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Welcome to the last post of the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity week. This is the announcement of the winners of the FREE publicity consults.

• ATTEND the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook. OR, LIKE our Board on Pinterest and add some photos of book conversations.
• Read the FAQ.

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A good friend can be your best cheerleader. During Random Acts of Publicity Week, many people took advantage of the opportunity to win a special gift for thier friend – a marketing consult about their book with Susan Raab, President of Raab Associates, www.raabassociates.com. Here are the winners!

We want to express our deep gratitude to Susan for donating these ten consults. We know that it will make a lasting difference in the careers of these people. If you nominated a friend who won, you deserve a special thanks, too–it was truly an act of kindness to do everything that Susan asked for in a short 24-hour period.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Random Acts of Publicity and look for the 5th Annual RAP next year, the week after Labor Day.

1. Alina Klein, RAPE GIRL submitted by Kristi Valiant
2. Mimi Vance, WORDS BY THE HANDFUL submitted by Andrea White
3. Elaine Scott, BURIED ALIVE!, submitted by Jeanette Larson
4. Lynn Rubright, MAMA’S WINDOW, submitted by Stephanie Bearce
5. Eileen Robinson, MOVE BOOKS, submitted by Christine Taylor-Butler
6. Bethany Joy Carlson, THE RIVAL, submitted by AM Carley
7. Vicky Alvear Schecter, POMPEII, submitted by Elizabeth Dulemba
8. Tara Lazar, THE MONSTORE, submitted by Pat Zietlow Miller
9. Pat Zietlow Miller, SOPHIE’S SQUASH, submitted by Tara Lazar
10. Margaree Mitchell, UNCLE JED’S BARBERSHOP, submitted by Christine Taylor-Butler

Susan Raab’s Book

And since we are talking books, if you don’t win one of the marketing consults, don’t worry. Susan also shares her wisdom in her book, An Author’s Guide to Children’s Book Marketing, 11th edition.

Nook Kindle PDF Look for it in the iBook store.

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Hi Everyone,
As Esther mentioned on Wednesday, this week we're participating in Random Acts of Publicity 2012. Unlike Esther, who introduced you to some new books, I want to remind you about three books published earlier this year that we've already mentioned here but that you may not have gotten around to reading yet. 

Back in May, I celebrated the release of my good friend Karen Schreck's new book, While He Was Away (Sourcebooks Fire), with a guest TeachingAuthor interview. I have to confess--I'd read Karen's manuscript quite some time ago, but I didn't have a chance to read the final book until just last week. While I loved the original story, I think the revisions brought more depth to both the characters and the plot. Even though I knew how the story would turn out, it still brought tears to my eyes. Well done, Karen!

If you missed my interview with Karen, here's her summary of the book's plot:

While He Was Away (Sourcebooks Fire), is about an eighteen-year old girl, Penna Weaver, whose boyfriend, David O’Dell, is deployed to Iraq. Penna and David are deeply in love, and commit to be true to each other while he’s away, but Penna quickly realizes that the realities of David’s situation will make this more challenging than either of them expected.  Lonely and isolated, it seems Penna’s world is falling apart, until she works to solve a family mystery, hidden for half a century, about love in wartime, and ultimately learns some powerful truths about love and forgiveness.

Karen recently posted on her blog that the book has already gone into a second printing. I encourage you to read Karen's book if you haven't already so you can understand why.  
Another book I'd like to recommend that I've just recently read myself is the latest release of my fellow TeachingAuthor, Mary Ann Rodman. Her picture book, The Roller Coaster Kid (Viking) came out in July and received some lovely reviews. No surprise if you've read the book, which does a wonderful job of weaving together several different themes. As Mary Ann said in her three-part series celebrating the book's release :

The heart of The Roller Coaster Kid is learning to face fear, whether it is of riding a roller coaster, or of the death of a loved one.

If you know any young readers who have lost a grandparent, you may want to consider sharing Mary Ann's book with them. 

And finally, just last week I posted a guest TeachingAuthor Interview with poet, author, teacher, and now editor, Heidi Bee Roemer to celebrate the release of the anthology she co-edited with Carol-Ann Hoyte: And the Crowd Goes Wild! A Global Gathering of Sports Poems (FriesenPress). I'm proud to have one of my poems included in this terrific anthology, and to know that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Right to Play, an international organization that uses sports and games to educate and empower children facing adversity. We're currently running a giveaway where one lucky TeachingAuthors follower can win an autographed copy. See my interview post to enter. Or, if you can't wait, the book is now available for purchase as either an e-book or paperback directly from FriesenPress. And if you have time, I hope you'll visit us at one of the upcoming launch events:

U.S. LAUNCHES
Wednesday, September 26 at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Mokena Library
11327 W. 195th Street
Mokena, Illinois 60448

Tuesday, October 16 at 7 p.m.
Anderson’s Bookshop
123 W. Jefferson Ave.
Naperville, IL  60540

Saturday, November 3 at 1 p.m. 
The Arlington Heights Library
500 N Dunton Ave.
Arlington Heights, IL

Saturday, November 17 at 1 p.m. 
The Magic Tree Book Store
141 N. Oak Park Ave.
Oak Park IL, 60301

CANADIAN LAUNCHES
Saturday, October 13 at 2 p.m.
Sunnyside Branch -- Ottawa Public Library
1049 Bank Street, Ottawa

Friday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m
Northern District Branch -- Toronto Public Library
40 Orchard View Blvd., Toronto
(just north of Yonge and Eglinton)


Finally, if you'd like to celebrate any 2012 books that may not have received as much attention as they deserved, please share their titles in the comments. And after you're done entering our giveaway, head on over to Write. Sketch. Repeat. to celebrate Poetry Friday!

