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Meet other writers at ‘Indie Author Day’ at Rochester library

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Indie Author Day is Oct. 8.
Indie Author Day is Oct. 8.

“I’ve always wanted to write a book.” So many people have told me that in the last couple years when I’ve told them about the book I wrote and the one I’m currently writing.

It’s easier than ever to get your book published now, with all the self-publishing options. And Rochester seems to have a lot of independent authors or people who aspire to be so. A good place to meet them will be on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Bausch and Lomb Central Library in downtown Rochester.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the library will be celebrating Inaugural Indie Author Day in the Kate Gleason Auditorium.

Hear book industry leaders

As a participant in last year’s Self-Published Book Festival, I got an email about all this from Carol Moldt, librarian in the literature division and program coordinator.  Here’s an excerpt from her email:

Libraries from all across North America will host their own local author events with the support of the Indie Author Day team. Each library’s indie writing community is invited to come together for an hour-long digital gathering from 2 – 3 pm, featuring Q&A with writers, agents and other industry leaders. This is a great opportunity for writers and self-published authors to connect on both local and global levels. For more information, please go to www.indieauthorday.com.

Following the digital screening, the Central Library will feature two local indie authors, Amy Gamet and Phyllis Peters, who will each share their experiences and expertise in independent publishing. This presentation will take place from 3 – 4 pm.

 After the presentation, the auditorium will be available for folks to stay and chat with one another until the library closes at 5 pm.

Hope to meet you there

I checked out the Indie Author Day website, but could not find any information on who will be involved in the Q&A. Coincidentally, I already planned to be at the library on Saturday afternoon for the “Rooftop Tour” being offered at 1:30 p.m. So I plan to pop into the webcast as soon as the tour is over and stay for the afternoon panel.

Do you plan to go?

 

Check out Kiva to get money for your biz

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Kiva is an international micro-lending organization.
Kiva is an international micro-lending organization.

You’ve probably heard of Kickstarter as a crowd-funding way to raise money for your business or start-up. But what about Kiva?

What I like about Kiva is its emphasis on alleviating poverty, so it works with entrepreneurs  with little or modest means who need cash. Kiva connects him or her with people who want to do good. The money is a loan, not a donation. So for just $25, a donor can make a difference.

How Kiva works is pretty simple. An entrepreneur applies for a loan, and the application goes through an underwriting and approval process. (The underwriting is interesting; it means that the applicant is able to get friends or family to contribute a portion of the loan request, to show the applicant’s trustworthiness. Or  a Kiva-approved trustee can vouch for the borrower.) The Kiva website is full of compelling stories of people around the world who are seeking loans for things like a tractor for their farm or a bicycle and school supplies for a student. When the borrower repays the loan, the money goes back into the lender’s Kiva account and the lender can loan it out again if he/she chooses to do so.

Informational session Oct. 13

The city of Rochester is partnering with Kiva, and offering a great deal to applicants with businesses in the city. Brad Willows, project coordinator for Kiva Rochester, spoke about Kiva at Learn to Soar 2.0,  a day of seminars for small business owners that was sponsored by the Greater Rochester chapter of SCORE, of which I’m a member.

Brad is hosting an informational session  from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Arnett Branch Library. You can read details here. Through the city’s partnership with Kiva, borrowers can get a loan of up to $10,000 from online lenders. What’s especially appealing about the City of Rochester’s program is that the city has set up a matching loan fund that totals $100,000.  If a qualified borrower receives $5,000 from lenders, the city will match it with another $5,000. What a great opportunity.

For more information on eligibility, click here. You can also call Brad at (585) 428-6053 or email him at bradley.willows@cityofrochester.gov.

 

 

 

Hungry Food Love blogger: 10 tips to brand biz on social media

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Melissa Bailey
Melissa Bailey shares tips on social media.

Feeling intimidated by social medial? But you know you need it to brand your business, right?

Here are 10 tips on social media from Melissa Bailey, award-winning blogger of Hungry Food Love. I met Melissa in 2012, when I recruited her to blog about food for the Democrat and Chronicle’s then new Flavors of Rochester website. (Melissa was working in marketing at the time and catering parties on the side.)

Blogging for the D&C gave her confidence and experience, and soon she started Hungry Food Love. She’s done an amazing job with it. Sure, it’s a blog about food and it includes recipes, but now it also includes crafts, “things we love,” and more about Melissa’s life, travels, and giving back.  Be sure to read her amazing story about her trip with World Vision to her native country of the Dominican Republic.

One step at a time

Here are Melissa’s top 10 tips for using social media to brand your business.

  1. Get familiar with social media.
  2. Set goals.
  3. Do not use all platforms.
  4. Know your options.
  5. Do it right or not at all.
  6. Show your expertise.
  7. Build a community.
  8. Get organized.
  9. Cross promote.
  10. Set realistic goals.
Hungry Food Love blogger Melissa Bailey speaks to Latinas Unidas.
Hungry Food Love blogger Melissa Bailey speaks to Latinas Unidas.

Melissa shared these tips at the recent Latinas Unidas 2nd Annual Latina Business Expo in Rochester, N.Y.  I hadn’t seen Melissa in a few years, so it was heart-warming to give her a hug and see how much she’s accomplished, with her awards for blogging and being featured by NBC Latino and in Better Homes and Gardens and Woman’s Day.

Her tips are right on; for me, the most important is to get organized. Without organization, you can’t achieve results consistently. And as Melissa reminded us, “Do one step at a time. So it’s not overwhelming.”

Do check out Hungry Food Love; it will give you inspiration!