Getting ready to fly
Last week I walked over to the Press offices down by the river and spent two hours with their marketing folks. Three intelligent, creative and endlessly patient women. (One of them, when pressed, admitted that her "inbox" often shows my name more frequently than anyone else's. And it's true that I am constantly messaging her with suggestions and questions. What can I say? I'm at a computer all day. I think of something. I tell her ... )
They have a plan, a big, well-thought-out plan, for the marketing of my book. It involves blogs and Facebook, it involves review copies sent hither and yon (but not at random), it involves readings and videos and radio spots and launch parties.
Two hours we talked! I left with my head swimming at how hard they have worked, and are working, at trying to get my little book out there. I also left with homework: photos to dig up, blog entries to write, names, annotations, suggestions. I wrote everything down and then promptly spilled salad dressing all over the pages. But they are still readable, and I know what I need to do.
They've settled on a launch party for Sept. 7 in Minneapolis, and I hope you all come. (Plenty of time to buy a ticket from Ireland, Babaloo!) And they're working on a second party, probably the following week, up in Duluth.
There are also many others who are helping out with my book. The folks at a local radio station have asked me to be on their show later on in the fall. A couple of books bloggers have said they're willing to take a look and consider it for review. The library association has invited me to read at an event for their donors, the local literary center has invited me to propose a workshop for next spring, a bookstore has invited me to give a reading. On Wednesday, I'll be interviewed by someone from Nieman for their online digest, and the big big big news is that there's a lovely review of my book in this week's Publisher's Weekly, and they're also going to be running a Q&A with me soon. (This is huge. PW is the bible for book buyers, librarians, book reviewers...)
All of this, all these generous people making suggestions and being so helpful and taking such an interest long before the book is even in stores--it's not just overwhelming, it's humbling and a little scary. My sense of obligation grows. What if my book fails? What if I let them all down?
I am feeling the same thing I felt when the Press first sent me a contract: I can't sign this; what if I can't get the book written? I delayed so long my editor wondered if I was holding out for more money. No, no, I said. Do not send more money. I feel obligated enough as it is!
