July 18, 2023 5.30pm ET
Rebecca Roberts hosting
Virtual private event
Aug 23, 2023 1-2pm and 3-4pm EST
Reading and talk
Join us to hear about the award-winning Goodbye, Orchid series
Aug 24, 2023 4pm PDT/7pm EST
Fall into Reading Pitchfest
Book clubs, libraries, and readers are welcome to join us for this fun event, in which you’ll hear 5 minute “elevator pitches” for Fall and Winter 2023 reads, including ALWAYS ORCHID.
Aug 28, 2023
Monday, Aug 28th 2023 7pm ET
Return visit to discuss Orchid Blooming with Marci Ober’s book club
Sept 26, 2023 1pm EST
Airdate Oct 20th 2023
“And always remember…The art of the story is all in the blend.”
October 11, 2023 9am ET
Panel with Celia Pronto
October 17, 2023 6-7pm EST
Join to hear about the explosive series finale: ALWAYS ORCHID
October 18, 2023 7pm EST
650 Union Blvd Totowa NJ
RSVP for headcount purposes (973) 782-4780
October 20, 2023 4pm EST
Instagram LIVE for Bookish Road Trip Author Ride Along!
October 21, 2023 11am ET
Come get personalized copies of Carol’s 3rd novel, Always Orchid!
October 21, 2023
Come learn about Carol’s 3rd novel, Always Orchid!
October 24, 2023
Hasty Book List Oct author interview, Lynn Lok-Payne newsletter, Ann Dayleview newsletter, Jeannee Sacken
Arcadia Consulting Olly Woodhead, Alison Grieve/Emma Management Dynamics interview, Kyle Schickner interview, The Bookworm Bernardsville, NJ; Annie McDonnell Write Review author-on-author interview with Jeannee Sacken, Sarena Straus along with Linda’s Book Obsession and Read More Books (with Betty Taylor). Holly Manor Jennie@genesis. All Things Book Marketing podcast Smith Publicity
October 25, 2023 7pm ET
Come hear the story behind the story, learn about wounded veterans and secure a personalized copy of the series finale (can be read as standalone): ALWAYS ORCHID
October 26, 2023 7-9pm
80 Morristown Rd #13, Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Saturday October 28, 2023 10am-4pm ET
Posts throughout the day to learn about Carol’s trilogy and finale, Always Orchid!
Sunday October 29, 2023 1-4pm ET
Come learn about Carols 3rd novel, Always Orchid!
November 17, 2023 8.30am-4pm
Professor Mark Burgess, Brooke Simmons
November 18, 2023 11am
With writers increasingly meeting readers at bookstores, book clubs and events, there are more and more opportunities to interact in-person. As an author, have you ever wondered how to engage, what to say and how to present your books? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the 1-2-3 Reader Engagement Framework, the 3 Tenets of Good Presence, and the components of the pre-event planning checklist. You’ll walk away from this workshop with custom ideas for your own pitch and actionable insights to increase your effectiveness at bookstore signings and more!
January 12-14, 2024
Join me for panels and to see me crown the new Hair Ball Queen!
May 1, 2024 – open to the public, call for registration info
Wayne Public Library (461 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470)
Additional News
TBD 2024
Shelley from the Lake Forest IL book club will be hosting me!
Marketing doesn’t have to be daunting. In this insightful session, Carol will demystify what it means to have an author brand, how it’s much more than a logo and web presence, and why it’s foundationally important to do the thinking behind what you want to stand for. We’ll discuss how to apply archetypes to define your unique brand and the components of an author’s brand framework. We’ll also walk through some real-life examples to show the importance of consistency in visual branding.
Book cover design is a powerful tool to break through the clutter and communicate meaning. Learn about principles of design from a marketing professional. Find out which design elements are most important to keep consistent and why, how to start from your design objectives, and practice assessing design within the right context.
Carol will teach five truths to SPARC great design and share how to apply them to your books:
Truth One: Simplicity breaks through, so don’t stuff everything onto the cover. Focus!
Truth Two: Prioritize your communications hierarchy.
Truth Three: Assess designs against the brief, not personal taste.
Truth Four: Real-life…assess design in situ.
Truth Five: Consistency, consistency, consistency.
Carol’s insights on book cover design have been featured in Pen to Print, Creative Indie, DIYMFA, the Writescast podcast and more places.
