This is a big year for me on a number of writing fronts. Coming out soon is Secret Witness, my first true crime book on the murder of Nola Puyear in Marshall Michigan in 1967. Coming out at nearly the same time will be Business Rules: The Cynic’s Guidebook to the Corporate Overlords. Then in July, a real exciting book, Virginia Creeper. Then, this autumn I jump back into military history with, The Bad Boy: Bert Hall: Aviator and Mercenary of the Skies. I’m also hoping to get at least one more book done before December. Truth be told, I can’t think out that far.
One of the things most authors don’t talk about is the publicity that we need to do to help sell books. In the last few weeks I have been arranging for the book tour events just for Secret Witness. For me, this is planning a week in Michigan doing lectures and book signing events. I’m also hoping to do a few book clubs – if everything works out.
You would think it would be easy, but you have to try in a short period of time (a week) to arrange multiple events with multiple venues, with multiple calendars. It means finding bloggers willing to do interviews with me about the book – and finding the right places to go and speak.
I have about five events where we are still playing with the dates etc., but as it stands the first week of June I will be in Michigan (Battle Creek, Marshall, Kalamazoo, Detroit areas) doing the following events for Secret Witness:
June 4 Be Scene TV interview in Battle Creek
7:00pm Marshall Public LibraryJune 6 Albion Public Library, 12:15pm
June 8 Kazoo Books in Kalamazoo at 6:30pm
I have a few more events scheduled, more about those as I lock down the dates.
If you are in the area, drop in. Heck, bring your BattleTech novels to get them signed if you want. Also, if you have a venue in Michigan that week, or a book club you think would enjoy speaking with an author about their book – reach out to me. If you write a blog, I do blog interviews too.
As far as the other venues for the other books…I’m working on it! Suffice it to say, I will be doing a lot of public speaking stuff in the coming year just to keep up with this publishing schedule. I look forward to seeing or hearing from you.
You might want to check out tungle.me to post your availability. For instance using Google calendar to actually host your schedule but tie that to tungle.me so anyone can see your when you are available and request a meeting. I find than easier than the multiple emails or phone calls to find free time with someone. You can also block time from a regular job calendar like Lotus Notes by adding you GCal account to the Lotus Notes invite. I used to do that all the time.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the tours.