Time to Plan

​This is the first time I’ve typed 2018 – it feels odd.  I spent 365 days typing 2017 and it’s an old habit to break, but I will – always do.
Besides New Year’s resolutions the start of a new year is a great time to plan.  My third book in the Ian Murphy series is being published in March 2018 by Henschel Haus Publishing.  The publisher will provide distribution channels that I haven’t been able to access with the first two books and some marketing.  The primary marketing effort still belongs to the author.
For the first time I’ve contracted with a publicist to help me launch Dead Reckoning in the spring.  For my first two novels I can’t really claim to have had an official launch.  It would be more accurate to say that those novels just appeared on the world stage with very little to no pomp and circumstance.  That needs to change, especially because Henschel Haus will be re-publishing Murphy’s Troubles and Out of Darkness at the same time, so I have the unique opportunity to do the launch right.  It is rare to have such an opportunity and I appreciate how fortunate I am.
I met with my publicist before Christmas and we outlined a strategy based on a thorough proposal she made.  I have always felt weak in social media and feel I need a great deal of assistance.  My numbers say I’ve fared well in social media.  Last year my website averaged 2500 visits a month and 8600 pages viewed a month.  I have 1086 followers on twitter.  My publicists was humbled by these numbers – I don’t understand them – really I don’t. 
The problem is the numbers are passive.  I don’t feel engaged by either folks visiting my website or posts on twitter.  The only thing I ever post on twitter is my weekly blog and I don’t engage in any exchange of tweets.  Maybe that will need to change.
Already I’ve learned there is a way to link my author facebook page with my webpage so I guess we’ll do that.  I will be adding a link from Henschel Haus to my webpage so that people can glide over and buy my books from the publisher. 
My publicists will be working three areas for the book launch.  The first is to spruce up my website and link everything that can be linked.  Second, she will develop social media promotions for me.  Finally, she will explore paid social media/review services and blog tours.  From that list we will pick and chose those we believe (guess?) will be the most effective.
That’s the plan.  There will be other post launch activities once the book is in orbit (might as well stick with the metaphor).
If you need an author to speak, I’m available.  Presentation topics include:
Researching for historical based novels
Where Art and History Meet- Historical Fiction
My World and Welcome to It – A Spoken Memoir
My World and Welcome to It -  My 103.5 FM Radio Talk Show
Send me an email at:  [email protected]