Writers write. Many are lucky enough to get a book published. Some, more than one. But, according to R.R. Bowker, the company that assigns the ISBN numbers found on every book, in 2003 alone, more than 175,000 books were published.
Even if you are fortunate enough to have your book published by a major publishing house, this doesn't mean they will automatically spend as much effort and money promoting your book as they will their Sue Graftons and John Grishams.
This is where Francine Silverman's Book Marketing from A-Z comes in to help authors. The book compiles tips and time-worn advice by more than 300 authors, organized into chapters that are arranged alphabetically by subject. This layout helps you easily find advice on the particular subject with which you are concerned. Advertising through Zero Promotion.
Under the chapter Book Signings, advice from Joan Wester Anderson, whose Where Angels Walk (Ballantine) was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than a year, provides very thorough details on the week-by-week, day-by-day run-up to an in-store book signing.
The chapter on Pitching the Media is separated into sections on TV, Print and Radio. Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, author of three books, provides very useful advice on the importance of persistence and brevity in tracking down and contacting media sources.
While Silverman's book is geared towards individual authors and their book promotion efforts, I think small publishers would also be well-advised to read it.
