The Promo Merry-Go-Round
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| Image: Hitchster |
When I typed the words, “I have a book coming out this week” in yesterday’s blog post, something happened inside me – I got my first blast of nerves. It’s gone away now that the promo merry-go-round has begun, but I find I get excited about it in waves instead. I suspect when the first book reviews go through, or when my peers first set eyes upon the pages, my nerves will return with a powerful vengeance.
Speaking of promotion, I am utterly astounded by the generosity of my writer friends, who when asked if they wanted to be part of my virtual blog tour responded with such enthusiasm and warmth it blew me away. I already have six confirmed blog stop dates in June, with a seventh confirmed with a date pending. They are:
5th – Words on the Page, hosted by Lori Widmer
8th – Writing the Life Poetic, hosted by Sage Cohen
10th – Ye Olde Inkwell, hosted by Michelle Miles
12th – Ramblings Of A Suburban Soccer Mom, hosted by Lara Stauffer
23rd – Diane Parkin’s blog, author, freelance writer and photo journalist
26th – Bleeding Espresso, hosted by Michelle Fabio
Click here for the full and up to date listing
Most of my work today revolved around administering the promotion of STELLA. As well as scheduling in the blog tour and updating the website, I prepared another version of the press release and an email that will go out to local and targeted media organisations in Scotland; I’ve got a few contacts I’m hoping to prod into action. I also started emailing queries for book reviews.
It’s all coming together nicely, and I think I’m as prepared as I possibly can be for 5 days time!
My new Netbook had arrived when I got home, the Samsung NC10 in white. I’ve not actually used it because I let the battery charge up and I installed the OS while I was working on my PC, so it took most of the night. I’ve still to set it up fully with PC protection and the apps I will use on it.
But it looks and feels awesome. I was delighted to find it comes with XP and not Vista. It’ll need a few updates to get it up to date but the more I’ve used Vista the more I’ve grown to hate it. As far as Windows operating systems go, XP was far superior.
The Netbook, which is only 10 inches wide, is going to allow me a lot more freedom with how I work, particularly when writing about events and gigs and other deadlined or abroad work.
Here’s why a photographer should sleep with her camera: Gail witnessed this on Sunday but didn’t have hers with her – she’s kicking herself, but you don’t need me to tell you.
Here’s my GDR Plan for June; photographs of my wee early morning walk around Leith Shore on Sunday follow. And don’t forget, Michelle Miles is popping in tomorrow!
Fiction
* Complete writing of Baccara Burning
* Complete 3rd draft of Greener is the Grass
* Write two new flash/short stories
* Re-submit any all new/rejected/recalled fiction
* Enter a couple of writing competitions
* If time, refresh myself with and begin 2nd draft of Gatecrash
Poetry
* Write at least one poem per week (0/4 – 28/52 overall)
* Decide on chapbook to go with and kick project off
* Enter a couple of poetry competitions
Editing
* Stay on top of RR submissions
* Start preparing RR issue 8 for September
* Adjust submission requirements to include process for non-signing of contracts
Web
* Complete amalgamation of web design and freelance writing sites
* Complete transfer and updates for B&B client
Marketing and Promotion
* Publish June newsletter
* Prepare July newsletter
* Prepare June GDR Review
* Prepare July GDR Plan
* Keep website(s) up to date
* Stella Marketing Plan (book reviews, etc.)
* Eternal Press Launch Day on 7th June
* Stella Blog Tour
* Work on Stella marketing plan
* Bring Podcast ideas to life
* Bring YouTube ideas to life
* Record MIS sound bites
Reading & Learning
* The Grave Tattoo by Val McDermid
* Decide on reading for holiday in July
Non-Writing
* Keep diet going (-4/14lbs as at 17/3/09)
Click to enlarge in new window
Edinburgh Marathon at Leith Links
Waste ground off Seafield
Spot the irony
Approaching the Shore
The Shore
The Shore upstream
The Shore
A nice lane
The Shore
Water of Leith upstream
An anchor
Leith Links eastward
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June 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
[...] there we have it. Michael Anti was right after all: Danwei : In terms of new media, … digg The Promo Merry-Go-Round – colingalbraith.co.uk 06/02/2009 Image: Hitchster When I typed the words, “I have a book coming [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Lovely photos! XP was great; Vista sucks. So, of course, Microsoft discontinued XP. Typical.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I really want to learn about Book Marketing but i have no talent for writing.”`;