Jeffrey L Kohanek
When I finally decided to write a book and pursue getting it published, I had no idea what to expect. After 1,000s of hours of writing and editing, I found a publisher and then realized that I was going to have to put my marketing hat on and get serious. It turns out that successful authors put as much work into promoting their book as they do writing it. There is so much involved in book PR that I chose to split this blog into two parts.
Website
I decided that the first step would be to create an author website. It is my home base and is the one location on the internet that I control fully. All messaging, images, contact info, events, author biography, blog thread, and more are intended to be part of a tight strategy. Any social media or bookseller links would send readers back to my website whenever possible, creating a hub to my online presence.
Social Media
In today’s world, I had to have a social media presence. It is a means to share information with my readers and to help create awareness of me as an author and of my books. I created a Facebook author page, opened a Twitter account, jumped onto Google+, created a Tumblr page, and added Instagram to my toolkit.
Book-Focused Websites
I need to be wherever people who like books might go. Accordingly, I now have a book and/or an author page on the largest online booksellers’ pages. In addition, sites such as Goodreads, Library Thing, and YA Books Central are sites designed to help readers discover and review books for themselves. A list of my online links is shown below.
Online Presence: List of Links
Launch Events, Signings, and Guest Speaking
My book released on May 5, 2016. Accordingly, my publicist (thanks for all the help, Jodi) and I set up a number of author events to promote the book. With two launch parties, two author meet-n-greets, and a two-day book festival set within the first month, I will be busy. See the Launch Event Schedule below. If you can make it to any of these events, I would love to meet you and answer questions about the book or my writing process.
Event Date Event Type and Location
Thurs May 19, 2016: Book Launch Party @Lamppost Pizza, Fountain Valley, CA
Sat May 21, 2016: Book Launch Party @Mama’s on 39 in Huntington Beach, CA
Tues May 24, 2016: Author Event @Mangiamo Gelato Café, Huntington Beach, CA
Sat May 28, 2016 Author Event @Great American Yogurt, Huntington Beach, CA
Sat June 4, 2016: Bay Area Bookfest, Berkeley, CA
Sun June 5, 2016: Bay Area Bookfest, Berkeley, CA
Thurs May 19, 2016: Book Launch Party @Lamppost Pizza, Fountain Valley, CA
Sat May 21, 2016: Book Launch Party @Mama’s on 39 in Huntington Beach, CA
Tues May 24, 2016: Author Event @Mangiamo Gelato Café, Huntington Beach, CA
Sat May 28, 2016 Author Event @Great American Yogurt, Huntington Beach, CA
Sat June 4, 2016: Bay Area Bookfest, Berkeley, CA
Sun June 5, 2016: Bay Area Bookfest, Berkeley, CA
Guest Speaking
I am offering a FREE 30-minute seminar to schools and libraries titled A Writer’s Journey: The Path to Publication, where I will share what I've learned from my experience in writing and getting published. I hope that this will help to encourage others who dream of writing a book while also helping them to avoid some of the pitfalls that I encountered on my journey. My first session is set at Fountain Valley High School on May 19. I hope to do more sessions this school year and in the future.
This gives you an idea of what is involved in a book launch. Tune in next week for part two of this blog for more into and to see what else I have cooking.
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