I’ve been thinking a lot lately of about promotion. What works, what doesn’t… I’ve come up with some do NOTs that may help other authors in their quest for success.
10. The Great Burro Book Tour. ‘Nuff said.
9. Tattooing my covers on the chests of fat guys and then parading them up and down 5th Avenue
8. Skywriting the title of my newest release
7. Dropping free books out of said airplane (sorry, Deluth!)
6. Two words: edible bookmarks.
5. Free taco with purchase of every book (Sorry, USPS.)
4. 1-900-talk-2-Ann
3. Jax jockey shorts
2. Scheduling a booksigning in a week when Stephenie Meyer had a new release out
1. Special author-imprinted cans of Spam.
If you can guess which bad idea I actually implemented, you could win a copy of my hot read of the month, Blind Curve. Place your guesses in comments. I’ll pick a winner next week.
Unsolicited squee: Annie Solomon is my favorite suspense writer. In fact, I don’t even like suspense in general, but her books are just sooooooooooo good. Her writing has a poetry and power that surpasses genre; it’s just lovely, taut like a silver cord, and so fine that I can’t read them fast enough. Blind Curve is amazing, like all of her books. The heroine is ugly, like, not plain, but ugly. And she makes no apologies for it. I’ve never read anything quite like it; it was phenomenal. She’s a must-buy for me; I just wish she had a bigger backlist because I’ve read almost every book now.
I am going to go with #2 and if so, you are one brave woman!
by katiebabs October 6th, 2008 at 7:17 pmI would be all for the Jax jockey shorts, with a big picture of March on the butt
I am going with #2 too. It had to be ither #2 or #3 and I just can’t see to many men with jockey shorts light that lol
by Pamk October 6th, 2008 at 8:24 pm#2 is my first choice. Though #4 is my second. It’d be interesting, you have to admit that!
by JC October 6th, 2008 at 8:27 pmI love #9 and #3!!! If #9 would not be nightmare enough then #4 would be a nightmare for you - fun for the rest of us..
Great list.
Peace.
by JaimeK October 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pmI’m gonna go with #2. Sounds a bit personal. :) Hopefully you rescheduled.
by BoxingKing October 6th, 2008 at 8:51 pmI know too much to enter this one…
And what doth my eyes see?
You have a NAME for the Ava Gray novel! and yikes, look at the pretty gauges, you are flying with both novels!
Yay, you!
by azteclady October 6th, 2008 at 9:02 pmI’d go with #2 myself :) Though I’d love to see some buff guys in Jax jockey shorts!
by Maura Anderson October 6th, 2008 at 9:47 pmI would have to say #2. Although, I have to say the Great Burro Tour sounds awesome.
by Lori T October 6th, 2008 at 9:53 pmI agree with the majority. #2.
by ArkieRN October 6th, 2008 at 10:02 pmI’ll have to look into the Jax jockey shorts, though…
I bet it was #2…..Stephanie Meyer. Well, I’m sure that brought a lot of people into the store along with your following! Good to place yourself right up there with the winners….that’s where you belong!
by Darby Lohrding October 7th, 2008 at 7:36 amDarby
darbyscloset (at) yahoo (dot) com
I’m guessing #2.
by Rylie October 7th, 2008 at 8:22 amI’m going to pick #2. It sounds not too crazy, but that could go wrong. :-D
by Katie October 7th, 2008 at 8:54 amLike many others, I would say #2, but I would kind of hope you’d have the “stones” to do #3.
by Lita October 7th, 2008 at 9:45 amMy guess is #2.
by CrystalGB October 7th, 2008 at 10:40 amWell, since you do live in Mexico, I actually wish #5 were true. I’m really craving some good, authentic Mexican food lately. I need a really good tamale. Need.
But I’m voting for #2.
by Christine October 7th, 2008 at 10:47 amI’m picking #2!
by Teresa W. October 7th, 2008 at 11:15 amI am going to go with #2.
by Hilcia October 7th, 2008 at 12:30 pmThat kept us laughing for a week.
Yep, I’m picking #2 as well.
by Cathy M October 7th, 2008 at 1:25 pmI’m going with #2.
by Jane October 7th, 2008 at 3:57 pmI wish you both had said, “Yes, we are!”
Can you imagine the hijinks?
by azteclady October 7th, 2008 at 4:36 pmWell, even before you told us, I was going to guess number 2. I have amazing abilities of post-cognition, I guess!
by Kimberly B. October 7th, 2008 at 4:40 pmOkay, so I am a dork - did a little speed read (ashamed to admit) through the post and loved the list, but missed the part about guess which one really happened….ah, well. I still think 3 has real merit. =]
by JaimeK October 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pmI figured #2 also, and see now that that was it. You should check into those jockey shorts, though, lol.
by Pam P October 7th, 2008 at 6:53 pmI’m scrolling through the comments determined to get to the bottom and type… #6 edible bookmarks!
Only on the way here I see you comment about Stephanie Meyers.
Oh, and holy smokes. Santa Barbara isn’t exactly close, but my sister lives nearby so if you were there and SHE is there then….I am there.
by Rosie October 8th, 2008 at 1:12 amI have sneeky idea that you probably did all of them out of sheer desperation and are now so embarressed that you are trying to convine all us readers that you only did one.
Well I know you want us to pick #2 so i will but secretly I still think my first idea is right !
by Carol Thompson October 8th, 2008 at 2:40 pmI have sneeky idea that you probably did all of them out of sheer desperation and are now so embarressed that you are trying to convince all us readers that you only did one.
Well I know you want us to pick #2 so i will but secretly I still think my first idea is right !
by Carol Thompson October 8th, 2008 at 2:40 pmMy guess is #2, and I can definitely see why that’s not the wisest promo choice. Like whistling into a hurricane, I’d say… ;)
by The Discriminating Fangirl October 9th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
by azteclady October 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pmI picked #2 as well
by Has October 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pmAlthough I thought the edible bookmarks was a good choice lol
I’m gonna guess #2! I would love some Jax shorts though!
by rebelaessedai October 11th, 2008 at 4:54 pmLOL knew it was #2, but sad. I agree with rebelaessedai - Jax shorts would be great! Haha - if all were done I’d love to see a picture of that
by limecello October 12th, 2008 at 2:39 pm*with apologies to Monty Python*