Gearing Up For Release by Gerri Brousseau

My first novel (A Pirate’s Ransom) (I know I’m shameless) is being released on August 22nd.  Yikes!  I better get my rear in gear and start promoting my book.  What to do first?  Your guess is as good as mine.  So, I re-read “Market or Die” by Jennifer Fusco AND I read “The Tricked Out Toolbox” by Tonya Kappes & Melissa Bourbon Ramierez.  For starters, I’m going to create a “Fan” page on Facebook (Gerri Brousseau Writer) where I can ask all my family and friends to “like” me.  Once that has happened, that is the page that will promote my releases.  Yes, I will still have my old FB, but the new one will be where all the action is.

The next thing I plan to do is tweet more.  For me, tweeting is like the neglected middle child.  I simply forget I am on Twitter and do not tweet enough.  My new mantra is “I must tweet … I must tweet” as I am told twitter is a great source for book sales.  We’ll see.  (I must tweet)

I actually tried a new thing … I’m in the process of making a book trailer.  Do they sell books? who knows … but what I do know is it couldn’t hurt.  I’m using Movie Maker (it is free) and it was user friendly and not that difficult, so far.  I’m waiting for my music to arrive so I’ll let you know how difficult it is getting the music on and in sync.  Then I wonder how difficult it is to post on You Tube … but I guess I will find out.  Oh man!  I’m learning how to do so much cool stuff! (Maybe I should tweet about this)

After this is done, I have to set up a “Street Team” which consists of friends who will promote my book on their social network pages.  (Please email me or private message me on FB if you are willing to be part of the team) … (I must tweet)

Next, set up a blog tour … easier said than done.  I have done a lot of interviews on Nights of Passion for book releases for author friends, and I hope they will now do the same for me (hint … hint … hint and thanks if you have already asked me).

Then did I hear someone say the words “Press Kit”?  For me this is the worse part because I have to get my picture taken, and I hate that.  (I must tweet)

Now comes the fun part … a virtual release party … God I love a good party.  Oh, there won’t be wine?  No margaritas?  Oh, yes … the virtual kind (well that’s just no fun) … but, that is not to say I can’t go over to our local wine bar and host my virtual party there.  (Claudia, are you reading this?)  (Must remember to tweet)

The general reading public imagines an author writes a book, it gets published and presto … a career is born.  They do not realize there is painstaking journey to finding an agent/editor/publisher; dealing with contracts, hours of long suffering in editing; frantic promotional efforts; and all this before the book even hits the Kindle, Nook, or book shelf.  There is so much more work to writing a book than just writing the book.  But you know what, I can’t wait for the release party, even if it’s only a virtual one.

Are you on FB or Twitter?  If you are, friend me or follow me @gmbfictionwriter (and I will follow you).  What am I forgetting to do???? Oh yeah, order swag for my giveaway bags (any suggestions on what you would like to see go in it?) … and I must remember to tweet!

Filed under: romance