One Hot Day in July and Book Promotion

It's hot today here in Virginia, and I am thinking about book promotion for the fall. My publisher has my new novel Jungle Jeopardy on the fast track for release at a writer's conference in Las Vegas later this week, so I need to get on the fast track for promotion.

What is best--focus on one type of promotion, or do everything?

Unless you're topping the New York Bestseller List week after week, you'd better think about doing everything and more. This is the list I'm making for myself right now:

1. Create or update a media kit.
2. Write press releases for the new book and get them out.
3. Send out a newsletter about the new book.
4. Look for reviewers. (This should be done much earlier but the book wasn't ready.)
5. Plan a launch event.
6. Contact bookstores.
7. Contact college alumni groups. Also, other groups that may relate to the book and its content.
8. Contact libraries about the new release. Do they have book clubs? Do they need speakers for any events?
9. Search for travel organizations and travel groups. Other niche markets. Contact them
10. Set up a schedule for promotion. Set aside time each day for promotion on the Internet.
11. Write a blog. Schedule guests on the blog and become a guest on the blogs of others.
12. Tweet and write on Facebook about the new book, but don't be rude.
13. Make brochures, business cards, and posters for the new book.
14. Follow the marketing plan outline from my publisher, Oak Tree Press.
Much more!

"Jungle Beat" Copyright MM Sikes

One hot day in July has made me think hard about some cool book promotion. I'll keep on working until I have an organized plan, then I'll follow it.


(Take a peek at my painting that will be part of the book cover.)

It's That Time of Year!

Reflections, rediscoveries, rejuvinations, resolutions. For many of us, these words are part of our end of the year ritual.

After all, it's that time of year!

Time to reflect on what has taken place over the past 12 months.

Time to rediscover hidden treasures from the past. Perhaps time to reorganize these treasures. Maybe we'll even find a few we no longer want but might be a real treasure to sell on Ebay or elsewhere. And it's time to box up the rest for disposal or storage.

Perhaps it's also time to rejuvinate our bodies with plans to exercise, eat right, and rest well. That might be the number one resolution for the new year.

Did we actually achieve any or all of the resolutions we made last year? It's time to find that list and check it out.

For writers, new year's resolutions are especially important. Did you have a new book published this year? Resolve to revitalize and rejuvinate sales for that book. Do you have a new book coming out in 2011? Resolve to make plans for promotion beginning right now.

After all, it's that time of year!