It's really a shameless business, all this self-promotion and marketing of books. I just sent emails out to hundreds of friends and colleagues. (If you didn't get one leave your name and address in the comment section and I'll send you one too.) You get into a different zone; you're no longer a writer. You're somebody who sells books - your own book, which at first feels a little, well, self-promoting. But you do it because if your book doesn't sell you don't get to write more books. You can write more books of course, but no one will publish them. That's the bottom line. So if you have a book that's just been published you email every human being you know on planet earth, you do readings and interviews and try to connect with every writer in cyberspace, you hand out your little postcards featuring the cover of your book, and you dance around on Facebook, and of course you blog. (And beg your readers to leave reviews on Amazon. It really helps!)
Just another few months of this, dear readers.
P.S.And I have to admit that the title of this post is geared to getting more readers to come to this blog to market more books to.
Cannot put this new book down!!! Cannot read one day at a time!!! I am on day 240 !!!!!!! Love love this book! Thank you Barbara!!!
Posted by: Susan Davis | July 02, 2012 at 06:02 PM
As you pimp your book, I'm happy to be one of your whores!
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 02, 2012 at 09:53 PM
Already bought one for me and a couple as gifts. Keep up good work. Your honest portrayal of the process is enlightening.
All best,
Harriet
Posted by: Harriet | July 03, 2012 at 05:05 AM
Susan - Love to hear that!
Elizabeth - :)
Harriet - Thanks for buying it!
Posted by: Barbara | July 03, 2012 at 08:13 AM
Watching you pimp your books smooths the way for us to pimp our own later. Realizing that your promotion doesn't come across as pimping and that I'm excited for you and your book makes me realize that people will probably feel the same about my marketing forays. Makes it a lot easier to push that send button. :-)
Hope you'll be pimping at some events soon as it would be great to have an official signed copy. :-)
Posted by: Lisa Manterfield | July 03, 2012 at 08:13 AM
Love the book! So much fun to read. :)
Posted by: Laura B | July 03, 2012 at 09:29 AM
Dear Barbara,
It's so nice to "reconnect" with you via your blog! You won't remember me, so please don't give it a second thought.
I was lucky enough to have you as my writing instructor at the PV Art Center MANY years ago. We also had some writing classes at your former home in Manhattan Beach.
I'm excited to buy and read a copy of your new book. Any chance I can have it autographed to me?
Thank you for your encouragement. And thank you for being a "local" example of a writer who makes their creativity a focal point of their life.
Posted by: Carol | July 03, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Just like Ms. Davis, I can't read this one per day. I totally LOVE the book. Thank you for writing it!
Posted by: JoniB | July 03, 2012 at 08:00 PM
The visual of you "dancing around on Facebook" tickles my fancy. I've already begun 'gifting' AYOWD.
Posted by: carol perkins | July 04, 2012 at 05:22 PM
Lisa - Thank you for that. And I think I'll be in the South Bay at Pages in a month or so.
Laura - and back to you: :)
Carol - Thank you and I do remember you!
Joni - I love to hear that.
Carol P. - And dancing as fast as I can. Thanks for 'gifting'!
Posted by: Barbara | July 09, 2012 at 10:50 AM