One of the themes you may note in my blog posts…is the frustration in marketing a new book.  Unbelievably, my first books came out in the “old days” when social media wasn’t as powerful.  I depended on my publisher for marketing.  Well, those days are gone.  I hired a marketing group out of New York (thanks Lucinda!) and am learning social media. Today we started a Publishizer campaign.  This is an interesting and exciting way of getting word out about my new book and reintroducing the first two books to new audiences while also creating a buzz about my other work. At least that’s what I hope it does! Check out https://publishizer.com/pursuit/

The Publishizer campaign is geared toward book clubs, collectors and avid fans.  It was fun to put together and I hope readers enjoy the opportunity to purchase autographed books, Skype sessions with yours truly and even a copy of the sequel to ’46, Chicago titled The Long Descent.  I’ll be interested to see how this works out but can assure you that anyone who purchases a package with the Skype session had better have a blurry computer screen!

Dog Days for a Writer Part 2

A few days after I brought Maddie (my yellow Lab puppy) home, we had a real scare.  One night, as I watched television from my recliner, she curled up in my lap and slept.  She’d already started to enjoy the yard and her new home and I was astounded at how quickly she learned.  A fifteen pound bundle of energy, she loved to explore, eat, dig, eat, run, eat, chew grass/gravel/rocks/wood/…but when she slept, she SLEPT.  However, late that night, as I gently woke her and let the footrest down to fetch myself a drink, she simply slid to the floor.  I was startled.  Once she hit the floor, she didn’t move at all.  Her eyes were caught in a vacant stare.  She didn’t respond to her name or any prodding.  Petrified, I hoisted her into my lap and gently stroked her head.  “Maddie,” I said.  “Maddie.”  This beautiful puppy, only a little over eight weeks old, had reached into my heart after just a few days.  “Maddie,” I said, again.  No response.  Suddenly, she began to twitch.  Her eyes rolled back into her head and spittle came out of her mouth.  The tip of her tongue forced its way out from between her clenched teeth.  I cradled her, reached for my phone and called the vet.  I got their answering machine.  I pulled out my iPad, searched for emergency animal hospitals and found only one (and it had horrible reviews).  Perplexed, scared, I called my cousin-the professional that had raised over 30 Labrador retrievers and who had introduced me to the owner of the sire (Maddie’s father).  I explained what happened.  I waited for the alarm in his voice.  Instead, he said, matter of fact, “She’s a puppy.  Give her until morning.  If she’s still not doing well, take her to the vet.”  As I hung up, Maddie stirred.  I said her name again and this time she looked at me.  I sighed, took her to her crate and tucked her in for the night.  I barely slept as I worried about her, so at 3:00 a.m. (nearly an hour and a half before I usually get up) I slunk out to the front room, lifted the cover from her crate and opened the door to find…the Tasmanian Devil!  Once the door opened, Maddie rushed out, rose on her hind legs, pressed her paws to my waist and practically screamed, “What’s for breakfast?”

Trying to sell this new book via social media is a lot like raising a new puppy.  I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’m putting my heart into it.  I’ve also sought out the right coaches.  But, I’m open to suggestions.  Check out the Publishizer link.  If you like any of the rewards, buy ’em.  You won’t be sorry.  And if you have any suggestions -on marketing the new book, raising the puppy (vet visits went great-she’s 18 weeks next Tuesday and weighs 38 pounds!) or anything else, please share.  Rock on. SM