Last week I introduced you to my new personal assistant, Terri Wilson. Since my announcement, Terri has been busy getting organized, making spreadsheets, opening new social media platforms, investigating bloggers and book reviewers, and prepping for our new street team.

What is a street team? Basically it is just what it sounds like. For authors, it’s a team of people whose purpose it is to “hit the ground running” in an effort to promote an author and the author’s works.

You may ask yourself what I ask myself – if I am not a bestselling author or even a highly popular one, then how can I have a street team?

Ah, grasshopper, that is the point! A street team helps an author spread the word about his/her books, promoting to libraries, book groups,. bookstores, colleges, writing groups – anywhere where people read or might be interested in the named authors writings. The idea is to help promote the author to new people and improve the author’s visibility.

A street team is a valuable resource in social media too. Their promotions on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, Google+ and other platforms can truly help authors find their readers, new readers and a niche for their work.

The value of street teams cannot be underestimated. I’ve learned the value of them from several prolific authors like Jackson Dean Chase and, my dear friend, Robbie Cox, just to nightlight a couple. The publicity street teams provide and their tireless faith and promotion truly increases book reviews and fan bases.

And that’s what I need in order to be a name you’ll recognize more readily.

Also, a good street team can be a reading pool where an author can find beta readers among the supportive fans, as well as other areas of expertise. Additionally, these readers can offer great suggestions of what can be done on social media as well as what authors might want to write going forward.

I’m excited to open this new Street Team. Anyone who is “local” will have a chance to meet up with Terri and me and have some fun working together.  Team members from other areas and across the country/world will hear from me exclusively too, we just won’t get in person contact.

#teamphoenix

There are two links to the page about Sherry’s Team Phoenix. You can hit it here, from the main page, or jump to the info page under Press, News and Events. Help me spread the word and let’s help new readers discover the magic between the lines! Terri is eager to take your name.

Sherry

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress): – NEW BOOK OF POETRY! – expected release July 2016
– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures
– fictional memoir – November 2016!
– four-part fairy story (part one complete)

On the Desk: (next reading): waiting a new book by Carolyn Haines

Off the Desk (book just finished): Gone With the Witch – Heather Blake

Coming Soon:  Are you writing every day? Why you should and how I can help!

I’m happy to say that 2016 is turning out to be a potentially busy year for the author-me. I’ve several new projects on the burner and the writing is flowing well. However, with so many writing projects pulling me in different directions, I find myself at sixes and nines. As a result, I needed some help staying organized and focused, and finding help with the minutia that was distracting me. That’s a hard pill for an Aries like me, normally uber organized, self-reliant and very stubborn. But not too stubborn to realize that having talented help is a strength and that is what brings me to my announcement.

I’m excited to introduce you to my new Personal Assistant – Terri A. Wilson. As my assistant, Terri is going to help me manage my extracurricular events, assist with my calendar, organize and supervise a new street team, help with social media and generally be my “Writer Gal Friday,” my left hand (I write with my right), and my second brain. She brings a wealth of diverse experience with her.

Terri has a BA in English, a Master’s in Education and a Masters in Library Science. She has twelve years teaching experience at the middle, high school and college levels. Currently, she is home schooling her two daughters, ages ten and seven. Terri loves to read and write, and you will enjoy reading her blog for her book reports and her stories.

Born in Texas, she’s been married to her beloved Jeff for 22 years. They live in Charlotte, NC, and this means we’ll be able to meet in person, an added blessing. Terri reads what I write (thankfully!). But she is also an avid reader of urban fantasy, paranormal, a little gothic, and historical. She loves quilting, painting and reading – the woman can have four books going at one time (I cannot do that)! Her sense of humor is broad and fun, and she exudes calm, a trait I find extremely valuable.

Terri and I also share common causes in our advocacy against Domestic Violence, and Childhood Abuse and Bullying. Together we hope to make a difference going forward together.

I think you’re going to like Terri as much as I do. You’ll be hearing more from her as she organizes my new street team, book launches, blog tours, and other events.

When the going gets tough, the tough get help. I’m very glad I did. Please join me in welcoming Terri to Between the Lines and all the magic that entails.

If you are interested in reaching Terri in her work as my PA, you can write her at wilson.terria@gmail.com

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And as always, you know you can write me anytime. Feel free to use a comment form, or leave me a comment here. I welcome all your thoughts.

I remain, as always,
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress): – NEW BOOK OF POETRY! – expected release July 2016
– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures
– fictional memoir
– four-part fairy story (part one complete)

On the Desk: (next reading): Gone with the Witch (#5) Heather Blake

Off the Desk (book just finished): In Shining Armor  (#4) Elliott James

Coming Soon:  Let’s Talk About Your Writing! and look for my Street Team!

Poetry Month is coming to a close. I hope you’ve taken a chance and opened your mind and heart to some new verses, explored new poetic vistas, and discovered some new poetic insights.

Just in case you want to continue celebrating poetry, I have some other dates you can participate in!

National Poem on Your Pillow Day! Always the first Tuesday in May, this year it is May 3. On this day put a poem on your spouses or significant other’s pillow, a child’s pillow, your roommate or dorm mate — and give them something memorable, be it fun or deep or even odd.

National Take A Poet to Work Day! Always the third Wednesday in July, this year it is July 20. This is the day you take something of your favorite poet to work, set it beside your phone or calendar, your computer or on your door. Celebrate the day by introducing everything about your favorite poet to everyone else.

Random Acts of Poetry Day! Always the first Wednesday in October, this year it is Oct 5. Leave random bits of poetry in public places — on the bus, on a park bench, on the train, in your spouses’ car, on the school bus, in your break room at work. Make them fun and interesting. Pithy or fun.

Let these be added ways to include poetry in your life, make it fun and introduce poetry to others. No one said poetry had to be dull or hard to understand.

I leave you with a poem I’ve come to love. I hope you’ll share this with your students, your friends, your family, your readers. Let us keep poetry alive long after Poetry Month has passed.

Introduction to Poetry

I ask them to take a poem
 and hold it up to the light
 like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
 and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s room
 and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
 across the surface of a poem
 waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do
 is tie the poem to a chair with rope
 and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
 to find out what it really means.

—Billy Collins
Introduction to Poetry Billy Collins. From The Apple that Astonished Paris, 1996. University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, Ark.

Tomorrow – come by to read an excerpt from the Magic Princess books as we draw National Princess Week to a close! You should enjoy some of PJ’s writing and awaken your inner fierce warrior!

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter! I’ll be publishing new material and there will be giveaways and goodies for newletter followers ONLY! Spread the word, thank you!

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress): 

– NEW BOOK OF POETRY! – expected release July 2016
– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures
– fictional memoir
– four-part fairy story (part one complete)

On the Desk: (next reading): In Shining Armor  (#4) Elliott James

Off the Desk (book just finished): Soulless by Gail Carriger (#1 in a series)

Coming Soon:  Let’s Talk About Your Writing!