PR Kits . . . I'm doing my best
Part of being an author is handling some of your own marketing and publicity for your work. If you don't do it, the book will simply languish without any attention whatsoever. Believe me, even if you DO the publicity schtick, your book could STILL come and go with the impermanence of a match.
I've spent the last six months preparing documents, designing advertising pieces, figuring out who needed to get packets, which bookstores I would approach, whether I should add links on my website and call it a day or to create paper packets that would be mailed.
Believe me, this is not something that could be done in a week (ha! I'm laughing at myself, because if you could see my to-do list, I have 12-15 things on that list every day, and 'building a PR kit' was on that list for a very very very long time.
But they're done, and they're being sent, and I'm hoping that they look professional and are good representatives of the book and of me -- and that they work to interest people in reading this novel!
So, what's going into my press kit? A cover letter, first of all. It's personalized for every contact I'm reaching out to. I want them to know that I've considered very carefully where I want to go and what type of event I want to build.
Secondly, the press release. Mine covers the major themes of the book, a link to the town I'm going to visit, information about the book, my bio, and some info about what type of publicity will be done to promote the book and the events.
Third, a glossy cover sheet that says "Inside the Mourning Parade," and includes a bulleted list of interview topics and book club questions.
Beneath that, there's an extensive Reading Group Guide that is best enjoyed online since the links to the play list and recipes are live.
Fifth, another cover sheet. (it's a three-fold presentation folder that I'm filling). This cover is the sell sheet from the publisher, that gives details about book buying information, as well as general info about the book.
And beneath that, the backstory about the book, my inspiration for writing it, and contact info.
Whew. Each piece took me at least four days to produce, then I'd print it and look at it again, find more I'd want to change, and the process continued until I started printing up the packages. I'll guarantee you, if I look at the package one more time, I'll still find things I want to change.
So, there's another pile of them going out today, then I'm going to start sending them to book clubs I'd like to meet in person while I'm on the book tour.
Do you know anyone who'd love to have an author come speak or sit and have a glass of wine or cuppa coffee???
I've spent the last six months preparing documents, designing advertising pieces, figuring out who needed to get packets, which bookstores I would approach, whether I should add links on my website and call it a day or to create paper packets that would be mailed.
Believe me, this is not something that could be done in a week (ha! I'm laughing at myself, because if you could see my to-do list, I have 12-15 things on that list every day, and 'building a PR kit' was on that list for a very very very long time.
But they're done, and they're being sent, and I'm hoping that they look professional and are good representatives of the book and of me -- and that they work to interest people in reading this novel!
So, what's going into my press kit? A cover letter, first of all. It's personalized for every contact I'm reaching out to. I want them to know that I've considered very carefully where I want to go and what type of event I want to build.
Secondly, the press release. Mine covers the major themes of the book, a link to the town I'm going to visit, information about the book, my bio, and some info about what type of publicity will be done to promote the book and the events.
Third, a glossy cover sheet that says "Inside the Mourning Parade," and includes a bulleted list of interview topics and book club questions.
Beneath that, there's an extensive Reading Group Guide that is best enjoyed online since the links to the play list and recipes are live.
Fifth, another cover sheet. (it's a three-fold presentation folder that I'm filling). This cover is the sell sheet from the publisher, that gives details about book buying information, as well as general info about the book.
And beneath that, the backstory about the book, my inspiration for writing it, and contact info.
Whew. Each piece took me at least four days to produce, then I'd print it and look at it again, find more I'd want to change, and the process continued until I started printing up the packages. I'll guarantee you, if I look at the package one more time, I'll still find things I want to change.
So, there's another pile of them going out today, then I'm going to start sending them to book clubs I'd like to meet in person while I'm on the book tour.
Do you know anyone who'd love to have an author come speak or sit and have a glass of wine or cuppa coffee???
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