I’m quite anxious to see how things are going to go this year. Somehow, I’ve managed to get the book in four nationally distributed publications, which should be very helpful in getting the word out about my book. Well, one of them is a paid ad, but the other three came about by someone approaching me. Seems like I’ve done a decent job so far in getting the word out on the internet, so I think people are hearing about it from there and contacting me. I am so thankful that these individuals have contacted me and decided to either publish a review, news, or interview. Now all I gotta do is try to get them in stores so that people won’t be frustrated if they want to go out and purchase it.
I’m looking forward to the 4-day workshop at the UCLA Extension Writer’s Studio. I went last year and I think that was the most intensive course on writing that I ever took. Not that I’ve taken a whole lot. I took a course on Writing the First Novel and the instructor went all up, down, in, out, and around all aspects of writing. I’m vowing to take this class every year. Plus, it serves as a mini vacation. And this time around, there’s another added benefit. My agent, Jenoyne, and I are meeting up for lunch while I’m there. This year, I’m taking the workshop on Creating Characters. Should be extremely interesting. I’m already ready to apply it to my second novel!
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Things are going well at the moment. I don’t think I can ask for more, although I wish it wasn’t so tiresome! I actually SOLD OUT of my prereleases. I thought I was going to have a few copies left over when I picked up my final copies the second week of January. However, Counting Raindrops was selected for 2 online book clubs as well as an Atlanta based book club for January. Orders came flooding in and I sold out of the prereleases. It was actually a blessing that I was able to pick my full release copies up early. I started selling them in advance of the publication date to meet the needs of the book clubs. What’s even better is that my book will be the selection for two other book clubs in February. Things are going okay right now. It’s a matter of keeping the interest out there long enough for people to notice and buy.
Like I said, things are great, but tiring. I’m working on getting books to distributors, bookstores and customers. Also, I’m calling individual bookstores to get them to order. I’m planning my book selling tour and making arrangements. Preparing materials and promo items needed for the tour. This, and I’m still finishing up my move! Through all of this though, I have to somehow make noise about the book so that people will know that it’s out there and go check it out. With there being so many self/independent publishers out there, that can be extremely challenging.
Gotta go finalize plans for the St. Louis book launch party and book signing.
