Promoting your book - the challenges of erotica

I better be up front. When it comes to marketing I couldn't give away food to the starving. People assume that because I am outgoing, bubbly and could talk the leg off a table (worse after a glass of wine) then I should be great at marketing. Nope. A good friend who is a classical pianist and introvert was looking for a job and took up real estate. We looked at her as if she was mad and waited to pick up the pieces. But there weren't any. She did very well. I would have gone home crying every time someone slammed a door in my face (she was doing cold calls).
The difference? As an extrovert I rely on the outside world for feedback. I have a reasonable self esteem - but as a mother and in my 'other' professional life where I have a string of degrees and successful job applications and feedback. As a writer I have a number of required rejection slips to make me 'real', a last phase at Random House rejection (a step up above the others) and success (YEAH, first letter framed) with Siren, now onto book seven. But they are somewhat hotter than Fifty Shades (though bless ELJames for at least making it a discussable topic) and as one of many hudnreds of Sirens authors, the question is - how to market? Siren has a website but that's it.
Oh and I don't like rejection!!! (Constructive criticism is fine...)
The learning curve has been sharp! All the social media, blogging and finally I have decided I will get a card and be brave enough to drop in...well somewhere.
Let me contrast the problem with my husband's new book (first) out Jan 30th, mainstream, promoted heavily by text. He goes into a book shop and even if they haven't heard of the book or him (and given how much he has been in local papers this means you have been asleep or don't read) he drops his card, chats and next thing we know they put in an order for The Rosie Project.
I do the same I get a blank (or horrified) look and 'we don't do that sort of book'. These shops had Fifty Shades reluctantly and are now happy 'all that nonense' is over.
My mother even wants to hear all about his book and the next one but said re mine 'oh well we don't need to hear about that'.
I tried Adult bookshops and decided I needed to either:
1. Be my introverted friend
2. Be younger
3. Be braver
4. All of the above.
Okay I can't do anything about younger but I don't have grey hair yet. So armed with my elegant black card I just have to decide where to drop them...and run...

My self esteem is improving. My sister said (in amazement) that her friend ahs read all of mine and loved then! I might be able to stick around a little while with card in hand perhaps...



Were-Devils of Tasmania is my latest series: will love or an ancient curse win out? All work as stand alone books, the third The Ghosts' Return is out January 24th www.bookstrand.com/simone-sinna