PublishHER Podcast Episode 93: Republishing a Children’s Book with Antoinette Martin
Antoinette Truglio Martin is a seasoned author of children's picture books and middle grade books. She made the decision to republish a beloved picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup, an adorable, beautifully illustrated book about independence and resilience, which re-published with a new publisher on May 9, 2023. As a multi-published author, Antoinette has a lot of great advice for authors about the process of working with several different types of presses, both hybrid and traditional, and great marketing strategies that have worked for her.
After spending decades in the children's book industry, Antoinette Truglio Martin thought she had seen it all – until she took the unexpected step of re-publishing her own book with updated illustrations and found out just how powerful connecting with her readers could be. Now, her groundbreaking journey is inspiring countless other authors to share their stories. What other surprises might this author extraordinaire have in store?
Watch how children play, see what they're doing, and write stories that will resonate with them. – Antoinette Truglio Martin
This is Antoinette Martin's story:
Antoinette Truglio Martin, an award-winning children's book author and teacher, knows firsthand the importance of building connections and relationships for successful book marketing. With her recent book, Famous Seaweed Soup, she took matters into her own hands and re-published it with updated illustrations to better fit the modern world. From radio interviews to school visits, Antoinette has been proactive in her marketing approach, seeking opportunities to engage with people and create lasting impressions of her work.
After this episode, you will be able to:
- Excel in marketing children's books by navigating school and library networks.
- Foster strong relationships to ensure successful book marketing efforts.
- Harness the power of social media platforms for captivating book promotion.
- Triumph over self-doubt and persist on the marketing journey.
- Master the art of writing authentically for children while preserving their sense of wonder.
- Persist through challenges and tap into expert guidance for triumphant public relations outcomes.
The Importance of Making Connections
Building relationships is an essential part of successfully marketing a children's book. Connecting with people in schools, libraries, and cultural events helps establish rapport and trust, which can ultimately lead to increased exposure and sales for the book. Networking with key players in your target market, such as the PTA or school librarians, can expand your reach and audience. Forming connections with educators, librarians, and fellow authors enhance your credibility and will showcase your book in various spheres of influence. For Antoinette, using her career as an art and education teacher helped her to engage with schools and classrooms for workshops and presentations. By establishing connections with school personnel, she creates a supportive platform that helps her introduce her children's book to teachers and students alike.
Key Takeaways
- Start a blog to establish your voice and share news, events, and updates related to your book.
- Use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to promote your book.
- Reach out to local schools, libraries, and bookstores to schedule author visits, workshops, and presentations.
- Join local writer's groups and attend events to network with other authors and industry professionals.
- Submit your manuscript to publishers, querying their interest in your book.
- Consider hybrid publishing as an alternative to traditional publishing.
- Develop lesson plans or activities related to your book for teachers to use in the classroom.
- Market your book to homeschooling moms, preschool groups, and other educational organizations.
- Use Goodreads and other social networking platforms for readers to expand your reach.
- Reach out to local media outlets, such as newspapers and radio stations, for interviews and promotional opportunities.
Memorable Moments:
00:02:23 – Antoinette's publishing journey,
Antoinette talks about her initial struggles and how it took about five years to publish her book. She also talks about how authors had no say in how the book would look or illustrations used.
00:20:59 – Local Marketing Strategies,
Antoinette discusses post-launch marketing strategies such as reaching out to local gift shops, schools and museums for gigs. She emphasizes the importance of using social media to expand your reach beyond the local community.
00:22:14 – Benefits of the Children's Book Review Tour,
Antoinette shares her positive experience with the Children's Book Review Tour, where she was able to engage with a community of reviewers and promote her book through giveaways. It helped her reach new audiences and increase visibility for her book.
