Downton Abbey is Trending. I’m going to jump aboard.You can too!
Now and again, something really catches the public’s eye and goes viral. Downton Abbey fits perfectly into that category and I rub my hands with glee? Why? Because I’ve written a novel about a stately home and I’m going to do my best to harness the Downton trend.
Now, when I’ve written my piece on why my book, Open House, should be trending like Downton Abbey, you can do one of three things. You can laugh your head off, you can wish me well, or you can really make my day and buy it. Hands up which will please me most.
But one thing’s for sure, whichever course of action that you choose, you will be aware that Open House by Charlie Bray exists!
And isn’t that what book marketing is all about.
So here I go. I’m having first dibbs at this – cos it’s my idea. But when I’ve done, I’m going to throw the opportunity open to everyone, so read on – right to the end.
DOWNTON ABBEY BOUNCES BACK ON TO U.K. SCREENS
Downton Abbey returned to the U.K small screen this week on the crest of a wave, and is sure to follow in the U.S soon. The fourth season of this blockbuster will be a huge success – just like the three that preceded it. And why? Because I and millions of other people love it. People from the upper middle classes downwards have always harboured a morbid fascination for the British Aristocracy and the media have kept up a supply of period dramas to satisfy them.
But I think there is just as huge a fascination with the present day aristocracy and that’s where my new novel Open House comes in. When compared with Downton Abbey, there is strong evidence that things in the upper echelon never really change. If anything, it’s more mysterious now because no-one really knows how the aristocracy is surviving. I guess they’ve got similar problems to their ancestors. Set in a different timeframe, but just as interesting
For instance, the patriarch of Downton, Lord Grantham, is skint again, following the early demise of his heir, Matthew. And so is Lord Cove, the bumbling patriach of Cove Castle in Open House. In fact, he makes light of it, glibly handing Renoirs and Picassos out to pay the utility bills.
The Dowager Countess of Downton is an endearing old battleaxe who takes no prisoners. The Marchioness in Cove Castle is perhaps even worse, terrorising family and staff alike.
Lord Grantham’s daughters are very feisty indeed, albeit grief-stricken. Lord Cove’s off-spring are even feistier, but much less morbid. You see, Open House is a comedy. One of his grand-daughters copulates for Britain, one is an extremely determined tree-hugging activist.
Whilst the children in Downton Abbey currently do little more than get pushed around in vintage prams, young Che Guevara, yes honestly, runs around Cove Castle’s turrets unfurling banners and launching gargoyles at unsuspecting Supreme Court Judges below.
The chauffeur at Downton Abbey has climbed the class ladder and is now part of the aristocracy, whilst the one in Open House is enjoying a gay liaison with one of the aristocrats and shooing away a Thai lady boy who he perceives as competition.
And there is more, much more in Downton Abbey and Open House worth comparing. All you have to do is keep watching Downton and buy Open House for the pittance that is £2.04 on Amazon.co.uk and $3.04 on Amazon.com
Happy Stately Home reading!
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So there you are, I’ve had my go. Now it’s time for you to have yours:
Welcome to Indietribe’s brand new feature, in which you can link your book to something that is currently TRENDING – a very Cool word, eh? – and piggy-back on the trend-setter’s present-day fame. Don’t be distracted by all the hyphens – this is worth reading!
I’m inviting you to send in a piece of text, including pictures, to link your book to something that is currently hot and happening. No fee whatsoever, and consequently minimum input from me. And no promise of publication. I’ll only publish it and promote it if it catches my eye, and you’ve done all the work. Copying and pasting it will be my only involvement.
This new feature will be published fortnightly and is open to all Indietribe Members. Send your copy and images in as soon as it’s ready to me, Charlie Bray at theindietribe@gmail.com
So what do you link your book to. Well this is where you have to use your imagination. You’re an author anyway so that should be no great hardship. Look around you at what is hot and trending. Visit the likes of Facebook and Twitter. They’ll be only too pleased to show you what’s trending with them.Study the news.What’s currently breaking. Somewhere out there there will be a major force that matches your book.
Find it, harness it, and build a little story around it, highlighting your book within the process.
Look back at what I did above. That really is all there is to it. Come on, get cracking. Regard it as Charlie’s Challenge. It’s a great way to attract publicity and link to something that’s already going viral. Even if it doesn’t reach the heady heights of appearing free of charge on Indietribe – and some definitely will – just think of all the other places you can send it to gain publicity.
So there you are. Find and follow that trend!
But before you do, buy Open House as a little thank you to me for the idea. It’s only £2.04 from Amazon.co.uk and $3.04 from Amazon.com
See how cheeky and pushy you have to be to succeed?
Catch up with you all soon,
Very best regards,
Charlie
