Barbecue & Books Go Hand in Hand: 5 Crazy Ways to Promote Your Book!



How do author's promote? Well there's the good ole' word of mouth, and then there's email blasts, postcards, in person signing/readings and TV/radio talks (if you're really big time). And what about if you're on a budget? Or your publicist quit? Or you've realized that the world that was formerly round to authors is now flat before there's no more "The Oprah Show?"

If you're an author (self published or not), who has ever wanted to think outside of the box to promote your book but just didn't know what the heck would make your sales "POP!" this post is for you!


Here are humorous yet totally doable event ideas, for the writer who's book marketing game really needs a boost.

*****5 Crazy Ways to Promote Your Book!*****

(Warning, some of these may tickle your funny bone)

1. Host a Book Signing Barbecue - Hey it's summertime and who doesn't love a reason to gather for good food, drinks, laughs and a BOOK READING! LOL Create an online invite that's very snazzy. Insert a picture of you in your most attractive grilling attire, smiling and holding your book. That's right. Reserve your spot at your local park. Get the grill pit/smoker going with dogs, brats, veggie burgers, shrimp and ribs. Bring the ice, coolers, beers, soda and kiddie things. Hire a security guard in case you run out of hamburgers and the crowd gets rowdy. Make sure to set up a table and chair with tablecloth for you to sign books. Have plenty of chairs for folks to eat, relax and hear your read exderpts of your book. Thank everyone for coming and vow to host it again, when your next book is released. Hopefully they thank you for the free food.

2. Host a Book Signing Beauty Bar -- Who cares if your book isn't about beauty or style. Ask your favorite spa or beauty shop to host a party just for you. Nevermind that they still have customers in there getting shined, buffed, waxed, combed and colored. No, just work around them while you work your book hustle. Create a very beautylicious invite - complete with you all dolled up, or a picture of you in hair rollers (getting ready for your close up of course) while holding your fabulous book! Be sure to invite all of the men and women you know who love pampering. Offer some kind of package deal "Spa Special: $85 2 Services + My Book" and they you pocket $30 for each person you bring in who says "I'm here to see Ms. Author."

3. Host a Book Signing Fashion Show -- You betta work gurl, because there's nothing sadder than an out of work writer.  You've seen enough of "Project Runway" with Heidi Klum to know how these things go.  Pick a venue and schedule several designers to show their collections.  Make sure you let them know that YOU'RE THE BOSS!  You know how those fashion people get - very testy. Have them "donate" models, you can't pay the $5,000 model fee they're used to getting. If you pick a nightclub, everyone has to pay for their drinks and food when they order.  No freebies for anyone, well with the exception of you. Get your BFF or sister to help you with the logistics of it all, but make sure you find some way to get your reading/signing in there. If the attendees like any of the fashions, say a dress for $300 - give them the package deal - for every fashion item sold - you get a cut right off of the top! LOL

4. Host a Book Signing Car Wash -- Everyone likes a shiny, clean from top to bottom set of wheels. Get all your friends together, when it's warm and breezy, dress in matching tees and shorts and take over a car wash on a Saturday afternoon. Your t-shirts should have the name of your book "Ms. Author Becomes a Millionaire Part 1." Make a deal with the car wash, that every car you bring in from the hours of your "book signing", 1 - 3pm you get 60%-%75 of the sales. Don't forget to bring a change of clothes, since you're probably helping to wash the cars anyway. Have your assistant (BFF) set up a podium, mic, table and chair for you to give your signing. You can also set out ten or so chairs for people to listen to you while they wait for their car to be washed.

5. Host a Book Signing Exotic Vacation Fantasy Party-- Well if you can't go to Turks & Caicos you can fake it until you get there!! Reserve a venue and trick it out in the type of decor that is sure to make your guests believe they're in an exotic locale. If you're idea of an exotic locale is Dallas, Disneyland or Topeka, KS I would hire an event planner. LOL Now, you want to make sure to have the proper lighting, and whatever plants and trees might be fitting to totally "transport" your guests. If you have a good friend who's a travel agent, you can have them throw in two tickets to Paris or the Carribbean and then raffle them off.

There's room for you to be as conservative or outlandish as you want with all of the above ideas.  I could probably create more event tips, but I think you get the idea.  You may have to put out a bit of your own money and ask others to help you, but that's okay. The key word here is "entertainment." Even book lovers want to be entertained.  Social networking and bookstore readings are great, but sometimes you have to think outside of the box too. There are a million other authors out there all vying to get their piece of the pie. Wouldn't it be great if you can have your piece and theirs too? Exactly. Now you're thinking.

WRITING: Children's Book Insider

The Children's Book Insider has valuable information for writers of children's books.

Connie Briscoe’s Tips for Finding a Literary Agent

Bestselling novelist Connie Briscoe has been at the top of her publishing game for a long time. You've probably fallen in love with many of her stories, as they are reminiscent of the lives you, your best friend, sister, mother, or aunt has lived. She is the author or co-author of many books including: You Only Get Better(Feb 1, 2008), Jewels: 50 Phenomenal Black Women Over 50 (April 2007), Can't Get Enough (April 2005) and P.G. County (2004). Briscoe currently posts a wealth of information for writers on her blog. Just this week she added "Tips for Finding a Literary Agent." Writers take note from this heavyweight author. Do your research, utilize the tips, and be faithful that this will get you closer to your goal!

Taken from Connie Briscoe's Website:
In an earlier post I suggested that fiction writers find a book agent before submitting to publishers. Naturally someone asked the logical question: OK, so how do I find a book agent? I’ll try to answer that here. Of course there are many ways to go about this, and I’m not saying that this is the only way or even the best way for everyone. But it is my way.

Here’s how I did it and I see no reason why it can’t work today. It goes without saying–but I’m going to say it anyway–make sure your manuscript is polished to perfection! This is the most important bit of information in this whole article. No method in the world is going to get you a book agent if you don’t have a great book.

1) Write at least the first 50 pages of your novel and a detailed synopsis of the
rest of it. If this is a longer novel–say 400 manuscript pages or more–you might want to write up to 100 pages. Rewrite and polish it. I can’t say this enough. I spent almost as much time on the first several chapters of my first novel as I did on the rest of it. I knew that as an unknown, my work had to be fierce to attract an agent.

2) Write a query letter, which should be only one to two pages long, briefly summarizing your novel and the main characters. A lot of books out there will tell you how to write a good query letter. You might want to head to the library or bookstore to check out one or two of them, as this letter is likely the first thing the agent will read. If you don’t impress her or him with the query letter, the rest will never be looked at. If you can’t write a good query letter, why should an agent expect you to be able to write a whole novel?

3) While you’re at the bookstore look for a book that lists literary or book agents and their contact information. The book should also mention the kinds of books the agents will consider. Most book agents specialize in a few or maybe several genres, and it would be a waste of time to send a manuscript for a mystery novel to an agent who will consider only romance novels. And you certainly don’t want to send an idea for a novel to an agent who accepts only nonfiction.

4) Pick three to five agents and send the query letter, sample chapters and synopsis, neatly packaged, out to them. It’s OK to submit to more than one agent at a time as long as you say in your letter that this is a multiple submission and that you’ve sent the same package to a few other agents.

5) Now you wait. Sit back, relax. Go shopping, spend time with your family. Read a good book! I began to hear back from agents within about a week of mailing my packages. It may take longer now. With computers on every desktop (and laptop), far more manuscripts are floating around out there. I would suggest that if you haven’t heard back within about a month that you submit to four or five more agents.
If you’ve followed the above steps two or three times and still haven’t heard anything, you might want to review and rework your submission package. Is the query letter brief, interesting and well written? Does it hook the reader in the first paragraph? Does the synopsis leave the reader wanting more? Do the chapters flow smoothly and are they error proof?

How long should you keep submitting? Only you can answer that. I found my agent with my first submissions. Later this week, we’ll hear from author Anita Bunkley, who got dozens of rejections before she finally found a publisher.

Fleeing the Office 9-to-5?: Tips for Freelance Writers

I recently interviewed author, freelance writer and editor Michelle Goodman on my radio show, Rhymes, Views & News. Michelle’s latest book The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube, is a valuable resource guide for writers and other creatives seeking to leave an office 9-to-5 gig to strike out on their in on. Michelle’s interview with me lasted 30 minutes, but I know the advice she gave will help freelance writers for a long time to come.

Some of the tips Michelle gave during the interview were:

• If you don’t already have writing clips, do a few freelance assignments for free until you get enough samples to lead you into getting paid work.
• Network with others, give out your business card and use the internet to promote your writing. ( Michelle recommends writing a regular blog as well).
• Have some kind of an income coming in, whether through part-time work or temp work, while you are getting started in the freelance market.
• Contact newspapers in your local area.
For more solid tips on freelancing visit Michelle’s website at http://www.anti9to5guide.com/.