Happy reading AND writing!
Carmela

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Welcome to the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity, where we spend a week talking about a friend’s book or a favorite book.

• ATTEND the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook. OR, LIKE our Board on Pinterest and add some photos of book conversations.
• Read the FAQ.

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Question: What is the Random Acts of Publicity thing all about? Here’s a story to help explain it.

I am an author and more than anything, I want a blockbuster book. I work hard. I read books about writing better. I write every day, revising and revising and working to improve plot, characters, setting, and voice. I take risks in my writing and really, I know that some of it is really great stuff. I participate in critique groups and help others to get their books published and still, I am always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Or, wait, I do have a book coming out, but it’s with a small company and I don’t know if it will get noticed in “today’s crowded market”; or once, I signed a contract with a publisher who went bankrupt and it took me forever to get my rights back; and once, the publisher said they would send me a contract, but after six months of waiting, they backed out. I am a typical author, just trying to write a story that readers will love.

I want my books reviewed and praised well. Can you help me?
No, you can’t.
I can only help myself by changing my attitude.
I am looking at myself too long and too hard.
Let me lift up my eyes and look around. Look at someone else for a change.

Oh, there’s dozens of other writers who are working hard, just like me!

You just want your book reviewed and praised? You just want to connect with readers, too?
Well, sure, let me read your book.

Wow, this is a good read!

Let me tell someone about this book. I can’t wait to tell CM about this one!

That is what Random Acts of Publicity is all about. Lift up your eyes and look around. Read a great book. BLLuRT (Blog, LIKE, Link, Review, Talk about a great book.) Tell someone about that great read–and report what you’ve done on the Facebook page.

Nook Kindle PDF Look for it in the iBook store.

Add a Comment

• ATTEND the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook. OR, LIKE our Board on Pinterest and add some photos of book conversations.
• Read the FAQ.

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Win a Marketing Consult for Your Friend!

A good friend can be your best cheerleader. During Random Acts of Publicity Week, you have the chance to win a special gift for your friend – a marketing consult about their book with Susan Raab, President of Raab Associates, www.raabassociates.com. To qualify, please interview your friend and provide the answers to these branding questions.

As your friend thinks about their work in the context of the market, help them to determine what can differentiate them from other authors. At first glance, it may not seem like there’s anything so unique, but clearly their publisher saw something of particular value, and your friend felt s/he had something important to say. That’s why s/he wrote the book in the first place.

Ask your friend to think about their original objectives, their expertise, and their body of work as a whole. How would they like to be viewed in the marketplace – for their expertise, sense of humor, unique way of presenting the topic or story, or for something else?

Then consider the best ways to showcase that across various platforms – on their website and Facebook page; in the tone they use for their Twitter and email communications; and throughout the interviews and appearances they do. The more your friend, and their agent, publisher, publicist, and everyone involved are in concert with the marketing presentation and focus, the more effective they will be.

10 Marketing Consults: Enter Your Friend Today

Questions to help your Friend answer. You must email the answers to [email protected] by midnight on Thursday, September 6. Winners will be notified by Susan Raab; all decisions are final. Put RANDOM ACTS OF PUBLICITY in the subject line. Include your friend’s name, email address, website, and the title of their most recent or forthcoming book.

1. What’s your elevator pitch (quick, catchy description of your book & why it should matter to me)?
2. Who would be your ideal media interviewer and why?
3. If I were that person, what 3 things could you say to me to make me want to get you on my show or featured in my publication or site?
4. Is there an interesting back story to your book and/or your writing career that might be of particular interest to the press?
5. How good is your online and social media presence, and what could you do to make it better?

And since we are talking books, if you don’t win one of the marketing consults, don’t worry. Susan also shares her wisdom in her book, An Author’s Guide to Children’s Book Marketing, 11th edition.

Nook Kindle PDF Look for it in the iBook store.

Add a Comment

• ATTEND the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook. OR, LIKE our Board on Pinterest and add some photos of book conversations.
• Read the FAQ.

Coming on Thursday, September 6: WIN A MARKETING CONSULT FOR A FRIEND!
Susan Raab of Raab Associates (http://raabassociates.com/) has kindly offered 10 FREE marketing consults.
The catch? You can’t enter.
You can only enter your friend’s name. See the posting at 12:01 a.m. September 6 for full details–you’ll have 24 hours to enter.

