Welcome to Sortilege Falls is due out from Fire and Ice YA Publishing in late May/early June. I am, of course, incredibly excited. The book is on its tenth round of edits. I’ve rewritten the blurb several times and the cover is done! So, if all that work is done and the book is nearing completion, then what the heck am I gearing up for? If you’re a writer as well as a reader, you’ve probably already guessed: Promotion.
UGH! Is there a dirtier word to speak to a writer? Is there another concept that will make a writer quake in their boots? Yes, and it’s called writer’s block, but, much like Fight Club, we don’t talk about writer’s block.
Promotion is absolutely frightening and can be overwhelming. I’d much rather sit in my office and clack on keys all day. But every writer has to do it. Our very careers depend on it. But damn we hate it. It’s like having to kiss your creepy uncle at Christmas. There’s nothing really wrong with him, but you’d rather skip it if you can.
You may be asking yourself what I mean by promotion. Do I plan to stand on a busy street corner dressed up as my book and flip a sign for Amazon? No, I do not. I don’t think I’d look good as a rectangle and I’m pretty clumsy, so that sign would end up in traffic in less than ten minutes. I will, however, be covering the book promotion basics: cover reveal, posting sample chapters, and doing a blog tour. I’ll have a giveaway on Goodreads. Then there’s the hours I’ll spend begging politely asking book bloggers to read and review my book. Not to mention posting to twitter and instagram without becoming annoying (at least I hope so). That’s all ground I covered when I released Tough Girl. But I’m not stopping there. I’m heading bravely into uncharted waters.
I’m branching out to other areas of the interwebs and into real life. I have a reading scheduled at Green Monkey in downtown Raleigh and The Book Bar in North Raleigh. I’m going to include some improv with at least one of those readings. I’m ordering bookmarks and plan on distributing them around town. Plus I’ll give a few copies to my local library and the lending station at my local coffee house. Besides that, I’m releasing fiction free on Wattpad in hopes of broadening my audience. Not only will I publish free fiction, I’ll also be spending a decent amount of time trying to interact with my fellow readers.
I’m not mentioning all this in a woe-is-me lament. Far from it. Sure, I’m stressed, who wouldn’t be? Promotion is a time-consuming, humbling slog. But this is all stuff I have to do because I have a book coming out, which is fantastic and the best thing ever. I’m mentioning it because it’s what my life is going to consist of for the next few months. I’ll be writing, promoting, performing improv, working and living. But I want to make sure I don’t burn out. So I’ll also be working out, sleeping, and turning my brain off whenever possible (I’m looking at you Netflix). In July, when the dust settles, I plan to post about what worked and what didn’t. If you’re in a charitable mood, please wish me luck!
So, fellow writers, what promotional tricks do you use?
Readers, what makes you interested in reading a book?
Thanks for stopping by! If you’d like to host me during my May blog tour or help me with my March cover reveal, please say so in the comments below and I’ll be sure to contact you!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see the cover.
Few book stores left in my city. Good to know Raleigh still has some opportunities outside of Barnes and Noble.
Have you considered doing a Thunderclap campaign?
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Hi Alex! I just heard about Thunderclap the other day. I’ve seen one campaign and I’m trying to follow it to see if it’s something I might pursue. Have you tried it?
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Woohoo. So exciting for you. Aren’t the editing rounds a crazy experience? 😀
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I’ve read my book 4 times this month. I got to a point where I couldn’t tell what I liked and what I didn’t. So yeah, totally crazy.
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Libby, how I sympathize with your plight! If there’s anything that I do not like, and never will like about the publishing business it’s promotion. The word conjures up images in my brain that I would not, could not have imagined me doing, and yet I do. I guess it bothers me in the same way that physicians advertising bothers me (which I still have some control over, thank goodness).
Anyway, I’m glad that you’re being published…
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It’s weird right? I’ve never been one to say, ” you should check this out, I did it, it’s fantastic!” I usually say, “Aw, I could’ve done better.” So now I have to pretend to be super-confident. Not easy at all.
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Your plans sounds great — interacting with other writers and finding places in your local area to do readings, giveaways, get some media attention, etc. Good luck with promo-ing and the release! 🙂
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Thanks! I’ll take all the good vibes I can get!!!!!
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I hear you when you say humbling and slogging in the same sentence as promotion. You’re welcome on my blog with some of that “Buy My Book” stuff if you’re interested.
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Thanks C Lee! I really appreciate it!
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Congrats, Libby!! I think if you find the fun in the promotional work, you’ll find you’re more successful. Best wishes!!
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I think you’re right. I’m trying to get more creative with my instagram, focusing on pics of gnomes when I can. 🙂 Wattpad is becoming fun so that’s good.
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Congratulations! I host authors on my blog all the time. sharifwrites(at)gmail(dot)com
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Thanks Medeia! I’ll be emailing you shortly!
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Ah promotion, yes. I love the image of you dressed up as your book! I’m starting to plan my strategy too – I have a couple of signings planned, one of which is in a café that has nothing to do with books! But it does sell the most amazing hot chocolate.
I think it’s very easy to get caught up in the online promotion and forget about real life, so I think you’re doing it well. Good luck. I’ll follow this post, and hope to get more ideas myself 😉
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Good luck Annalisa! You’re welcome to stop by here anytime, let me know if you’d like to do a guest post. The Green Monkey I’m doing a reading in is really an art gallery/bar so there will be good beers and pretty things to look at. I’m jealous of your hot chocolate though. 🙂
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You sound like you have a firm grasp on what you’d like to do to promote your book. Best of luck, and I’m looking forward to seeing the cover. 🙂
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Libby, I’m so excited to hear your next book is coming out! Any chance you’ll be doing a book event here in DC? Promotion is so daunting, but I’m hoping it will spread the word about your talent. Where can I order an autographed copy?
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