Margaret Atwood protects her net with mountains of hardcovers
Canadian National treasure and international powerhouse Margaret Atwood is a multi-talented woman. She’s an inventor, she’s a poet, she’s an award-winning novelist.
But first and foremost, she is a goalie.
“As the late Robertson Davies once told me, ‘Peggy, a good goalie anticipates play. A great goalie influences play.’…If a shooter can see net, he’ll deke, and you don’t deke Margaret.”
Revel Room's Loft
In case you haven’t yet decided that tickets to our October meeting, Selling Out! featuring Shane Gibson, are a must-have, here’s a sneak peek at the menu the chef at Revel has developed for our meeting:
* All Served with Wedge Cut Buttermilk Potato JoJo’s
Okay, I don’t know what a JoJo is, but it’s got buttermilk and carbs in it, so it must be good, right? Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
Dear Author Arbitrageur
Who: The Shebeen Club presents author, speaker, and sales trainer Shane Gibson
What: Selling Out: How Presales Can Make Your Book a Hit
When: 7-9pm Monday, October 25th (one week later than our usual date)
Where: A private dining room upstairs at Revel Room, 238 Abbott Street just off Gastown, near the Woodward’s Building
Why: Because Shane’s latest book
How (much): $20 early-bird tickets/$25 at the door includes dinner and a glass of wine or beer
I worked as Shane’s editorial assistant on his latest book, Guerrilla Social Media Marketing (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson, the Guerrilla Marketing Guru) and while I was typing it up, I kept thinking what a great book it was. This is by way of disclosure, not puffery. Seems thousands of others feel the same way: the book officially sold out its first printing on September 30th; it wasn’t actually in stores until October 3rd.
That is what you call a successful book launch.
Shane is here to tell us how he and Jay did that, and teach us techniques that we can use on our own book launches, whether we’re publishers, editors, or authors. I only know one tip: 85% of life is showing up, so show up on October 25th and prepare to learn powerful tools for marketing your book from an author who’s not afraid of success! At this point, it just might be scared of him!
Shane Gibson
Shane Gibson is an international speaker and author who has addressed over 100,000 people over the past sixteen years on stages in North America, Southern Africa and South America.
Shane’s books include Sociable! How Social Media is Turning Sales and Marketing Upside Down, Closing Bigger: the Field Guide to Closing Bigger Deals, and his new book published by Entrepreneur Press (McGraw Hill) called Guerrilla Social Media Marketing, co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson.
Blogging since 2002, and podcasting since 2004 Shane drives the majority of his business from social media, and social networks. He has been published in numerous publications as an authority on the topics of leadership, marketing, social media, and sales performance. Some of these publications include CMA Magazine, the Financial Post, the Globe and Mail and Profit Magazine.
7-7:30 Meet & Mingle
7:30-8 Listen and Learn
8-9 Grinning maniacally while counting on your fingers and phoning your accountant
You think them sonnets write themselves?
Who: The Shebeen Club presents author, editor, Federation of BC Writers Executive Director Sylvia Taylor
What: GOING PRO: GETTING REAL IN THE WRITING WORLD
When: 7-9pm Monday, September 27th (one week later than our usual date)
Where: A private dining room in Rogue Wetbar in Waterfront Station
Why: Because in this economy, you either go pro or you go out of business
How (much): $20 early-bird tickets/$25 at the door includes dinner and a glass of wine
Come Out of the Cave and Into the Village!
Getting published and making a living isn’t just about writing anymore – it’s about building a solid foundation, a platform, of credibility and expertise. For experienced and emerging writers alike, we need to build our presence from the ground up, with good planning, good tools, good materials and creative flair. Treat yourself as an entrepreneur and you add to your chances of business success, particularly in a hostile economic climate like this one.
About Sylvia Taylor: Sylvia Taylor is an award-winning writer, editor, consultant, journalist, and educator with a passionate commitment to communication. As an entrepreneur and Executive Director of the Federation of BC Writers she brings what needs to be said into the world through the sublime balance of the Art & Engineering of Creativity.
New! Improved! Tonight, for the first time we’ll be at a new downtown location: a private dining room in the beautiful Rogue Wetbar in Waterfront Station. Register in advance and save $5!
Sean Cranbury of Books on the Radio
Lorraine Murphy by Jules Morgan
I’ve been meaning to post this forever; it’s Sean Cranbury of Books on the Radio interviewing me at the Irish Heather about the impact of the Digital Revolution on the traditional publishing industry. Set aside a half-hour, get a refreshing beverage, click Play and enjoy. Although you’ll enjoy it somewhat less if you’re a publisher who thinks the book industry doesn’t need to change.
The money shot:
“The question publishers have to answer now is, what are you doing for me that makes it worthwhile giving you 90% of the proceeds from my book?“
The Shebeen Club 