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Guest post by Debby Edwardson

I like the idea of Random Acts of Publicity. I like the fact that it connotes Random Acts of Kindness. Writers, especially children’s writers are a kind, supportive bunch. We mentor each other and help each other but we promote each other a lot less than we should. Sometimes we are just overwhelmed by the scope of good books written, afraid that if we promote one and not another, someone will feel slighted. And few of us have an unlimited writing time so we guard what little time we have for writing like jealous lovers. But

That’s why time devoted to Random Acts of Publicity is a good thing. If we were all to reach out just a bit more, it will help all of us. It’s easier to think of it as just I week or two.

I used the idea of RAP to launch my blog, Words from the Top, the first year Darcy started it. Last year, the competition for a marketing consult motivated me. And I was delighted when I won a consultation with Raab and Associates.

I took careful notes. My book, My Name is Not Easy, was just coming out. It was historical fiction, set in the 1960’s in bush Alaska in a parochial boarding school in which the majority of the students were Alaska Native. I knew, of course, that this was pretty unfamiliar territory for the average teen reader. Raab gave me a lot of ideas about how to make it accessible, how to get it out there.

Since the story was based on my husband’s story and since I had lived within the Inupiaq culture for the majority of my life, they suggested that I offer both of us for media interviews. I took that idea and created a book trailer with both of us talking about the book.


If you can’t see this video, click here.

The big takeaway for me was this: I needed to find a way to connect my book—remote historical fiction–with today’s readers. Raab asked me to think about what readers could learn, fifty years later, from this piece of history. Of course I hadn’t written it to teach anyone anything but now, after the fact, what did this story offer contemporary readers? It was a story about dealing with adversity coming out at a time when adversity was on people’s minds. How could I capitalize on this? What kinds of strengths do people need to face adversity, to make a difference? In my notes, I wrote this:

The characters do XXX the real story is XXX and this is relevant today because XXX

It’s a pretty good marketing formula.

National Book Award Nominee

Then my book came out and I was delightfully diverted: My Name is Not Easy was named a finalist for the National Book Award. Suddenly the book was marketing itself and I barely had time to breath, much less consider publicity.

I used the ideas I got from consulting with Raab when I did interviews and blog appearances.

So what is the lesson here? Think carefully about marketing and hope your book earns a major award? Sure, but even if you are as fortunate as I was, this is hardly the end of the story.

The effect of a major award is great, don’t get me wrong. It piques interest. But the real truth is that all of the lessons I learned from the marketing consult are still there waiting to be implemented and still relevant–maybe I should quit writing blog posts and get back to work, supporting my books. All of them.

But wait—what about Random Acts of Publicity Week? What if we start looking at each other’s books and thinking deeper about marketing other books the way my marketing consult make me think about My Name is Not Easy? What is it about that book I read recently read and loved—the one thing that will recommend it to other readers? Often readers can see this clearer than writers can. And as wonderful as awards are, they are also transitory and somewhat serendipitous. Sometimes, for whatever reason, really good books fail to get noticed by the award committees. Maybe a certain book wasn’t even submitted for an award.

We need to celebrate those books, too. I blogged about this, too.

(Of course we can also celebrate award-winning books, too.)

Bottom line: we can use our power as writers who are also readers. It’s a lot of power.

Note: The contest rules will go live at 12:01 tonight. You’ll have 24 hours to enter your friend’s information.

Nook Kindle PDF Look for it in the iBook store.

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Were I to write a name poem for my first name Esther, at least one of my E’s would stand for Enthuse.
That’s what I do, often and gladly.
And I especially enjoy enthusing on behalf of others.

Once again I can pay Kindness forward, something I also enjoy doing, and introduce our readers to:

Almigal, a spunky little girl with a BIG personality who’s determined to hear “every   single sound in the whole entire universe!”  Almigal’s spirit and her cotton-candy pink cochlear implants will have everyone shouting “LET’S HEAR IT FOR ALMIGAL!”  That happens to be, of course, the title of Almigal’s picture book, written by debut author WendyKupfer and illustrated by Tammie Lyon (Handfinger Press, 2012). Talk about paying Kindness forward!  Five percent of book sales supports deaf children.


Gordy, a courageous little fellow who, with his Doctor’s help, initiates a restrictive diet so that he can be like other children – happy and healthy. Gordy’s triumphant story claims the pages of the picture book Gordy and the Magic Diet, written by first-time authors Kim Diersen and April Runge and deliciously illustrated by Carrie Hartman (Special Kids Enterprises, LP, 2012).  A portion of the proceeds will benefit non-profit organizations that help children navigate restrictive diets!

A spanking-new updated and expanded website that celebrates and honors the legacy of award-winning beloved author Syd Hoff (Think Danny and the Dinosaur) that went live yesterday, September 4. Created by his niece Carol, the site includes a rich selection of Syd’s cartoons, a Kids page featuring the “how to’s” of cartooning using letters and numbers and a downloadable chapter, just for starters.  



