The Loathe Your Neighbour book tour was a spontaneous, last minute marketing ploy which I tacked on to a planned road trip. http://dacairns.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-world-revolves-around-me.html Here are three things I want to share.
1. I have tried everything to build my platform and sell my books but my numbers are paltry. I take the advice of authors and bloggers who have significant followings. I spend at least an hour every day on social media. I share "me" at least as much as publicize my work. I join conversations. I try to build relationships. I even add prayer to my hard work. Nothing really works.
2. I love driving. I went to Canberra via the scenic route just
because I could. With no dead lines and no passengers to consider, (apart from a very compliant copy of Loathe Your Neighbor on the passenger seat) , it was just me, and my Falcon XR6 cruising the open road to the sounds of my favourite tunes.
3. I spent hours at the Museum of Democracy, http://moadoph.gov.au and I came to this conclusion: the Australian version of democracy is great. I may have missed out on Question Time but as I walked the halls, and trod the lush carpets of Old Parliament House and considered the long, furious and passionate debates which went on there as our political leaders argued over decisions of great national significance, I felt awed and grateful. When I watched interviews of refugees and migrants to Australia talking about what democracy was, and how they appreciated being able to express political opinions without fear of imprisonment, torture or death, I felt proud. One man simply said that he felt safe in Australia.
Although the trip was a commercial flop, it was a personal success.
Next week, I'll talk about another example of what a superb democracy Australia is. For now, I'd love to hear about your successes, your triumphs and your feelings about democracy.
See the full set of Loathe Your Neighbor book tour photographs here.
https://www.facebook.com/david.a.cairns/media_set?set=a.10200645452394670.1073741832.1111123911&type=1
Unless you're writing high-genre fiction, trying to market yourself online (or via a book tour) is a very tough slog. How do you find your audience? That's why cozy mysteries and romances do pretty well. There are established online venues with a built in reading audience.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, you had a great drive and an inspiring visit to the Museum of Democracy. Well worth the effort!
VR Barkowski
That's a good point. Genre sells. I don't write in any specific genre. My books don't belong, and neither do I. Makes perfect sense. Coincidentally, I was just thinking about my next blog post. Something more personal. Just about me, and how I don't quite fit in. I'm taking your comment as a sign that I should do it.
ReplyDeleteThe book tour was a joke, literally. It was an Instagram "stunt" which failed to excite any interest. I laugh at myself. Thanks again for your input VR.