Check
out Beverly Jenkins, she has been doing an amazing job for the past 25 years.
June
28- 29th I had the pleasure of hanging with a group of ladies who
helped Beverly Jenkins celebrate her 25th Anniversary as a published author.
As
a fan from day one, when I first read Night Song her historical romance, I
never dreamed I would meet the author and one day call her mentor and friend.
For
the 25th Anniversary, Beverly decided to bring back her famous
Pajama Party. For years I heard about
the Beverly Jenkins pajama party, but I could never attend. One year I
was blessed to attend, and it was an amazing book lover experience. The
whole weekend I was in my feelings because it was my first event without my
mom. She was sick and couldn’t make the trip. I was emotionally
overwhelmed by the whole weekend, because everyone in attendance loved her
books as much as I did. We talked about the characters like they were
real people and each day was packed with fun things to do. It goes down as one of my favorite book lover
weekends.
This
weekend was that PJ party experience taken up three notches because this time
I was among dear friends and meeting new ones.
The event was called the Henry Adam’s Family reunion and it lived up to its name. We were among family, sharing updates of our lives, book recommendations, enjoying good food and spending money on lots of books.
The event was called the Henry Adam’s Family reunion and it lived up to its name. We were among family, sharing updates of our lives, book recommendations, enjoying good food and spending money on lots of books.
Whenever
I teach about promotion I use Beverly as an example for what to do as a writer
when it comes to your fans. She’s taught me so much about how to treat
your fans.
When
I became a fan of Beverly’s there was no social media. All we had back
then was the good old snail mail. I was
on her mailing list because I wrote her letter. She
would send me book covers announcing the upcoming release. When I started
doing book reviews she made sure I was on the book review list to receive
advance copies.
Beverly
still uses her mailing list and its taught me old school promotion still works.
I
always tell the story of how Beverly left a voice mail on my phone and I
screamed like I’d won the lottery. My
husband thought I lost my mind. She
granted me a phone interview and my two-year-old daughter screamed through the entire
interview. Beverly was so sweet and
understanding that she sealed her spot as one of my favorite authors after that
crazy interview.
She
taught me as writer that the show must go on even through a screaming child.
The
next lesson she taught me is to make time for your readers.
We met in person for the first time at the Romance Slam Jam in Dallas. She took time out of her schedule and sat and chatted with me about writing. It’s still one of my favorite conversations with her.
We met in person for the first time at the Romance Slam Jam in Dallas. She took time out of her schedule and sat and chatted with me about writing. It’s still one of my favorite conversations with her.
When
we moved to social media Beverly started a Yahoo group. I was a member for years
and everyone inside felt like family. She taught us how to treat our
readers inside her group. She shared about her writing and life.
We’d get snippets of the book as she wrote them. We had monthly chats
about her books.
If
she was at event I was at, she either hosted her own meet ups or she would make
time to spend a few moments with me.
I’ve always felt like a super fan.
Beverly
has built a huge readership over the last 25 years and I’m truly blessed to be
a part of that readership. I know its because
she makes us all feel like family instead of just her readers.
Congrats
Beverly Jenkins on 25 years of slaying words and may you be blessed with many
more years to give us more wonderful books.
Shout
out to Sheryl Lister and Leslie Elle Wright for taking the torch and creating a
wonderful PJ experience.
Now
I must warn you they plan on doing this again in two years so be ready to hit
the buy button when they announce it. The last announcement it took three
hours to sell out.
The first
novel in USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins’s compelling new series
follows a Northern woman south in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War . . .
Valinda
Lacy’s mission in the steamy heart of New Orleans is to help the newly
emancipated community survive and flourish. But soon she discovers that here,
freedom can also mean danger. When thugs destroy the school she has set up and
then target her, Valinda runs for her life—and straight into the arms of
Captain Drake LeVeq.
As an
architect from an old New Orleans family, Drake has a deeply personal interest
in rebuilding the city. Raised by strong women, he recognizes Valinda’s
determination. And he can’t stop admiring—or wanting—her. But when Valinda’s
father demands she return home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her daring
rebellion draws Drake into an irresistible intrigue.
LaShaunda C. Hoffman is the Publisher/Editor of SORMAG Digital. You can find her online - http://lashaundahoffman.com. She wrote a book about book promotion - Building Online Relationships - One Reader At A Time - http://bit.ly/BORLCH
LaShaunda C. Hoffman is the Publisher/Editor of SORMAG Digital. You can find her online - http://lashaundahoffman.com. She wrote a book about book promotion - Building Online Relationships - One Reader At A Time - http://bit.ly/BORLCH
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