Oh My Giddy Aunt!

(Beware: This post will only make sense to a few special people. :)

This election has me on the edge of my seat and has my daughter yelling English phrases that crack me up. The fact that I am blogging 2ce in one day shows that I am in desperate need of an outlet of nervous energy. I guess as a writer, I have to write!

Reenactment with 4.5 year old girl - When I came home from voting today

Her - "Mommy, did you vote?

Me - "Yup. Look I even got you a sticker."

Her - Cool. Did XXXXX win?"

Me - "No honey, we won't know until tonight."

Her (yelling very loud with a frown on her face) - "Oh my giddy aunt! What's taking so long?"

Now first, let me say that this exclamation made me miss my hubby. I am just not the same when he is not here. My balance is off. My heart is a little emptier and my family is not the same when he is gone. We just have a certain hum to life when he is around. sniff sniff

Secondly, how cute is it that my daughter has picked up his English phrases. She - at times - almost sounds more British than my hubby does (sorry honey :)

Thirdly, Cor Blimey! Could she have said it any better?

This election has been going on for what seems like a lifetime. I have never been involved in an election like this one. I have always voted. Though, I have not always been happy with my vote and pretty confident that my inlaws have been mortified as well.

(BTW just to get in a tidbit about marketing, we marketing people call regret - Cognitive Dissonance. Others call it buyers remorse. Personaly, I prefer the official phrase - it sounds better and I sound smarter. What's bad is that I love to slip it in a conversation whenever I can - which makes me - yup you guessed it - uncool as usual).

I certainly have NEVER followed elections in detail like this and I have NEVER followed since the primaries started. This time, I was there every step of the way.

And tonight, I realize: Gordon Bennett, I am exhausted! I can't imagine how the candidates feel. This has been a long 2 years. I could have given birth to 2 kids (technically) by now.

So today, my daughter summed it up perfectly - as usual. "Oh my giddy aunt! What's taking so long?"

So can we just get on with it already! Its like a great movie that would never end.

I have run the gamut on my finger nails. Chewed every piece of gum in the house. Now, I am on to a cool Sam Adams Winter lager.

I am on the edge of my seat - watching politics - and I am left with just feeling old. I remember my parents watching and discussing politics - zzzzzzzz Boring!

And here - the election is my thriller of the day! Crumbs!

Tootle pip!

Random Thoughts on My Secret Ballot

I found voting this morning fascinating and learned a few things during my voting process:

1) Why is voting so secretive? I found it quite funny in line that most people did not want to share who they voted for. Are we that divided and that judgemental? Are people afraid to admit who they voted for?

2) Why are people complaining about lines? I just told myself it is going to take 6 hrs and set up my schedule accordingly. People were coming up and asking how long the lines were...when they found out 1 hour. They left not wanting to wait! What? Did you really think you were going to vote in a historical election and not spend an hour? Is this process so unimportant that you could not put aside 1 hour in 4 years? We wait longer at Christmas for iphones and touch me Elmo than 1 hour. I found it interesting that people just take the process for granted.

3) Why is it that a moped is not sexy on a man? OK this is off the subject but when I was waiting to vote, a cute guy drove up on a white moped. Now, I am neither for nor against mopeds. To each his own, though it is definitely good for the environment. However, the moped just does not do the guy justice. I say get a motorcycle. His little helmet and his sparkly white though just didn't do him justice. I don't care how souped up he had (and he tried).

4) How I made history?- The great thing about this election is that no matter who you vote for - we're are making history today. That is very exciting. I feel good about the country moving in that direction that black men and women can be allowed to change the world.

5) How will I cope? I must say this is the first election where I feel so strongly about a candidate that I will be truly crushed if he does not win. I truly feel this is our shot to rebuild our name in the global community. Being married to a brit - I know how bad our reputation is in the world. This is our shot to change it. It is our time for change and to send a message to the world that we do not support where our government has taken us.

So stop reading my blog and GO VOTE!

Marketing Mondays - Market Like Self-Publisher

As everyone knows, self publishing has become a huge business.

I am not here to talk about self-publishing. But if you look at some successful self publishers, they sure do know how to market their books. They have to - no one does anything for them!

Did you know these authors were self published?

• A Time to Kill by John Grisham when no one wanted to take a chance on a legal mystery. He sold his first work out of the trunk of his car.
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini. He spent a year touring the country visiting libraries, bookstores and schools visits dressed in a medieval costume. http://www.alagaesia.com/index.php
• The Questory of Root Karbunkulus by Kamilla Reid. She created a live action trailer on her web site and launched an interactive book tour including props, costumes, video, and power point. All on her own. http://www.rootkarbunkulus.com/

They didn't get lucky, they marketed very well. They did it through persistence, creativity, and the Internet

I think one of the biggest mistake authors make when attempting to market their books is being unprepared to create the buzz. I have found that many authors do not even have a Web site or blog . This blog goes over great techniques for online marketing http://onlinepromotionmadeeasy.blogspot.com/

A few tips on marketing (as if you were a self publisher):

• Get reviews - besides the main stream periodicals like PW, Kirkus and Booklist, Try book Sense.
• Create different campaigns to target different audiences - target ezines, web sites and key influencers in each.
• Read the complete guide to internet publicity (www.patronsaintpr.com).
• Join LMP - they have a complete list of book clubs and contact people.
• Hook up with charities.
• Set up school bookings - try schoolbookings.com or authorandexperts.com
• Conferences/speaking engagements - what can you book teach/offer people

These are just a few ideas. For more read The Well Fed Self Publisher by Peter Bowerman. http://www.wellfedsp.com/

Would love to hear of other creative ideas!

Also - I saw an interview on The SWIVET today talking about social networking and self promotion. http://theswivet.blogspot.com/

Have Some Marketing Sense

It just hit me this week that most authors either DON't, WON'T OR CAN'T market their books.

After going to so many book signings, so many conferences, and so many author events/signings.

Most authors do not know how to market their stuff! And they wonder - why they aren't selling any.

If I see one more rectangular bookmarker or one more boring white business card with a name in black writing - times new roman font - I think I am going to scream.

Let's be creative! After all, you are creative so use it.

Therefore, I've decided to drevamp my blog a bit and center more entries on Marketing. I mean after all - no one really wants to hear about my kids or daily issues - though I am sure they'll still pop up.

How does anyone expect to sell a book just through handing out bookmarkers at school visits.

People - there is so much more to marketing than that! There is more than Borders signings, more than school speeches and more than a web site.

I get the same questions everywhere - "do you need to do marketing on the internet?"

I've said it once and I'll certainly repeat it about 100 more times. YES, YES, YES!!!

YOU MUST GET AN ONLINE PRESENCE - how you do that is up to you and what you feel comfortable with.

Yes, that means a web site
Yes, that means a blog and joining a community of bloggers
Yes, that means social networking: facebook, jacketflap, twitter, myspace, blog tours.

In this day and age - you will not skim the surface of marketing if you do not include emarketing/online marketing/internet marketing. Whatever you want to call it. Get online.

Here is my advice
If you don't know how, learn it
If you have something crappy, please make it better
If you hate doing marketing, who cares or don't do it if you don't care about selling books
If you think your publisher will do it for you, you're wrong and in la la land
If you think you don't need marketing b/c your book is great all on its own, wake up
If you don't have time, turn off the tv and make some
If you have a question, ask me.

The last thing I have to say is please please if and when you do marketing. Make a few pieces great. Stop with the chincy stuff. Your marketing represents you. Do you want to look like a second rate author that does not have enough pride in their work to invest in quality items?

You can do great things with very little.

So for goodness sakes, go market yourself!