I’m CROSS-POSTING at YA Outside the Lines Today.
Don’t be a turkey. Run on over and check out Kimberly Sabatini’s Guide to Social Media…
Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category
May
8
2013
Filed under: Check-it-out, Marketing, Pondering, YA Outside the LInes
Dec
10
2012
Filed under: Check-it-out, Contests, Team Tipping the Surface, The Class of 2k12, Touching the Surface, YA Books
On Monday mornings I usually find myself cleaning up from the weekend. Seems like my tiding up is extending to my online life also. Here are a few loose ends–all in one location.
*Just a reminder–Between now and THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 14th you can order a signed copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE right HERE!!!!!! Ordering a copy from Oblong books also means you’re supporting a wonderful Indie Bookstore for the holidays!
*The Class of 2k12′s year is almost over and our Class of 2k12 Epic End-of-the-Year giveaway of 20 Authors, 21 Books and just ONE winner ends on the 12-12-12. Don’t miss your chance to enter to win!!!!
*I’m still looking for people to become Hot Spots for TOUCHING THE SURFACE. (Details HERE) I have one or more Hot Spots in…
FL, TX, SD, PA, CA, MI, NY, PA, AL, CT, IL, UT, NC, KY, IN, OK, NJ, SC, GA and WA
How was your weekend? Mine was great but went way too fast. Are you ready for the holidays or has your inner holiday elf run from the house screaming in fear? Have a marvelous Monday!
Nov
26
2012
Filed under: Check-it-out, Marketing, Touching the Surface, YA Books, Young Adult (YA)
At this point, a few people have read TOUCHING THE SURFACE and have asked if it’s going to be made into a movie. (How awesome is that?) My typical answer is that I have no idea, but wouldn’t that be an amazing thing? At the end of the day, I figure the better the book does, the more likely it is that someone would be interested in the TTS movie rights. What you should know though, is that it’s complicated. Fortunately for me, Jackson Pearce has a lovely vlog concisely telling you how it all works, which allows me to save some time explaining it to you. And by reposting her made-of-awesome video, I can hop into bed and read more good books that might someday be made into movies. Lights, camera, action!
What’s your favorite book adapted to a movie? What’s the most hideous adaption that you know of? What book would you love to see on the big screen? What book would be ruined for you if it was ever to be made into a movie?
Oct
22
2012
Filed under: Apocalypsies, Check-it-out, Team Tipping the Surface, Touching the Surface, YA Books, Young Adult (YA)
****THE YAmazing Race is NOW CLOSED!!!!*****
It’s the last YAmazing Race of 2012!!!! And FINALLY, my book will officially be on the shelves in EIGHT DAYS!!!! I can’t believe it. But before I get too distracted…*shiny*…let me fill you in on the YAmazing Race in case you’ve been–ya know–living under a rock. Just teasing. 
The YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes is a massive blog hop featuring over 50 debut authors, and prize packs that include books, gift certificates, swag, and more! If you haven’t yet been to the Apocalypsies website, please click here to start from the beginning and read the complete rules. Now on to the race!
NOTE: The race doesn’t officially start until noon, so any entries submitted before then will NOT count.
Oh…I should also tell you a little bit about my book instead of just squeeing about it. LOL!
TOUCHING THE SURFACE
By. Kimberly Sabatini
Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.
When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.
Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.
As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.
FYI–You still have time to pre-order TOUCHING THE SURFACE here:
*And for a signed copy…Oblong Books and Music
Have you got all that? Excellent work, because you’ll need to store it all up in your brain for the quiz ahead. And remember, there are four total quizzes, so for maximum prize winning opportunities, be sure to fill out all of them!
But wait! There’s more!!!! I’m working really hard to get the word out about TOUCHING THE SURFACE and I’m looking for book lovers who…
1. Want a free TOUCHING THE SURFACE T-shirt.
2. Want an opportunity to win an annotated copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE, a silver origami crane necklace and some additional awesome prizes, if enough people participate.
3. Don’t mind using the power of word-of-mouth to help me.
So, what is this exactly?
I’m using what I’ve learned from Malcolm Gladwell’s THE TIPPING POINT to get TOUCHING THE SURFACE to it’s “tipping Point.” My goal is to have Hot Spots burning brightly all over the country–TEAM TIPPING THE SURFACE!
