Pennsylvania Authors' Network

WHAT IS THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTHORS' NETWORK? 
The Pennsylvania Authors' Network (PennAN) is a free to join/free to use network of writers and authors from Pennsylvania and adjoining states. We welcome those who are self-published, or whose work is part of an anthology. 

Our main purpose is to provide a place (via the network's Yahoo! group), through which local writers can team up to take part in multi-author panel/Q&As and book signings.

 

We'll help you find your way.

Free to join . . . Free to use
                       
 
ARE THERE ENOUGH AUTHORS IN THE KEYSTONE STATE FOR THIS TO WORK?
Hundreds of thousands of books get published in the USA every year.
Obviously, the vast majority of these were written by people who live outside Pennsylvania, but it’s a safe bet that enough authors live in or near enough to the Keystone State to make this network a success.  

                                                                                                 WHY SHOULD I JOIN?       
Whether traditionally published or self-published, authors who are less well-known have trouble arranging book signings. 
One answer is to organize multi-author events which offer something more than just a book signing, with up to five authors taking part.
From a book store or library's point of view, there's not much additional work involved. On the benefit side, they'll likely generate more interest for the event and (in the case of bookstores) sell more books—it's a numbers game after all. 

At present, we do most of our events at Pennsylvania libraries. With a little planning, a professional approach and enough people doing their bit, we could make multi-author panel/Q&As a regular event at libraries and book stores throughout Pennsylvania. That's got to be good for everybody. 

                                                                                                 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?   

 

Nothing.  The network is a free to join, free to use service.  There's no membership fee, and no charge for taking part in any event. That said, there are no guarantees either.  It's up to you to promote each event as best you can.  If you don't promote the events you participate in, invitations to take part will soon dry up (see Guide for Participants  and FAQs).  

                                                                                              SO WHAT'S MY NEXT STEP?   
Take a look around the site.  The 'guide for participants' page tells you all you need to know about taking part in a signing.  If
you want to organize an event yourself, use the 'guide for coordinators'.  When you're ready to join the network, follow the link below to join our Yahoo Group.
                                                                                                  

 


                                                                               ADD YOUR INFORMATION FOR PROMOTIONAL USE
Once you join the Yahoo group, add your information to the member database (you'll find it on the left-hand menu), then go to the Files section. Once there, open the folder called 'Pics and 100-word bios for 'PennAN events.'  Once inside that folder, create a new one in your name (if you write under a pseudonym, use that one. Then add the following:

     One clearly named* JPG version of your author photo
     One clearly-named* JPG version of the  book you'd most like to promote
     One clearly-named* PDF file containing a 100-word bio

* PLEASE NOTE: A 'clearly-named file' is one which the person putting together promotional information can tell what the contents are and to whom they refer without having to open it.

Feel free to add your other links (in the relevant folders please).

Whoever organizes an event collates information about participating authors from the Pics & Bios folder. It gets sent to the book store or library hosting the event for use in leaflets and online promotion. Creating these files in this way saves you having to send out your information every time you want to take part in an event (and saves the coordinator having to request it every time he/she organizes one).

When someone wants to organize a signing, they may contact you directly or post a general group message with the relevant  details.

                                                                      DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO ARRANGE THINGS

Like any other good idea, this will only work if you do. Promote this group on your blog. Invite other PA authors to join.  If you have an agent, ask them to promote it, too. If you want to sell your book, you have to put yourself out there. The Pennsylvania Authors' Network is a good way to do that.