So,
Hurrah! Hurray! Bravo! Mazel tov! – and - merci beaucoup, 7-Eleven!

YOU can continue paying Kindness forward by kindly promoting someone you know.
Children’s Book Publicist Susan Raab of Raab Associates has kindly offered TEN (!) FREE (!) Marketing Consults for the Random Acts of Publicity Week.
The catch?
You can only enter a friend’s name! 
Check out Darcy Pattison’s September 6 post for full details.  You have only 24 hours to enter.  Entries begin at 12:01 am.

Esther Hershenhorn

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Welcome to the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity, where we spend a week talking about a friend’s book or a favorite book.

• ATTEND the 4th Annual Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook. OR, LIKE our Board on Pinterest and add some photos of book conversations.
• Read the FAQ.

Coming on Thursday, September 6: WIN A MARKETING CONSULT FOR A FRIEND!
Susan Raab of Raab Associates (http://raabassociates.com/) has kindly offered 10 FREE marketing consults.
The catch? You can’t enter.
You can only enter your friend’s name. See the posting at 12:01 a.m. September 6 for full details–you’ll have 24 hours to enter.

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Today’s Buzz is all about social media and how authors must use social media in order to market books. But the basics of book marketing is a simple thing, Word of Mouth (WOM). All social media can do it amplify or simplify it. You still need to Talk about a book. This week’s Random Acts of Publicity focuses on that very task. How do you Talk about a book? Let’s talk about it. And to do that, I’ll talk about two books.

The classic book on buzz is The Anatomy of Buzz Revisited: Real-life Lessons in Word-of-Mouth Marketing by Emanual Rosen, Doubleday 2000, 2009.


It’s interesting to compare this classic with the social media specific book, The Face-to-Face Book: Why Real Relationships Rule in a Digital Marketplace, by Ed Keller and Brad Fay, Free Press, 2012. Both books signal their stance with their titles: they believe in WOM. And I recommend them both, if you are interested in this topic.


It’s so easy–and sometimes, fun–to get sucked into learning a new social media platform. I particularly love learning the ins-and-outs of something like this, I want to be the expert, the one in the know. And I forget the reason to use social media.

No, it’s not to market books. That book-marketing-first attitude is exactly the wrong way to go. Instead, social media is a way to connect with people. I learned very early in my career that it was hard to find writing peers locally, that I had to find them online. Of course, while we are there–as small business people (the definition of every author)–we want to sell books, too. It is these competing goals that hold us all in tension. But there are ways to Talk about books in such a way as to encourage WOM.

In the modern book marketing campaign, we often “seed” the market with information about a book. Here are some ideas to think about.

1. Scatter seeds widely. Social media is perfect for this mandate, because we often have friends in far-flung places. Friends have moved, you’ve made friends with other professionals online, you keep track of people you only met when you traveled to a conference. The wider the seeding the better.
2. Strong seeds. The most fruitful harvest comes when you seed by putting a book in your friend’s hands. It’s why you should never discount the intensive mailings that your publisher does on your behalf. It’s why you should rejoice when your publisher hands out galleys at a conference.
3. Stories. As book writers, we should understand this, yet I fear we don’t: people respond strongly to stories! When your book comes out, you should sit down and write a dozen stories to tell about the book, about writing it, about various topics in the book, about your inspiration, about heartaches in getting it published, about joys in getting it published–and so on. Write them down. Seed the blogosphere with the stories in the guise of guest posts.
4. Talking points. Please don’t be boring when you talk about your book or someone else’s book. Instead, give surprising, different, interesting, outrageous, funny (especially funny!), or sad stories or pieces of information. Write out a list of the funniest scenes in the book, the saddest scenes, etc. How can you best tell someone about the book? What combinations of scenes would make it sound the most exciting? Or, create a list of 5 Talking Points: a tidbit about the author, the scene that made you laugh out loud, the place where you wanted to throw the book across the room, a memorable line, and a quote from someone about the topic of the book. In other words, be deliberate about Talking about the book.
5. Be ready to Talk and share. Carry the book around. Copy an image of the book onto your desktop (or make it your screensaver for a while). Then, when you have an unexpected chance to share, you’re ready. Maybe there’s a coloring page that you can share, or some other Bling. Look for it, gather it, be ready.
6. Think about who you are Talking to. Individualize the Talk you are planning for the audience. For my best friend, CM, I am aware that she doesn’t like profanity, so I’m careful to vet books I recommend for her. For teachers, you want to always think about what will help them in the classroom. There’s no reason not to make your Talk specific for your friend.
7. The biggest word of mouth comes in social situations. When you eat at a restaurant, you talk about the food, other places you’ve eaten and gather info for later Talk. Social media can act that way, too, if you don’t shove a book down someone’s throat. Authors, let your Friends do that talking for you. Friends and Fans, step up and Talk.

When you BLLuRT about a book, be sure to post something about that on the Facebook page!

Nook Kindle PDF Look for it in the iBook store.

