FriesenPress Author Spotlight Collection: Volume 2
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From a former professional wrestler on a Canada-wide book tour to co-authors promoting global awareness in a presentation at the United Nations, FriesenPress authors’ books can take them to some amazing, unexpected, and inspiring places.
With the FriesenPress Author Spotlight, we pass the mic to our authors to share their stories and experiences in their own words. Here’s a collection of three authors we recently featured on our social media channels:
Vance Nevada | Author of (Un)Controlled Chaos
One thing I’ve learned from my previous book, Wrestling in the Canadian West, is that while you can expect to attract some attention through online sales, the best way to sell a book is to put it in front of your customer. When they can hold it, flip the pages, and discover something that delights them — it is the strongest connection an author can make with a buyer.
My new book, (Un)Controlled Chaos, covers the past and present of professional wrestling in Canada. So, what better place to connect with fans of the genre than on a book tour that gets into the adrenaline-charged environment of wrestling arenas. I want the fans to engage in their passion at the highest level and take something home to remember the experience.
On September 10th, I took my book on the road. Since then, I’ve visited 13 cities across Canada from Vancouver to Ottawa with several more scheduled around major wrestling events in the new year.
Drawing on my time as a wrestler has been a tremendous help to bring people to the table and to relate stories from my career, take advantage of a photo opportunity, and compel sales. I have also been fortunate to have support from the wrestling community. Top stars (WWE's Kevin Owens) and ring legends (popular tag team The Bollywood Boyz) were all willing to pose for an endorsement photo with the book. It really shows the size and support of this community and has helped build enthusiasm for the book.
Vance Nevada’s tips for a book tour
Consider the venues where your readers are going to engage in their interests that relate to your book.
Explore opportunities to appear as a guest speaker or presenter where some of your travel costs may be covered.
Be open to promoting the similar works by other authors in a manner where you can cross-pollinate to each other’s fanbase.
Seek out podcasts and media outlets to create a media presence that you can share via your own social media platforms and website.
Don’t get discouraged. Not every book signing event is going to be a hit, but each appearance creates awareness, which may translate into an upswing of online sales (i.e., Amazon) in the days to follow.
Buy on the FriesenPress Bookstore | Visit Vance’s Website | Follow on social media
David Edey | Author of Executor Help
It’s been less than a year since my book, Executor Help, was published. So far, it has sold 3,000 copies and counting. While I feel incredibly fortunate, I don't share that number to brag. My point is success comes when you have a plan and understand that book promotion is a marathon, not a sprint.
The subject of my book is not a subject that every media outlet wants to talk about. I get that. Talking about death and estate planning is not a sexy topic. And yet, with every media appearance I am lucky to make, there is a spike in traffic to my website and lots of book sales. That’s proof that there’s a huge demand for my subject.
To keep up the momentum, I created the Executor Help Podcast. I enjoy having conversations with other authors who are in the "end of life" niche. I was surprised by how varied and interesting the topics can be, as the authors I have spoken with have great passion and conviction. They all have special stories to share with the world — and those include other FriesenPress authors! One day, I was browsing through other books in my category on the FriesenPress Bookstore and came across books by Joyce Aitken (author of Sincere Condolences) and Gail Steeves (author of Not My Own). I’ve had them both on the podcast. It’s been a great way to cross-promote with other authors and bring attention to our work by sharing it on social media.
The approach has worked: the podcast is the third highest traffic source to my website and gets many monthly clicks. I believe as authors we need to remember that we are business people as well. To be successful, don't get discouraged when you get a ‘no’ and think creatively about how you can get people to want your book. Good things happen to those who promote their book. Good luck!
— David Edey, author of Executor Help
Buy on the FriesenPress Bookstore | Visit David’s Website | Follow on social media
Stan Hildebrand | Author of Lil’ Dragon
I started working for Friesens on April 13th, 1987 — over 35 years ago. Today, I hold the position of Night Shift Production Manager.
