True Confession Time

[Jordan Dane]

I'd like to hear from you seasoned veterans-What recommendations would you have for a new author who is a year from his/her first book release? What promotional activities would you give first priority and on what timetable as the book nears release? And if you had it to do all over, what do you wish you had NEVER done? (Dig deep and fess up)

[Barbara Fister]

I've been reading about the shrinkage of book review space in newspapers and decided to join the National Book Critics Circle to show support. You can join as an associate member for $25 and - why I'm posting this here - you get a list of who does reviews for which publications. Since I only joined yesterday I haven't seen it yet, but it was a nice surprise. More info here: http://www.bookcritics.org/?go=home.

[Meredith Anthony]

Jordan-- Dom's suggestions are all great.

1. I think this is a time for research -- get lists of reviewers, booksellers, publicity outlets (such as your alumni magazine(s), hometown newspaper(s), etc.

2. Definitely try to get ARCs. If your publisher doesn't provide them, make your own. There are places that will print a bunch of respectable-looking paperbacks for not too too much money. ARCs are very important. Make a list (see above) of everyone you need to send them to. If you are paying, or if the number the publisher prints is limited, call reviewers first to make sure they review debut authors and/or your type of book.

3. Get on DorothyL and maybe some of the other Yahoo listserves. Comb the entries for people who review online and on the listserve. You often see posts of reviewers, booksellers, etc. so keep a running list.

4. Go to as many conferences as you can afford. Look for regionals or conferences in places where you have relatives or friends with guest rooms or hide-a-beds. Go and meet as many people as you can. Both other authors and readers, librarians, booksellers, etc.

5. Start getting blurbs NOW. Ask authors -- choose those who write in your same sub-genre -- and ask them if they will read your book with a view to blurbing it. Many will say yes. Some will say no. Send ARCs if you have them, or manuscripts right away, when they say yes.

6. When you do any or all of the above or Dom's list, tell your publisher what you are doing. They will probably be thrilled. Someone in the business once said that your publisher is your first priority. You must please them before you can please a fan or a reviewer. Keep them informed. They are generally impressed by authors who are proactive.

I'm a new author myself. My first thriller, Ladykiller, just came out. My publishers are wonderful and completely appreciate all my efforts.

Good Luck!

Best, Meredith

[JackBludis]

No way I'm going to improve on the comments I've read so far. some great answers.It's a lot to do, but it's what it takes.

[Steven Torres]

There are two things that I'd do today that I didn't when I was a year off from publication:

1 - Write. not just the next novel, but a half dozen short stories and a half dozen articles and/or reviews. Don't worry about getting paid for this writing. Worry about the exposure it can bring you. This means the work has to be top-notch. It will be your calling card for readers. Of course, if you can get paid, even better. But it can take 4 or 5 months to get a rejection from the in print mags and you don't have that kind of time.

2 - Introduce yourself to people in the field. Online is good, but if I were once again a year from publication, I'd go to a convention or two now. "Can I pick your brain about X?" "Can I buy you a beer?" and "I loved your last novel; can you tell me how you did Y?" Are all great ways to strike up a conversation with authors. When it dawned on me that I should interact with other authors, I started by asking if they'd allow me to interview them for my website. Helps them, helps you - I still get traffic to my site seeking my interview with SJ Rozan and Sarah Weinman, my first two victims. No one has said no. Letter I sent to Agatha Christie was returned unopened though...

[Jordan Dane]

My publisher will be marketing my books, but I wanted to know as much as I could during this process. I come from a sales/marketing background, so I gravitate toward the promotion, but I LOVE the writing and I'm focusing on my next proposed series while I have the time. The lull before the storm. Best of luck to you, Kris. Enjoy the ride.

[Steven Torres]

Very few authors - first time or seasoned veteran - get a commitment in writing about the promotional efforts the publishing house is going to put forward. Most houses of decent size will put together ARCs and send them out to reviewers that they normally deal with along with a press release. Of course, there's the catalog and there may be a print ad or two (or three). Will your company be doing anything else, Jordan?

