Book Flogger

Selling books is difficult. There are so many on the market and many more constantly streaming in. How does a new writer get noticed? Online communities, press releases, book signings, word of mouth, magazine reviews; I've done it all.

I recently tried a new venture; giving out leaflets. Having arranged some photo calendars as Christmas presents, the option of producing handouts was electronically pushed at me and it seemed like a novel way of publicising the book.

A week later, a box of 500 leaflets arrived on my doorstep so I promptly toured the local pubs and restaurants to hand them out. There was general acceptance. At least that's how it seemed but how many leaflets were dumped in the bin as soon as I left is difficult to tell. One man at the bar did take a leaflet and put it in his pocket but another man waiting to collect his Indian takeaway meal read the leaflet and then yawned whilst dropping it back on the table.

I might go stand at rugby matches and hand them out. I tried passing them out to blokes in kids play barns. But I wonder if people see this as impertinence, an intrusion into their emotional space. It's a difficult balance. Certainly, when I get leaflets through the post advertising erection potions I wonder what my estranged wife has been telling people. Still, it's a colourful leaflet on stiff paper so it will at least make a good paper aeroplane.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Trouble-W...