If you are interested, I will send you a TOUCHING THE SURFACE T-shirt and a packet of materials you can use to help spread the word. There will be stuff for your local and school libraries, your local book sellers and even stuff for teachers. I’ll also have plenty of individual swag for your friends and family and the random strangers you think might like the book. Joining also gets you one entry for the prizes and for every extra person you enlist to become a New Hot Spot for TEAM TIPPING THE SURFACE–you’ll have an extra entry into the drawing for prizes.
(In order to create a new Hot Spot–your recruit will have to be in a brand new location. You’ll have my email–we’ll talk!)
Want to participate? Here’s what you have to do! If you would like to start a Hot Spot in your area for TEAM TIPPING THE SURFACE, please send me your full name, email address and your mailing address HERE!!! I’m looking forward to hearing from you. If you don’t think you’re up for being an official Hot Spot–I completely understand–but I’d really appreciate it if you’d share this information with anyone you think might be interested. (((hugs)))
So, now that we’ve got all that settled–here’s where you have to go next…
You are off to see… *drum roll*… Anne Nesbet!
Good Luck!!!!!
Oh, I should ask a question…so we can chat? Is this your first YAmazing Race? Have you ever been a winner before? What’s your favorite part of the race? What about the race annoys the foam peanuts out of you?
Oct
19
2012
Filed under: Booksellers, Check-it-out, Community, In the Wild, Team Tipping the Surface, Touching the Surface, YA Books, Young Adult (YA)
Okay….here it is…my first time seeing my book in a bookstore. Take your Dramamine because between the fact that I was trying to walk, talk and video, in addition to being pretty darn nervous/excited–motion sickness is a reasonable outcome LOL!
Don’t you love how I’m “trying to be incognito?” Like there might be swarms of people ready to pounce on me. ROTFL!!! It’s just that I didn’t really know what to say–it’s pretty darn overwhelming. I can tell you that I stopped the video where I did so I could pick up one of my books and hold it. *heart squish*
Don’t forget I’m still looking for at least one person for every state to become a Hot Spot!!!! Sign up and get a TOUCHING THE SURFACE T-shirt!!!! And possibly an annotated copy of my book. Click HERE to find out how to be a Team Tipping the Surface Hot Spot. And yes, I did get a map to hang in my office like I worked at NASA or something and it might look something like this…
Bigger map picture to come when I’ve got all my Hot Spots up! Right now I’ve got the first eight out and in the mail!!!
So…does anyone else have any strange visual strategies that help them to motivate and organize? If I ever get that last pile of stuff off of the office floor, you’ll see a couple more LOL! Soon. (I’m totally lying.)
Oct
17
2012
Filed under: Booksellers, Check-it-out, Community, In the Wild, Team Tipping the Surface, Touching the Surface, YA Books, Young Adult (YA)
It’s Wordless Wednesday and I thought this was appropriate because I was speechless yesterday when I found out that my local B&N had a Preemie. TOUCHING THE SURFACE hit the bookshelves early and people were buying my book!!!! I have photographic proof. Then, to top off that amazing news, Team Tipping the Surface (all the folks working extra hard to tip TOUCHING THE SURFACE into going viral, was in action at dance class last night. Everyone has their T-shirts ready to go!!!! I’ll shut up now. I’m totally wordless–for now. *grin*
Oct
15
2012
Filed under: Check-it-out, Community, Marketing, Team Tipping the Surface
The spread of a virus and the idea of something “going viral” are two very different things. But it’s obvious, from the theft of the language, that a virus can be very adept at quickly making it’s way through the population. Let’s take a look…
I’m going to give you a little excerpt on the spread of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever straight from the CDC Special Pathogens Branch Website…
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE SPREAD OF A VIRUS!
“After the first case-patient in an outbreak setting is infected, the virus can be transmitted in several ways. People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood and/or secretions of an infected person. Thus, the virus is often spread through families and friends because they come in close contact with such secretions when caring for infected persons. People can also be exposed to Ebola virus through contact with objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with infected secretions. Nosocomial transmission refers to the spread of a disease within a health-care setting, such as a clinic or hospital. It occurs frequently during Ebola HF outbreaks.”
