Keep Swimming. Here’s Your Goggles – by Brinda Berry
Have you caught up with all the tasks on your to-do list for marketing yourself and your work? Wow. I’m so proud of you. I’ve gone through my list and here’s what is going on with me.
- Website, Twitter, Facebook (the big 3) CHECK!
- Amazon, Goodreads, Instagram, Triberr, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google + CHECK!
- Author headshot, Google Alerts, Local RWA Chapter Chapt. Author page, book tours, blog hops, giveaways CHECK!
- Press Kit. FAIL (Did you hear the wah, wah, wah sound effect?)
KD Reep of http://www.flywriteinc.com/ was the presenter of our information program at the last Diamond State Romance Authors’ meeting. She talked about the how, why, and who of writing a press release.
KD Reep is helping my group publicize our service project called Wild at Heart. First, here’s a little background. Wild at Heart is a set of anthologies with proceeds to benefit the non-profit big cat rescue called Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) in Arkansas. We talked with the folks at TCWR about how writers could help raise funds for their animals. TCWR is excited about the opportunity to reach the public this way. These digital and print book sales will raise funds with all proceeds to TCWR.
Authors nationwide answered a call for submissions for short stories (adult and YA) that ended up filling two books. A committee selected the best stories to include and ended up with a total of 22 short stories evenly balanced between adult and YA. All the stories are related to animals.
We released the digital version on Amazon just yesterday. Click HERE to visit and buy for $3.99 or download for FREE if you are an Amazon Prime Member. Sorry if that last sentence was hard sell. When I found out it costs $6000 a month to support the meat fund at Turpentine, I freaked. These rescued animals need help!
Now, back to what occurred at the meeting. I was stunned. The information about reaching the public in Arkansas was simple, yet priceless. People in media cannot help you market if you don’t bring it to their attention. KD Reep used me as an example and talked about why I should be sending press releases to media contacts in my local area. She thought they would love to hear about a local YA author. I might be able to have interviews on radio programs or with newspapers if they knew about it.
The illustration hit home. I’ve been swimming as hard as I can in this social media ocean and forgot the local people in my own pond. KD Reep handed me some virtual goggles to see what I should do next.
I’m now creating a press release for my own YA series. The Waiting Booth paperback version released on Friday on Amazon and The Book Depository. Writing a press release is not difficult. Visit this link to see several examples for a book press release: http://www.selfpub.info/templates/book-press-release-templates-and-examples.html . I plan to send mine to as many local media outlets as possible. I’ll also make it available on my website.
Is creating a press release on your to-do list?
BIO: Brinda lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She’s terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.
KUDOS to you, Brinda!
I have been waiting forever for the release of your books in print version. Expect an email seeking details on how I can purchase signed copies of the book.
Because I know you’ll do that for me because I’m special, right?
Right?
You officially have my High Five on promoting Wild at Heart in your article. It’s a great cause. I have personal experience with some folks in our area who used to keep these wild animals caged. They would (no joke) bring a young tiger cub into the bar area of a local Italian restaurant.
[Do not get me started on what the health department would have said about that. Other than, “turn out the lights, this place is closed.”]
To further amp your disdain for these folks, we were there one night when they had their 9 YO son go from table-to-table soliciting money for his upcoming birthday party.
Local authorities eventually forced them to close their Animal Cage Kingdom, and I often wonder what happened to that young cub I saw posed for pics in front of liquor bottles. And, their 9 YO. My bet is his “birthday fund” relieved the bar of one of those bottles of liquor.
Count me in for purchase of the book. A great read with funds going to a good cause?
PART I of II
Part II of II
…great read with funds going to a good cause?” It can’t get much better than that.
On the topic of social media presence.
When I looked at your checklist, my system went green with
nauseaenvy. I do not know how you keep up with all of those, Super Brin, but my head twirls like I’m possessed when I try to think about maintaining an active presence on the first three.Perhaps I need to follow you around for several days to see how and when you find time for all of those outlets, plus work full-time, plus write the third book in your trilogy.
YES! You must put a press kit together. My husband frequently brings me articles on local authors who have recently been published
I never thought about how the newspaper found them. I was naive enough to think the reporters must have lurked in writer’s groups seeking fodder to fill the Local Section.
That’s about as naive as thinking a literary agent will come knocking on my door wondering where in the heck she can find my manuscripts.
Well, the first two are coated with dust bunnies. The third?
I agree with said imaginary literary agent and stand behind her with my arms crossed. “Where in the heck is that finished manuscript???”
