“Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.” ~Leo Burnett
As you may know, my first novel, The Hard Way, is now in bookstores. If you happen to mosey into one this summer, check it out. And if you’re up for a little point-of-purchase marketing fun, I received some secondhand advice from a publishing expert who offered these suggestions (thanks, Lisa):
Ask everyone you know to:
- Pull your book up on the computer screens in the bookstore
- Find your book on the shelf and front face it (instead of spine facing it)
- Or, better yet, move your book to one of the appropriate middle tables – such as New in Paperback
Actually, The Hard Way is on the New in Paperback table in lots of bookstores from what I’ve heard. So, if you find it there, you can do what my brother-in-law did and stand by the table and wait for customers stroll up then tell them all of the wonderful things you’ve heard about this debut author. Ok, so he made stuff up…he said he heard me on NPR. I wish. Hmm, maybe that should be my next marketing task…find a way to make myself NPR-newsworthy (though not like Krystian Bala.)
Jim said,
June 2, 2008 at 7:03 pm
You could always contact one of your ex-students and ask them to publicly accuse you of trading grades for sex. Your NPR twist on that could be that you refused to give him the positive grade after finding out that he supported the war and didn’t recycle.
julieluongo said,
June 2, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Jim, that’s not why I didn’t give you a positive grade.
Gary said,
June 2, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Are their going to be book signings? Another author that I’m an acquaintance of had one at the Stroud Mall.
julieluongo said,
June 2, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I’ll be signing books at Borders on 611 in Stroud Township on July 19th from 1 to 3pm. And I’ll be reading at the Easten Monroe County Public Library on October 25th at 10am.
Jennifer said,
June 2, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I am heading to the Valley that Saturday, so I’ll be stopping by the book signing.
Keyser pimp mac daddy said,
June 3, 2008 at 8:28 pm
“You could always contact one of your ex-students and ask them to publicly accuse you of trading grades for sex.”
The American dream.
Sissy said,
June 3, 2008 at 8:29 pm
JFC!!!!!!!
SOMEONE needs to keep his paws off OPP.
julieluongo said,
June 3, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Wow, that NA article Keyer linked to is just stunning. I’m incredulous.
Speaking of pimping … today my brother-in-law went to a bookstore and convinced a browser to buy The Hard Way. He also pulled the book up on the computers, front faced it in the aisle, and moved copies to the middle table. A+, Goldy!
messiestobjects said,
June 4, 2008 at 12:31 am
I would change ‘Faith’ to ‘Hope’ in that NA article.
Yay Julie! Those Amazon sales are climbing! Keep on Marketin’…
julieluongo said,
June 4, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I just can’t believe that the majority of addicts identify with the premise of the article…they either feel resentment, anger, and fear depending on whether they’re thinking of the past, present, or future. Really? Whoa.
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
June 4, 2008 at 1:09 pm
On my way to B&N!!! Gonna do some marketing for a friend!
messiestobjects said,
June 4, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Charita finds a wallet on the ground and keeps the money. Put an X in the appropriate spot on the lifeline which best describes her emotion.
julieluongo said,
June 4, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I don’t get this. You can’t lump things into three categories.
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
June 4, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I’m off topic again… but I went to B&N and asked if they had “The Hard Way by Julie Luongo,” A nice literary type lady walked me over to the fiction aisle and I said – well I LOOKed on the New in Paperback table. And yes, there they were, several copies and one front-faced! She stood by me as I oohed and aahed and then I felt compelled to buy – yes! my 11th copy of The Hard Way. As I walked up to the register, I asked a customer at the New in Paperback table, “Have you read this yet? It’s delightful. I’m buying a copy for a friend! It’s back in the fiction/literature section. ” all the while waving it in front of her. She hadn’t read it.
After B&N, I headed over to Borders and went through my routine again only this time I looked it up on their computer. I asked an employee where I could find it. and again, I was led to the fiction/literature section. LITERATURE section, Julie. There was only one copy there and as I oohed and aahed the employee walked away. I pulled the lone book off the shelf and front-faced it. Then hurried out so someone else could buy it!