Now let’s look at what happens when something, perhaps a book, goes viral…
“After the first reader in an book launch setting is hooked, the novel can be shared in several ways. People can be exposed to good fiction from direct contact with blogger interviews, book reviews and/or word-of-mouth recommendations. Thus, the novel is often spread through families and friends because they come in close contact with such enthusiasm when interacting with fans. People can also be exposed to the novel through contact with objects, such as bookmarks, stickers, wrist bands, T-shirts and adorable paper cranes, that have been passed along with squeals of delight. Literary transmission refers to the spread of fiction within a setting, such as a book store or a library. It occurs frequently during book launch events.”
Are you seeing the writing on the walls? I am. I’m going to be blatantly honest with you. I have invested a huge chunk of my heart and soul into this book and I would love to see it do really well, but I also believe in the idea that we should shoot for the stars. There are enough people in the world who want to clip the wings of those around them–I don’t need to help the people who want to ground me. I’m a believer in the power of words let loose on the universe. I am convinced that there is a difference between saying I want to have my novel published AND I will have my novel published. When you say the word WANT you put need out into the world. When you say WILL you put out intent. I know it sounds a little hokey, but most people didn’t think I would sell a book to start with, so I’m going to stick with what has worked for me. So here we go universe–I’m saying it out loud…
My novel, TOUCHING THE SURFACE will go viral!
Now, make no mistakes. When you make a declaration–it doesn’t stand on it’s own. Just saying that I would be published one day didn’t make it happen. There was a lot of work and help from others that went into making that dream a reality. I’ve already been working hard to market and get the word out about TOUCHING THE SURFACE and I am so lucky that I have so many amazing family members and friends who are going above and beyond to support me. I am already overwhelmed by the out-pouring of support. It strengthens my belief that we are all interconnected and when we work together, we are bigger than the sum of our parts.
But of course, my mind is always working. As I’ve been mulling over viruses and books going viral, I remembered a book I read awhile back called THE TIPPING POINT by Malcolm Gladwell. I just looked it up and started laughing because it obviously had a big impact on how I think–I love the subconscious…
New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell looks at why major changes in our society so often happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Ideas, behavior, messages, and products, he argues, often spread like outbreaks of infectious disease.Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a few fare-beaters and graffiti artists fuel a subway crime wave, or a satisfied customer fill the empty tables of a new restaurant. These are social epidemics, and the moment when they take off, when they reach their critical mass, is the Tipping Point.
Gladwell introduces us to the particular personality types who are natural pollinators of new ideas and trends, the people who create the phenomenon of word of mouth. He analyzes fashion trends, smoking, children’s television, direct mail, and the early days of the American Revolution for clues about making ideas infectious, and visits a religious commune, a successful high-tech company, and one of the world’s greatest salesmen to show how to start and sustain social epidemics.
I think I need to reread this immediately! Here are some awesome quotes from the book…
“There are exceptional people out there who are capable of starting epidemics. All you have to do is find them.”
“The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
“Emotion is contagious.”
“If you want to bring a fundamental change in people’s belief and behavior…you need to create a community around them, where those new beliefs can be practiced and expressed and nurtured.”
“That is the paradox of the epidemic: that in order to create one contagious movement, you often have to create many small movements first.”
― Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
I would like you to help me reach the “tipping point.” My goal is to have hot spots burning brightly all over the country. Nope that’s thinking too small in today’s global economy. I want hot spots all over the world, helping TOUCHING THE SURFACE to ignite! That’s why I’m going to be starting TEAM TIPPING THE SURFACE! Anything that you can do to help will be appreciated. If you can tell a friend about the book, give it as a gift or request it at your library or bookstore–I would be forever grateful. Every little bit of support matters. It is word of mouth, above all else that gets the ball rolling. But–if you’d like to take your help one step further–I’d love to have some folks who would like to make a deliberate effort to help TOUCHING THE SURFACE go viral.
If you are interested, I will send you a TOUCHING THE SURFACE T-shirt and a hazmat helmet’s worth of promotional materials. There will be stuff for your local and school libraries and stuff for your local book sellers. I’ll also have plenty of individual swag for your friends and family and the random strangers you think might like the book. For every person you enlist to become a New Hot Spot for TEAM TIPPING THE SURFACE–you’ll have an entry into a drawing for some great prizes–like an annotated copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE or an silver origami crane necklace. The more people that participate, the more cool things will be added to the pot.
