Welcome back to the carnival! This week’s post feels a lot like the classic “What I did on my summer vacation” essay. I’m a debut author, so I’m posting the 3 tips I found the most successful for launching my debut novel, Winnemucca, a young adult small-town fairy tale about a teenage girl’s enchanted road trip to her true self.
1. TWEET. #thingsilove. I’m @Laurawriting. And if you have any questions about Twitter feel free to comment here or DM me there. I can’t say enough about the power of Twitter. I’ve made great friends. I’ve done everything from sharing gourmet popcorn recipes to finding a relief for psoriasis to being invited to participate in A Haunted Book Tour in Savannah this October [more on that very soon] to getting advice about the best way to print my first edition of Winnemucca, [more on that very soon too]. There is no other single place where I’ve learned more about the pulse of YA publishing trends and craft as well as marketing and publicity. BTW, when it comes to all things marketing/publicity I am like a platypus who has been sentenced to march across The Sahara.
That awkward. But, because of amazing tweeps who are very generous with helping newbies like me, I not only survived publishing Winnemucca last July but I’m thriving too because of all the support I get at every turn. Yes I’ve made lots of mistakes, but I got Twitter right. I had no idea my tweets would lead to almost every Amazon, Amazon UK and Goodreads review I’ve received. And many readers who would have never found me, found me through Twitter. I use hashtags to follow subjects that interest me and for things that make me laugh: #ya #yalit #books #overthesummer #theyshouldhaveanappforthat, etc. I make lists to better organize who I follow and I use Tweetdeck to keep track of tweets I love and what’s trending.
2. Shower. No, srsly.
3. Make a book trailer. Here’s how. There’s a couple of reasons why. Trailers capture a reader’s imagination in a way that blurbs can’t. And the biggest surprise I had in the process of making a trailer was that it helped me get to know the heart of the story in a way the typical query or synopsis never could. After I made my first book trailer for Winnemucca, I incorporated the production of book trailers for my stories as part of my writing process. Plus, making book trailers is just a ton of FUN.
Thanks for swinging by. Good news! Winnemucca won Books in Sync 2011 August Book Trailer Contest. I’m thrilled that Winnemucca has just been recognized in this way.
COMING NEXT WEEK TO THE YA INDIE CARNIVAL SEPTEMBER 9: Q & A & GIVEAWAY. ALL YA. ALL INDIE. ALL DAY GIVEAWAY. Just comment on our Q & A posts next Friday Sept. 9 and tweet the carnival to win free ebooks from the carnival authors. And a special surprise. Open to all 13 and over internationally.Â
Ready to take another ride? NEED MORE? Swing by these wonderful YA Indie writers and reviewers for more tips and welcome our new carnis: Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and the upcoming novels Existence and The Vincent Boys; and Cheri Schmidt author of Fateful, Fractured and Fair Maiden.
The Fuji Mermaid Dani Snell’s Refracted Light Reviews
Leopard Girl Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels.
Fire Breather Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
The Magician Wren Emerson Author of I Wish and a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Strong Woman Nicole Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and Fallen Eden. She is also a contributing author in the Glassheart Chronicles.
Champion Sword Swallower Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Snake Charmer Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Pretzel Woman Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms.
The Giant T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross.
Woman With A Song That Hypnotizes Cyndi Tefft Author of Between
Jungle Woman P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis.
Shape Shifter Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Tarot Card Reader Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Fortune Teller Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Knife Thrower Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful, Fractured, and Fair Maiden
Thanks for the shower reminder… sheesh what’s with us, huh?
Patti, you know, I worked in entertainment and I didn’t even think of a book trailer to help show my story until very late. I think we all associate trailers with movies. And I just love movie trailers, so it’s really been helpful for me to incorporate them as part of my process. Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Okay, I admit it. I haven’t showered today. And I LOVE your book trailer. I’m intrigued. The music is perfect. Love that. Time to stop gushing ^_^
Angelina,
LOL! I haven’t either:) Is that TMI? Anyhoo, I like to delude myself on the days that I don’t shower I’m heading to the gym to work out. This delusion is a pleasant one. Sometimes my delusions actually come to pass. Thanks for the kind words about the book trailer. I had no idea what I was doing, but really had a lot of fun. I got the music on productiontrax.com and could literally sit and listen to music all day, so it is a pleasant way to procrastinate too 🙂 *waves* Thanks for being a part of the YA Indie Carnival this week. Be sure to stop by next week for the YA Q & A & GIVEAWAY!
Oh my God, Laura! You are hilarious. Showering. Good. YOU WON THE BOOK TRAILER???? Congratulations!!!! Ugh! That means I lost. LOL!!!!! Oh well, if it wasn’t me, I wanted it to be you! How exciting!!! p.s. Savannah!!!!!
NO. YOU are hilarious! I swear your questions for the Q&A next week made me bust my gut. Can’t wait to read everyone’s posts today. And there were no losers. All the trailers are AMAZING. I am a trailer addict. I can’t stop watching them. I wonder if there is a 12-step program for that. I LOVE, absolutely, LOVE The Understorey trailer and everyone should go check it out now! P.S. I’ve never Karaoke-d….did I say that out loud?
Okay LOVE the fact you put shower!!! ROTFL! I soooo forget to do that. HA! And Twitter COULD. NOT. AGREE. MORE.
My book trailer has sold many of my books according to readers. They are great tools.
🙂 Just keepin’ it REAL! I remember when I stumbled across your trailer. It really drew me in. I love the power of multimedia to tell a story. And what’s funny is, after working as a multimedia designer at the LA Times, you think a trailer would have been the first thing I thought of to promote my book. But, no. I really didn’t think about it until I networked with people on Twitter:)
Ok….I’m also lol-ing at the shower tip. But it’s true! A little hot water can go a long way in making you feel human and more productive. Plus, I get some of my best ideas in the shower. The shower = magic. 😉
Congrats on the book trailer recognition!!!
LOL! Just saying! And you are right. The shower is where most of my evil plot bunnies come out to play. It gets a little crowded in there with all the evil and bunnies, but, heck, I’ll take the plot help where I can get it. Shower = magic. Could be the title of a book, huh? Thanks for the congrats. Winnemucca is the first book trailer I ever made and the story has been a part of me for so long, it means so much to get a nod and share the good news with my wolfpack:)
I really need to embrace Twitter. For some reason, it instantly overwhelms me. I worry I’m going to do something that goes against the frequent Twitter user’s rules. I’ll have to make daily Twitter use a New Year’s resolution…mostly because I feel like I won’t have a breather until then. When I do, I hope you will mentor me and gently walk me through the how to’s.
Congratulations on the book trailer!
Yeah. I was the same way with Twitter, I didn’t really get it at all. I’d love to help you with your questions! Bring them on:) I think ten minutes a day on Twitter is a great way to increase your following. Hashtags are super-important so your tweets get read by the people most interested in what you are tweeting:) Don’t wait for New Years! Make it your Labor Day Resolution:) I’m here…so ask away. And thanks so much for the congrats! I’m super excited:)
I’m kind of scared to make a book trailer. Everyone says it’s easy, but I will follow your link and see. I agree about Twitter. It’s an amazing place to meet amazing people. Some–not so amazing. But I love being on there. Here’s to the book trailer link. Eeek.
Ah, don’t be! If I can do it, anyone can do it. I hope the link helps you and makes the process easier and less scary. Mostly, just have fun with your trailer. Pick some music you like and it will all come together. Start small. BTW, I think my book trailer is a little long [newbie mistake] most aren’t over 2 minutes, and lots stick to 1 and 1/2 minutes.