Rachel Thompson’s recent article on the Huffington Post blog, while unpleasantly titled and designed to smack her fellow authors around a bit, offers a pretty comprehensive and useful list of self-promotional things authors can and should try. Feel like you’ve tried everything? Rachel guarantees you haven’t. I make no such guarantees, but since this blog… Read more »
promotion
While I Have You…. (Crafting Your Elevator Pitch)
I once met Toni Morrison in an elevator. This happened during ALA in Washington, DC, in 2010. It was late in the evening. I was exhausted. She was probably exhausted. We were staying in the same hotel, apparently, and we were both on our way back to our rooms. She stepped into the elevator behind me, along… Read more »
Launch Your Book In Style
The Rock and the River launch party, January 2009 I’ve attended a lot of book launch parties in my day. It’s pretty exciting when anyone you know has a new book out, but nothing tops celebrating your own debut. There’s a lot to consider, but if you take a little time to think it through,… Read more »
Five Levels of Self-Promotion
I love self-promotion. Cheesy though it may be, nothing makes me happier than handing someone a copy of a freshly-minted postcard emblazoned with my book cover. Unfortunately, what should be a sweet moment of pride for me is often discolored by tiny twinges of anxiety, wondering: Is it really appropriate to ramble on about my book and… Read more »
That Eeemy-Squeamy Feeling
If you’ve been around literary networking events at all, you’ve probably met those authors who feel it is their mission in life to get everyone to buy their book. Personally. Right here. Why wait? They have copies for sale. They can sign one for you. Personalize it. Give you a plastic bag, and a bookmark,… Read more »