In 2021, I began thinking about writing a children’s book with the goal of leaving a legacy for my children and grandchildren. After a few months of working through the characters and story in my head, I decided to put it on paper. The title Lil’ Dragon came from my granddaughter Lily — we call her “Lil’” for short. Lily’s parents, Tiana and Allan, also appear in the book as mother and father dragons.
The next thing I did was ask my daughter, Wendy, to create the illustrations for me. My 11-year-old granddaughter, Sophie, helped with some of the coloring. As the story and illustrations came together, I contacted FriesenPress. With their help and guidance, the book was finally starting to come to life.
When my book was ready to be published, I of course decided to print through the Friesens printers. When I went for press checks of the book, I was accompanied by Wendy, her two children, and my son Terry (who actually worked on the cover in the production process at Friesens).
I’ve seen thousands of jobs being produced at Friesens, always thinking, “treat it like it’s your own.” I now have a much better understanding of what that really means.
I’m a published author, and my daughter is a published illustrator. It’s so cool — and what a great feeling it was to see my family’s eyes when they saw the first printed copy. It’s all been very fulfilling and exciting for my whole family. I’m so proud that I could have them involved in this process.
— Stan Hildebrand, author of Lil’ Dragon
Buy on the FriesenPress Bookstore | Visit Stan’s Website
Eleanor Deckert | Author of 10 Days of April
How does one measure success in the arts – especially when you're a first-time-author? For me, success is when your dream becomes a reality!
At 20 years old, I committed to my dream. “I want to get married, go out west, build a log cabin, raise a bunch of kids, volunteer in my community, and then write a book about it.” As each part of that dream became reality, I was still hesitant about writing, but found my motivation: my mother turning 80! If she is going to read my book, I'd better get it written now!
I typed all day on Sundays and mailed a chapter to my Mom every Monday. Did I dare put “Book 1” on the front cover? I grabbed paper, made a chart, outlined 12 months and 10 topics. I typed and typed and typed. Now, seven years later, I have published five “10 Days...” memoirs with more on the way.
Again and again people ask me, "How do you do that?"
After developing a reliable system over the course of my publishing career, I realized that I could blaze a trail for others to follow. So, I developed an online seminar, “Eleanor Deckert's Memoir Writing Method”, filled with the steps, landmarks, and turning points I find helpful in the creation of my books. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, I delivered this seminar online to over 40 people (and counting).
Everyone has a story to tell. It is simply thrilling to encourage individuals to find that incentive, take that first step, and realize the satisfaction of converting oral history into ink on paper.
I think I have found my calling!
— Eleanor Deckert, author of 10 Days in April
Buy on the FriesenPress Bookstore | Visit Eleanor’s Website | Follow on social media
Jeanne Sarson and Linda MacDonald | Author of Women Unsilenced
For many people, May 19th is just another day. But for us, that date now comes with an amazing emotional attachment — a sense that our dream may be coming true!
This past May 19th, we had the opening role in a presentation entitled “Gender-Based Violence as Torture Inflicted by Non-State Actors” held during the 31st Session of the United Nations Commission of Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice in Vienna, Austria. What made this event so astonishing is that others were taking participatory ownership of the topic of gender-based violence toward women and girls. This had never happened to us before. That May day felt as if we were watching the story we tell in our book Women Unsilenced leap off the page and into the world.
The purpose of our campaign was to encourage United Nations countries to work together to develop a declaration addressing torture by non-State actors as a model strategy to promote global awareness to end non-State torture crimes against women and girls. We watched with amazement as the governments of Finland and Honduras and United Nations specialists were eagerly voicing their support toward our mission.
Women Unsilenced simplifies human rights language by explaining that non-State actors and non-State torture refers to the everyday person—to family and non-family individuals, to groups and gangs—who commit acts of torture. This book gave voice to our 28 year journey and to that of women we supported who were told to never tell. Well, Women Unsilenced tells all!
— Jeanne Sarson and Linda MacDonald, authors of Women Unsilenced
