Teamwork.
Working together.
Authors supporting authors.
Community.
Solidarity.
Everything the WG2E teaches is demonstrated with the “practice what you preach” approach. The WG2E is all about writers helping writers reach readers and besides this awesome blog, there is the WG2E Street Team, founded by Alicia Street. We Tweet for each other, converse on Facebook, share great news, laugh, tease, and encourage anyone who might reach out for a little pick-me-up. We are a community working together in solidarity to support each other in our publishing journeys.
With that in mind, the Beach Book Blast was born in May when a couple Street Teamers mentioned using their remaining Kindle Select Free days and the suggestion to create a multi-author/multi-book event for the Free days took off like wildfire. Everyone jumped in to help and soon the Beach Book Blast Blog (BBB) was set up. We cross-promoted, had a Twitter party with some fun fans, gave away lots of books to new readers, and even sold some other titles discounted specifically for the event.
Pleased with the success of our efforts, we started discussing what else could we do together to reach more readers? Coming up we’re working on a fall blog hop, an anthology to release in October, and August 15-18, thanks to a suggestion by Dale Amidei, we’re hosting the Beach Book Blast Summer Release Event. The event is open to anyone on the Street Team with a 2012 release in June, July, and August, and is a way to build some buzz about our new titles.
Our current participating authors—with possibly more to come:
Dale Amidei
Debra Burroughs
Stacey Joy Netzel
Liz Matis
Janice Lane Palko
L.C. Giroux
Tamara Ward
Authors of the WG2E Summer Fling Anthology
Shelia Seabrook
Alicia Street and Roy Street
During the first event D.D. Scott generously donated a Kindle Fire and some gift cards for the Twitter party (Thanks, D.D.!). For the Beach Book Blast Summer Release Event we’ll also be giving away a Kindle Fire, so be sure to mark your calendar for August 15-18 and stop by the blog for some fun, great books, and to enter for the grand prize.
Now it’s your turn WG2E readers…share with us what you’ve done or how you’ve banded together to help other writers reach those coveted, awesome readers! Were you happy with the results and would you do it again?
The Best of The WG2E Street Team Wishes — Stacey Joy Netzel
Stacey Joy Netzel is a proud member of the WG2E Street Team and enjoying her indie publishing journey more than she ever imagined she would. It’s hard work but more than worth it when a reader contacts her asking “When does the next book come out?” She currently has 14 books published, 11 of which are indie.
Blog and Website: www.StaceyJoyNetzel.com
I am hopefully going to be part of the Book Blast Anthology due out in October. It has been really good so far, getting involved in choosing titles and covers and taglines. I feel like I am part of a writing community, albeit small. I can’t wait for the finished product to come out.
Awesome, Julie! And you’re right, it’s been fun working with everyone on that project, too. The end result will be great.
I have to add that KIRU TAYE is also part of the book launch event this August. She sent in her information after my post had been turned in and scheduled.
Great- as soon as I get another book out this sounds like a great cooperative to be a part of:)
Everyone’s been wonderful to work with, Lois. We’d love to have you!
I’m currently part of a writer’s group, and we all cross-promote each other. I highly recommend doing this. We’ve all become good friends, and it’s so nice to have the support during the peaks and valleys of publishing.
With this business so solitary, it’s nice to have those groups that become such good friends for exactly the reason you said ~ “so nice to have the support during the peaks and valleys of publishing.”
I had this first with my WisRWA chaptermates (and still do) and now I feel that same community here and on the Street Team. I love it!
Hi, Stacey! Great post. There are so many fantastic things going on with the Street team, from the events to the camaraderie to the Facebook page… Being part of a group of writers like this is amazing. It’s rare (for me, at least) to find a group where members are so supportive and so quick to be supportive. I think it’s a true team, and I’m a proud to be a part of it, also.
Tamara, I’m so grateful to be a part of the Street Team with you! Everyone’s been so great about stepping up to help whenever and wherever needed. I’m excited for what’s to come.
All of you involved in our WG2E Street Team are totally rockin’ it!
I luv popping in to see what y’all have come up with next, and I luv to see you cheering each other on. I was tickled to be able to treat you to your first Ereader Giveaway and am thrilled to hear you’re carrying on that tradition.
Nothin’ beats Writers Helping Writers Reach Readers…and our WG2E Street Team puts that into some superfab action!!!
Well done, my friends!!!
And Go, Team, Go!!!
D.D. THANKS to you for starting it all ~ and Alicia for getting the Street Team rolling! We were thrilled with your Ereader Giveaway for the May event and yeah, had to carry on the tradition.
