Valerie Morris welcomes author community strategist, Kerry Dobson, to discuss how authors can extend their book's impact well beyond the initial launch. Kerry shares valuable strategies for building meaningful communities around your book that allow you to fulfill your core mission and create lasting change in readers' lives.
Key Highlights:
- Beyond the Book Launch: Kerry explains why a book's publication is just the beginning of its journey and how community-building can significantly extend its reach and impact
- Strategic Community Building: The conversation explores the thoughtful process of creating groups based on a book's content, including:
- Taking essential breaks after launch to prevent burnout
- Focusing on just 2-3 implementable key messages from your book
- Positioning yourself as a guide rather than a guru to overcome imposter syndrome
- Creating a realistic timeline that respects your audience's capacity
- The Shift to Authentic Marketing: Both Kerry and Valerie discuss why passive marketing approaches are becoming less effective, while community-based strategies foster emotional connections and loyalty
Connect With Us
- Follow Valerie on LinkedIn for updates when this episode goes live
- Learn more about Kerry Dobson and her work with authors. Check out Kerry's private podcast: "The Great Group Revolution"
Gift Guide for Authors:
Whether you’re an author yourself, or have an author in your family that you just love to spoil, I’ve got some fun gift ideas to inspire creativity while also helping you stay productive. Sometimes the right tools can help you really get in the mood to write, and some things are simply purely for the whimsical creativity they can spark. Either way, enjoy some of my favorite gift ideas for authors!
Fanciful Pen Holder
This typewriter pen/pencil holder is super cute, and surprisingly solid. Whenever I see it sitting on my desk it gives me a small smile. Even though I’m writing on my modern day Macbook, I can imagine the clickety clack of the typewriter keys and the crank as you push the slide back for a new row.
Library Card Pockets
These old-school library card pockets with cards are a whimsical small touch. Use them for greeting cards, bookmarks with a handwritten note, or stick them inside your own books at book signings or in-person sales. They add a really fun hint of nostalgia and any bookworm at heart will light up at these!
https://amzn.to/4kSvuob
Wireless Speaker
No matter where I set up to write, my JBL portable speaker helps me set the tone and get in the zone. Music sets the tone for me. I personally love using Spotify’s Daily Lift playlist which is personally made just for me! Another playlist I love is “Butter.” The quality is great, and it’s so durable with this speaker and if I move around to work from different rooms in the house, or even outside of my home office, it’s easy to move around.
https://amzn.to/44JN3lJ
Supportive Office Chair
I love this comfortable office chair. I had chair envy for years after seeing my sister with this same chair until I finally got my own! The wheels roll so well and the chair is easy to adjust.
https://amzn.to/44JN3lJ
My Favorite Pen
If you don’t already have a favorite pen (or even if you do), you’ll want to try these out. We literally keep buying and rebuying these Pentel ballpoint pens. I actually have them in about eight different colors!
https://amzn.to/4kLDMy1
Water Bottle
One writer’s hack is to keep a water bottle for your desk. Then, there’s no excuse to get dehydrated, or have to get up and around to get more water. I’ve found that if I get up from my desk to write, I get distracted and interrupted. I like to keep this Yeti water bottle nearby. It’s durable, practical, and the fun colors add some joy to my life.
https://amzn.to/44Hw9Ee
Ring Light
Getting out there with video content to share the face behind my writing is so easy with this ring light. It’s lightweight and folds up well, so it’s easy to store. Regardless of what room’s lighting involves, I can supplement the situation with this light!
https://amzn.to/4m0ugJ7
Jotlet Notepad
I have this Levenger Jotlet notepad sitting on my desk everyday! I use it to write down inspirational quotes I come across and then I flip to a new page every week or so and stare at those quotes propped up like a tent just beyond where my mouse hand rests regularly. This one is cute with the book cover design too!
https://www.levenger.com/collections/jotlets/products/circa-levenger-library-jotlet?variant=43364466655381
Connect with Valerie Morris
- Books: We're All Ears: How to increase your impact, influence, and success online in a noisy world
- LinkedIn: Weekly posts and updates from Valerie Morris
- Reserve your domain name or set up website hosting for your author websitehere.
- Build your own marketing plan for your book launch with the Book Marketing Blueprint.
- Rock your next interview with this guide!
Mentioned in this episode:
Join the Author Craft Community!
Access Author Craft Community, a resource library that grows every month with new resources and information for authors at an affordable price.
https://tinterocreative.thrivecart.com/author-craft-community-for-writers/