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Random Acts of Publicity DISCOUNT:
$10 OFF The Book Trailer Manual. Use discount code: RAP2011 http://booktrailermanual.com/manual

Create Buzz by Connecting with Readers

Interview with Deborah Sloan of Deborah Sloan & Company, “A marketing and promotion firm for books and their creators.”

• ATTEND the Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook.
• Read the FAQ.

1. One of the main services you offer to authors is Kids Buzz. Can you explain what it is?

   KidsBuzz is a program that lets children’s and teen authors’ voices shine in an affordable, and effective, way. KidsBuzz puts you directly in touch with readers, reading groups, booksellers, librarians and teachers allowing you to offer trailers and videos, excerpts, phone chats or visits, curriculum tie-ins, material for newsletters, info about contests and freebies, mentions of new reviews and awards — anything and everything you want to buzz directly to the people who buy, read and sell your books. This is YOU saying what you want to share with your readers.

   Readers want to hear from authors and illustrators — after all, you know your books better than anyone else, you have interesting behind-the-scenes stories that makes readers what to read — and buy. And once they’re interested, people talk — and others listen. Look at the power of Facebook: often we’re more influenced by what our friends have to say that the most seasoned critic (though we’ll take those positive reviews when we get them for sure!). We’ve run notes from bestselling authors as well as up-and-coming authors and illustrators. Many authors and publishers have had such good success, they’ve booked spots for their other titles (more than 60% of our KidsBuzzers have come back for more!).

2. Kids Buzz is a newsletter for librarians and readers (parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.), booksellers, reviewers, bloggers, publishing industry folk and more. Do you suggest that author maintain their own mailing list and send out newsletters?
   
   ABSOLUTELY! There are many readers who become author groupies and what to know anything and everything about their favorite authors and illustrators, what’s coming up, when new books will be published — and these fans are your ambassadors and e-newsletters are terrific ways to reach them. They will spread the buzz to their friends, family, colleagues and help that groundswell of interest every authors wants. Many authors have e-newsletters (that are run via sites like Constant Content and Mail Chimp, for example) which makes it easy to handle subscriptions) and sharing info with your readers when YOU feel it’s worthwhile, in YO
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Random Acts of Publicity DISCOUNT:
$10 OFF The Book Trailer Manual. Use discount code: RAP2011 http://booktrailermanual.com/manual

Many Hands Make Light Work – or How Two Heads are Better than One

By Barbara Fisch and Sarah Shealy, friends who together run Blue Slip Media

• ATTEND the Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook.
• Read the FAQ.

Barbara: On 20 Years of Collaboration

Sarah Shealy and I have worked together for over 20 years. We started out by job-sharing—dividing the work week in two and collaborating on publicity projects at Harcourt Children’s Books. We learned early on that openness and communication were key to making the job-share work. When an author called to find out when her interview was scheduled, we could easily find that information in our shared work basket. It was—and still is—imperative to shed any ego when working together, so we let go of any pride or possessiveness over any particular project. When you work in a marketing department, you learn quickly that it helps no one to be territorial—and in fact, it’s better to share ideas and be open to soliciting others.

A colleague of ours had a favorite saying, and she’d often muse aloud as she walked by the marketing area, “Many hands might light work.” And it was so true that it became our motto. If there was a publicity mailing that had to be done, everyone stopped and pitched in to help. If someone in the department needed ideas for an ad, everyone would contribute something. We found that collaborative attitude was an exercise in a new kind of math: one plus one was MUCH more than just two.

That kind of mindset can be enormously helpful when it comes to brainstorming ideas for book promotion with your friend. Think of ways that can you divide the work and conquer. Are there friends you know who can contribute a blurb, a connection to an influential librarian, a lead to an important media contact? Can you help with the practical things, such as packing or mailing books? Can you help pull together a list of folks who would attend a launch party?

Sarah: Practical Ideas for Random Acts of Publicity

As usual, I agree wholeheartedly with everything Barb has said! Her comment about the launch party has got me thinking . . . this is an area where a friend could really be of tremendous help. One thing that’s nice about being a publicist is that we get to brag about our clients and sing their praises to others— a job that is sometimes very awkward for the author to do him or herself.
How mu

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Random Acts of Publicity DISCOUNT:
$10 OFF The Book Trailer Manual. Use discount code: RAP2011 http://booktrailermanual.com/manual

Brand Building Square One: Win a Marketing Consult for Your Friend!

by Susan Raab, Raab Associates

• ATTEND the Random Acts of Publicity event on Facebook.
• Read the FAQ.

To kick off our Random Acts of Publicity Week, September 7-10, you have the chance to win a special gift for your friend – a marketing consult about their book with Susan Raab, President of Raab Associates, www.raabassociates.com.

Susan says that focusing your book marketing efforts is essential. To that end, she has designed a short list of questions to ask your Friend about her book. Take time to discuss the questions and help your Friend decide where s/he wants to focus his/her efforts. Be a Friend: listen and cheer. But if you want to do even more, read on!

