Author Name: Marilyn Stewart
Book title(s): Child of the Outback; Footprints & Fragrance in the Outback
Marketing Subject: Biography; Australia; Aborigines; Spinifex; Women; Cross Cultural
The first and best thing an author can do to promote themselves is to smile.
Don’t smirk. Put your heart and soul into it regardless of how you feel.
Maybe you say “I don’t have nice teeth.” Okay, then smile with your mouth closed and use your eyes to impart your delight. Pretend you are an actor if that is what it takes, but put on a happy face – smile!
I hope the following will encourage you to – you got it - smile.
I was over 55 when I started speaking. Each time I got up to speak; I felt great inner turmoil for all I could “see” in my mind’s eye, were my buck teeth and my “smile creases” otherwise known as wrinkles.
One day I noticed four senior individuals sitting on a bench just outside the entrance door to a store. Each had shopping bags at their feet - obviously waiting for their ride. In glancing at them, I noticed they all looked so very sad. As I strolled past, I deliberately looked at each, made eye contact and smiled. While stepping through the doorway, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the lady nearest me poked her neighbor. Then in a not so quiet voice she said, “Did you see? Did you see that? That lady has the most beautiful smile!” I was stunned. Her comment forever changed my thinking.
Your smile is the first gift or present you give or share with your audience. Whenever appropriate smile throughout your presentation whether you are speaking to one or a hundred people.
As you speak, move your eyes and body to encompass all. Glance and glance away after making eye contact. If there is a person doing something distracting, such as yawning, in future glances look over, around, or somewhere near them, but not at them. If someone is smiling, glance at them several times and make sure to thank them afterwards.
Do not stare or continue to make eye contact with only certain people.
When mentioning something about your book you love, pause for a second, smile and then proceed “flat-out” with great enthusiasm.
In addressing a crowd let them know, ahead of time, you will only take questions at the end. If waving hands make you stop and let them ask their questions, then in future provide paper and pencils so they can write down their inquiry and not interrupt your presentation.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, smile and say “I don’t know ...” but never ask them to share for you will lose momentum as well as the attention of the rest of the group.
In the middle of the words of encourager or encouragement sits the word courage. These blogs are written to help give us courage to keep on trying.
Each time we courageously step forward to talk about our book(s), remember we first dress our face with a smile.
This is the perfect time of year to begin to practice smiling – at our pets, friends, co-workers, yes, family too and don’t forget strangers.
