Is that an orca in the tub?

[pbray]

In conjunction with this weekend's booksigning, jennifer_dunne, jpsorrow and I had sent out a joint press release. As our hook we stressed the friends angle, in that we originally met at Waldenbooks, formed a critique group (the infamous Hard Lemonade Science Fiction Society) and now are returning to the scene of our first meeting to sign copies of our books.

In Boston, LA or Miami it would have been circular-filed. Here we have a full column in today's paper in the weekend entertainment section, and are booked to appear on the local evening news tomorrow.

One of the advantages of being a big fish in a small pond, or in this case, three medium-sized fish in the pond. As well as credit to a well-written press release.

Comments

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

No, it's MISTER SPLASHY PANTS!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Could be. He's got his own website (http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/splashy-101207) don't you know.

[janni.livejournal.com]

I was once talking to a group of writers about press releases and such, most of them from areas with high concentrations of writers (Boston, NYC, etc.), and they were talking about how you had to have an angle for your release. I blinked once or twice at that, because I was thinking, "Isn't being a local writer enough?"

Not in Boston or NYC it isn't. Even here an angle definitely helps ... but yeah, being in a place that isn't completely writer saturated has its benefits.

(Though these days, the challenge around here often seems to be explaining that you're not one of the thousands of self-published local writers, and that not being self-published actually has some significance ...)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's one of my quibbles with people who give "One Size Fits All" marketing advice. What works for me as a writer in upstate New York isn't necessarily going to work in Boston or vice versa. It's really trial and error, and learning that the best ideas may come from writers who are in similar geographic locations.

[kelly-swails.livejournal.com]

This sounds so exciting! Polish your shoes, fix your hair, and smile pretty for the cameras. Don't forget to sell three billion books! :)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'd be happy to sell three million :-)

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

It's a good thought. Sometimes I feel lost and alone out here in my home between Buffalo and Rome, but It does make me a medium-sized fish, and there are so many nice writer-friends only a mouse-click away!

It was ever-so-much harder in the Old Days.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful how the internet makes me feel connected to people I get to see only once or twice a year. When I first started writing, I would go to national conventions where I made friends, and then I wouldn't hear what was going on with them unless they sent me a personal e-mail. Now we've got the virtual watercooler / lobby bar, and we can stay in touch.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Yes, I much prefer it.

Speaking of which, interesting thought... When I first met you, you told me to hold Devlin's Luck "for luck." I sold Dark Winter through a connection made at that same con. At Armadillocon, I told someone to hold Dark Winter for luck. I wonder if it worked for them? Perhaps through this virtual water cooler, we'll find out.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

How very cool! It's nice to think of good karma being passed from one hand to another.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

I think we should start a movement:-).

[allaboutm-e.livejournal.com]

Kudos -- have a great event!