11/4/09–A member of my workshop whose cookbook will be published early next year, has been promoting it in advance in some unique ways.  We shared a "booth" at the Sedona Book Festival early in October.  In addition to displaying a prototypde of her cookbook, i.e. the covers front and back and a few sample pages, she prepared several cookie and cupcake recipies and placed them attractively in a huge basket.  To anyone passing by, she called out "Free samples."  This got people to stop (including a little boy who made too-frequent stops!).  Visitors thumbed through her sample pages, artistically illustrated.  She had a sign-up book for people who want to be notified when the book is available.  

Last weekend, she repeated this display (and samples) at another local affair at the Heritage Museum in our city.  She collected more names of those interested in the final product.  And while there she was asked to participate in another display next week in a neighboring city. this will surely result in more "sign-ups."

In all, she has collected about 100 names (so far) of interested cooks. Suggestion: If you ever have a chance to display your own books for sale and can team up with a cook who provides samples, take it!  Her free samples brought people to look at and purchase my books who would not have otherwise stopped.–Willma