset me, and I celebrate every yes,\u201d Face noted. \u201cI\u2019m resilient with rejections.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She reached out to local bookstores, who agreed to carry her book on a consignment basis. Coffee shops were still open, so she partnered with coffee shops to promote her collection, including having a hand in crafting drinks inspired by her book. Her essay, \u201cMommy Van Gogh,\u201d was a raspberry mocha in drink form. She also reached out and sold her book to libraries across the world, including in Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout 50 or so libraries now carry my book,\u201d Face said noting she had not originally thought about targeting libraries. \u201cThe nice thing about that is libraries feature it in their \u2018new purchases\u201d section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face also explored media opportunities for promoting her collection, including on podcasts and Virginia morning TV shows. She is active on social media and connects with influencers to elevate her book. Be on the lookout for her partnership with \u201cThe Pie Lady,\u201d who decorates pies to look like book covers, on Instagram next month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face shared her favorite tips for promotion: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. You can\u2019t sit back. You have to make it happen.<\/li>
  2. Identify themes in your book to help determine a market. If a character in your book goes to a vineyard, target wineries, for example.<\/li>
  3. Reach out. Expect no and embrace yes.<\/li>
  4. Only engage on platforms you enjoy.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The overarching lesson from Face is luck didn\u2019t do it, she did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Learn more at https:\/\/melissaface.com\/<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Thinking Outside the Book(store): How to Find Readers in a Crowded Market Melissa Face\u2019s first book debuted in September 2020 when the pandemic had forced bookstore closures and limited in-person events. Still, she found a way to reach readers, sell books, and find joy in the launch experience.  Face, a VPC member and contest winner, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2773,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nVPC Member Melissa Face Presents at Fall Conference - VPC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Virginia Professional Communicators\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vapc.org\/vapc\/vpc-member-melissa-face-presents-at-fall-conference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"VPC Member Melissa Face Presents at Fall Conference - 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