On that get-‘er-done note…
I am off to write! GREAT stuff, my friend.
When I first started reading I thought that WAS Gloria’s checklist, but I figured out very soon that it was Brindas!
Thank you so much, Gloria. Did you see that our friend Lori Freeland has a short story in the YA (vol 2) as well? :)
I have officially purchased the YA book. And don’t forget there is an adult one as well! I have also LIKED it on amazon and done the small extra, go down to the bottom of the page and clicked on the tags that I agree with. I have no idea what that does, but I am assured that it helps the book sell. So sell, little book, sell!
Press kit? Maybe another day. Okay, definitely on another day. Maybe next year. You are amazing Brinda! But I agree with you. I know our local bookstore has booksignings for local authors, and I also know that local schools love author visitors. I myself attended a very unknown author’s book talk during high school. I think only ten of us came to her talk. You might have heard of her. Jean M. Auel? She wrote a little book, Clan of the Cave Bear? Yep, she was out there peddling that book and look where it got her.
Even though SM may be where we are, not everyone is there, and sometimes an in person appearance can be the ticket to a life long fan.Wish I’d had a book for her to sign that day!
Brinda, I love when a blog post teaches me new things, so you can imagine how thrilled I am with this one! Although I feel a little shaky on #2, I’m really sinking on #4, just like you! I have done nothing to get known here in my own little pond. (So how could I be drowning, you might ask?) Thanks for a great summation.
Sometimes I can be blind to opportunities right in front of me. :)
Congrats to you! I have the press kit on the list, but I have to finish my book first! I agree that starting at home makes sense. Great advice. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve had a couple of disappointments recently, so it’s nice to have some exciting things happen. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Creating a press release is not on my to do list actually. Thanks for highlighting this. Maybe I should think about doing one for next year’s gay pride parade.
You definitely should.
Another great post, Brinda and Gloria. I did do a press release for Love of Her Lives from a template my publisher had. I only sent it to 2 places though and didn’t receive any response.
I wondered about hand delivering it to our local newspaper. I’m not sure where else to submit it though. I didn’t think about radio. Oh my, another thing to add to the list.
Romance novels have been in the news so much lately. I’d think you are a great entertainment story.
That’s a great cause, Brinda. Lots of meat these kitties need every month.
Love your Social Media posts. And I recommend them to everyone!
Thank you so much, Carole.
I sent press releases to my papers in surrounding cities – who never responded, but my local paper was head over heels. Smaller is better, and I earned the interest of local readers I never would have reached with social networks.
Call it old fashioned, but coffee shop and library readings are fabulous.
Yes, I saw one of readings on video. You are a natural.
What? Who? Where? You mean I’m famous?
I did see that, right? I’m sure I don’t have you mixed up with some other articulate, gorgeous author.
Bravo Brinda on your paperback The Waiting Booth release!! How exciting! Thanks for the tidbit about the meat bill at TCWR. Wow! Way to go on your press release. I suppose I should get to work as well.
You always make me smile. Thanks!
I don’t have a press release. Uh-oh.
I know I need to reach out more locally.
The templates make it easy. It’s much easier than a query letter. lol
Good stuff Brinda, thanks!
I’m a noob author, and I felt like a kid that found the key to the candy shop as I was reading your list.
MOST of those things hadn’t even crossed my mind. I have actually been invited to do a television interview at a local station, so hopefully that (along with your fantastic post) will push me into action.
Thanks!
Zack…
Gloria! for some reason wordpress is not letting me approve your comment :(
Thankyou do much for your thoughtful, kind, inspiring comment! You have given me that extra dose of courage that I need—this is the one place I feel free to express my philsophy it is so nice to connect with people (like you :))) who also feel a connection to my ideas.
Ah the mud puddles, when we become adults we sometimes forget that we can still have fun, we just have to be a bit more cautious!
I will keep following your work, I am so impressed with you I can’t wait to see more :)
Cheers!
SKA-WEET, Creative Goddess. I love that you finagled a way around WordPress in order to get your comment to me.
Thank you so much for the compliments.
[Pausing for happy dance.]
Thanks for the follow, and — like you — I can’t wait to see more from me. I am woefully delinquent on posting a blog. Too many ideas noodling around in my noggin.
Must. Lasso. One. Of. Them. I’ll be watching for more of your stellar thoughts.
Hehe I shall join you in the dance :) So happy I found you—your such a postive person! Sometimes I find it so difficult to put my thoughts, emotions into words—and then it just comes, and I feel everyone can be like this :)
Thankyou Gloria :)