Talk Up Your Book is published by Allworth/Skyhorse.  Order from Amazon or Barnes & Noble Kindle version also available from Amazon See the Non-Fiction book page for Patricia Fry's other books: Publish Your Book and Promote Your Book. Also check out Patricia's website, where you can read her bio and her qualifications as a fellow publishing consultant. She is also the co-founder of SPAWN, the Small Publishers and Writers Network.

I'm always delighted to be asked to contribute to another one of Patricia Fry's books. She assembles top experts, quoting their best advice among the years of experience she shares with readers. She understands that authors are sometime reluctant to speak up, and often don't realize that personality sells books.  As with all Fry's books, this one is packed with useful information, speaking venues, sample pitch letters, sample press releases, schedules. She offers suggestions about writing your “elevator speech” as well as how to handle book signings, launches, readings, conferences and  tradeshows. There are URLs to find special dates for promotion, conferences, tradeshows and festivals among the five pages of resources.  Fry addresses the challenges of setting up your own events, especially out of town, how to finding ideas for speeches based on your fiction, and key advice about how to prepare and how to deal with the unexpected. She points out that audience members want someone who understands them. Fry even includes tips from vocal coaches. There are a few key take-aways. One is to say yes first, then figure out how to fit it into your schedule, how to get there, and how to prepare. Another is to post a list of workshop titles or possible topics on your website to demonstrate your range of possible programs for those who are seeking speakers. I applaud Fry's taking on “some well-known speakers within the publishing field” who “offer nothing more than a canned speech illustrated by clever PowerPoint slides.,The promised “secrets” are never revealed. Some of these speakers have only their own story to share. Often  their success was dependent on a chance meeting with someone famous or a trick of marketing.”