Marketing is the art and science of finding and connecting with your audience. In this hands-on session, Carol will demystify how professional marketers devise marketing plans. As with most success, it starts with setting quantifiable objectives. Carol will cover five principles, along with examples and how to apply them to your book launch:
Millennials are the largest generation in the US. Find out how they’re defined and insights that can help you write Millennial characters. This session is for you if you’ve ever wondered what events have shaped this cohort, how they’re affected by the weight of college debt, how they’re the most technologically-dependent and diverse generation, and how they’re still fighting the “me, me, me” stereotype. Come to this hands-on workshop to discover insights to help you write authentic characters from this important generation.
To market your work, you need an author brand, visual identity and well-crafted marketing plans. After the hard work of writing a book, why do these marketing tasks seem daunting? Come to this workshop to learn from 20+ years of marketing and strategy experience. Find out why marketing isn’t manipulation. Overcome the most common marketing blockers using four simple mindset shifts. Join us to experience why one author said after Carol’s workshop: “You inspire me and fire me up every time. I can’t wait to market my book and my why!”
With writers increasingly meeting readers at bookstores, book clubs, and events, there are more and more opportunities to interact in-person. As an author, have you ever wondered how to engage, what to say, and how to present your books?
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the 1-2-3 Reader Engagement Framework, the Three Tenets of Good Presence, and the components of the pre-event planning checklist. You’ll walk away from this workshop with custom ideas for your own pitch and actionable insights to increase your effectiveness at bookstore signings and more!
June 28, 2023
“You hit a home run.” -Lex Gillette, World Record Holder, Paralympian, Speaker
June 21, 2023
“Thank you for bringing your expertise and sharing your light to inspire others.” -Derya Turan, Trend Hunter
June 14, 2023
“You were so articulate and driven in your approach to sustainability and where we need to head in our conversations…as we think about a true North Star. Thank you for your guidance” -Amanda Jones, Senior Vice President for Thinx
June 10, 2023
Wonderful book festival sponsored by paterson public library and publishing panel facilitated by shabree henry (from manuscript to bookshelf). Thanks to sean hopkins, joan nixon and tracy francese for coming to visit and the readers who bought all my paperbacks!
June 6, 2023
Pulpwood queen kathy l. murphy outdid herself with a wonderful orchid-themed interview and painting inspired by my goodbye, orchid series. she even chose always orchid as one of her 2024 books of the month!
June 3, 2023
Thank you for hosting ella slayne. Great seeing kimberley ash, larry walsh, nadja springer, maryanne mistretta-christiano, edwin aponte, anthony, marissa, amalia, melissa rawley-payne, melanie tweedie, celia green, sylvia jorgenson, kristina pasko and many more!
May 30, 2023
A wonderful evening with Karen Reed, Gloria Harvey, GiGi Sinyard, Nancy Branton and the rest of the Rockin’ readers!
The book club even prepared ORCHID BLOOMING inspired food!
May 13, 2023
Books by Asian American Pacific Islander authors out this year
Thank you, Ashley Hasty PhD, for including ALWAYS ORCHID in this esteemed list
May 6, 2023
Innovative Publishing models panel
It was a joy and honor to speak alongside Brooker Warner, Jared Kuritz, Thad McIlroy about publishing models. Attendees said they were inspired to hear about B Corps (more info in my interview, here).
May 4, 2023
behind-the-scenes of book cover design (click for interview)
Designer: Sarah Flood-Baumann; Graphic: Alt19 Creative (Stephanie Anderson)
May 4, 2023
Sold out book signing
Thanks to Maria, Gina, Nancy and all the readers who came and bought 100% of the store’s copies of Goodbye, Orchid and Orchid Blooming!
May 2 and 9, 2023
Mars Snacking HQ Newark NJ
April 30, 2023
Columbia, NJ
April 23, 2023
uncorked lounge totowa, nj
April 18, 2023
lake forest, IL
April 13, 2023
Rehoboth, DE
April 1, 2023
What is author brand and why readers care
March 25, 2023
5 principles to spark brilliant cover design
March 23, 2023
Thank you to Holly, Melissa, Liza, Lauren and all the volunteers and readers!
March 9, 2023
great Orchid Blooming discussion with Marian Davies, Lisa, Kara, Marie-France, Traci, Leigh, Dominique, Dawn
March 6, 2023
Discussion with Ruth A. Casie, Miriam Allenson, Tracey lyons, moderated by terri brisbin
Feb 28, 2023
#1 Amazon New Release in Fiction Writing Reference
Feb 18, 2023
Book signing
Feb 12, 2023
Valentine’s day book signing
Feb 9, 2023
Interview with Jim Bell & Bobbi Jean Bell
Jan 16, 2023
Jan 14, 2023
Dec 18, 2022
Wonderful book signing at Buffalo Street Books. I met lovely readers and sold out of Orchid Blooming and Goodbye Orchid! Here’s a selfie with one of my favorite books!