Raab Associates is offering 15 FREE book marketing consultations

To qualify, please interview your friend and provide the answers to these branding questions. Then, if you send the answers to us along with your friend’s name, email address, website, title and publisher of their most recent or forthcoming book, they’ll have the chance to be one of our 15 winners.

Here are the rules:

• Winners will be selected on a random basis.
• You must put your friend’s name and book title in the comments below.
• By midnight on September 6th, you must send an email to info@raabassociates with the interview answers (See interview questions below). Use “Random Acts of Publicity” as the email’s subject line. Answers should be limited to a maximum of 300 words (less than one-single spaced page). Be brief! No attachments: Interview answers must be in the email itself.
• By entering your friend in this giveaway, you agree that you have the friend’s permission to do so.
• Consultations will be done at a mutually agreed upon time.

Interview Questions for Raab Associates Free Consultation

Friend’s Name:
Friend’s Email:
Friend’s Website:
Book Title & Publisher:

1. What’s your elevator pitch (quick, catchy description of your book & why it should matter to me)?
2. Who would be your ideal media interviewer and why?
3. If I were that person, what 3 things could you say to me to make me want to get you on my show or featured in my publication or site?
4. Is there an interesting back story to your book and/or your writing car
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2011 Random Acts of Publicity FAQ

1. Who can participate?
   Anyone who wants to help a book get noticed by readers. We are focusing on helping a Friend’s book get noticed, but you can also choose to help your favorite book get noticed.
2. What do I do?
   BLLuRT or Post. Or both.

• BLLuRT (http://bit.ly/RAoP2011). The basic tasks for book marketing online remain the same, BLLuRT! Do one of these each day for your Friend’s book or for your favorite book.
  1. B is for Blog. Blog about a book, the author or anything related.
  2. L is for Link. (http://bit.ly/RAP-Link) Link to something about the book, the author’s page, the book selling page, anything.
  3. L is for LIKE. (http://bit.ly/RAP-Like ) LIKE the book’s Facebook page, the author’s page. Or Add them to your Google+.
  4. R is for Review. (http://bit.ly/RAP-R ) Review a book. Some experts suggest that books tend to break out when they get over 25 reviews on Amazon, GoodReads or other booksites.
  5. T is for Tell or Talk. (http://bit.ly/RAP-T )Tell someone about a book. Your friend, a teacher, a librarian, anyone. Talk about the book—why did you like it? What excited you about this book? Why should I read it?
• POST. It’s also a great week to post something about book marketing, perhaps a personal experience, a tutorial, a tips sheet or a case study of book marketing. Put the URL of your post in the Random Acts of Publicity Facebook page for others to read

What books should I talk about this week?
Your Friend’s book or your favorite book. We are focusing especially on new books or less well-known books. Focus on a great book that not many readers know about.

Can Publishers participate?
Yes, you can BLLuRT about books, too. We ask that you focus on mid-list or new authors, those who could benefit from a boost during Random Acts of Publicity week. We know it’s your job to BLLuRT about the front-list, that and much more; as an individual working in book publishing, though, we are asking that you champion a dark horse during Random Acts of Publicity Week.

Random Acts of Publicity Week was created by Darcy Pattison (www.darcypattison.com), writing teacher and author of Prairie Storms (www.facebook.com/PrairieStorms) , as a way to help create an atmosphere of fun and collaboration in marketing books. It occurs each September, the four days following Labor Day.

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RANDOM ACTS OF PUBLICITY WEEK

September 6-9, 2011
Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=247495138609650

It’s all about your Friend’s book.

The 3rd Annual Random Acts of Publicity, September 6-8, 2011 is a week to celebrate your Friend’s book, or your favorite book, by doing a Random Act of Publicity: Blog, link, Like, review, or talk about the book . (BLLuRT it Out!)

Daily posts here on Fiction Notes (www.darcypattison.com) will offer tips, wisdom and Prizes for your Friend!
Twitter: Use #RAP2011

September 6: Guest Susan Raab

“Brand Building Square One” by Susan Raab, President of Raab Associates, www.raabassociates.com.
One-day chance for you to enter your Friend to win one of 15 FREE Giveaways of a 15-minute book marketing consultation provided by Raab Associates.

September 7: Guests Barbara Fisch and Sarah Shealy

Many Hands Make Light Work – or How Two Heads are Better than One by Barbara Fisch and Sarah Shealy, Blue Slip Media, www.blueslipmedia.com
One-day chance for you to enter your Friend to win a 15-minute book marketing consultation provided by Blue Slip Media.

September 8: Guest Deborah Sloan

Create Buzz by Connecting with Readers by Deborah Sloan of Deborah Sloan & Company. www.deborahsloanandcompany.com
One-day chance for you to enter your Friend to win a one-hour book marketing consultation provided by Deborah Sloan & Company.

