Connect Four...or More!

August Newsletter: Issue #31

Hello friends,

Happy (hot!) August!

As summer speeds by at warp speed (is it ONLY me that feels this way? It can’t be!), I have been frantically scheduling move-in dates for my sons going back to college, last minute wedding planning with my daughter, “reconnects” with teacher friends before they head back to the classroom, and drop-in visits with my parents after my mom’s hip surgery.

And while I was juggling these various social appointments, despite them all being different, I realized they were actually all the same in one big way:

Connection.

And that revelation took me on a walk down memory lane.
Remember the childhood game Connect Four?
That cool “upright” Checkers game where you slip red or black checkers into a plastic grid, trying to get four in a row before your opponent? Horizontal, vertical, diagonal—it didn’t matter how you did it, as long as you got four in a row or blocked your opponent’s string of four, you won!

I loved that game!
I loved the plotting, the strategizing, the challenge of trying to figure out how I could connect my four pieces…and beat my sister. :)

Little did I know, “Connect Four” would also become a winning formula when I became an author a few decades later.

Back in 2016, when my first story, “Worst Cat Ever,” was released in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Very Good, Very Bad Cat book, I was (pretty) confident in the story and my writing skills, I was (somewhat) confident in my ability to connect with readers, and I was (mostly) clueless in how to build and grow my author platform and promote my book. In fact, I didn’t HAVE an author platform—no website, no author social media, very limited book promotion, and no “pre-release” hype.

What can I say? You don’t know what you don’t know…and I didn’t have a clue about the marketing side of publication! I just loved to write and was thrilled to see my story in print—especially in the Chicken Soup anthology series I loved so much.

Sound familiar?

Fast forward to 2024 when my debut middle-grade novel, PREMONITION: THE GIFT, was released with Black Rose Writing. This time, I was ready (or so I thought!)

I had an author website!
I had an author Instagram account!
I had a great publisher who was guiding my marketing and sharing publicity strategies, and I was connecting with local bookstores and spreading the word.
Life was GOOD!

And yet…
Sales were slower than I imagined, reviews were challenging to obtain, book events were sometimes difficult to find, and bookstores were often a tough sell.
And I was starting to panic!

What was the problem? What was I doing wrong?
Honestly…nothing.
The problem was, there are hundreds and hundreds of really good middle grade books out there. And without a connection, an intentional, targeted strategy to really stand out and get noticed, it was hard to crack the line up.

I wasn’t sure what to do, but I knew something had to change.

So it was back to the drawing board…or, rather, the game board. :)

I learned four key connections can help your book marketing explode—and when I figured out how to “connect four,” that childhood game I loved to win became a winner for my writing career.

Here’s how:

1. Friends and Family
Have your family and friends read your books? Recommended them to their friends? Written a review?

Do your extended friends and family, the “friends of friends” and “cousins twice removed” (removed from where, I’m not sure!), even know you are an author? This may sound silly, but until I asked, I didn’t realize there was a shocking amount of misinformation out there in my social circles about my “little hobby.”

Speaking of, this is also a great time to nip that annoying question. You know the one: “And how is your ‘little hobby,’ going?” Yep, set the record straight once and for all—you are a writer, this is your job, and you would love for them to read your book. And would they mind leaving a quick review while they’re at it? (Said with a sweet smile and a thank you. :) )

You might be surprised how many of your friends and family, or even casual acquaintances or co-workers, want to help you out, but just aren’t quite sure how. So tell them!

When PREMONITION: THE GIFT released, I was shocked when my uncle read it (it IS a kid’s book, after all), but I shamelessly asked him to write a review, and he did. Right away. (Thank you, Wayne!)

Lean in to your friends and family. Ask them to help you spread the word, loud and proud—you never know whose neighbor’s sister’s best friend needs to read your book right now!

2. Public Events

Writing may be a lonely, solo endeavor, but promotion certainly doesn’t have to be!

Visibility is key. The more you—and your book— can get out in the public eye, the better. Watch for opportunities to share your story and pay special attention to upcoming community festivals and niche areas that support the themes of your book.

Aim for both in-person and virtual events to expand your reach. Local school or library talks, book fairs, online book clubs, Facebook live author events, podcasts...there are so many options. Mix it up!

Make it fun! An interactive Q & A, a game of Two Truths and a Lie about your book and writing life, food and drinks that match the themes or time period of your story, a hint about the next project you’re working on…and, of course, a door prize to close out the event! Everyone loves door prizes. :)

Readers love to meet their favorite authors.

Authors love to meet the readers who enjoy their books.

Win-win!

3. Community
Connect where you live.
It really is as simple as that.

Instead of focusing on bookstores across the globe (although those are exciting, too!), focus on the bookstore across town or in the next city over…or the indie bookstores scattered around your state and your neighboring states! Yes, those are all considered “local!” :)

Connect with the people you see at the grocery store, the gym, the pharmacy, or the library. Your postal worker. Your hair stylist. Your dentist. Your neighbors. The bank teller you see every few months. The coffee shop barista you see every week (every day? haha!)

These are the people of your community! And what better way to build community than to support your community?