*In order to create a new Hot Spot–your recruit will have to be in a brand new location. You’ll have my email–we’ll talk! I’m having visions of a map with Hot Spot stickers for my office!
Want to participate? Here’s what you have to do! If you would like to start a Hot Spot in your area for TEAM TIPPING THE SURFACE, please send me you full name, email address and your mailing address HERE!!! I’m looking forward to hearing from you. If you don’t think you’re up for being a Hot Spot–I completely understand, but I would really appreciate it if you’d share this information with anyone you think might be interested.
So what should we talk about today? Worst virus or illness you’ve ever had? Gahhhh I had Scarlet Fever once!!! Lots of books have gone viral–what’s your favorite? I’ve got to say Harry Potter! Best movie involving hazmat suits? Hmmmm Have you read THE TIPPING POINT by Malcomb Galdwell? Will you now? I’m interested to hear what you’ve got!
P.S. 14 Days until TOUCHING THE SURFACE launches!!! All the information on book launch events and purchasing signed copies can be found HERE!
Oct
3
2012
Filed under: Booksellers, Check-it-out, Contests, Marketing, Touching the Surface, YA Books, Young Adult (YA)
It’s Banned Books Week!
I usually get all sappy, talking about this topic, but today I’m going to keep it light. You didn’t know I had it in me, did you? LOL!
What is the opposite of banning a book? PROMOTION!!!! Every time you spread the word about a book you love, you help to marginalize the impact of narrow minds. It gives me tingles just thinking about it. So, this week I’m encouraging you to spread the word about books you love–particularly those that are banned. *rifles through drawer to find banned books bracelet*
And because it’s October and TOUCHING THE SURFACE launches in 26 days!!! *jaw drops* I’m running a little contest that will help me with my own promotion. I just ordered TOUCHING THE SURFACE T-shirts and they should be here in about 2 weeks. I’m giving one away on Facebook and one here on the blog. If you pre-order a copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE between now and the time the T-shirts arrive, you’ll be eligible to win one. Here’s what they are going to look like…
All you have to do to be entered is let me know the date you pre-order SURFACE and also let me know what your favorite banned book is. Feel free to write it in caps so I know you’re shouting it to the world. <3 Additionally, if you share this blog post–leave me the link and you’ll get an extra entry.
To make it easy on you–here’s some awesome places you can pre-order…
*Barnes & Noble–Hardcover or NOOK
And for a SIGNED COPY…
You can also find out more about Banned Books Week (September 30th-October 6th) HERE. I have soooo many beloved banned books but the first one I’ll shout out is…TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee!!!!
Sep
19
2012
Filed under: Apocalypsies, Class of 2k12, Marketing, YA Books, Young Adult (YA)
I know not everyone will agree with what I’m about to say, but I find marketing fascinating. I sort of think of it like playing a game of Angry Birds–it’s a challenge and I love to adjust my angles to see where I’m going to aim my efforts. Just like playing Angry Birds, marketing your book takes some skill, hard work, practice and luck. And if you do even some of it right, you have a chance to knock down some serious stuff–pigs AND the barriers that keep you from literary success.
As my book launch gets closer, I’ve been thinking about marketing a lot more and I’ve come to realize that I’ve developed my own marketing truths. Here are some of the things that currently resonate with me…
*Be genuine. It’s much better to make 10 real friends on line than to spam a hundred. I know what I’m willing to do to support the people in my life that I care about–most people feel the same way. Genuine time and effort can’t be faked.
*Pretend that you don’t have a publisher. My publisher is doing a zillion amazing things to help market and sell my book. Duh! It’s their book too, but it’s easier for me to pretend (from a marketing perspective) that I’m self-published. This way I push myself to do my best and whenever something unexpected and exciting happens, it’s a ginormous, wonderful bonus!!!
TOUCHING THE SURFACE at the Bologna Book Fair!!!! I had no idea my book was there until my editor sent me this picture. BONUS!
*Try to enjoy the type of marketing you do. I’ll be honest, when two openings came available to join the YA Rebels (a weekly vlogging collective) I thought about auditioning. It would have been a fabulous opportunity. I also realized it would likely cause my premature death. The expectation to create weekly vlogs, that were interesting and funny AND get the tech thing down would have applied enough pressure to squish my head like a melon. Stick to the stuff that doesn’t take years off of your life.
