Updates

Status: Drafting the fourth book in the PERILOUS series!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Goals and Plan of Action

Now that I have a release date for Perilous, I feel the definite urge to start doing things. It's time to put all my theories and plans into action. But there is a part of me that just kind of freezes and thinks, "Where do I start?"

I have the suspicion this phenomenon might not be uncommon. So I'm going to walk you through what I'm doing, and maybe it will help you.

First, what are my goals? What are things I want to get done before my book comes out on October 31, 2010?

1) Make a book trailer
2) set up a blog tour
3) set up local book signings and book launch party (and everything that goes with that--the bookmarks, posters, etc)
4) sent out press releases
5) Make a vlog of the first chapter to be posted on youtube
6) Create a facebook fan page for Perilous
7) Contact authors about blurbs
8) Make a list of people to send postcards to, inviting to book signings, etc. Order postcards.
9) Request reviews from Publisher's Weekly and New York Times

Now, to make a plan of action. When am I going to do these things? Time to get specific. We are three months out right now.

Three months out (August)

--
Start making a book trailer (or hire someone to do it for you). This could take awhile and you want it out on the web a month before publication.
--
Find the blogs you want to request for your blog tour.
--Contact authors who you would like to blurb your book and request a blurb. Be ready to send an ARC.

Two months out (September)

--Set up blog tours. Line up who will be doing the tour and when. Send out ARCS.
--Request reviews from Publisher's Weekly and New York Times (can't hurt to ask, right?)
--Contact local book stores and request signings (don't forget the libraries!). Schedule these for after the book is out (obviously). You will probably need ARCs for the bookstores, too.
--Get your contact list of invites to the book signings. An author recommended to me that I send out 300 postcards. Order postcards.

One month out (October)

--Write and send out press releases. Take advantage of free wire services.
--Order flyers and bookmarks for book signings.
--Place book trailer and vlog on youtube and any other internet video service.
--Create your facebook fan page (and Goodreads, and mySpace, and anywhere else you want).
--Send out postcards inviting to book signings.

Did I mention that somewhere in here you should request your spouse's boss to give your spouse a raise? :)

All right, I've got my plan of action. Looks like the next two weeks of July are my last free days. I better get that other novel written!

What would you do differently? Anything? Everything?



19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tamara, I am so going to have to tap you up for help when my time comes...lol...I'm out of my depth, I don't even know what some of that stuff is :D

Give me the heads up when it's released and everything is in place and I will help as much as I can with links and stuff on my sites. They need updating anyway. Maybe another interview is in order :)

Kurt.

Unknown said...

Fantastic list and fantastic release date!!! October 31st is my husbands birthday so I consider that very lucky!!!!

I think you're going to do great and I'm very excited about your book coming out! It was a pleasure interviewing you!!

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Kurt, I would love to do a book signing in England!!! :) I need to sell a few thousand copies first though so I have money for a ticket. Then you can help me find places to go!

I'm excited too, Jen!

Mary Gray said...

Oh, Tamara. Your are an inspiration.

Vicki Rocho said...

I'm voyeuristically (if it's not a word,it should be) fascinated by this behind-the-scenes stuff of getting a book to market. Keep it coming!

Ralene said...

Woot! I can't wait to read the published version. Sign me up for the blog tour! lol... You know I will help you in any way I can.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Ralene, you're awesome! I'm excited to gather up my list of blogs for the blog tour.

Glad it's entertaining you at least, Vicki!

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Ah, Mary! Your turn's coming, girl!

RaShelle Workman said...

Tamara - I'm sooooo, soooooo, sooooo excited for you!!!! I want to do a happy dance. If you need any help, let me know.

Joanne said...

Wow, you've got a lot going on, very exciting! I think I'd handle it the same way you are, with a detailed itinerary, and just chip away at that list sequentially. It'll be so worth your efforts :)

Jillian said...

Wow busy busy busy. I bet you are super excited though, I know I would be!!

Good luck with everything! I know it will all turn out great.

Talli Roland said...

What a great plan - you are certainly going to be on every busy lady. I'm sure if you do ll this, your book can't help but be a success. Can't wait to read it, Tamara.

Anonymous said...

Organization and execution is the name of the game. I wouldn't do anything different except stay flexible. "Blessed Are The Flexible." Best wishes for your book Blog Tour. I'm organizing one for this fall and its a lot of work.

Stephen Tremp

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

You are SO ORGANIZED! I think all this is going to be so helpful in the long run. I'm horrible about getting organized like this and that ends up making this frustrating. Sounds like you're on the right track.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

RaShelle, thanks for the offer! You've been great helping me out with taglines, etc!

I'm hoping it works that way,Joanne. By dividing it up into scheduled, smaller slots, it helps me not feel so overwhelmed. It looks doable!

Thanks, Teenage Bride!

Talli, I'm excited to have you read it. Having anyone overseas read my book opens up whole new avenues for me!

Thanks for stopping by, Stephen! :::sigh::: we have to be flexible with book publishing. My release date could get pushed back a few months and then I better be ready to change things!

Krysten--it's so funny, I would never call myself organized! And yet I do get kind of funny about there being a place and an order to everything. So here goes!

Anonymous said...

I had no idea you had a blog! Guess I should've looked you up on Google. :)

There's not a single thing I'd do differently if my book got published. It just goes to show there's more to writing than just that, daunting as it may be.

Oodles of luck with your book! It sounds compelling.

Diana Mieczan said...

ps: I am hosting a great GIVEAWAY, so please join in:) ...I bet you will love it!!!

Kisses and see you soon:)

Don said...

I've printed this out to serve as a template for my planning. Way to go!

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Glad to be of service, Don!

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