Well, I witnessed it with my own eyes—what appears, from every angle, to have been a successful book launch.
Virginia Lawrence, Executive Director of SPAWN, and I attended Diana Zimmerman’s book launch event at Storyopolis, yesterday. Storyopolis is a magnificent store filled with books and art projects for kids. If you live in Southern California and have children or a book for the young set, you must check this place out.
And if you want to have a successful book launch, you really ought to do what Diana Zimmerman did. First, she wrote an amazing fantasy book, Kandide and the Secret of the Mists; The Calabiyau Chronicles. Maxine Gadd of Australia did the beautiful artwork and Lance Burton, Internationally acclaimed magician, along with S. Earl Statler, critic correspondent for The Los Angeles Newspaper Group wrote glowing testimonials. Burton says, “Kandide is pure magic†and, according to Statler, “Kandide gives its readers one captivating, enthralling adventure after another.†Sigfried, Las Vegas Magic Superstar says, “Kandide is a magical journey into a world full of wonder, suspense and hope.†Learn more about the book at http://www.noesispublishing.com or http://www.kandide.com
Diana made another good move by hiring a book editor. Guess who? That’s right, I had the privilege of editing this wonderful juvenile fantasy. And then Diana hired a public relations company, Bruce Merrin Public Relations, http://www.celebrityspeakersentertainment.com
I venture to guess that between Merrin’s promotional efforts and Diana’s connections, creativity and hard work, they drew around 50 people to the debut of Kandide and the Secret of the Mists. And since many people were purchasing multiple copies, they could have conceivably sold 50 books or more. Our group of four went home with 7 copies of Kandide.
So how did Diana and her PR company pull off such a successful book launch? First, I’m certain that they issued invitations to everyone in Diana’s email list, Rolodex, personal address book and Christmas card list. And their invitation was quite intriguing. Here’s what they promised: Meet the author for a lively presentation and book signing, be mystified by Magic Castle Magicians, win Brunch for 4 at the Magic Castle, participate with actors in live performance, join composer/singer, Jeannie Cunningham in a rollicking great song performing the national anthem for the story’s imaginary city, view a screening of the Kandide book trailer, Play Kandide’s “Attack of the Garglans†video game, see Kandide’s original illustrations by Maxine Gadd, take home a “Vanishing Garglan†magic trick.
Now does that sound like fun for kids and adults or what? And it was!! Magicians were wandering through the store performing some of the most amazing tricks. We watched a super creative trailer (video) depicting the story. We enjoyed a reading by 3 entertaining actors, including one of the book’s junior editors. We were tapping our toes and clapping our hands as Jeannie belted out the Calabiyau National Anthem, which she also wrote. And Diana made each person, especially the children, feel special, indeed, as she chatted with them while signing their copies of her book.
Hopefully, this will give you some ideas for your book launch. Here are my suggestions in a nutshell:
• Hire the best PR company or book publicist you can afford.
• Create the atmosphere and bring in entertainment that relate to the theme of your book.
• Hold your event where there is plenty of room and parking.
• Solicit the help of several friends, colleagues, family, etc. Assign them tasks such as, MC for the evening, entertainment, refreshments and valet parking (if the event is held in someone’s home, for example).
• Hold a raffle and/or promise give-aways.
And don’t stop with just one book launch or book signing. Move from city to city and county to county spreading the word about your magnificent book and inviting the community to come celebrate with you.
For more on book signings, including a timeline, as well as many other book promotion ideas, order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
And be sure to sign up NOW for my online Article-Writing course which starts Tuesday, April 22, 2008. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm