Publish—Promote—Pandemic

Years of writing—rejections galore—lots of individual poems published—then (finally…in January 2020) great news! My chapbook was accepted for publication!

Eureka!

I reviewed, signed, and returned the contract—proofread my manuscript, tweaking some poems and deleting a couple (staying within chapbook-size requirements)—and convinced my daughter and niece to co-collaborate on cover art that captures the spirit of my poems. My book went to press. I mailed postcard announcements to everyone on my (long lapsed) holiday card list—posted information (multiple times) on every social media outlet to which I am connected (Facebook…Instagram…Twitter…LinkedIn)—worked with my daughter to create a webpage. In early August, my books were delivered. Those fine details too many months…

IN THE MEANWHILE…

…COVID-19 slow-rolled the world in a pandemic that refused to release its grip. It became increasingly dire with infections, hospitalizations, and deaths adding up. Harsh reality settled in with lost jobs—closed businesses—social unrest—and a U.S. presidential election that chewed up media time and resulted in widespread offers of “thoughts and prayers” (which are not much help when “action and change” is what we really need).

How does a writer/poet/person promote a new book in the midst of a pandemic? Forget cozy readings at local and independent bookstores. Remove from your list the idea of an in-person conference or literary festival where book sales extend beyond the boundary of family and close friends. Don’t even think about gently pressuring friends to host intimate gatherings at their homes.

Thankfully, LitYoungstown recognized that lots of poets and writers had new book publications in 2020. AND…what’s more and even better…they decided to create a new reading series just for writers who have new books. This series—live on YouTube and then available on YouTube after the readings—is a rousing success, and I was fortunate to be scheduled to read with two wonderful poets: Marjorie Maddox and Jonathan Jackson, Jr. In the space of an hour, we each read selections from our newly published books, and then we had a great conversation that ranged from music in poetry…teaching children and young people about poetry…creating noteworthy covers…and much more. Check us out…here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsKt9nRrJL0&feature=youtu.be

LitYoungstown consistently does much more than “thoughts and prayers” for authors. In just five years, this small but mighty organization has become an ally for the arts and artists in Youngstown and well beyond those city boundaries. As they celebrate writers and artists so, too, do I celebrate and thank LitYoungstown.

My Book Title: Just the Girls: A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies; A Drift of Honeybees
https://www.pamelaranderson.org/

Publisher: The Poetry Box Press and Shawn Aveningo-Sanders
https://thepoetrybox.com/

Cover Artists: Meredith Balogh and R.E. Anderson
https://www.instagram.com/sunsounder/?hl=en

https://www.goldfinchhoneybee.net/

LitYoungstown Co-Founder/Director: Karen Schubert
https://lityoungstown.org/

Marjorie Maddox’s Book: Inside Out: Poems On Writing and Reading Poems
http://www.marjoriemaddox.com/

Jonathan Jackson, Jr.’s Book: In Not So Many Words
https://www.innotsomanywords.com/

Happy and Safe Halloween!