Patricia Stoltey

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The Publicity Window by L. Diane Wolfe

March 7, 2013 By: Patricia

L. Diane Wolfe is a professional speaker and author. Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association and the author of numerous books. Her latest title, How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now, covers her publishing seminars in depth and provides an overview of the entire process from idea to market.

Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, ties her goal-setting and leadership seminars together into one complete, enthusiastic package.

Her YA series, The Circle of Friends, features morally grounded, positive stories. Wolfe travels extensively for media interviews and speaking engagements, maintains a dozen websites and blogs, and assists writers through her author services.

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The Publicity Window by L. Diane Wolfe

The time between the setting of a book’s release date and that actual date is called the publicity window. The greater the distance between those two points, the more opportunity to promote. Publishers often allow a year or more, but those who self publish can do it faster. The key is not too do it too fast.

Production will also occupy some of that time. The book must be professionally edited, cover designed, manuscript formatted, etc. Those things can’t be rushed either.

So many opportunities are lost when a book is hurried to market. With the ease of self-publishing, many authors miss out on early promotions because the window is just too small. They zip through production and don’t even begin promoting until after the book’s release. When that book comes out, it’s much easier to sell when marketing momentum is already in place.

Here is a promotional checklist. Some items are the responsibility of the publisher. Others apply only to print books. But it demonstrates the necessity of ample time for pre-promotions:

Brush up on speaking and people skills (Don’t laugh – you’ll need this one!)
Establish or increase online presence
Place book cover and information on those sites
Make a list of personal and business contacts
Select book reviewers
Prepare review copy materials and sell sheet
Send out review copies
Select potential blogs/websites/podcasts tour hosts
Schedule virtual book tour
Select potential physical book appearances
Schedule physical book appearances
Write and post/submit articles
Create book trailer
Write media release
Select potential media and send release/pitch story idea
Design and print bookmarks and other items
Send announcements to book sellers, libraries, and other retail outlets
Send book information to genre websites and confirm correct on seller’s sites
Participate in launch day party online and/or real world

That’s quite a list! Think you could complete even half of it in two months?

Whether you have a publisher or you are the publisher, give yourself time for early promotions. Make a list, a timeline and resist the urge to rush the process. Take your time and do it right. Your book is worth it, isn’t it?

How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now!
By L. Diane Wolfe
Publishing and promoting made simple!

Have you always dreamed of publishing a book but didn’t know where to begin? This book walks you through the steps of identifying markets, budgeting, building an online presence, and generating publicity. Get the whole story on:

• Traditional publishing
• Self-publishing
• Print and e-book setup, formatting, and distribution
• Finding your target audience
• Generating reviews and media interest
• Networking and developing an online presence
• Promotional materials and appearances

Uncover your ideal publishing path and numerous marketing options before you begin. Writing is your dream. Give it the best chance for success! Available as a trade paper back and e-book at Barnes and Noble and amazon.com.

“She gives an unbiased take on the advantages and disadvantages of traditional publishing and self-publishing and publishing paths that combine the two… It’s the perfect book for those who want an overview to begin the decision-making process.” – Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning series of how-to books for writers. 

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Thanks for sharing this useful information with us, Diane. More and more of us are poised to self-publish, and we need all the help we can get. Our work isn’t done when the book is published, however. I think that’s the part that overwhelms many of us.

Find out more about Diane and her books at her website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Comments

  1. Jonny Jones says

    March 12, 2013 at 1:14 am

    Getting your product out into the public is so important. Now we have so many ways to do that including social media.

    buy Instagram Likes

  2. J.L. Campbell says

    March 11, 2013 at 5:10 pm

    Saving this post, Diane. Some of this stuff, we don’t even think about, but they’re key to a successful launch.

  3. Sherry Ellis says

    March 10, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    Great post. You are right – there’s so much to do prior to a release!

  4. L. Diane Wolfe says

    March 9, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    James, good luck with your upcoming release.

    Michelle, so much to do. And authors need to allow time to do it.

  5. michelle says

    March 9, 2013 at 6:33 am

    That is quite a list!
    The publicity window is a crucial period. That just hit me this very minute. And I understand why it is important to establish the correct publicity window time-frame. There is so much that needs to be done.
    Thanks L. Diane.

  6. James Garcia Jr. says

    March 8, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    Thanks for the tips, L. Diane. As you probably guessed, I have a book releasing this year. I’ve learned much these past few years about the business of promoting. I had a few of these ideas already – especially about taking my time and not rushing things. You’ve given me a lot more to think about as well which I really appreciate. My thanks to both you and Patricia for hosting you. Thanks, ladies.

    -Jimmy
    http://jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/

  7. Johanna Garth says

    March 8, 2013 at 11:54 am

    I’ve definitely been guilty of giving short shrift to that pre-release promotional window. Great tips as always Diane.

  8. Carol Kilgore says

    March 8, 2013 at 10:34 am

    Excellent tips, Diane! Thanks for hosting her, Patricia.

    Happy Weekend!

  9. L. Diane Wolfe says

    March 8, 2013 at 6:17 am

    Patricia, thanks so much for the opportunity.

  10. Patricia Stoltey says

    March 7, 2013 at 9:39 pm

    Diane, thanks so much for being here today. The resources you provide for new and not-so-new writers are much appreciated. I’m keeping this list for book promotion on my bulletin board.

  11. Patricia Stoltey says

    March 7, 2013 at 4:20 pm

    I love spreadsheets, so I build a whole schedule of everything that has to be done, assign deadlines, add locations, etc. Sometimes it feels as though the spreadsheet project is bigger than the book promotion project. 😀

  12. Jemi Fraser says

    March 7, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    Great list – there really is so much to do! I’m going to have to become a list person when I get to that stage!!

  13. L. Diane Wolfe says

    March 7, 2013 at 11:50 am

    Margot, there’s just so much to consider.

    Julie, thank you!

  14. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    March 7, 2013 at 10:42 am

    Guess that’s why it takes a while for a book to be released. A lot to do!

  15. Julie Luek says

    March 7, 2013 at 9:38 am

    Diane– As always, great advice. You are teaching the rest of us so much, through your book and by your example. Thank you!

  16. Margot Kinberg says

    March 7, 2013 at 8:17 am

    Pat – Thanks for hosting Diane.

    Diane – Thanks for your ideas on ways to make the most from that publicity window. It all makes a lot of sense. I’m going to archive this for the future!

  17. Hilary Melton-Butcher says

    March 7, 2013 at 7:38 am

    Hi Patricia .. Diane has such good ideas – they’re always concise and something that needs to be done by authors … being prepared is essential … wonderful posting ..

    Cheers Hilary

  18. L. Diane Wolfe says

    March 7, 2013 at 7:15 am

    Thank you so much, Patricia.

Meet Patricia

I read, I write, I blog, and sometimes I do the laundry and cook. My 2014 novel, Dead Wrong, was a finalist in the thriller category of the 2015 Colorado Book Awards. Wishing Caswell Dead (Five Star/Cengage, December 20, 2017) is a historical mystery set in 1830s Illinois in the fictitious Village of Sangamon. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Colorado Book Awards for General Fiction. Read More…

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