Marketing & Publicity for Authors: Part 4

I want to devote another post to marketing/publicity ideasbut first: since my last post on this subject I've fallen in love with Pinterest . I'm a visual person; for each of my novels I collect photos, maps,headshots, clothing ideas, etc. and put them on an idea board that inspires mewhile I work (for more on this idea board concept, see this terrific post by my friend Judith Graves.) Now I can post these same photos to Pinterest, and share them with myreaders. Finally – a place for me to display a vintage map or period gown,fabulous food or room decor! (Or, in the case of FORGIVEN , visuals depictingthe tragedy of slavery or earthquake devastation.) Check out what I mean here.
Now, more ideas:
When my first novel, FAITHFUL , came out I was eager touncover any marketing opportunities available. The first smart move I made wasjoining the Class of 2k . Originally FAITHFUL was slated for a fall 2009release; I joined the Class of 2k9 and made a number of friends there, whocontinue to be both real and virtual compatriots. When I was bumped to 2010the window of opportunity opened even wider, as I found another writing supportgroup in the Class of 2k10, whom I also count among my closest writing friends.
My advice to debut authors: seek out the opportunities tojoin groups like 2k, or the Debs, or theApocalypsies, because this is a lonelybusiness and community is critical to success.
Judith's blog tour badgeThe second thing I did was to spend some of my advance on myown publicist ( Blue Slip Media ). They arranged a five-week blog tour, whichgave me a huge, bouncy springboard. They also helped line me up with signinggigs and raised my media profile. I feel it was money very well spent.
If I were to suggest one single publicity item to you itwould be: blog tour. Bloggers who love books are our heroes. As an example ofgive and give again blog touring, I'll be hosting fellow 2k10 author JudithGraves here on March 22 as part of her SECOND SKIN  blog tour. 


And just in case you're thinking that a blog tour has to precede a book launch, here's a terrific idea to punch up a book that's been out for a while and give a boost to an upcoming book: Joy Preble has a blog tour going on for her second novel HAUNTED in time for the release of her third novel in the series,  ANASTASIA FOREVER . 
A recent article on the SCBWI blog  inspired me to think about more out-of-the-box marketing ideas. I love thesetwo that Sara Wilson Etienne dreamed up for the release of HARBINGER :
setting up a website around acentral idea, theme, place, character – and making it come alive withinnovative marketing ideas - essentially creating an "alternate reality" for readersmaking the blog tour moreinteresting by focusing it around a theme (in her case, the artist character in her novel)
My friend Holly Cupala ( DON'T BREATHE A WORD ) is also a clever marketer, whotaught me the value of printing out a limited number of first chapter excerpts(complete with blurbs, publisher information and color cover) to send to aselection of independent booksellers. I made them myself for FAITHFUL, payingonly for the color cover printing, using a booklet form of standard paper folded in half and Wordlayout for a two-page spread (yes, it did take me a while to figure out the layout so that pages would print correctly.)
My bookmarks & postcards, front and backI also want to give a mention to my 2k10 sister DeniseJaden ( NEVER ENOUGH ), who is an extremely smart marketer. Here's a recent blog post inwhich she discusses marketing; I especially like that she's honest about thelack of success with postcards, but will do bookmarks again. I would agree –the one stellar piece of swag that I would invest in again and again is thebookmark. (Having said that, Blue Slip made me a fabulous postcard for myFORGIVEN release, featuring both of my book covers, with accolades and awardsand contact information, that has been a "best seller" and easy for me to handto booksellers and librarians at events and conferences.)
I make my bookmarks myself using Word, with all relevant informationand cover on the front, and a bleed-out cover on the back over which I addaccolades, awards and quotes, maximizing all the space; I have them printed onthe heaviest card stock available at my local printer. Note that I leave just enough space for my signature on the back side of the bookmarks, which some like to collect. I love those little elephants!
Finally, check out this sweet idea from my friend Lynne Kelly ( CHAINED ) who made bookmarks with an elephant charm attachment – sodefinitely a "keeper"!! Here's how she did it:
For the bookmarksthemselves, I had them designed by JeffFielder, then I uploaded the designs and ordered them fromGotPrint.com. To make some of them more special, I ordered a variety ofelephant charms from Etsy sellers and attached them to the bookmarks with hemptwine. I'd tried a couple different kinds of string, like embroidery threadthat unraveled too easily, then found the roll of hemp in the beading sectionof Hobby Lobby.   


Sweet and smart.


I hope some of these ideas help with your next round of marketing and publicity! Next time - how your "street team" can help you.