September 9: Guest Dana Lynn Smith

How to Get Your Book Reviewed by Dana Lynn Smith of The Savvy Book Marketer. www.thesavvybookmarketer.com
One-day chance for you to enter your Friend to win a FREE copy of How to Get Your Book Reviewed by Dana Lynn Smith

ALL WEEK: The Book Trailer Manual

Post your Friend’s name/book title on the Facebook page for Random Acts of Publicity to be entered to win a FREE The Book Trailer Manual by Darcy Pattison. One ebook given away daily; must post Friend’s name that day to be eligible and you can post it each day if you like.

NOTE: You may not enter your own name in any of these prize giveaways. By posting a person’s name you acknowledge that you have asked their permission and the post is with their knowledge. Please note carefully WHERE to comment for each giveaway. They all require you to comment on the POST at Fiction Notes (www.darcypattison.com). The EXCEPTION is the ongoing drawing for The Book Trailer Manual; for this giveaway and this one only, please post on the Random Acts of Publicity Facebook page.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can participate?
   Anyone who wants to help a book get noticed by readers. We are focusing on helping a Friend’s book get noticed, but you can also choose to help your favorite book get noticed.
2. What do I do?
   BLLuRT or Post. Or both.

1. BLLuRT (http://bit.ly/RAoP2011). The basic tasks for book marketing online remain the same, BLLuRT! Do one of these each day for your Friend’s book or for your favorite book.

• B is for Blog. Blog about a book, the author or
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Random Acts of Publicity: September 6-9, 2011

Save the date!

For the last two years, I’ve encourage writers to perform Random Acts of Publicity during the week after Labor Day. The Random Acts will return this year on September 6-9. If you have great ideas for this event, please email me. I’d love to do interviews on how you’ve done publicity this year, easy ideas for helping your friends do publicity or any other ideas!

Here’s what we did last year!

NonFiction BookBlast Sunday, June 26, 2011. 8-10 am. ALA Conference in NOLA.

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In honor of Darcy Pattison's Random Acts of Publicity Week, I want to share with you LIVVIE OWEN LIVED HERE, a book I discovered last month.



This is Sarah Dooley's debut novel about an autistic girl and her family. The writing is compassionate and spot on -- it's very evident Sarah is a special education teacher who knows children well.

I think I found Sarah by clicking on someone else's followers (like Elana Johnson suggests here). It just so happened to be the day she posted her trailer for LIVVIE.

I ordered a copy immediately.

What book have you recently discovered? Spread the word below!


LOSING FAITH and book bag giveaway ends Sunday, September 13.


Thank you, Debbie Curran, for the interview!

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Random Acts of Publicity: Social Media

We’ve all heard about the social media and many are experimenting with doing book publicity via these channels. What is really possible?

Lots! At least for authors. There are Facebook Fan pages or Event pages and the equivalent on MySpace or other spaces; there are Twitter updates and YouTube videos. In fact, an author can get overwhelmed doing all of this. But it does no good at all, if someone isn’t watching and participating.

Join Anything You’re Invited to Join – and Then Participate

Getting engaged in a friend’s promotional efforts means to do something, to join an event or fan page. Attend a virtual book signing. (What if YOU gave a party and no one showed up?) Helping with these promotional efforts won’t be as fast or as easy as those listed earlier this week, but they might make a huge difference.

View a Book Trailer, Podcast

Watch a book trailer. Use the word-of-mouth or linking techniques from earlier this week to tell others about the trailer. As a related post, Lisa Gottfried of DigitalWeavers discusses 6 Criteria for a Great Book Trailer. And a video trailer for my Novel Revision Retreat is unveiled here today.

Another new trailer out is Arthur Slade’s The Hunchback Assignments, website and book trailer for his new steam-punk fantasy.

Volunteer Your Expertise

This is another of those extra-mile assignments: if you know how to edit video, volunteer to make a book trailer or podcast for a friend. Or just walk him/her through setting up a fan page for your book. Help him/her brainstorm jokes when s/he makes a special game designed for Facebook. Really – ASK what would be helpful! (WOW, what an awesome thing that would be!)

There are many, many social media sites. This isn’t a how-to on those sites, but an encouragment to celebrate what your friend does on those sites!

Your Random Act of Publicity Daily Task: Participate

Your task: Join. View. Comment. Participate. Just once.

Please post what you did today.
What are some of your favorite social media sites for books?
Any final comments on supporting your friend’s book?

Related posts:

1. Random Week
2. Random Reviews
3. Random Word of Mouth

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Random Acts of Publicity: Reviews

Reviews add credibility: they are the marketer’s tool of using a testimonial. The twist on Amazon and other sites is that celebrity testimonials don’t matter as much as just another reader’s comments. To be effective, though, the comment must ring true, they must be authentic and credible.

To go the extra mile, video testimonials are the most effective tool out there. Sure, it’s an act of love to record and post a testimonial about a friend’s book, but it would really make a difference! Or add a photo of a kid reading your friend’s book. Anything extra makes a difference.

The More Reviews the Better

I’ve looked for studies about the effect of reviews on sales, but haven’t found anything solid. But anecdotal information says that the more reviews the better. There seems to be break points at about 20-25 reviews and 100 reviews, at least. That is, over 25 reviews and there’s a bump in sales. Over 100 reviews and there’s a big bump in sales. (If anyone has seen a study to corroborate this, let me know!)