The End.
julieluongo said,
June 4, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Oh PEG!! There is no other topic. You are so great. How fun. Nice work. Doesn’t it look pretty in the store – all fancy with those other books?
Scott Pierce said,
June 5, 2008 at 9:19 am
I’ve been pulling it up on all the computers in Borders for months. Perhaps I should go into marketing and give up the writer life.
Cool that you will be signing. And reading in October? A ways away but great anyway. It’s hard to get people to read a particular book. I walk into Borders and see so many I wonder who reads them all. I see lots of people plopped down in sofa chairs and drinking coffee with a stack of stuff then leave it there so I always wonder how well a place like Borders does selling stuff. I know the Waldenbooks since its inception in our illustrious Stroud Mall has always been a top store beating out the Walden’s in Allentown.
I’ve heard from other novelists that they have sweets and book marks, magnets etc. at there table- anything to entice a sale.
Scott Pierce said,
June 5, 2008 at 11:39 am
Borders has 25 copies that I assume will be put out today. Wonder if they’ll make a display or just put out a few at a time. My vote is display but as far as I know they get orders from high up on their displays.
Sissy said,
June 5, 2008 at 11:50 am
Peg, you are freaking me out. What are you doing with 11 copies of Julie’s book? Wallpapering?
I’m only kidding. I’m on the NYT best seller drive, spawned by my daughter’s need to see Julie’s book on the Rite Aid best seller shelf. In fact, no one should be giving or sharing Julie’s book. Make people BUY it. And never refer a potential reader to the library. Make them buy the book. Someone tried to give me a copy of The Hard Way when they were done reading it, and I turned them down with vengence. Books need to be purchased. Peg rocks for contibuting 11 points.
julieluongo said,
June 6, 2008 at 12:16 am
Scott, you are quite brilliant with Promotions. It’s always “Scott had a great idea,” between the Mantis and me.
So…my new task…get Waldenbooks to carry the book and procure sweet bookmarks, magnets, etc. Check.
Also, the Borders manager I spoke with was really cool and supportive. I could see her putting a bunch out, if it were up to her, of course.
julieluongo said,
June 6, 2008 at 12:18 am
Sissy, someone tried to give you The Hard Way? That’s cool.
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
June 6, 2008 at 8:09 am
I am giving the books as gifts to family mostly. The I tell them pay it forward!
julieluongo said,
June 6, 2008 at 10:40 am
I think books make great gifts!
Jim said,
June 6, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Are there any good ol’ fashioned book burnings taking place anywhere in Pennsylvania this year?
That’s a list you wanna be on.
julieluongo said,
June 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm
If only people were more close-minded.
Scott M. said,
June 9, 2008 at 4:50 am
Hi Julie, That’s very cool! I will look for your book in the bookstores. Nice blog! I’ll check back again.
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
June 25, 2008 at 8:36 am
Om the train to Philly, opened my Philadelphia Inquirer and there on the front page of the Entertainment Section was the cover art for The Hard Way. There were lots of books listed in the article about Philly local authors and books. Only two covers were shown and one was The Hard Way. Yay Julie!
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
June 25, 2008 at 8:37 am
on the train ON the train
julieluongo said,
June 25, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Awesome! Thanks for the heads up, Mama.
Also, Scott, how’s the search for my book in bookstores? Have you found it yet?
JasonMulholland said,
July 1, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I’ll help with the above tactics down here in Florida. Congratulations, Julie!
julieluongo said,
July 3, 2008 at 11:19 am
Thanks, J.
Ty said,
October 10, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Gotta love seeing your work sitting on a self. Nice job! Keep up the good work!
Ty Schwamberger
Horror Author
http://tyschwamberger.wordpress.com
julieluongo said,
October 13, 2008 at 12:02 pm
TY, Ty. You too.