Promoting a novel
My novel just came out from a small press (March Street Press), which has very little money to run a promotional campaign for the book. Much of the promoting falls on me, and I have very little money to run a promotional campaign. Besides begging family and friends to buy a copy, here are a few cheap things that I've done.
One, I've emailed Michigan newspapers with a press release about the book. Most papers have an online service that allows one to send press releases. Not all papers will run the release, but I made sure to send one to my boyhood town, the town I live in, and to the Gaylord newspaper (the town my novel is set in.) As a result of the Gaylord press release, I have been interviewed by a reporter, and their paper is doing a longer piece about me and the book. That's the nice thing about press releases . . . they sometimes turn into feature pieces. Remember, papers are looking for news.
I also emailed a couple local television stations. Long shot, sure, but one of the emails resulted in a radio interview about the book. Yes, radio interview. Don't ask.
I've been trying to email organizations that might have an interest in my book. Though it's not slavish in its deference to Thoreau, my book does tip its hat to the ideas in Walden. So . . . I've been emailing societies dedicated to Thoreau. So far, none have emailed back. They've probably cut themselves off from society and refuse to use email. Luddites!
Oh, I also contacted a book club in Gaylord to see if they might consider having me as a guest author. They requested a sample copy (yup, sometimes you have to give them away), and I have yet to hear their decision. I did manage to place a few in the bookstore that hosts their book club (Saturn Booksellers), so that's good.
I also emailed my university's alumni newsletter. They put a blurb in the newsletter about the book. I did have one alumni member email me as a result.
Okay, so I've had the book in hand since June. How many have I sold? No drum roll necessary. I've sold 43. I'm not sure if that's bad or good. My goal is to see 500 sold within two years.
Want to help with that goal?
Send a check for 18 dollars payable to Jeff Vande Zande to:
Jeff Vande Zande
P.O. Box 2042
Bay City, MI 48707
I'll be sure to sign the thing. People actually do this. I just sent a book to Davis, CA today to a guy who is neither my friend (but still a good guy, I'm sure), nor is he a member of my family. That always feels good.
Check back here and I'll give updates as to how book promotion is coming along.
One, I've emailed Michigan newspapers with a press release about the book. Most papers have an online service that allows one to send press releases. Not all papers will run the release, but I made sure to send one to my boyhood town, the town I live in, and to the Gaylord newspaper (the town my novel is set in.) As a result of the Gaylord press release, I have been interviewed by a reporter, and their paper is doing a longer piece about me and the book. That's the nice thing about press releases . . . they sometimes turn into feature pieces. Remember, papers are looking for news.
I also emailed a couple local television stations. Long shot, sure, but one of the emails resulted in a radio interview about the book. Yes, radio interview. Don't ask.
I've been trying to email organizations that might have an interest in my book. Though it's not slavish in its deference to Thoreau, my book does tip its hat to the ideas in Walden. So . . . I've been emailing societies dedicated to Thoreau. So far, none have emailed back. They've probably cut themselves off from society and refuse to use email. Luddites!
Oh, I also contacted a book club in Gaylord to see if they might consider having me as a guest author. They requested a sample copy (yup, sometimes you have to give them away), and I have yet to hear their decision. I did manage to place a few in the bookstore that hosts their book club (Saturn Booksellers), so that's good.
I also emailed my university's alumni newsletter. They put a blurb in the newsletter about the book. I did have one alumni member email me as a result.
Okay, so I've had the book in hand since June. How many have I sold? No drum roll necessary. I've sold 43. I'm not sure if that's bad or good. My goal is to see 500 sold within two years.
Want to help with that goal?
Send a check for 18 dollars payable to Jeff Vande Zande to:
Jeff Vande Zande
P.O. Box 2042
Bay City, MI 48707
I'll be sure to sign the thing. People actually do this. I just sent a book to Davis, CA today to a guy who is neither my friend (but still a good guy, I'm sure), nor is he a member of my family. That always feels good.
Check back here and I'll give updates as to how book promotion is coming along.
posted by Jeff Vande Zande at 8:10 PM
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