“Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head. Shakespeare has perhaps 20 players. … I have 10 or so, and that’s a lot. As you get older, you become more skillful at casting them.”
—Gore Vidal
—Gore Vidal
So I have started reading Only The Innocent by Rachel Abbot which I must say is, so far, a good read. It got some great reviews so I am sure it will be page turning till the end. I also like that it is set in places I know. I think that people really resonate to places they know which are replicated in books. Never underestimate the importance of location in your novel.
I found this out with Goa Traffic- Goa being the most important character in the book and I am now realising that I should have made location more of a feature in The Bittersweet Vine. The book is set in Leicester so lets see how that works for me! (Marketing wise). Well I did live there and worked there so maybe I will make some sales based on the fact that I was from Leicester.
It’s a good job I have lived in so many places. Who knew this would be beneficial when I was packing boxes all those years ago!
Well I’ll cut to the chase on this blog post. Its all about the good news– Thames River Press are keeping my title The Bittersweet Vine (yay). And… wait for it… it has now been given a publication date of September 2013!(double yay). Well, I for one am celebrating. Have a look at the link:
Unfortunately, there is no front cover yet. I am waiting to receive some proofs. I quite like the way I get to check everything before it goes out. I didn’t think I would have that control with a traditional publishing deal- but I do. So far, so good.
I am now waiting *patiently* to see a front cover! Once this is final I am thinking bookmarks and postcards from Vistaprint so that I can do a little marketing.
Who am I kidding?
I need to do a huge amount of marketing. The Bittersweet Vine is a great novel. It has to be a success. The sad thing is I have run out of steam on marketing Goa Traffic. I know I need to keep marketing it still, but all I can think about now is The Bittersweet Vine.
So how do you market a new book?
On my list of things to do are:
1) Book launch- serious research into how one of these is done needs to happen. Although I am sure my publisher will give me a steer I assume I need to know everything. After all knowledge is everything!
2) As mentioned above I need to get some materials printed- perhaps a first batch with a launch date?! Definitely I will be dropping these in café’s and so forth
3) Blog tour! Its time to get some interviews written and articles done to post on other peoples blogs as a blog tour! To do this before or after the book is released –MMM I’m not sure
4) A facebook and Twitter offensive. I need to do this!!!!! Keep plugging but remember 1 plug to every 10 normal tweets - That’s what Nicola Morgan said in her amazing book for authors ‘Tweet Right’
5) Pinterest boards – yes my favourite new hobby! I love Pinterest I need to get boards trending, whilst bullying and domestic violence probably wont appeal to the Light-hearted Pinterest audience I think It’s time to focus on plants!!! And of course I will be creating a Bittersweet Vine board, adding to my Marissa de Luna author board and my All about writing board.
6) Google Plus – Yes its time to bite the bullet and get that sorted. Presence is everything! And Google analytics. Time to kick H in to action and get that on my website!
7) Go on a punctuation course! Yes I still need to do this. However, I have started reading Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss… watch this space. Punctuation, I will conquer you one day!
Once the book is on the shelves:
1) A book giveaway on Goodreads. Now owned by Amazon I have learnt that Goodreads is a must for any author and so is a book giveaway. It will instantly make thousands of readers aware of you and your book.
2) Approach book clubs! Most definitely! I have some contacts on meet-up for my area so why not give it ago!
3) Contact local radio stations to do an interview. I already have experience of this and a contact so fingers crossed I can get another radio interview. An interview on local radio in Leicester will also be good.
4) Magazines- local magazines and the like. Again as I have friends in Leicester they can pick up free newspaper and magazines and I can get contacts hopefully which I can send press-releases to.
5) Sell books here, there and everywhere – with copies in my car, on my desk at work, on H’s desk at work etc! Time to be proactive. A sale is a sale. I need to have the right mindset!
6) Set a goal- So how many books do I want to sell in the first year? This is different to self publishing. With that I wanted to break even but I was aware that this was going to be a goal for a long time. I still haven’t broken even although I am close. With Bittersweet I need to set realistic targets but something that challenges me as well. I won't have the motivation of monthly or even quarterly sales reports. It has to be a big push so I get a fat result at the end of this. We all know this is not about making money but The Bittersweet Vine is adding credibility to my name as an author and making sales. It's giving another dimension to my brand. This is not a just a suspense novel set in a tropical destination (and lets face it the tropical destination is getting the books soldwith GT)- Bittersweet is different. It’s set in gritty Leicester – and it’s a psychological thriller. It opens with an abduction!!!!! I need to think about the marketing angle on this and what I can achieve from it. I don’t think 1000 is unrealistic. This includes e-books and I think the selling price of the e-book is £2.56. Mmmm one to sleep on!
So with the above to keep me busy and knowing that I need to finish Poison in the Water (help! Only 5000 words in) – I think it will no longer be writing Wednesday to sort all this lot out! I have a feeling I need a Marketing Monday or scrap the alliteration and have a Marketing Thursday (but then when would I do my house hold chores?)
Arghhhh it’s all getting too much! Now where is that de-stress aromatherapy rollerball?!
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