I never imagined in the beginning of my writing journey 8 years ago that I’d be planning events with a group of friends who are spread out around the world! Go, Team, Go is right!
I’m so excited to see everyone’s new releases. Belonging to so many loops and groups, it’sometimes easy to overlook new releases by our peers. This way, there is focused attention on a particular group all in one place. I love this idea! I’m looking forward to participating in the next one. You guys are awesome! WTG Street Team!
So true what you said about belonging to so many groups that some things can get overlooked. It’ll be great to have you in the next one, PJ! Most likely sometime in the fall.
The Street Team rocks! ‘Nuff said.
The Amazing Greg has spoken.
Thanks for the credit, Stacey. What this event will become, however, is due far more to team members like you who cheerfully and diligently work to make all the many steps necessary happen behind the scenes.
Confidence is high that my upcoming title will be ready in time once quality assurance is completed. Regardless, I will be there to support this launch. The character of the contributors involved demands nothing less.
I’m glad the confidence is high, Dale. You must be working your butt off! (as we all have been) Your support has been awesome, whether your book is officially ready or not. The whole team has really been pulling together.
I’m so excited to be part of the Beach Book Blast. As a newbie, you all have been tremendously helpful and patient. For anyone else considering signing up for one of these promotions, do it! The people are wonderful.
Thanks so much, Janice. We’re thrilled to have you joining us! You’re only a newbie in the fiction arena–and you won’t be for long.
Fab post, Stacey! Thanks for all the work you are doing for the Beach Book Blast launch event! Every day I am amazed at the friendship and support going around in our team, as well as the creative ideas and willingness to go the extra mile to make things happen.
Alicia–again, thanks to you for starting the Street Team. I’ve already agreed with others on the friendship and support, but this “creative ideas and willingness to go the extra mile to make things happen.” really has been awesome!
I love this site and have found so much helpful information here. How does a person become a member of the Street Team? Is it open to anyone who is an indie author? I’d be interested in tossing in my hat and my time.
Hey, Lily! (Lily’s one of my WisRWA chaptermates! We just had our meeting yesterday and she gifted me a print copy of her new book Some Enchanted Waltz because she thanked me in the beginning of the book. Thanks again back to you, Lily!)
I linked the WG2E Street Team Yahoo loop in the post so you should be able request to join from there. We’d love to have you on the team!
I adore and love this site. There’s so much information and help and support – when we need it! My book’s not ready but I’ll be cheering on the participants.
Stacey Joy Netzel is a wonderful, wonderful woman. Funny, supportive and smart and she’s doing a great job putting together this Beach Book Blast!
Way to go Alica & Roy!
CC right back at ya! Thanks for all your help and support with everything and it’ll be coming back when you’ve got your book ready!
This is a great team, as the Amazing Greg said. I won’t be in the August group, but I’ll be tweeting and FB’ing my butt off to help publicize it!
Thanks, Dana! We appreciate it and we’ll catch you on the next event.
Great post, Stacey! And you’re doing a wonderful job organizing the book launch. I wish I was ready for it, but I’ll definitely be in the next. And, I’ll be supporting this one in any way I can. I love our WG2E Street Team. All of you are so awesome to work with. I must say thank you to Alicia for getting us all together. And a big thank you to D.D. for starting the whole thing rolling.
Thanks, Rhonda! It’s *easy* when I’ve got a good support crew to pitch in, so credit really does go to everyone. Easy meaning easier.
It’s been so wonderful to join in with the other authors on the WG2E Street Team. I wonder sometimes how I managed to be in the right place at the right time. Pure luck. Go team!
I’m a fairly new participant so I’m learning from everyone as I go along. Thank you all.
When luck and opportunity meet, Shelia! You were smart enough to recognize it.
We’re glad you’re with us!
Is it too late to join the Street Team for the Beach Book Blast Summer Release Event?
I have a short story The Dust Storm (A Short Story) just released in July. I also have a nonfiction title released in August — How to Write a Researched Essay: A Beginner’s Guide. They are both short works, not novels, so I wasn’t sure if the titles had to be full novels to participate.
Katrina Parker Williams
Great post, Stacey! Joining the Street Team was one of the best decisions I ever made. I will be with Rhonda in promoting the book release any way I can – and I look forward to working on the anthology with you all. It’s been great fun so far! And being part of a group of such talented, supportive writers has really inspired me. Thank you all! And I’d like to than the Academy . . .
~Cate
I’m a recent member of the street team and was lucky enough to get in on the Beach Blast event. Everyone has been so helpful to the newbie. I know we’re going to have a lot of fun during this event and I’m glad to be a part of it and a part of a team that helps each other.