Are you ready for your book's debut?

Happy 3rd of July, my friends!  Julie Carobini here from California.  My next book, Sweet Waters, has an August release date, but I recently learned that it has 'left the warehouse' and is on its way to a store near you.  Yay!  Er...um...but am I ready?

Between mothering three kiddos, writing new books and marketing current ones, I've learned there is no need to reinvent the wheel.  So when asked by an interviewer how I promote my books, I decided to make a list (and check it twice :)  Here it is:

• Send thanks to publisher’s sales team
• Plan launch party to be held at local bookstore
• Send out postcards to growing list (I hired my teen daughter to update this list for  me. She made some money and I saved time.)
• E-mail my occasional newsletter to subscribers
• Stay active on Twitter and Facebook (personal status updates more than marketing pitches!)
• Link to really GREAT interviews of my books on my blog
• Give away a lot of books and candy
• Drop-in book signings (a great excuse to travel!)
• Highlight author-friendly bookstores on my blog

There. That list looks pretty good to me.  I keep it stored on my computer and check it often rather than starting from scratch.  A time saver! 

How about you?  If your next book releases early, are you ready?  Or do you need to make a handy list of your own? 

Thanks for stopping by the CANblog today, my friends.  Feel free to drop me questions here or visit my beach pad on the web any time: www.juliecarobini.blogspot.com

Comments

[Pat W. Kirk]

Just wondering: what is a drop-in book signing? Surely you don't just drop by and say, hay, I'll sign books today.

Thanks.

[julie carobini]

Hi Pat--Happy 4th! During book release 'season' I keep clear plastic party bags in my car (I get them at Hallmark) that contain chocolates, bookmarks &/or postcards and my business card. I then 'drop in' to bookstores and look to see if my book is on their shelves. If it is, I'll go to mgmt or cust. svc. (depending on store) and introduce myself. I'll thank them for carrying my book and give them the package. At this point 99.9% (and I do this A LOT) ask me to sign some or all of their stock. I often carry a camera and get pictures, if poss (to use later on the blog).

If the store does not carry my book, I use the time as an opportunity to intro them to my work. Either way, I can't lose.

Hope this helps! I've got some great stories to share for future blog posts--thanks for the idea :)

[Pat W. Kirk]

Thank you.