I have completed the Author's Questionnaire which allows me to put forward my ideas for marketing, which means thinking big (the book to be sold in every bookshop in London, every London museum and animal-related outlet, etc.), but not actually expecting that volume of sales to happen.
Now publication is approaching I'm looking again at the papers for animal/London stories to update the manuscript which I wrote way back in 2011, before the London Olympics and the equestrian teams thundered round, jumped and pranced over Greenwich Park. Trouble is, I'm finding new historical nuggets of information (like the above picture from the Blue Cross website) which I feel should be included, and every time I talk to someone about the book they come up with something else for me to check out... this research could continue indefinately, but it CAN'T! I have already had to chop my original manuscript by about 16,000 words, because apparently a reader nowadays doesn't have the patience to read through 123,000 words. I also have over 100 images, which I now cannot change.
I guess it's just a bout of the jitters rearing its head, as the 'baby' I've nurtured for about four years will finally be born into the public domain, but I have to concentrate on the launch date and publicizing the book. I have a Twitter account, which I'm building up gradually, but apart from that I have done nothing. Do I have a book launch? If so, where in London? I had thought above an old East End pub where ratting contest took place. I also need to think about articles for magazines, newspapers and blogs. The book launch 'to-do' list is seemingly endless. What about my publisher doing the publicity for me, I hear you cry?! It's so much easier to research and write a book than to sell it!
4 comments:
I can't help feeling you should go un-metropolitan and, venturing out into the sticks, have a word with that renowned Tailor of Gloucester who could introduce you to the mice. I am sure they would do a most effective job, running from house to house and promoting your book which surely ought to be on everyone's Christmas present list. I hope there's plenty of news about foxes who seem to be the animal of choice this spring despite one of their number trying to abduct a baby by its finger. Apparently foxes fight to keep other foxes out of London, so good are the pickings. I wonder whether they have to pass a 'knowledge test?' But why just foxes? Surely some enterprising person will introduce other creatures that knock over dustbins in the night. Racoons for instance and various species of monkey would all add to the gaiety and confusion of our capital city.
If you spoke nicely to Ang Lee he might turn your book into a film, complete with graphic images. That would be one way of marketing your book, I suppose. We can't do lifeboats but a red London bus could do nicely instead and a tiger or perhaps in our case a lion would put a really big cat among the pigeons. Is there a lion in your book? Even with reading glasses your word verification is quite impossible.
There has been some weird and wonderful animals about! I think promoting the book via social media, facebook, twitter etc could be the way to go!
I think it sounds just up my street. I don't envy you having to think about publicity. Surely your job was writing the thing!?
Possibly I could send out a message to all owners of exotic pets in the capital, calling for them to be exercised around Hyde Park en masse - should create a stir! Sorry, Fennie, for the word verification but otherwise I get loads of spam from the Far East advertising all sorts of dodgy (splutters!) things.
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