Meet local author Casey Brown

BIRNAMWOOD — First-time novelist Casey Brown is hosting a book signing for her novel, “The Summer That Dried My Tears.”

It’s a story about a girl with an abusive father who runs away from home to build a life of her own. The 200-page book is also part romance and thriller and fits into the category of new adult, which targets the 18- to 30-year-old female market.

“My main inspiration came from listening to music and letting it guide my thoughts to see where it would take me,” said Brown.

Brown’s love of writing started in Wendy Landowski’s sixth grade classroom in Birnamwood. Brown said Landowski had fun prompts each day, and her teacher’s creative topics sparked her imagination.

“Too often assignments are too structured, and sometimes they take away the creative part of writing,” said Landowski. “I’m glad Casey enjoyed the daily warmups for the journal entries.”

Having started the actual writing of the book in the seventh grade, Brown, now 24, said she’s spent the past two years finishing the book, which she self-published through Amazon.

Writing the book was only part of the task, as Brown acknowledges doing a lot of research on the process of book publishing. She felt Amazon had the best market and resources for self-publishing.

With a degree in business management, Brown was able to design her own website and set up all of her social media sites. When it came to other aspects of the book publishing process, she sought the advice of professionals. Brown felt the $1,000 she paid to have a professional editor work with her story was well worth the money. The editor worked with her on character analysis and the flow of the story line, said Brown.

Brown also sought advice from marketing consultant Kayla Brissi, of Wisconsin Rapids. Brissi has published her own books through Amazon and helped Brown plan her marketing strategy. According to Brown, it’s important to get the categories and keywords right to ensure maximum online exposure.

When deciding where to host her inaugural book signing event, Brown knew she wanted to hit the local market first. So she approached Lisa Glapinski, new owner of Delightfully Dished with Emma Kait’s Coffeehaus, on Main Street in Birnamwood.

“We’re all about local support,” said Glapinski, who is designing cookies shaped like books for the event.

Glapinski said she would also help promote the event through her Facebook page. She and Brown will have measures in place to address COVID-19 concerns.

It’s hard to plan how many people will attend the event, but Brown is optimistic. At the time of this interview, she had only started her marketing campaign and had 20 people interested in attending. Although she said she’d be happy if five people show up, she is planning for 100.

Signed copies of her book will be $15, including tax.

Once the libraries start opening up more, Brown hopes to host more book signings and plans to donate copies to the libraries in Birnamwood, Wittenberg, Hatley and Antigo.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Book signing for “The Summer That Dried My Tears”

WHO: Author Casey Brown

WHEN: Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Delightfully Dished With Emma Kait’s Coffehaus, 389 Main St., Birnamwood

ONLINE: www.clbrownauthor.com, Facebook page

mnelson@newmedia-wi.com