Behind the Scenes for a Week in the Life of Bob the Author

TRANSPARENCYODDS AND ENDS

2/17/20242 min read

Putting out books is the main thrust of what I do here in TBB land, obviously. There are a lot of things that go into that which I cover on here frequently. This blog post though, I thought I would give you an idea of some of the things I end up doing that furthers the cause, but doesn't get much press as it were. To give you some insight into what all it might entail to do what I do. So here it is, the list of things I did in the week after coming back from Atlanta Comic Con:

  • Emailed an employee at Alabama Comic Con, following up on plans to try and coordinate a track for table swap. They are still waiting on corporate approval.

  • Reached out to a local writing workshop to discuss me possibly presenting (I was denied).

  • Called Ben to discuss CONjuration table space, and about a room at ASPC. One of about a half dozen small conversations with Ben actually (we stay plottin!).

  • Applied to CONjuration, and started thinking about what panels I want to submit.

  • Talked to a small con that’s just starting this year, offering myself as a resource about their vendor hall practices (which from what I saw were outside the norm from any con I've ever attended).

  • Messaged a track director who had expressed to me that they wanted to do more interviews at area conventions, letting them know about a con I saw that had an application specifically for that.

  • Talked to one of my co-hosts about the timeline of when we will be kicking Books, Beards, Booze back up. Recruited a replacement co-host for the other co-host spot who had to step away due to life.

  • An author reached out to me asking to connect me with an author friend of theirs who is thinking of starting a podcast. So I sent a follow up email to said author, and we started emailing back and forth.

  • Made plans to go visit a location to see if it would be a suitable spot to host an author event I'm planning (going tomorrow).

  • Tried to reach out to an author who’s publicist has now sent me two books of theirs (for no reason that I can really divine). Trying to let them know their publicist may be wasting their money. They never responded, so now I have two books on Mexican Cheese.

  • Worked on my presentations for the Atlanta Self Publishing Conference, the Alabama Writing Workshop, and the Atlanta Writing Workshop. Got my 'Organic Marketing For Authors' powerpoint mostly made.

  • Written three blog posts, including this one.

  • Ordered new stickers as I am getting low in some of my categories.

  • Ordered bags in two types, one for books, and one for stickers.

  • Email four local universities and the local magnet highschool about guest speaking. Got zero responses haha.

  • Sent my new author photos to my publisher.

  • Touched base with my audiobook narrator to nail down some marketing stuff to start making some announcements in the coming week.

  • Reached out to a screenwriter I am working with to follow up on a project.

  • Saw that there was an Author Q&A going on at my local library, so reached out to see if I could take part as an author (got accepted, and it was too much fun!).

  • Applied to a small con in Birmingham that is just starting back up as a vendor, using their application. I then sent a follow-up email pitching myself as a guest/panelist with a link to my convention resume.