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.)

Are Romance Novels Really to Blame?

An article by Anita Singh "Mills and Boon 'cause marital breakdown" created a little stir yesterday on one of the writer's lists to which I belong. I was interested that the article said the British Medical Journal had published a warning that these romance books are a cause of adultery and unwanted pregnancies.

Wow! Amazing to know how influential we authors are.

While I haven't read any Mills and Boon romances for quite some time, I was a little surprised to learn all the problems they may be causing. Years ago, the ones I read were simply sweet romances, nice little straightforward stories with happy endings. Those would hardly be books I would believe could lead to problems causing marital breakdowns.

Perhaps the books have changed with the times. Perhaps they are no longer innocent little romances. I don't know, and I don't plan to research the Mills and Boon books. (Looking at the titles, they do sound rather spicy.) However, I do like the idea that we can influence our readers. Only, I want to influence them for the better. I want my books to give them a few hours lost in a fantasy story. Hopefully, readers know it is fantasy and won't, because of what they read, make unfortunate choices they may later regret.

What do you think about blaming romance novels? If they are to blame, there are no more happy endings. That would be sad.

A Fun and Creative Way to Promote a Book

Recently, I've gotten way behind in scanning the couple hundred e-mails I get each day. When I started looking over and picking out the ones I needed to read, I discovered one from Tammy Kaehler in Murder Must Advertise, a group that I joined a while back. Although I don't know Tammy, I was intrigued by the promotion she is doing for her first novel, Dead Man's Switch, coming out in August. She has two videos, one about her and another about her book. Her reasoning is that since she wants to get speaking engagements, she would like people to see what kind of speaker she will be. The video about her book is a little more along the lines of some of the book trailers I've viewed.

Tammy has been a writer for a number of years, but she never wrote fiction until six years ago. The book she decided to write is about auto racing, so she approached this subject like a good news reporter. She visited tracks and interviewed the race car drivers. She became an expert on the subject of auto racing.

Now, a bookseller in Connecticut is partnering with the race track about which she wrote her novel to have a book launch party for her on July 9. Since Tammy lives all the way across the country in California, this is quite a special event.

I'm fascinated that she became a car-racing expert. I'm impressed that she took plenty of photos and video along the way, so that she had material handy for the videos. This is a fun and creative way to promote her book.

Those of you with books to promote, what unusual things can you do to promote them? Make a list. Even the craziest ideas could have merit. Be creative and have fun!

Signing the End on a Book Manuscript

Signing the words "the end" on a book manuscript has usually been a magic time for me. After weeks of intense work and dedication, it's fulfilling to accomplish a special goal.

Last Saturday, I typed those words on my latest manuscript, Jungle Jeopardy. I was happy, and I was sad at the same time.

You see, along the way, I fell in love with the characters. I relished the adventure in the jungle. My characters took over the story and wandered off in directions I never imagined when I began writing this book in March. I had a villain at the beginning whom I loved in the end. That was certainly never planned nor was it expected. I even had a jaguar play a major part in the plot.

Imagine that!

It was so much fun that I want to return to the jungles of Central America for more adventures. I want to find my way back into the unexplored Maya ruins. And I want to continue to wonder why I never heard much about the amazing Maya civilization in history classes.

What happens when you complete your manuscript? Are you willing to leave your characters or do you want to keep on going?

Painting and Writing - Sometimes They Conflict

"Checkered Cloth" MM Sikes

Painting and writing. Sometimes they relate, and sometimes they don't. And sometimes they even conflict with each other.

Next Friday, I'm scheduled to hang a month-long art show of my "Monti Just for Fun" paintings at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center in Richmond VA. The show will be displayed on the Slantwall Gallery from July 1 to August 1.

On July 14, during that time, "The Colors of Haiti" will open in the Gumenick Family Gallery at the Center. I love Haitian art and was invited to be a part of the opening reception at the Center from 7 to 9 p.m. on that date. Sadly, I will be unable to participate because of a writing event conflict.

"By the Chair" MM Sikes

The paintings in my show are unusual for me because they are small and painted with very bright colors. Much of the work starts on an orange background which I think relates to much of the Haitian art that I enjoy.

Here is the description from the Cultural Arts Center web site: "This series of light- hearted paintings are a departure from artist Mary Montague Sikes' more intense and powerful art. They explore pattern and design on canvas with a carefree delight and without concern for realism."

"Just for Fun" is just that, but sometimes I long for a return to the serious and the intense. And sometimes I wish there were no conflict between the writing and the painting. Sometimes I wish my writing and my painting would always relate and always fall into separate slots on my calendar.

Conflict is good in novels but not so good in real life.