*JOIN A MARKETING COLLECTIVE!!!! I am a proud member of the APOCALYPSIES and the CLASS OF 2k12 and I can say with absolute certainty that these two groups have been the best. They are so much more than a bunch of debut authors banding together–these are my friends. I could not have done it without them. I wouldn’t want to. We SQUEE over each other’s good news and we commiserate when we’re knee deep in suckage–personal or professional. We help each other be better writers–and marketers. And the best part is that they make me laugh. Have you seen this video?
So when you get that opportunity to join an amazing group like this… raise both hands, jump up and down and shout pick me, pick me!
*Lastly, you should have a secret weapon. Here’s mine…
This is my mom–aka my secret weapon. She carries a stack of signed bookmarks in her pocketbook and every place she goes, she tells people about my book. She also shares how proud she is of her daughter and she means it–I can see it in her eyes. THIS is the best kind of marketing. It is also the BEST way to live your life. It’s better than word of mouth–it’s word of heart. What we all really want is for someone to love us, to love our writing and to want to tell the world about it.
PS–I’m a very lucky girl because I’m surrounded word of heart–in my home and in my life. There will never be enough ways to adequately say I love you back.
Who is your secret weapon? Who shares their love of you through word of heart? I know just thinking about them makes you warm and fuzzy right now–so ‘fess up.
Jul
9
2012
Filed under: Check-it-out, Marketing, Touching the Surface, YA Books, Young Adult (YA)
Today I’d like to give you a sneak peak into the not-so-glamourous side of a soon to be published, debut author. I know that some days it seems like it’s all “cover reveals” and “fabulous blurbs” but there are tons of little things in the publishing world that are the equivalent of doing those endless loads of laundry or scrubbing the toilet. Right now I’m pretty obsessed with sending postcards out to as many Independent Booksellers as I possibly can. It is lots of fun seeing all the cool names for the Indie Bookstores. It makes me want to go visit each and every one of them, but that’s impossible so the best I can do is reach out to them and hope that they like TOUCHING THE SURFACE and that they can see my enthusiasm for trying to help this book be a success.
The first thing you need to do when sending out postcards…is to get postcards. I had mine made by the very talented Jeff Fielder. After that it’s time to compile the list of bookstores you want to contact. I was very fortunate to win a pre-compiled list from Saundra Mitchell in a charity auction. I thank my lucky stars EVERY NIGHT! Even with everything already researched, it took me over two hours just to attach the pre-printed labels. *head thunk* We are talking about 760 bookstores here. *head thunk again*
Once your labels are on, you need to HANDWRITE a message on EACH postcard. Let the hand cramps commence. The most I’ve been able to do in one sitting is around the fifty card mark. But I also think it’s worth it. I want those booksellers to know how hard I’m willing to work and how important personal connections are to me. Every time I get a little free time I jot off a couple cards or if I’m lucky, sometimes I have an hour or two where I go for it and write as many as I can. I’ve sent out over three hundred cards so far YAY!!!!
But unfortunately, I’ve got this many left to go…
Yeah…that’s like 400+ postcards left to go. And don’t forget that some labels get cut off accidentally so I have those in a pile to fix when I’m done. And the hardest part of all…when they come back RETURN TO SENDER. Those go in another pile to see if I can find the bookstore on line and resend. So far out of the 300+ I’ve sent–I’ve gotten back 28 but I expect a few more soon because I just recently sent out my last batch.
And don’t forget the stamps. Postcard stamps are cheaper than regular stamps but every 100 stamps costs $32.
And of course–the truly hard part is not really knowing if the all the effort is worth it. I’m hoping it is, but for all I know, all my hard work could end up being a coaster under someone’s drink. But then again…they’re book lovers!!!! Besides, I’ve got to believe that a purple Sharpie pen is a magic wand in disguise.
What do you think is the most un-glamourous side of being a writer? Any fabulous tips to share about the not-so-glamourous tasks a writer must tackle? Do you like doing something that you think most people hate? Any questions on postcards or preparing for a book launch? I’ll do my best to answer them.
But for now, off to write more postcards…
