A Marketing and Outreach Update
BATW’s marketing and outreach efforts are off to a great start in 2015. We were thrilled that our July event at Book Passage, featuring Christopher Baker on Cuba, resulted in a standing-room-only crowd. Lee Foster introduced Chris, who helped found BATW in the 1980s. Special thanks to MJ Pramik for organizing the refreshments (Chilean wines, mineral water, and chips found in Cuba and at Trader Joe’s). Board members Bob Cooper and Jim Shubin were bartenders extraordinarios. The costs were shared by Avalon Books, publisher of Chris’ guidebooks to Cuba and Havana.
We have produced a “sell sheet,” which introduces BATW to prospective members. Inga Aksamit helped initially, then we contacted past president Diane LeBow, who fortunately saves everything, including past flyers. She provided text, which we massaged, and BATW board member Jim Shubin adapted the layout from last year’s Clips & Pics. Printouts were made by our amazing “whatever you need, I’m there” Ginny Prior.
We have exciting events coming up. On Oct. 11, 2015, a BATW panel will launch Litquake 2015 at Rebound Books in San Rafael at 10 a.m. Don’t miss it! Honorary BATW member Spud Hilton, travel editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, will headline our group, which includes Laurie McAndish King, Diane LeBow, Jules and Effin Older, me [Laura Deutsch], and Spud. Litquake and Rebound Books are sending out press releases and handling publicity.
Looking ahead to 2016, BATW will publish a magazine that is dedicated to the National Parks of California with stories and photos by our members. We’re in conversation with the National Parks Conservation Association, a million-plus-member foundation that supports the national parks, about helping with distribution. (We expect the publication to be available in November 2015.)
We’ll also have a panel-read in 2016 at Writing Off Paper, a live reading series featuring local and regional writers for read-aloud events coordinated by Betsy Graziani Fasbinder.
At our August 20 board meeting, we discussed great program ideas for 2016. Stay tuned for details. Suzie Rodriguez and Karen Misuraca have volunteered to write BATW press releases in connection with newsworthy events, including some of the programs we’re considering for next year.
We always need volunteers to help out. If you’d like to be on the Marketing and Outreach Committee, please contact me at info@lauradeutsch.com. Our Co-presidents Laurie McAndish King and Suzie Rodriguez and our Executive Director Ginny Prior are always available to provide excellent support and feedback along the way.
2015 was just the beginning. Come join us in our marketing and outreach in 2016. This is the most fun job at BATW!
—Laura Deutsch