Nov 19, 2022
Thanks to Morgan Moore for inviting me to present this foundational workshop!
Nov 12, 2022
Thanks to Nicole Talbott, brant menswar and the readers who joined for a great interview!
Nov 5, 2022
Brand land: what is author brand and why readers care
Thanks to Moni Boyce, Kathryn Murphy and the VRW Chapter for a great session!
Nov 1, 2022
Thanks to Jean-Marie, Dee Ernst, Kimberley Ash and the Parsippany Public Library for a fun event!
Oct 15, 2022
Thanks to Ethan, Julie Pu and the Hoboken Public Library for a fun event!
Oct 8, 2022
Thanks to Sandip Mehta, Alok Goel and Helen Ahn for welcoming me and Sabahat Khan to speak on the Belonging panel. It was inspiring to share examples of creating space for belonging at work and personally; how intersectionality can amplify our voice; and both challenges and enablers to creating space for inclusion.
Oct 2, 2022
Oct 1, 2022
Sept 30, 2022
Sept 24, 2022
Sept 22-23, 2022
Sept 10, 2022
September – October, 2022 (Various times)
Join me on my launch tour as we discuss extending Goodbye, Orchid into a trilogy, the good/bad/ugly in launching a B Corps (benefits corporation), and how fiction can shine a light on disability awareness. These podcasts and events are captured in the Orchid Blooming media kit!
Sept 8, 2022
Sept 7, 2022
Sept 1, 2022
Aug 29, 2022
June 11, 2022
June 4, 2022
June 3, 2022
May 21, 2022
May 17, 2022
April 21, 2022
March 26, 2022
March 15, 2022
March 9, 2022
February 26, 2022
February 14, 2022
January 13, 2022
January 8, 2022
January 5, 2022
December 7, 2021
Nov 20, 2021
Nov 13, 2021
Nov 6, 2021
Oct 4, 2021
Oct 2, 2021
Sept 11, 2021
aug 7, 2021
june 29, 2021
may 15, 2021
may 7, 2021
April 17, 2021
february 10 and 20, 2021
febryary 14, 2021
january 26 and Feb 3, 2021
january 11-12, 2021
january 4, 2021
December 29, 2020
DECEMBER 16, 2020
DECEMBER 11, 2020
Fun chatting about the inspiration behind Goodbye, Orchid, the writing process and what’s next.
“Now I can’t wait to read this!” – Christine.
DECEMBER 8, 2020
After this double-header 3-hour hands-on workshop, authors left with a plan, and felt more confident to market like a pro.
“Inspiring and motivating. Wheels turning”
“I feel that I have a plan now”
“Extremely helpful. I feel excited and ready to face marketing.”
“Thanks, Carol, so informative and inspiring.”
“Thanks, Carol! Very well done!” Details Here
DECEMBER 4, 2020
Joan shares her thoughts on Goodbye, Orchid and asks Carol about her Chinese-American background The Joan Hamburg Show
OCTOBER 27, 2020
Millennials: Applying Generational Insights to writing
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
Maplewood, NJ
[words] bookstore hosts Carol to discuss Goodbye Orchid. Words Bookstore event
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
Virtual Event
Carol will be featured on Kamie Lehmann’s entrepreneur podcast, “She’s Invincible” on September 21st. Click here to subscribe to the podcast and listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shes-invincible/id1500146975
SEPT-OCTOBER, 2020
Discussing award-winning Goodbye Orchid with
Sept 18 Steven James The Storyblender Podcast
Sept 19 Jen Lowry Youtube Interview
Sept 23 Cari Marquette Homemade Sidedgig Podcast
Sept 30 Dorris Burch New Fab You Podcast
Oct 16 r.r. campbell Writescast podcast
Oct 17 John Raab, Jeff Ayers Suspense Magazine interview
SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
Launch event with New York Times best-selling author Caroline Leavitt
Caroline loves Goodbye, Orchid and says “What do we really owe the ones we love? How far will we go to protect ourselves at the cost of a relationship? When a traumatic accident near-tragically derails a man’s life, can he dare to trust that the woman he adores will stick by him, despite all he’s hidden from her? A richly detailed story of star-crossed lovers that we root for, all told with unforgettable heart and insight.”
