Book Expo America 2010, Part 4

Here are the remaining photos from our trip to Book Expo America. We had a great time, and I’m sure the next one will be here before we know it!



Veronica gets her first book signed at BEA, for her kids.



Veronica meets with The Rights Agency, Savas Beatie’s foreign rights agency in Canada.



Casemate author John Sparry signs copies of his new book (Mark Alexander) Jump Commander: In Combat with the 505th and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments, 82ndAirborne Division in World War II.

Book Expo America 2010, Part 3

Day Two at Book Expo America – Military Education Benefits for College authors David Renza and Edmund Lizotte took the train in to New York from their jobs at Post University in Connecticut for their first book signing. The authors have created a wonderful website resource for anyone wondering about education benefits. Be sure to check it out here.



Veronica, Sarah, and David Renza at the Casemate Publisher booth, holding copies of Military Education Benefits for College.



Ken Hudnall, author of The Veterans Practical Primer and Blog Talk Radio show host, talks about military benefits with Veronica and David Renza.



David and Ed Lizotte appeared on Ken’s radio show last week to discuss their book.



David signs his first copy of Military Education Benefits for College for a book buyer.



Sarah and David talk with a recent vet about accessing college assistance.



Ed Lizotte and David Renza at their book’s debut event.



The authors signed copies for many people whose son, nephew, neighbor, etc. was in the military.



Many high school and public school librarians asked for autographed books to be made out to their libraries so students and patrons could learn about the benefits available to them.







Victor gets his copy signed.




Veronica, Sarah, Ed, and David at the end of the day.

Book Expo America 2010, Part 2

After a morning at Fox and Friends, Fighting Words author Richard Miller headed over to Book Expo America for a signing at the Casemate booth. Richard’s blog, where he posts “Snap Analysis’” of current news items is fantastic. If you aren’t following it, you are missing out.



Richard signs a copy of Fighting Words for the first people in line.



Richard and Ellen Ratner converse with a book buyer.



The line for a signed copy of Fighting Words grows.



Richard verifies the spelling of a librarian’s name as he personalizes a copy of Fighting Words.



Richard and Ellen Ratner talk to Mark Kuta, author of Think Like a CEO, who was getting a copy of Fighting Words signed for his friend, Alan Jilka, who is running for Congress in Kansas. Richard will be commenting on many political and campaign speeches in the Fall campaign season.



Richard with Mark Kuta, author of Think Like a CEO.







Richard gets his photo taken by press at Book Expo America. The photographer said the bowtie caught her eye, and she came over to snap a few shots!



Veronica holds a copy of Fighting Words at the Casemate booth.



Sarah, Richard, and Ellen Ratner after a successful signing.



Richard and Ellen, posing for two different cameras with a copy of Fighting Words.

Book Expo America 2010, Part 1

It’s hard to believe that a year has gone by since Ted and I made our East Coast trip to New York, Book Expo America, and Gettysburg. (See here for a recap of that great trip.) It was that time of year again last week! Veronica and I had a wonderful trip to New York (minus the awful flights and cab drivers!) where we reconnected with a lot of great people, met some new contacts, and enjoyed time with some great Savas Beatie authors. I’ll be posting pictures from the busy two days in a few upcoming posts. First up – our time at Fox News Channel with Fighting Words author Richard Miller . . .



Fighting Words author Richard Miller and Savas Beatie Marketing Assistant Veronica Kane in the Green Room at Fox News Channel on May 26.



Richard Miller gets a sound check before his Fox and Friends appearance.



Richard Miller, with Andrew McCarthy (The Grand Jihad: How Islam and the Left Sabotage America) and Penny Lee, former Adviser to Sen. Harry Reid, chat with Fox and Friends host, Brian Kilmeade. The panel discusses the current plans for a mosque being constructed at the site of the World Trade Center bombing.



Host Brian Kilmeade asks the panel what they think about President Obama celebrating Memorial Day in Chicago rather than Arlington National Cemetery.



Me on the set of Fox and Friends, picture snapped quickly during a commercial break!



Later that day, Veronica and Richard headed back to Fox for his appearance on Strategy Room. Host Eric Bolling holds up a copy of Fighting Words, released that week.



Richard posing with Eric Bolling after the Strategy Room appearance, where the panel discussed the news of the day. One viewer tweeted in to the show that Richard should definitely be back on again! Over Memorial Day weekend, Richard was invited back to the FOX studios for another interview which can be viewed here.

Win a FREE Book by Voting for your Favorite Savas Beatie Cover

It’s the Battle of the Savas Beatie book covers! Check out the article in the June Savas Beatie Libri Novus newsletter. Which will it be: The Maryland Campaign or Valley Thunder? Cast your vote today! http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs034/1102618901901/archive/1103420367491.html#LETTER.BLOCK38

The Maps of Gettysburg book trailer

Our second Spring book trailer, this one for The Maps of Gettysburg in full color, hardcover is out. Enjoy, and please share the link with whoever you know who enjoys quality military history titles. (We received some advanced copies of the book in the office and they look amazing.)

An Interview with Author Jim Hessler

Our first Spring 2010 book off the press was the paperback edition of Sickles at Gettysburg. The hardcover edition sold very well in Gettysburg and is also a finalist for the Army Historical Foundation's book award. In honor of our first Spring book rolling off the line, we asked author Jim Hessler some questions about Sickles and his book marketing efforts.

Q: I know you live in Gettysburg, PA. How is it helpful to live near the battlefield that you wrote a book about? What opportunities arise that might not otherwise?

A: It is enormously helpful. Terrain drives battles and you can't write these books without understanding: 1) the terrain and 2) what the battle participants could actually see (to the best that we can re-create today). By living near Gettysburg, I can visit the field weekly as opposed to only a few times a year. As a Battlefield Guide, I also get the opportunity to interact with interested members of the public who sometimes provide their own unique perspective on the battle.

Q: What's the best opportunity that has come from the many book signings you have done in bookstores throughout Gettysburg?

A: Meeting people in general has provided numerous opportunities. I've made connections with prominent authors, historians, and retailers that did not exist before I wrote the book. Each one of those relationships leads to more potential word of mouth and referrals down the road. I can't say that one stands out over any others, because they may all lead to something positive, but certainly meeting fellow Savas Beatie authors JD Petruzzi and Steve Stanley, along with the (former) crew of the American History Store (Jim Glessner and Eric Lindblade) clearly paid dividends for me this year. And hopefully these are relationships that will continue into the future.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I am still promoting the Sickles book, both in hardcover and the new paperback edition just released. Officially I am not presently working on anything else; but unofficially I am researching a little bit of this and that. Having tackled many of the problems within the Army of the Potomac, I feel my next book (should there be one) would have to tackle comparable problems within Lee's army.

Q: What's the best marketing tip that you would give a new author?

A: Get out there and meet people. People are not going to buy a Civil War book in large numbers just because we think the topic is endlessly fascinating. You need to meet people to get those incremental sales.

Q: Thanks, Jim. We appreciate your time.

A: You're welcome.