I recently had the opportunity to appear in a “big box” bookstore- Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Shoppes at Buckland Mall in Manchester, CT, my home state! It was a thrill to see it all come together after the long range planning!   Kudos to the manager who placed my table strategically across from the Customer Services desk, next to the aisle for the children’s play area, a straight shot to the Café, and on the aisle to and from mall traffic!  And right next to the 50% off Harry Potter display. (‘Every other author’s nemesis!) LOL Perfect!

I was so pleased to finally meet some online friends live and in person for the very first time!  Three of them were former radio guests, who were paying it forward in their own way, showing interest and purchasing books for this very informational and ever growing Grief Diaries series!

What was most touching to me were the connections that were formed. Each of the three had a connection to the other in some way and maybe other resources to assist in cold cases  or other Grief Diaries books in progress, in addition to brain storming about future podcasts for Shattered Lives Radio!

 

Tips for other authors from my experience

When an author gets to this juncture, they must be in tune with their clientele. Who comes to a bookstore?  Parents and their kids, students, academics, school teachers, law enforcement, therapists, computer geeks, persons with disabilities, and more. I was indeed fortunate in that people in all of these categories crossed my path! I hopefully made some valuable connections and seized the opportunity with every person to educate, educate, educate about homicide, missing persons and the overall value of the Grief Diaries Series.

One other tip I’d like to pass on: Make it real; Make it relevant; Make it local when explaining about this topic of homicide in which most people cringe at the very mention of the word…or say it’s “too sad to process.” We need only to open the oldest newspaper in the country yesterday, The (Hartford) Courant to find examples.

I illustrated my point again and again with patrons regarding the initial missing person and subsequent needless death by homicide of Sterling, CT teen, Todd “T.J” Allen, 18 years old.  This time around, both the victim and the perpetrator were equally responsible. It didn’t have to happen!  It shouldn’t have happened!

Regardless of the legal age, these were kids masquerading as “men”and in over their heads!  Prayers go to the parents of both families as they are both victims of homicide.

Exactly why Grief Diaries: Surviving Loss by Homicide is so needed!  Get it here!  And please write a review as to its value!

Order today from Barnes & Noble, Amazon or directly from the Grief Diaries website!

If you would like an autographed copy contact me at ladyjusticedonna@gmail.com

 

To schedule Donna R. Gore for your next conference, seminar or event, please contact ImaginePublicity. Phone: 843-808-0859 or Email: contact@imaginepublicity.co