Bad reviews don’t necessarily hurt, as long as there are just a couple. In fact, I’ve seen information that says a few bad reviews make all the others seem more plausible. Too much good can be unbelievable: remember the keys are authentic and credible. No book will please everyone.

(All I know is those bad reviews still hurt! But since I read this information, I’m trying to ignore the few bad reviews that I’ve gotten.)

The More Recent the Reviews the Better

Should you review older books? Yes! The more recent the reviews the better the title does on searches.

So, here’s one strategy for reviews. Everyone knows that the best sales time is the Christmas holidays. Books are given as gifts, more books are sold in November & December than other months, etc. What you really want, then, is a concentration of reviews in September and October – recent reviews for the holiday season.

Good news: We’re just in time to help a friend’s book!

Your Random Act of Publicity Task for Today

Your task: Post at least one review of a book.

Places to post reviews:
Amazon
B&N.com
Library Thing
Good Reads
Shelfari

Any suggestions for other places to post reviews?
Please post about what you’ve done today.

Related posts:

1. Random Week
2. Random Word of Mouth
3. Don’t Sign that Book Contract Until –

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Random Acts of Publicity: Word of Mouth

About a dozen times these past few weeks, I’ve found myself saying, “Have you seen ‘Julie and Julia’? It’s so funny. Meryl Streep just becomes Julia.”

Yes, word-of-mouth is still the best publicity.

A great source of information about kids and reading is the Consider this Scholastic study, the 2008 Kids and Family Reading Study (Download the entire pdf or watch a video clip. )

Word of Mouth: Talk to kids!

The Scholastic study on Kids and Reading says,:

• Kids overwhelming (89%) say “My favorite books are the ones I picked out myself.”
• Sixty-eight percent of kids say they love or like reading books for fun a lot (72% of girls/ 63% of boys).
• Half of all kids say there aren’t enough really good books for boys/girls their age.

What? Not enough really good books? Surely that’s partly because no one has told them about a special book – and you’re just the one to do that.

Word of Mouth: Talk to parents!

The Scholastic study also says that, “Parents are a key source of book suggestions for their children, but nearly half of all parents say they have a hard time finding information about books their child would enjoy reading, and especially parents of teens age 15-17 (62%).”

Wow! What an opportunity!

Word of Mouth: Talk to booksellers, librarians, teachers, or other professionals!

It’s called industry buzz. The more professionals talk about a book, the more it gets talked about and has a chance to break out into the general public.

Word of Mouth: Talk to anyone!

The last few weeks when I’ve been telling people about the movie, Julie and Julia, I haven’t confined myself to cooks or pretenders to the title of chef. Instead, I’ve found it coming up naturally in conversation. For a friend’s book, you may have to do a bit more explanation up front, since the book might not have the press coverage that the “J and J movie” has had. But a bit of explanation, followed by your enthusiasm – that’s what will help spread the word.

Your Random Acts of Publicity Task for Today

Your task: Tell one person about your friend’s book.

Please, post a comment about what you did today.

Related posts:

1. Random Week

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Random Acts of Publicity Week

Are you like me? I always promise myself that today I’ll write a review of my friends’ books and actually post them on Amazon or Library Thing or somewhere. But do I? No. That’s about to change!

I know how wonderful it is to see new reviews on Amazon of one of my books. I know that it’s better to give than to receive. This week, I vow to put these two things together and give friends some support for their books.

So, I’m declaring next week, September 7-11, as the RANDOM ACTS OF PUBLICITY WEEK, a week when you do something to promote a friend’s book, or to promote a recent book you’ve read. I’ll post an introduction on Monday, but because of the holiday we won’t get started with the ACTS until Tuesday.

Here’s how it works:

1. Post your intent to join. In the comments here, post that you intend to join in the fun.
2. Daily Acts of Publicity. Each day, do one Random Act of Publicity. You can choose to concentrate on one friend’s book; you can choose a different author/book each day; you can promote a book you like, even if you don’t know the author. Post a comment on that day’s suggested activities when you complete it.
3. Daily suggestions. Each day, I’ll suggest an activity. I’ll try to add links and info, so you’ll learn a bit more about promotion or have access to new resources. Try to complete the activity that day. I’ve tried to include both off-line and on-line activities. Here’s the schedule:
   • Tuesday: Word of Mouth
   • Wednesday: Reviews
   • Thursday: Links
   • Friday: Social Media

Four days of promoting others’ books should be great fun.

Get started today on the Random Acts of Publicity Week:

• Spread the word. Let others know about the Random Acts of Publicity Week. (Copy the banner if you want and post it on your site.)
• Read or re-read books. Plan the books you want to promote. Have you been waiting for a good time to read your friend’s book? This is that good time. Check it out; buy it; read it by next Tuesday.

Related posts:

1. Oliver K. Woodman Needs Your Help

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