“There are a thousand steps…” It’s my favorite line from my favorite movie. It’s a malleable multipurpose phrase, great for teenagers prepping for SATs and works well with husbands asked to purge garages filled with 15 years of junk. Excuse me, valuable odds and ends, for which a purpose may be imminent.
The thousand step theory also applies to book writing and publishing—two very different undertakings. Although the thousand steps of book writing can feel more like a game of Chutes and Ladders. Climb to step 598 and you may slide back to step 212. Of course, step 212 looks remarkably similar to step 887, which mirrors step 413. Translation: revision, revision, revision. You get to claim 1000 when you send your manuscript off to your agent or editor, and if you’re lucky the counter only resets to step 712.
Publishing comes with its own thousand step process and on March 31st, a day I’ve dubbed Ruby Tuesday, I can loudly proclaim, “Five-hundred and ninety-nine!”
I bet you thought pub day was a sure thing 1000.
Not so fast.
Publication is an accomplishment—an asterisk-marked date for certain. And aside from a lot of Amazon numbers checking, you might indulge in champagne or even attend a launch party (virtual or live) to celebrate. But enjoy the moment, because step 600 forward is a steep hill.
Promotional methods and madness vary with some subject to the generosity of your publisher, perhaps your own pocketbook. My dream “money is no object” publicity event is a themed affair. After scrupulous auditions, actors would be cast to portray the characters in Ruby Ink.
Naturally we’d hold our paparazzi lined soirée at a breathtaking inn, scouting locations until we find something like this. Abstract Enchantment is the seductive setting for much of Ruby Ink, and we’d leave no bottle of wine uncorked in search of the proper locale. Once inside, Aaron, Ruby and the supporting cast could mingle among the guests, offering enticing storyline tidbits. Of course, our launch party is a public—not private—bash, so we’d have to stick to hints—just enough innuendo to let readers know that things get pretty steamy in Nickel Springs. Fun, huh? Well, a casting director I’m not. But if I were considering men for Aaron’s part, you can bet they’d look something like this.
Realistically, Ruby Ink’s promotional efforts will be more social media oriented, working Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest with the vigor of a Jerry Lewis telethon. The biggest boon might be a Ruby Ink virtual book tour, courtesy of TLC Book Tours. I don’t think any publicity effort can out maneuver old-fashioned word of mouth, and a book tour is a great way to light that fuse.
Amidst the Ruby Ink fanfare, real and imagined, I’ll also keep in mind advice my agent gave me when my first novel debuted in 2011: Make every effort you can—you never know. But also know that books launched into the stratosphere usually do so because of an unexpected windfall of publicity.
Here’s hoping Lady Luck blows a little good fortune Ruby Ink’s way.
