For the past eight years, in an annual demonstration of generosity, Headline Books has hosted not only its own authors at BEA but also an array of Next Generation Indie Book Award winners or finalists who are independently published authors. Says president Cathy Teets, “We give people who have never been to BEA tips and helpful hints about how to make the best out of the show. It’s an ongoing marketing lesson for them. I’ve been able to help the ones that need it with media, show prep, and I do a webinar with Mom’s Choice Awards called, ‘How to have a Rock Star Autographing Session.’”
This year, of the 24 authors featured at the booth (2368), half are Headline’s own, the other 12 are 2012 or 2013 Indie Book Award winners or finalists.
Today, BEA attendees have a treat if they stop by the Headline Books booth: they can meet, among others, rags-to-riches singer Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. signing his book, America’s Got Talent Winner Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr: From Washing Cars to Hollywood Star (Headline, 2013). Murphy, a high school dropout who was down on his luck as an adult and washing cars for a living, skyrocketed to fame after singing Frank Sinatra–style songs on the show. With three albums under his belt (his latest will be released later this year), Murphy has achieved his dream of being a professional singer. You might also get a chance to hear him sing tomorrow night at 54 Below, a Broadway supper club, at 11 p.m.
Murphy’s coauthor, Rick Robinson, is here as well, with a sampling of his own political thriller The Advance Man (Sept.), from the popular series that features politico Richard Thompson. The award-winning author, with a 30-year background in politics and law, must have a crystal ball because in his latest book circumstances ratchet up the tension between the United States and Russia.
Another inspirational story comes from Steven Dupin (aka Stevie D), a smalltown Kentucky-born “white trash hillbilly,” as he calls himself, whose career as a comedian, writer, and producer was taking off big-time when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 42. His book, The Trans Am Diaries: A Hillbilly’s Road Trip from Stand Up Comedy to Cancer... and Back Again (Apr.), is both hilarious and poignant, as he describes his humble background, his harrowing struggles with a life-threatening disease, and his life as a comedian.
2012 Next Generation Indie award finalist Bette Lee Crosby is one of the independently published authors on deck thanks to Headline’s generosity. The Florida transplant from New Jersey has been writing Southern fiction and inspirational stories for years, winning more than 15 literary awards. The popular writer notes, “Most of my books start with a life experience and travel along the road not taken.” In addition to signing copies of the first book that launched her popular Wyattsville series, Spare Change (Bent Pine Publishing, 2011), in the autographing area, she will be giving away 200 copies of a preview sampler of Previously Loved Treasures (Bent Pine Publishing, Apr.), the second book in her Serendipity series.
You can meet all of these authors today. Murphy will be at Table 6 in the Autographing Area, 1–2 p.m.; at Headline’s booth, 2–3 p.m.; and at the Mom’s Choice Award Booth (2767, 2768), 3–4 p.m. Robinson will be at Table 6 in the Autographing Area, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., and at the Headline booth, 1–2 p.m., and back at the booth Saturday, 9:30–10:30 a.m. Crosby will be at Table 20 in the Autographing Area, 2–3 p.m., and at the Headline booth, 3–4 p.m. Stevie D will be at Table 8 in the Autographing Area, 1–2 p.m., and at Headline, 2–3 p.m.
