Call out to authors
I would like to compile ideas for marketing and make them available to other writers. Anyone out there who came upon a good marketing idea who would like to share it? If you write it in a comment here, or send it to me at nat@natashabauman.com, I will put them all together in an essay (crediting you, of course, for your wonderful idea) and post it on Red Room. Thanks for any and all responses!
About Natasha
I am a third generation Californian. I once was a ballet dancer, which led me to acting, which led to screenwriting. When my kids were still little, I returned to school to take literature classes for fun. I loved school, and stayed on to earn a BA, an MA...
Connections
Two Words: Bumper Stickers
I offered to print up bumper stickers bearing the title of my first book, "Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies," on account of the title is also a statement. Penguin liked the idea so much they did it for me.
I've also placed op-eds and columns in various newspapers with my tagline, "June C. is author of ..." Got that idea from my friend, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the "Frugal Book Promoter" and the "Frugal Book Editor (http://www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/) and quite the book-marketing guru.
I also pitched and organized a how-to-get-published seminar at Vroman's books in Pasadena, featuring a self-publishing expert, a tradtionally published children's fiction author and me. Good turnout, successful event.
My friend Deanna Cameron has been running Q&A's with authors about book marketing at her blog, http://deannacameron.blogspot.com/, in part to promote her upcoming novel.
Oh, and I created graphics files I called "image quips" in hopes people would use them as sassy commentary in message-board posts:
and
Suffice it to say they did not spread across the Internet like wildfire.
That's all I can remember at the moment.
Three More Words: Targeted Press Release
Forgot to add: My alumni mag, which hadn't responded to a press release from my publisher, did respond to a targeted press release from me.
I pitched 'em a story about how their school was instrumental in helping a former ninth-grade dropout become a twice-published author. They loved it and did a big profile spread on me.