Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.
Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along. I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them. I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.
1. Have a website for your novel.
2. Write a blog.
3. Advertise.
4. Literary awards.
5. Book cards.
6. Contests.
7. Interviews.
8. Blog tours.
9. Press releases.
10. Speaking and teaching.
11. e-mailing.
12. Gifts.
13. Book signings.
14. Book trailers
15. ...
You can be interviewed for print media, for radio, for TV, on blogs, Internet general, character interviews, trailers just to name a few.
In any interview, but especially in video interviews, keep the focus on the topic, and try to draw your novel into the topic. In point of fact, since your novel covers the topic, there is no reason to not bring it up. For example, if your novel is about demons, bring up examples from your writing about demons. If magic plays a part in the novel, use examples from your writing that draw attention to magic. Make your answers coherent and tight, however, if the interview is prerecorded, then you can make the answers as long as you wish--they will edit them anyway.
So what might you try to defuse or at least keep away from during an interview? Before the interview, imagine the worst kind of question or situation your interviewer could ask you. For example, I want to be perceived as a writer who appeals to all audiences. I write books with powerful redemptive themes, but that are not considered Christian mainstream fiction. I don't want to hurt my appeal as a novelist to either Christians or non Christians. That doesn't mean I won't or don't stand on principle or hold to strong ethical values--it just means that I don't want to be pigeonholed as a specific type of author. I try to imagine the kinds of questions I might be asked and develop answers that get across the appeal of my novels.
Let's move on to blog interviews, tomorrow.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
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