Recently, I was mailing copies of my book out to the winners of a giveaway contest. My wonderful postal worker was helping me and politely inquired about my book. She was an acquaintance; my son had graduated with her daughter. She was so excited that she immediately bought two copies and made me feel like an honest-to-God celebrity the way she was carrying on and appreciating a signed, personalized copy.

Such a great reminder…the community grapevine is stronger than any email list! :)

4. Digital Media
Yes, this is a BIGGIE! Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Substack, author website, email newsletters, Blue Sky, TikTok, YouTube...and the list goes on.

Virtual platforms and social media truly are a digital highway, connecting you around the world…instantly! With the click of a button, you can share and interact in another time zone, state or country. Our reach has never been further! And that’s fantastic...but be cautious.

Book scams are running rampant right now! That old adage, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” has become my daily mantra. You can become “friends”with a single click, but ensuring the person is actually who they say they are and not a bot, AI, or scammer is not nearly as easy. :( (Somehow, I just don’t believe Stephen King is emailing me because he’s a fellow lonely writer and wants to connect, haha!)

So how to keep the balance? Absolutely keep updating your website, publishing your Substack posts, and sending email blasts with fun book announcements—scream it far and wide, to every corner of the internet and beyond!

But also don’t be afraid to pull back and direct some energy on fostering personal connections and authentic author relationships in smaller, focused groups on social media. Find your tribe. Find that niche group of like-minded individuals and start building those connections. Before long, you’ll become an endless source of inspiration and support to each other as you empower, mentor, and grow together. :)

So what do you think?
Ready to start expanding your author reach?
Call your sister.
Or cousin.
Or best friend.
Or sister’s best friend’s cousin!
Then Connect Four or more…and you’ll be on your way!

Author Spotlight

Meet Kim Danielson!

Kim is the author of a fantastic memoir, PIECE BY PIECE: A LIFE REMEMBERED THROUGH THINGS LOST—a very powerful story about overcoming the loss of precious keepsakes and heirlooms, and the people and memories they represent, after a home burglary. Offering a new perspective on material possessions, this book will empower readers to take charge of their own legacies, one thing at a time. Congrats, Kim, on an amazing debut—thank you for courageously sharing this heartfelt story of love, loss, and the true meaning of “things.”

I first met Kim through a writing program, The Book Incubator, when she was working on this book. Kim is an extremely talented writer and her ability to tell a deeply personal, emotionally-charged story with humor, grace, and thoughtful reflection is so inspiring. Kim practiced law on both ends of the spectrum, first as a public defender and then as a corporate attorney. In 2019, after the loss of her mother, she founded a nonprofit organization to support teachers impacted by cancer. In all her work, she has witnessed countless examples of transformation stemming from loss and beauty for ashes trades. This kind of restoration is a major undercurrent in her writing. She also writes a weekly Substack called The Unexpected Sacred, where she reflects on the untold stories of objects. She lives in Denver with her husband and three sons. Kim is a wonderful person and a fantastic writer—I feel so grateful to have met her! :)

Want a sneak peek? Here’s the “back cover blurb” of PIECE BY PIECE: A LIFE REMEMBERED THROUGH THINGS LOST:

“A fresh take on the loss memoir, Piece by Piece follows a middle-aged mother forced to reconcile the theft of precious keepsakes with the memories and people the items represent.

If things are “just things,” why does it hurt so deeply when we lose them?

When a home burglary strips Kim Danielson of heirlooms and other special keepsakes, she loses more than the items themselves. She is also robbed of tangible connections to her history, and physical reminders of loved ones who have died—igniting grief both old and new. Feeling the weight of disappointment for future generations who cannot inherit a piece of her family’s legacy, Kim creates a new and lasting heirloom, one that can never be stolen.

Perfect for anyone who has ever lost anything of meaningful value, this book provides solace and a new perspective on material possessions. A practical template for preserving a legacy with or without artifacts, Piece by Piece offers a unique take on loss through the lens of stolen objects and invites readers to tell the stories of their lives by telling the stories of their things.”

Sounds like an awesome book, doesn’t it? I loved it! If you’d like a copy of your own, you can use the links below to order from The Tattered Cover, Kim’s favorite Indie bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, or whichever Independent bookstore you prefer. Pick up your copy today—you won’t be disappointed! :)

The Tattered Cover
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

You can follow Kim on Instagram and Facebook. Then pop over to her website to learn more about her book and writing journey. Enjoy!

Happy Reading!

News & Upcoming Events

I’m excited to announce that I will be hosting a kids’ writing workshop: Dream It! Plan It! Write it! at the Lakeside Literary Festival in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, on August 22nd! Bring the kids for a fun writing workshop and spend the day in Lake Geneva. :)

And check out the amazing line up of authors! There will be author interviews, an author panel, an author fair, and the keynote speaker: Hannah Morrissey! Woo-hoo! Hannah is the best-selling author of The Black Harbor Series—crime thrillers at their best. She is both an amazing writer and an engaging speaker, so you won’t want to miss this!

Have you picked up a copy of Premonition: The Gift yet? If not, feel free to order from one of the links below.

Black Rose Writing
Rosalee Book Boutique
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Thank you so much for your support. :)
Stay tuned for other fun, book-focused events throughout 2026!

Happy reading,

EC Quinn
Children and Adult Author