The countdown has begun. The official release day for The Desert Hedge Murders is August 19th. If you didn’t see the excerpt and synopsis from an earlier post, you’ll find it here.
I’ve been trying to think of special ways to celebrate the day. Maybe go out to lunch and a movie and ignore my computer all day long. Or maybe read for fun all day. And have wine and chocolate for supper. Ah, the possiblities are endless.
But to get serious, there’s a lot of work to be done. I’ve scheduled the conferences/conventions I’ll attend this fall, and am now involved in setting up bookstore signings. One joint signing with another mystery writer is in the works, and three of us are working on a panel presentation we can propose to libraries in the region.
I’ll be attending a writers’ conference in Denver in September (Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold) and a big mystery convention in Indianapolis in October (Bouchercon 2009), but a major goal this time around is to spend less time driving I-25 up and down the Front Range of Colorado, more time in Northern Colorado, and more time on the internet.
Although I’d originally planned to do a blogbooktour early in the fall, that’s the best time to be out and about, visiting bookstores and libraries. One of our local independent bookstores even has a table at the nearby twice-weekly Farmers Market well into October, a great time to put on a sweater and do a booksigning outdoors. And the two days after Thanksgiving is when the well-attended Holiday Market takes place at our Senior Center. I’ve applied for a table in the Author’s Room, so am hoping I’m accepted for that.
I finally decided the best time to head inside and blog my little heart out is after the weather turns iffy, maybe December and January. And as all of these events are scheduled, I need to update my website, which has been sadly neglected since I set up this blog.
While all this was whirling around in my head yesterday, I went to the mailbox and found a package from a dear friend in Indiana. She sent me homegrown tomatoes and sweet corn from the huge garden she and her husband have cultivated since way back before I even met her in 1969. The sweet corn is gone already. We ate it last night. Oh, yum!
Pat, I’ll be watching you with a CLOSE EYE – as I’m trying to decide on my promo schedule for March. So you be sure and post what works and what doesn’t. : ) In the meantime, I’ll write to my heart’s content through the fall. Best of luck and enjoy the veggies!
How do you celebrate? However you want. I say, wake up on the 19th, free yourself of all daily obligations (laundry, blogging, weeding…) and do whatever you want. Eat chocolate ALL day, go to a movie, go to a concert, go shopping…whatever you want. Make it YOUR day.
My head is spinning just thinking of all the promo things you already have lined up. It looks like you have a great plan in place.
Good for you and congrats.
Congratulations! And I’m sure you will do very well in the promotion. I’ll be watching out for your posts.
Bargain with the Devil
Thanks for all encouragement, and thanks for the kind offer, Elizabeth. Hosting is a lot of work, so it’s a big job to take that on, especially when you’re in the middle of your own promotion period.
I’m touring lightly….didn’t want to overextend myself either online or for personal appearances. It seems to be working out well, though.
You’re welcome to guest on my blog whenever you’d like to. 🙂
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Best of luck to you in this exciting time! I look forward to hearing about your plans in detail – marketing is always tricky. Put on your business hat and forge bravely ahead!
LOVE fresh sweet corn. Almost as much as the sweetness of promoting a new book. Best wishes, Particia – go get ’em!
The Old Silly
Karen — Well, don’t be proud and jealous too soon. I talk big, but note I haven’t done all the work yet.
Helen — Each tomato was individually cuddled in bubble wrap bags and taped closed. And the corn and tomatoes were surrounded with lots of shredded paper packing material. My friend is extraordinarily clever.
I think the end of November is an excellent time to sell books. That’s when I start looking for autographed books to give at Christmas.
I would go for the wine and chocolate. Definitely.
How in the world did your friend pack tomatoes and mail them? I can see corn handling the tossing and heat, but tomatoes? Wow.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Good morning early birds.
Jody, I’m full of ideas, it’s the energy to implement the ideas that’s sometimes lacking.
And chocolate would be a wonderful treat right now, Jane, since I’ve put myself on a no sweets diet. I’ve even started eyeing the jar of honey…
Oh, Galen, I only wish I had done all the hard work already. Since I couldn’t make up my mind when I wanted to do the blogging thing, still haven’t decided exactly when in December or January would be best, I’ve made no contacts yet. As I firm up that whole process, I’ll keep track of what I do and post the steps I took. I observed the overwhelming schedule a couple of authors tried, and I’m reluctant to follow their lead. Suicide by blogbooktour is not the way I want to go.
Hmmm. An aside to the mystery writers, how about a thriller called Murder on the Blog Book Tour? 🙂
Hi Patricia,
I’m with Galen. I’m anxious to hear what and how you do what you do and how it goes. I haven’t had the energy to even think about doing a book blog tour. So proud of you (and a wee bit jealous, too).
Karen
Wow, sounds like a really busy schedule! I’m not at that point yet, but you’re giving me lots of great ideas for future use!
I like your idea of wine and chocolate for dinner! It sounds as if you have a very busy schedule ahead of you. Like Galen, I am interested in the what, how and results.
I’m sure all your blog pals will follow your progress with great interest, I know I will. Please do keep us posted as to what you did, how you did it, and the results. I’m anxious to learn from your lead…and I’ll bet others are as well.
I think your idea for a blogging tour in December and January is solid. Have you started to think about host sites yet—and topics? If so, how many do you have lined up?
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog