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To say I'm thrilled is putting it mildly. Just picture me doing a wildly joyful Happy Dance!
Now, a different kind of work starts. I need to get a blog tour scheduled. In anticipation, I had already scheduled one date, but when I wasn't sure if we were looking at a 2012 or a 2013 release date, I held off on scheduling any others. Now I need to kick things into gear.
Some people use an outside source for scheduling their blog tours, but I set my own up. I try not to make it complicated. When I see a post on one of my loops asking for guest bloggers, I send a quick e-mail out. Usually I'm able to fill the calendar around my release date with half a dozen to a dozen blog stops.
To keep things organized, I start a page in one of my writing notebooks (The ones I'm always scribbling ideas in.) listing all of the stops, their internet addresses, the date of the post, and what's expected: interview, general post, topic specific post, etc. I mark it with a brightly colored sticky tab so I can easily find the page. Then I'll start a calendar with the locations so I can see the big picture and not overschedule myself on any one day. I'll also print out any instructions and/or questions and label them with the date of the post as well.
Then it's time to dig in and get the posts written and sent off to the proper hostesses. About a month before my tour, I start visiting these blogs everyday to leave comments and start a presence. (This part worries me a little this time around. I've noticed that a lot of my Blogger comments are being labeled as SPAM and disappearing. I haven't found a way to fix this. I hope something magical happens by the time all of this rolls around so I'll be able to comment on my own guest posts. Not being able to reply to other commentors would not be a good thing. So, if anyone has any advice about or a solution to this problem, I'd greatly appreciate hearing it.)
For this particular release, most of the promotion will be done before the book actually gets released. Once Thanksgiving passes, most people set their sights to Christmas and won't be thinking about Thanksgiving even the day or so after. So I need to get them thinking in anticipation of buying the book on its release day before their interest drifts to another holiday.
All in all, I have my work cut out for me over the next two months...but like I said, I couldn't be more thrilled!
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Happy news, Debra! Two in 24 hours!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Debra, and I love the cover. I may be thick, but I never thought of visiting the blogs a month prior to establish a presence--that's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteGreat news, Debra - I'm so glad you haven't had to wait until 2013 for the release.
ReplyDeleteI've also got another book coming out in November, and have been booking some blog visits.
My first will be on my own blog next week, when I accept 'The Next Big Thing' challenge from my friend Gilli. It'll be the start of the promo trail again, and in October I'll also post some 'teasers' as part of Six Sentence Sunday.
Ana, It's been an exciting week!
ReplyDeleteJennifer...I do it, don't know if it makes a difference or not, but it's worth a shot.
Paula, I'll probably do something on my other blogs as well. I have one spot lined up already and another two requests in, so we'll see what happens.