RELUCTANT PROMOTER LOOKING FOR SUPPORT GROUP
It's almost September and time for another book to come out. This one is WICKED WEAVES, the first in the Renaissance Faire mysteries. Joyce and I had a good time writing it. Of course, we almost always have a good time writing together.
One of the only things we disagree about is promoting the book. I tend to think book lovers will find us and we should leave it to chance. Joyce thinks we should go out and promote the hell out of any book we write. Since the publisher agrees with her and not with me, we promote.
I don't like promotion. I don't really have a good time doing it. You sit at a bookstore for a few hours and talk to people, try to hype your book. I've never bought a book from someone doing that so I tend to think people won't buy one from us. That's probably negative thinking because we usually do okay.
Even worse is the book club or group that wants us to read from our books or talk about our process, sometimes in great detail. I only know what we do. I don't know how to say it in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. So I let Joyce do that.
I don't think I'm alone in not liking promotion. Most writers aren't real estate agents (although I'm sure there are a few of those around, no offense to them).
When HOOKED UP came out in February, we went to the racetrack. When PERFECT POISON came out in May, we went to a garden party. Now we're going to a couple of Ren Faires in Virgina and Alabama for the new book. I really like going to our local Renaissance Festival but this is a whole other animal. I've been wondering for weeks about our promotion for this one. Now I know.
Excuse me while I go and try on my Renaissance costume.
Jim Lavene
Posted 8-19-08
2 comments:
I know exactly how you feel, Jim. I've always wanted to say "Hey, I wrote the book, now you're telling me I have to make people want to read it too?" Actually it's worse than that, not only are we supposed to make people want to read our books, we're supposed to make them want to make OTHER people read our books. (i.e., create Word Of Mouth) I just don't have that much charisma, although I think Joyce probably does.
I know exactly how you feel, Jim. I've always wanted to say "Hey, I wrote the book, now you're telling me I have to make people want to read it too?" Actually it's worse than that, not only are we supposed to make people want to read our books, we're supposed to make them want to make OTHER people read our books. (i.e., create Word Of Mouth) I just don't have that much charisma, although I think you and Joyce probably do. Well, maybe just Joyce. :)
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