Planning for the Promotion of Raging Water

Coming Soon!

Most readers and maybe even some writers don't realize how important it is for a writer to have a plan for the promotion of each book. In fact, some publishers make their decision about whether to accept a manuscript based upon whether or not the author has a marketing plan or a least a presence on the web.

Because I write two books a year (one for each of my series) my marketing plan is ongoing and overlaps from one book to the next. The biggest thing I still have to plan is a blog tour for Raging Water. I enjoy doing them and they seem to work fairly well for me. (Anyone here what to host me?)

I've already been letting people know about the book on Facebook and other places. I'm ordering business cards with the cover on one side and the information about the book on the other.

Of course I'm still promoting No Bells and the others in that series.

I had my latest books in both series at the PSWA conference this past week. And I'll be taking books to the Nipomo Library Fall Fair on the 4th of August.

A group of writers in Oakhurst invited me to lunch with them on the 31st of August and that afternoon I'll be presenting my interactive talk on How to Write a Mystery at the Willow Bridge Bookstore.

I will have my books at the Visalia Taste of the Arts in September.  In October, it's the two day Apple Festival in my little town.

In November, we're driving to Redding (6 plus hours) for the Northern California Writers Forum.

And I hope to be participating with the Porterville Art Association for their two day Christmas Craft Sale in December.

And yes, I'm writing. I'm reading the first draft of the next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel to my critique group and writing a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery.

Marilyn

So, What Cons are You Going to Next Year?

As for me, I'm planning on attending three.

Mid-March I'm headed to San Antonio for Epicon. My romance with a touch of the supernatural, Lingering Spirit is a finalist for an Eppie. We went to San Antonio once before and loved it.

At the end of March, Sacramento is the destination for Left Coast Crime. Despite the fact that we are flying to San Antonio, we'd kind of decided not to go to any more conferences unless they were close by. Sacramento if plenty close.

In July, we'll be driving to Vegas for the Public Safety Writers Association.Public Safety Writers Associaton

This is my favorite conference of all. This is the place to get acquainted with all the experts: FBI, police, forensic, fire, casino security, airplane security, etc. It's a small conference with one track, so you really do have a chance to network--some are speakers, but they are all here for the conference.

This year we'll have a crime scene developed by a retired cop and a forensic expert--everyone will have a chance to figure it out. You can test your skills against the professionals.

So what have you got planned for 2012?

Marilyn

A SurpriseTribute

Recently we spent several days in Las Vegas at the PSWA conference. I've been the program chair for the conference for about five years now, but a member of PSWA much longer. The majority of the members are involved with or have been with law enforcement of some kind though membership is open to other branches of public safety (we have one fireman as a member) as well as anyone who writes non-fiction for fiction about the public safety fields. This of course, includes mystery.

After one of the lunches, my husband and I were called up to accept a plaque. This plaque was in honor of our son-in-law who had been killed in the line of duty. It was beautiful and included a rubbing of his name from the Police Memorial Wall in Las Vegas.

It's been about twenty years since Mike died. He inspired many of my Rocky Bluff P.D. mysteries. He loved to visit me and tell me about his adventures as a policeman. He was in the local P.D. for fifteen years, before he transferred to the Sheriff's Office in another county, becoming a deputy.

Needless to say, when hubby and I were presented with this plaque we both became teary-eyed. What a wonderful gesture for this group to do for us.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Balancing, balancing, balancing

We've talked about this before, but since I've been doing so much of this lately I decided to approach the subject again.

I'm working on a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery and have written fifteen chapters.

While I'm doing that I've also been working on the program for the Public Safety Writers Association's conference, which is from June 10 to 17 in Las Vegas. We have so many wonderful speakers I'm really excited about it. The speakers have to pay to come to the conference and their expenses like anyone else so it's a real coup when they agree to come. Besides the speakers we also have an agent and three small press publishers who will give one-on-ones. Anyone who signs up before March 31 can be on a panel if they want to be on one.

Because of these great speakers, I've been promoting the conference like crazy, I don't want anyone to miss out. http://publicsafetywriter.com

And...while I'm doing that I am planning the promotion for my next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel, An Axe to Grind. I don't have copies of it yet, so can't set dates for my book launch as yet, but I do have events lined up already.

January has already been busy. Spent one weekend in Ventura with the PSWA Board doing business--and have a bit of fun and some great food. Love the Ventura, CA area--lived there for over twenty years. While we were there, got to see my two daughters and their hubbys who live close by.

We went to the coast this past weekend again, this time to Morro Bay. I belong to the Central Coast chapter of Sisters in Crime and joined with them to put on a writing workshop. Whenever you have an event away from home it means planning what you need to take with you and getting a hotel reservation somewhere that doesn't cost much. Fortunately, going to small coast communities off season is really the best time.

A blog tour is planned for March. So far haven't had any interviews or questionnaires to do for that, but when they start coming in, that'll take some juggling too.

On my personal blog, every Friday I'm interviewing members of PSWA, and I try to have something new every day. http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

Once a week I attend the writers critique group I've belonged to since 1981.

Believe it or not, I also have a life. My hubby expects a bit of time with me each day and we try to go to the movies and out to eat two or three times a month. I'm also the chief cook around here and always have extra folks joining us for dinner. I have four adult children (two live really close by) and lots of grandkids and great grandkids. I teach Sunday School, I'm the Church Clerk and participate in many church activities.

I'm sure I've missed something, but you get the idea, it's a lot to juggle.

Another Conference to Consider

Morgan talking about Love is Murder in Chicago gave me the urge to write about the Public Safety Writer Association (PSWA) conference in Las Vegas in June.

http://www.publicsafetywriter.com

This conference is perfect for any mystery writer who writes about law enforcement, fires, investigations etc. The majority of members are active or retired law enforcement as that’s how the association began. However, they are a welcoming group of men and women who are wonderful about sharing information.

We also have several reasons for attending in the form of those coming:

1. Award winning author, Betty Webb. Not only will she be a luncheon speaker, she’ll be on several panels, and available to answer questions.

2. Forensic Expert, Steve Scarborough who works with the Las Vegas P.D. and the FBI.

3. Sara Cortez, award wining writer and editor, will tell us how to rev up our writing productivity.

4. Tim Dees, editor in chief of Law Officer.Com will be speaking on writing for the new media.

5. Sheila Lowe, court qualified forensic handwriting expert.

6. Dave Doust, retired captain Toronto Fire Department, to talk about fire fighting and arson.

7. Marilyn Olsen, editor; Billie Johnson, publisher; Becca Buckley, publisher will be on a panel telling us what they are looking for in submissions, what turns them off, and common errors made by authors.

We’re going to have panels on promotion, character building, and much, much more.

Anyone who signs up before May 1st who wants to be on a panel will get an assignment.

Remember, though, there’s a price break if you sign up before March 31.

Because this is a small conference, there is plenty of time for networking and asking the experts questions. It is also lots of fun–believe me, I’ve been to nearly everyone.

If you have a book to sell, bring copies. For every copy sold, PSWA gets 10%. There will also be a joint booksigning at Cheesecake and Crime in Henderson NV the afternoon of the last day of the conference for anyone who wants to be a part of it.

And, you might want to enter the writing contest. All the information is up on the website: http://www.publicsafetywriter.com

Hope to see some of you there.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com