—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times Bestselling author of Pictures of You, Cruel Beautiful World and With or Without You
SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
AUGUST 12, 2020
Guest speaker: reinvention over three careers
june 6, 2020
New Brunswick, NJ
april 24, 2020
Boston MA
april 4, 2020
Clark NJ
NOVEMBER 2, 2019
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell PA
OCTOBER 19, 2019
Renaissance Woodbridge Iselin NJ
JUNE 5, 2019
Enjoy a fun-filled, lively evening as Kimberley discusses her background, her books, and her process with Carol Van Den Hende. Wine and light refreshments, as featured in her book “Forget Me,” will be served.
MAY 18, 2019
Sheraton Edison Hotel, Edison NJ
To market your work, you need an author brand, visual identity and well-crafted marketing plans. After the hard work of writing a book, why do these marketing tasks seem daunting? Come to this workshop to learn from 20+ Years of marketing and strategy experience. Find out why marketing isn’t manipulation. Overcome the most common marketing blockers using four simple mindset shifts. Join us to experience why authors say “You inspire me and fire me up every time!”
MARCH 30-31, 2019
Renaissance Woodbridge Iselin NJ
BRAND LAND: Applying Best Practices in Branding to your Writing Career
In this fun, fast-paced session, Carol will demystify what an author brand is. You’ll learn why branding is important, how to define your own brand, and the most important principle when translating your brand into a visual world (hint: think consistency!)
Chocolate and Books from Around the World
Come take a trip with your favorite stories from around the world and beyond, with chocolate and treats to accompany your visit.
Travel from Italy to France, China and even beyond the stars by exploring favorites like Da Vinci Code, Toujours Provence to newer titles like Crazy Rich Asians and The Martian…
in a multi-media experience accompanied by Italian desserts, chocolate croissants, Chinese candies and MILKY WAY Bars!
NOVEMBER 27, 2018
6:00-8:00 PM | The Jefferson Market Library 425 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave. at 10th Street) New York, NY
What’s more mysterious than marketing yourself as an author? In today’s busy world, attention spans have dropped and it’s tough to break through. So what’s one way to make every marketing investment work harder? Know your brand, translate it into a visual identity and keep the key aspects consistent over time. In this fun, fast-paced workshop, you’ll learn why brand is important, how to use professional marketing tools to define your brand, and the most important portions to keep consistent. means to have an author brand, how it’s much more than a logo and web presence, and why it’s foundationally important to do the thinking behind what you want to stand for. We’ll discuss how to apply archetypes to define your unique brand and the components of an author’s brand framework. We’ll also romp through some real-life examples to show the importance of consistency in visual branding.
SATURDAY: OCTOBER 13, 2018
Oyster Point Hotel Red Bank, NJ
This presentation will cover the essentials of building and growing a platform and marketing books; what is a platform, who needs one and why, with a focus on branding and promoting. As the necessity for author platforms continues to grow, our goal is to help Authors be able to bring their projects to their readers and increase their visibility so that they sell more books and continue to reach new readers.
AUGUST 10-12, 2018
New York Hilton; New York, NY.
Writing Tips from Writer’s Digest Conference, including: “Be a great collaborator if you are working with a designer. Knowing what you want helps you determine whether you like the design you get and work with the designer to achieve a shared objective.” – Carol Van Den Hende
JUNE 16, 2018
General Meeting begins at 10.30 AM | Renaissance Woodbridge, Iselin NJ.
JUNE 10, 2018
1;30 – 3:00 PM | New Providence Library; New Providence, NJ
JUNE 2-3, 2018
Hyatt Regency; New Brunswick, NJ
OCTOBER 21, 2017
Madison Community House, Madison NJ
OCTOBER 14, 2017
Renaissance Woodbridge, Iselin NJ
SEPTEMBER 9, 2017
Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell, PA
AUGUST 18, 2017
Hilton New York Midtown New York, NY
MAY 6, 2017
New Providence Library New Providence, NJ
FEBRUARY 18, 2017
Renaissance Woodbridge Iselin, NJ
OCTOBER 15, 2016
Renaissance Woodbridge Iselin, NJ
SEPTEMBER 10, 2016
New Providence Library New Providence, NJ
OCTOBER 17, 2015
Renaissance Woodbridge Iselin, NJ
JANUARY 17, 2015
Woodbridge Hilton Woodbridge, NJ
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
Woodbridge Hilton Woodbridge, NJ
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