Writers! Want To Know How To Treat Your Readers?

Check out Beverly Jenkins, she has been doing an amazing job for the past 25 years.

June 28- 29^th 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 25^th 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.

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.

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.

Checkout Beverly’s last book Rebel.

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

 

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