C. Kevin Thompson

Greetings from Kevin Thompson in the fastest growing, snowbird production facility in the union.

I want to introduce you to our Tips From The Pros Spotlight Author, Dianne Neal Matthews! I met Dianne at the Florida Christian Writers Conference a couple of years ago. She was having connectivity issues right before a scheduled workshop, and I was able to help her (although, if memory serves, I wasn’t much help). Nevertheless, Dianne gave me a signed copy of her most recent devotional. Such a kind gesture.

Welcome, Dianne! So, tell us about your books. How many books do you have published, and what are a few of your latest titles?

Dianne Neal Matthews

I have four one-year devotional books published including The One Year Women of the Bible (Tyndale), Designed for Devotion: A 365-Day Journey from Genesis to Revelation (Baker Books). I recently revised my first book that Tyndale published in 2005 and made it available as On This Day: 365 Meditations on Holidays & Historical Events. I’ve also contributed to several compilation books including Mornings with Jesus (Guideposts), which I’ve been a part of since the 2012 edition.

You were last featured on the CAN blog in 2013. What are the chief lessons you’ve learned about the writing life since then?

I’ve learned how hard it is for me to write when I feel unsettled. Since the end of 2010, my husband and I have lived in four different states due to his job changes. (If I include temporary housing, we’ve had seven different zip codes over the past six years.) I’ve found it extremely difficult to develop book projects while getting used to a new location. At the same time, I’ve become more aware of the meaning and fulfillment that writing brings into my life. So I’ve renewed my commitment to developing a consistent, disciplined writing routine.

The One Year Women of the Bible by Dianne Neal Matthews

What are the chief lessons you’ve learned about promotion since then?

Each time I’ve moved, I’ve lost my local connections and contacts. So that has brought home the importance of online opportunities and social media.

What are the most effective means of book promotion you’ve tried?

One thing that has worked well has been a book signing “with a cause.” With my second book, I set up a signing at my local library in the small village in Illinois where I lived, announcing that a percentage of the profits would go to the library. After I moved to Salt Lake City, I signed books at my church and shared the profits with the youth group. These type of events catch more people’s attention, the author gets more exposure, and the recipient benefits as well. A win-win situation.

What are the least effective promotional activities you’ve tried?

My blog has been totally ineffective, but there’s a reason for that. About a year and a half ago, I switched my static website to a WordPress site, bought Michael Hyatt’s Get Noticed theme, and also purchased another man’s video training/membership designed to help people get the most out of the Get Noticed theme. I still didn’t know what to do. So I paid someone to design and set up the blog/website. She’s been finished for several months now, but it only has one post: an “Under Construction” message. Hmmm, I’m beginning to think I need to post fresh content on a regular basis in order to be effective—ya think?

What’s your favorite way to connect with your readers?

I love it when readers seek me out on my personal Facebook page. Once I accept their friend request, we start getting glimpses of each other’s personal life, “liking” and commenting, sharing prayer requests. What a great opportunity to get to know readers even though it’s not possible to meet them in person. Some readers send a private message or email, sharing intensely personal issues and struggles. These connections remind me what a privilege it is to write devotions that share God’s Word.

What’s the funniest thing that happened during a promotional activity?

Several years ago a friend in another part of the country invited me to be the featured author at a Christian school’s Book Fair. Joyce and the principal went all out with promotion for this event, plastering my picture all over the place; they treated me like a rock star once I arrived. Action was slow at my table the first day, but the next day Joyce assured me that Election Day would bring in more traffic since the school served as a polling place. That morning I saw a woman striding towards me, and I got ready to greet her. Would she be thrilled to meet an author and buy an autographed book? Or would she tell me how impressed she’d been with the one she’d purchased the day before? I leaned my ear toward her to drown out the noise in the hallway and—she asked me where the restroom was. I’ve never felt like a rock star since that day, which is probably a good thing.

Did you see God open any doors you never expected in the promotion of your books?

I’m always amazed at the emails I get from readers in other countries who have found my books. A young mom of two girls in Australia who had been feeling spiritually burned out. A woman in South Africa whose parents had given her one of my books. A man in India training himself to become a pastor by reading Christian books, including one of my devotionals. Emails from missionaries and people of all walks of life and all ages. I always think back to growing up on my family’s little cotton farm out in the sticks in west Tennessee, and I think, “Only you, God.”

What are your top tips for new authors promoting their first book?

• Make prayer your first priority. Ask God to guide your efforts and get your book in the hands of the people He wants to read it.
• Check out any new marketing tools, techniques, and outlets that you hear about. But don’t feel that you’re obligated to use them all. Just figure out what you most enjoy, because that’s what will probably be most effective.
• Don’t feel like a failure when you pour energy and resources into a marketing activity and it only seems to reach a few people. Those people have friends who have friends who have friends… Besides, if God can multiply a few fish and loaves to feed thousands, He can certainly multiply those few friends into thousands if He so desires.

Dianne, I love those words, “Besides, if God can multiply a few fish and loaves to feed thousands, He can certainly multiply those few friends into thousands if He so desires.” Thank you for stopping by the old front porch!

Friends, if you wish to learn more about Dianne and her writing ministry, you can visit her @ www.DianneNealMatthews.com.

Until next time,

Enjoy the holidays, or in the spirit of our fore fathers, the Holy Days (don’t you live how we cheapen the meaning of the words, even in how we sell them?).

Kevin