Published authors: I'm looking for help

[ianrandalstrock]

I had a productive meeting with the publicist working on my book on Friday. I'm pleased with what she's doing; she seems to know her stuff

Comments

[shsilver]

Call your local B&N or Borders and ask to speak to the CRM (Community Relations Manager). Explain your situation and they can let you know if it is something they can handle or if you need to contact someone at corporate. If the latter, they can put you in contaxt with the appropriate person.

Make sure that you make it clear that your book is not a vanity press/POD project, but rather a book coming out of one of the New York Houses. Let them know where they can order the book from (not just the house but Ingram/Baker & Taylor/IDG: distribution is important. If you can get your publicist to look into pre-order numbers so you can let the reps at the store know that corporate has already placed an order, that will help also.

[suricattus]

And be prepared to follow-up, possibly several times. It's a fine line to walk between being a pest and being overlooked under the pressure of Everything Else They Have to Do....

If you don't have business cards made up with your title and contact info, get 'em. You'll want to hand them out to anyone and everyone you make contact with.

[ianrandalstrock]

You don't mean "Ian Randal Strock, Author", do you? Do you think the unrelated (except it's me with the same contact information) SFScope cards are sufficient, or should I have something personal as well?

And yeah, I'm never really sure where that line between conscientious and pest lies; guess I'll have to play it by ear.

[suricattus]

My cards have my name, the title of my book(s) and my contact information. The most recent iteration also had the PW quote on the front, to do my selling for me.

The Wise Minds used to suggest putting the ISBN on the card as well -- can't hurt if you can do it without the card getting too crowded.

Just keep it simple, design-wise.

[ianrandalstrock]

I've been reading your posts: they've all been interesting.

And thanks for the offer; your e-mail address is in another borough at the moment, so I'll send the phone number later.

[nelilly]

I was just at a book signing at a Barnes & Noble for Jonathan Maberry for his latest release: Zombie CSU. It also doesn't lend itself to readings. What he did was he ending up organizing it like a convention panel (four talking heads discussing the book). If you're not shy about contacting him, you could ask how he did it.

[ianrandalstrock]

Don't know him, but I imagine I could try. If I had other "experts" to offer, setting up a panel would be easy. I'll keep it in mind.

[mabfan]

Have you taken a look at Lissa Warren's book? It might help.

[ianrandalstrock]

You mean find extra time in my schedule to read another book? ;) No, I haven't.

You wouldn't happen to have a couple of extra hours a day you could lend me, to get everything accomplished, would you?

[mabfan]

You wouldn't happen to have a couple of extra hours a day you could lend me, to get everything accomplished, would you?

That depends. What is it you would need me to do?