I got thinking about this not for my own writing, but because my mother’s book is actually coming out soon. Again, let me raise it to your awareness, should any mothers be reading this blog and wish to check it out. We’ve been talking lately, as August is her publication date and she’s been receiving all sorts of goodies in the mail (like book mock-ups) plus calls from her publicist. My mother has a publicist. To type that is weird enough. Attention must be drawn to this book, as with any title that pops onto the market. And when you are the author, it seems a lot of that attention-getting effort rests on your shoulders. Buckell talks about the importance of meeting the right people by attending cons and just hanging out with other authors and people in the industry. Hey. I can hang out. I can have lunch with folks and have normal conversation. I’ve done it before. But even those simple efforts can make a big difference in the long run.
So where’s the balance? How far do you go to get people to notice the fact that they can now go out and buy your inky pages, while keeping yourself from interjecting the word “book” into any sentence, whether it has to do with a book or not?
“How was the book weather today? I thought it rather bookish myself considering the high chance of book after the afternoon book my lovely precious book rainshower.”
I’ve seen author promotions that have that effect on me, like those pop-up Internet ads. After a while I tend to tune them out, rather than pick it up. I’m not near the place where I have to worry about this for myself, but it’s a mental note to slot away for future reference. I want people intrigued (even compelled), not annoyed.
Fortunately, according to Scalzi, all first time authors get a free press to be as shameless as they want in promoting themselves. And I think Buckell states a vital point here:
Thoughts?
Yep, I have a book coming out–and with that comes responsibility. (My first responsibility was to pitch a good book idea. Then I had to write a good book.) Now I have to help market the book–which means marketing myself.
I’m not too crazy about this part.
But I’m learning.
Suggested reading: PyroMarketing by Greg Stielstra
Here’s a quote: “Instead of promoting to more people, you promote to people who are more interested.”