Gearing Up by Debra H. Goldstein
It’s coming! Will I survive? The hardcover version of Should Have Played Poker: a Carrie
Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery already is available for pre-order, but on April 20, 2016 the print and e-book versions will launch. I’m excited and scared. I thought the hard work was over – after all, I wrote the book, but now I need to publicize it.
For a shy person who spent a lifetime as a judge deliberately flying under the radar, this is a daunting proposition. Consequently, I’ve been observing others to see if there is a persona I can adopt. Here’s what I’ve observed:
a) Master Promoter – so much in my face that I want to puke (not my style)
b) Promoting is Gauche – and that’s why nobody bought your books after your family and friends helped the first day along (enough said)
c) Calm, Kind, and All Over the Place – Where does Hank get all that energy from? Surely eating five crackers at a sitting isn’t the source. (Can’t be duplicated except the kindness)
d) Volunteer Persona – leaves no time for writing or personal work (can well understand that one)
e) Networker – relationship builder (good if combined with c and d but problematic with style a)
f) Nurturer – helps others (good when combined with elements of c, d, and e)
g) Stumbler – what will be will be, but I’ll try (a natural fit)
b) Promoting is Gauche – and that’s why nobody bought your books after your family and friends helped the first day along (enough said)
c) Calm, Kind, and All Over the Place – Where does Hank get all that energy from? Surely eating five crackers at a sitting isn’t the source. (Can’t be duplicated except the kindness)
d) Volunteer Persona – leaves no time for writing or personal work (can well understand that one)
e) Networker – relationship builder (good if combined with c and d but problematic with style a)
f) Nurturer – helps others (good when combined with elements of c, d, and e)
g) Stumbler – what will be will be, but I’ll try (a natural fit)
What I finally realized is that it isn’t the persona I adopt that is going to make a difference, but whether those of you who read Should Have Played Poker enjoy it and recommend it to your friends, family, bookgroups, social media groups and anyone else you can think of. I hope you find it a fun and easy read and more importantly, I hope you choose to read it. I may not have the persona for PR, but I relish making new friends. As the song goes, “Make new friends, but keep the old.” The same is true for those of you supporting me on this journey and those I will meet in the months ahead. Debra
P.S. I guess I should tell you that on May 3 from 5-7 p.m. at Little Professor Bookstore in Homewood, there will be a live signing where all royalties from books sold will be going to the YWCA of Central Alabama’s domestic violence program and Collat Jewish Family Service’s CARES dementia respite program. In fact, that’s the same scenario for any print or e-book purchased between now and May 30 from any source (if it is an Amazon purchase, forward a copy of your email purchase confirmation to DHG@DebraHGoldstein.com) . Thanks in advance.
http://www.amazon.com/Should-Played-Carrie-Players-Mystery/dp/1432831593/
Good post Debra. Why don’t you have a Twitter Share button and a Pinterest share button (and any other SM button you have using word press/jetpack) i.e. LinkedIn, even if you don’t use that SM yourself)? You’re missing opportunities for people to share in the way they choose to share and help you promote your book. For example, if I find a post interesting, I will pin it to my Blog Posts for Readers and Writers Board, and they do get repins and I have had traffic to my website based on Pinterest pins. I don’t use LinkedIn, personally, but I see shares on my posts to LinkedIn (and Reddit and Tumblr, none of which I use). Get those buttons up!
Judy, good points. I’m in the process of re-doing my website (and in turn my blog) and will add those buttons asap (hopefully before you guest blog :)>. dhg
Reblogged this on Kathy Waller ~ Telling the Truth, Mainly and commented:
Debra Goldstein is considering how to publicize her new book, I SHOULD HAVE PLAYED POKER. She lays out several possibilities, each with its own… Well, read on and you’ll see.
Oh, darn. I put an extra word in the title. I changed it on my blog but can’t edit it here. I’m sorry.
Not a problem. I very much appreciate you sharing the info about my book and pr efforts. Thank you. Hope you are doing well. dhg
Whichever persona you choose, I sincerely doubt you’ll be a Stumbler, Debra. Congratulations on the new book. I would buy it just on the basis of that beautiful cover.
Thank you for the compliments. I’m really thrilled with the cover Five Star put on the book. I think it definitely let’s you know the Mah jongg portion of the book :).
You seem outgoing to me, Debra. Maybe because I can’t picture a shy judge. I’ve watched too much Peoples Court. I hate promotion, not only because I don’t like doing it, but because it’s time I’m not spending on writing. Good luck with the new series!!!
Thanks, Kaye. I’m bad at balancing writing and pr. I seem to be able to focus only on one at a time which is a problem for a writer. Judges have black robes and benches to hide behind…and as I always kidded, they can’t start without me (but I always tried to be on time as I owed it to the public) which translates to a type of power that negated shyness.
OK, Debra, where are the pre-order links?
Poker’s pre-order link: http://www.amazon.com/Should-Played-Carrie-Players-Mystery/dp/1432831593/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456181682&sr=1-1&keywords=should+have+played+poker
Congrats on your new book, Debra. 🙂
Thanks. I’m excited. This flurry of pre-pr is fun, but will really get serious when it launches in April.
Love the new cover and the thoughts on promotion. Thanks for sharing & looking forward to seeing you in September! <3
Thank you. I think the cover is a winner. See you in New Orleans !
Best of luck with this new phase of a writer’s life. I will watch you and learn. I agree about Hank, but you are just as kind and accessible. We met in a hallway at Killer Nashville, remember? Love the cover. Can’t wait to read!
I very much remember when we met in the hallway — thank you for your kind words and wishes. Look forward to visiting together again.
The cover is a winner….and I am certain the book will be too. Can’t wait to enjoy it. Best of luck on your pr. You’ll shine, as always.
Thanks.. I’m looking forward to being in Michigan at Nicola’s on August 7. Only sorry you won’t be around. I don’t know how many days I’ll be there as I’m not sure if there will be other signings (library, book group, etc.).
Know how you feel, but you’ll be fine. The book sounds great and I love the cover. So glad you’re part of our Atlanta Sinc group, and that I have a chance to get to know you better, and to read your books.
Kathleen Delaney
Thanks for the encouragement. Hope to see you at this month’s meeting.