The right moment for promoting your book

[Edmontonian]

Hello everyone,

When is the right moment for promoting your upcoming book? How much time is there usually for this process? I hear that for a new writer, the largest part of the promotional efforts falls on him, is that correct?

I am still in the unpublished stage, while showcasing my work for agents to take a bite, so I know I am long way off from promotion. However, I would appreciate a few thoughts from those blessed ones among us whose work has seen the inside of a bookstore.

Thanks,

ED

[BenPanced]

Your publisher will take on the majority of the promotion. After all, it's in their best interests. They'll be the ones printing up the catalogs and sending out the sales force to the bookstores. A red flag with a publisher is if they tell you you'll be the one doing all the promo work. You can assist in the promotion by mentioning your book in a blog, website, or other online venue; there's even a board for promotions here on AW. Let them know if there are any specialty bookstores in your area that would be a perfect place for you to do a signing. Remember: "assist" is the key word here.

[illiterwrite]

I've learned that not all publishers are great at promotion, and it's never too early for you to start thinking of ways to promote yourself, especially within your community. My publisher is one of the fairly big ones, and they cover the essentials -- catalogues, review copies, some readings & events. Unfortunately for me, I was hugely pregnant at my book's release and was a little out of it for a few months after the baby came. So I did go around to sign and did a little promotion of my own (book clubs, etc.), but not much. This time around, I'm determined to be more active.

[Cato]

Hey, are you a fellow Edmontonian?

[Edmontonian]

Yes, Cato I am. How can I help you?

ED

[Cato]

Was just wondering because I live in Edmonton as well. Or is your name Ed?

[Gillhoughly]

Not all books are promoted equally by their publishers.

Or in the case of PubliSHAMerica, which does no promotion at all. Stay away from them, BTW.

AFTER you've sold a book, ask your agent or editor the projected publishing date--which can be 12 to 18 months after signing a contract.

While you are working on your next three novels, you can get a website ready to help promote the first book, start a blog, etc. I have a blog, but only ever post when I've got something relevant to my novels to share. There's a young writer in my area who assumes that now she's published that every word out of her brain is wholly fascinating to the rest of the world, so she blogs half a dozen times a day about every little thing. Booooring. Less is more.

Check how other writers do their sites. Decide what's best for you.

Unless you've got some amazing women-first self-help book, don't expect a shot on Oprah. For fiction, don't expect invites to the big literati parties. You can wear all black, though, and no one will think it's weird. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

But for now, learn your craft, write, and sell something. Your cart is so far in front of the horse he can't even see it.

[Edmontonian]

Yes, thanks. And, yes, I do live in Edmonton.

ED

[Mumut]

I do a lot of promotion of my books, mainly because I enjoy it. But I wait until the book is in the last couple of weeks before the book is due off the press. I organise book signings and put news items in local papers. Service groups often make all their guests arranged before the year begins as with major writers' groups. So I'm contacting all National Seniors, Probus, Rotary etc etc now for next year.

Like tonight. I was lucky to be invited to give a talk at a Rotary group because they had a cancellation. I was asked to talk about Papua New Guinea but I managed to include a bit about my books and I sold quite a few copies.

[Enzo]

Back in Belgium writers would contact the local correspondents for national and regional newspapers, speak for local cultural clubs, associations of women, retired people etc, and libraries of course.
There's quite a lecture circuit out there, but of course I don't know if that's the case with your home region.

[James D. Macdonald]

Don't do promotion until your book is scheduled.

Only do the promotion that's fun for you.

If your publisher can't do a lay-down in bookstores, there's almost no point to promoting it.

[Manderley]

If your publisher can't do a lay-down in bookstores, there's almost no point to promoting it.

What's a lay-down? the foreign girl asked ...

[Nateskate]

I'm fortunate in that my Publisher was up front in talking to me about this. However, I was cautioned not to say too much until nearing the print date. So I had to stop talking, and I still don't have much more to say.

Lol, it's kind of like saying you're getting married, but then five years pass, and you're still two off. People can't stay excited that long.