The Publishing Journey – Step 14 – Publicity – Starting on the Back Foot
End of September. My book is due out the second week of November. Plenty of time to solicit appearances at local libraries, local bookstores, meetings of local organizations, right?
Nope. Turns out I’m starting on the back foot. The leading bookstore in the area says “We’re booked for the next nine months.” An organization which is likely to be interested in my book’s development says “We have our whole membership year of meetings already filled in.” A local library says “Must schedule at least six months in advance.”
Even if there is no pre-pub period for applications. two other local libraries ask me for references, places where I have done presentations before, lists of presentations I have done at their location in particular. Talk about a Catch-22 – In order to be approved for a presentation one must have already done a presentation. Ugh.
I did catch one break – my Garden Club staged a book event – it started out as “Bring your Favorite Garden Book and talk about it”, but as several members had published non-garden-related books or had books they loved and wanted to present, the event broadened, and I was invited to talk about my soon-to-be-published novel. I had my Advance Reader Copies to show off, read a short excerpt to warm applause, and distributed my brand-new bookmarks to all who would take one. Felt great!
Another break: A fellow author was asked to be on a panel of local writers and whether she knew any others who might participate – she gave them my name! Hoping to be called.
Here I sit – list of interview questions in hand, ready to discuss my publishing journey, what drove me to write Three Lives, historical background… all dressed up and nowhere to go.