[Jordan Dane]

Steven---I really wish I knew. I come from a energy sales background with long term promotion strategies. The publishing industry has really boggled my mind. I'm working hard to chill and mellow out, in between bouts of sheer panic and pedal to the metal.

My books sold in auction and I'm only guessing what they will be doing (speaking from the nomad land of a new author). Like you said, I don't know of anyone who's gotten a real commitment in writing on promotion. I don't travel in those circles. :)

But I do know they'll be selling to their top distributors and higher on their list as general fiction. I also know they're planning on ARCs, but it's still too early to hear print runs, house marketing schemes, and such. (And I know I'll have to coordinate many of my own marketing efforts and book launches with my in-house publicist for co-op dollars etc.)

Not being one to sit back and wait, however, I invested some of my advance in myself and my promotion. I figure I'll have one shot at this launch and I'm giving it my best. I hired an affordable publicist who has plans to get my name out there. Name recognition is key. Marketing wise, I've really got a lot going on, especially as we get closer to the release dates. Book launches, speaking engagements, online classes, etc. Apr-Jun 2008 seems a long way off but not when you consider I'm writing my next 3-book series (as we speak/chat) and I'm busy devising a business strategy as well.

I love networking with other authors and talking about writing--the next best thing to actually writing. I've also got a program I'm doing on author promotion in 2007-2008 so I could share my deer in the headlights approach to learning what I had to know...and avoid becoming asphalt paste. There's been great insight on this discussion too. I'm taking notes.

My publicist did a presentation recently to a local writers group of mine and presented a promotional time line. She posted it on our website loop. Anyone interested in seeing this, please email me and I will ask if I can cross post it here on my blog for access. This is not a Holy Grail. I'm sure she didn't give away any trade secrets, but it might help someone.

[Dianne Day]

Yes, it came as a surprise to me. Frankly I have to agree that in a perfect world, writers would write. Period.

[Dianne Day]

First, I'd be prepared to attend whatever major convention pertains to my type of book; assuming that's mystery, it would be Bouchercon. I was delighted to hear that thrillers now have Thrillercon. For traditional mystery writers, Malice Domestic is a lot of fun. Since your publisher is not going to pay for the conventions, it's a good idea to set the money aside and to register at the first opportunity. Remember that the book dealers will want to know you plan to attend so that they can have your book.

Beyond that, I think you just have to plunge in and do what seems best to you, because we each have things we are better at than other things. My first preference would be to make contact with individual bookstore owners and managers and to arrange drop-in signings. When you're new you have to be prepared to be gracious and not discouraged if you get there to find only two or three copies of your book. If they sell those, they will order more, provided your visit has been memorable. Book promotion can only be learned by doing, and it seems to change all the time.

The main thing I wish I had never done was something I couldn't avoid doing: I became exhausted on a book tour, and unfortunately New York was the last city on that tour. I had a signing scheduled on the East Side when I was physically on the West Side, and there was some kind of United Nations security thing that day that had closed all the roads through the Park. It was a nightmare that there might have been some way out of if I hadn't been too worn out to cope. I never made it to that bookstore and have felt bad about it ever since. What you'd do to avoid that kind of thing is hard to say, but my best advice would be to have the publicity dept people give you a driver or a media escort whenever that's possible, and if it's not ... well, like I said, I don't know.

[Dianne Day]

Hmmm. I noticed that most of these replies did not address the "And if you had to do all over, what do you wish you had NEVER done? (Dig deep and fess up)" part. So now I wish I had NEVER replied to that part either.

I do hope it's all been helpful.

[Jordan Dane]

You're among friends here, Dianne. I actually found your 'regret' story very interesting and something you don't hear often enough. Often I traveled alone on business (my soon to be 'kaput' day job) and I'm obsessed with details to make sure I was never late. My customers could be late,no problem, but I seldom tolerated my own tardiness. (Jeez) But sometimes, things happen you can't avoid and you have to learn to deal with them. Even if your house is helping with the logistics, it's always a good idea (for a compulsive organizer like moi) to do my own planning and confirmation. The worst stress comes from something you have no control over. Thanks for sharing. Forewarned is forearmed.