Book
publicity generally requires the following:
·
A
very good, well-written book
·
Timely
topic
·
Little
competition
·
Well-spoken
author with a platform
Most
authors lack at least one of these things, often almost all of them. But, that’s okay. Every pot has its lid and every author has
publicity that is theirs to claim.
Of
course, to generate book publicity, one needs:
·
Time
to chase the media and seek out marketing opportunities
·
Money
to hire help, pay for advertising, and beef up the Web site
·
Strategy
to execute a smart, well timed plan
·
Courage
to risk rejection, criticism and failure
·
Confidence,
ego, and enthusiasm for their work
Many,
many authors lack at least one of those things as well, usually several of
them. Still, that’s okay. There’s low-hanging fruit that can be picked
before it turns rotten.
So
what’s achievable on a low budge for an inexperienced author with a
little-heard platform? Scale your
efforts so they are achievable. Instead
of trying for The Today Show, start
with your local cable news outlet.
Instead of contacting The New York
Times, first reach out to your local and community publications. Take a grassroots approach.
And
strive to pursue multiple streams of marketing.
Don’t put all of your eggs into one basket. Experiment with TV, radio, print, and
online. Seek out book signings and
speaking engagements. Look to build
loyal fans via social media.
You
don’t have to do a 15-city road tour.
You don’t need to spend wildly on advertising. You don’t have to be on The Daily Show. Truth is,
you likely won’t be doing those things, so don’t bother pursuing the big stuff
until you succeed at getting grass roots support for your book.
Book
publicity that is achievable should be secured before you look to take it to
the next step. It’s your proving ground
– a time to test ideas and see what kind of feedback or reactions you
generate. If you can’t convince local
libraries or weekly papers to talk to you, well, it’s a short-lived campaign. But when you begin to build on smaller
successes, you’ll be poised to break through.
Interview
With Author Meg Welch Dendler
1.
What
type of books do you write? Picture books, middle grade readers,
and so far one more YA style book is in the works. "Why Kimba Saved The
World" is my first published book, but there are two others on the way for
2014.
2.
What
is your newest book about? "Why Kimba Saved The World"
is about a pampered house cat who wishes she could be wilder and have more
freedom, until she suddenly learns that she is really part of an alien race and
has a whole huge destiny and big adventures expected of her. It's exciting at
first, but she has some life-changing choices to make about what is important
and where her loyalties lie.
3.
What
inspired you to write it? The main character is based on one of
the cats in our house, Kimba. I had grown up with the idea that cats might just
be aliens -- my mom read lots of science fiction -- so it wasn't much of a
stretch to wonder if that was true of Kimba too. That led me to wondering what
would happen if the young Kimba of my imagination was put in that situation of
finding out how big her life really could be. Later books in the series will
focus on the different characters and how they deal with their own challenges
in coming to terms with their alien heritage.
4.
What
is the writing process like for you? My head is all full of good ideas, and I
usually have the story totally complete there, but it is very hard for me to
put down a first draft. That's not terribly uncommon, but it is very
frustrating. Once I get most of the story on paper, I do better with the
elaborating and editing process. That part is fun, but the first draft is like
house cleaning -- I know I have to do it and I'll regret it if I don't, but I
come up with lots of ways to avoid it. Setting a release date for the sequel
has kept me on task this time round. My office is in a room without windows in
our basement, which can be kind of depressing when the weather is nice, but
Kimba hangs out with me, and I have a huge collection of Disney mini-plush toys
that watch and encourage me too.
5.
What
did you do before you became an author? I have been writing since I was a little
girl, and I did freelance work for many years as an adult. I worked for over 10
years as a certified teacher and moved around over almost all of the grades
when opportunities came up. Teaching was great fun, and I'm still in touch with
many of my students, but writing is where my heart lies.
6.
How
does it feel to be a published author? Magnificent. For many
years it seemed out of reach because I just didn't have the right connections
or the time and money to go to lots of conferences and meet people. I'm so
grateful that through the freelance work I have done over the years I did know
the right people to serve as book guides and help walk me through the
nitty-gritty of taking a manuscript and making it look professional and just as
wonderful as every other big publishing house book on the shelves. Knowing that
I have the control to keep doing that over and over without having to send out
dozens of letter selling myself is amazing.
7.
Any
advice for struggling writers? Write, and then write
some more. If you have a book in your head, go for it! But also be sure to get
input from people around you that you respect. Join a critique group. Go to
conferences. Sometimes I get the best idea on how to tweak a story or
"bling" it up some just by listening to others talk about their work.
And pay an editor if you are self-publishing. Pay someone to help you make the
best cover you can. You MUST have a good cover! If it doesn't look professional
in the end, it won't matter how good your story is. Make it great!
8.
Where
do you see book publishing heading? Ebooks and self-publishing are clearly the
future of book publishing. How to navigate through the influx of book that will
hit the market that way is the tricky part. I'm grateful to be in on it during
the first few years of the boom so that I can establish myself as a quality
writer and stand out from the coming pack. There may be a ton of not so great
books that manage to see publication in that way, but it is also a fantastic
way for unknown writers to make their mark. I hope I can be in that second group
for a long time to come.
To learn more about Meg and her book, "Why Kimba Saved The
World" (Serenity Mountain Publishing), check out www.megdendler.com.
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Brian Feinblum’s
views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of
his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter
@theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when
discussed in the third-person. This blog is copyrighted material by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2013
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