Author Topic: Examples of BIG self-promo? (Read 979 times)

Mara · « **on:** October 18, 2012, 08:20 AM »

I'm doing an SCBWI workshop called "Self-Promotion for the Rest of Us" and I'm looking for a few good examples of the kind of BIG self-promo most of us can't manage--you know, like decorating your car to look like your book and driving cross-country for a whole year. That kind of thing.

Does anyone remember any outstanding examples?

Thanks!

J.Ro · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2012, 12:06 PM »

I think Sarah Dessen's husband has a race car with her stuff on it.

SYoon · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2012, 12:19 PM »

Oh man, Mara,... your workshop sounds like JUST the thing for me to attend! I hope you bring it to L.A. next year! Sorry I can't think of any examples of BIG self-promo's though. Good luck with your presentation!

Anne Marie · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2012, 12:23 PM »

This is sort of medium, not over the top, but remember Fran bought 400 copies of her ARC and sent them out herself.

JodyJS · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2012, 12:25 PM »

Mara,

Were you thinking of the summer Lemonade Mouth tour I've read about where Mark Peter Hughes and his family traveled the US in a yellow bus?

Jody

Benjamin Martin · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2012, 12:46 PM »

I did a whole big book launch party with totes, shirts, and prizes from Japan, then went and gave out copies of the book on my international flights between the US and Japan... Also not huge

Car · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2012, 01:41 PM »

I can't remember who it was, but I read about an author who bought an ad at her local theater to be played before the movie.

Anne Marie · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2012, 01:50 PM »

Quote from: Car on October 18, 2012, 01:41 PM

I can't remember who it was, but I read about an author who bought an ad at her local theater to be played before the movie.

Pretty sure that was Dotti Enderle.

xiaotien · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2012, 01:56 PM »

the author of Ready Player One gave away that Back to the Future car.

Karen de Foy · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2012, 02:35 PM »

Are you already thinking of John Green's tour for The Fault in Our Stars? He and his brother Hank drove all over the country performing for huge, screaming audiences. (You can find videos of it on YouTube.)

YAchicka · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2012, 03:46 PM »

I can't seem to find the title, but it's a recent book with a yellow cover that has three girls standing behind a giant opened map and the premise is they are following their favorite band across country on their reunion tour. The girls have grown apart and are drawn together through this road trip.
The author actually created a band that is going on a cross-country tour promoting the book and playing their music and I really hope someone knows what I'm talking about so I don't seem crazy

ETA: HA! Found it - Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Joni · « **Reply #11 on:** October 18, 2012, 03:54 PM »

Holly Cupala and her husband hired out and created their own professional audio book version of her first book, Tell Me a Secret. They also paid an artist to create/produce a mini-booklet graphic novel version of a small section (I don't remember for sure, but think it was the first chapter.) Among many other things.

(It helps to have a little money and talented spouses, ha!)

Jeanne Ryan (Serenissima) · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2012, 06:23 PM »

Jennifer Bosworth and her husband are a writer/director team who created an amazing trailer for her novel STRUCK. http://jenniferbosworth.com/

SYoon · « **Reply #13 on:** October 18, 2012, 07:04 PM »

Good one, Jeanne! And that just reminded me of Tonya Hurley's GHOSTGIRL: Lovesick Book Trailer,...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ZwukxRzks

...which is more like a short claymation-animated movie than anything else. She did this herself, with some other talented friends in the biz. Apparently, she's been in the film industry. She even composed the song/music! (but she didn't sing it herself. I think that's about the only thing she didn't do!) What a major production this was. And I love Jennifer Bowsworth's STRUCK video... which looks more like a movie trailer!

DianaM · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2012, 07:54 PM »

The only truly BIG thing I can think of is the one where Brian Lies painted his car with images from Bats at the Beach. But I think that's the one Mara originally mentioned. Wasn't there a blueboarder who created a holiday based on the theme of her book? I think it was the author of "Lester Fizz: Bubblegum Artist". That was unique publicity.

Larissa · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2012, 07:56 PM »

Quote from: SYoon on October 18, 2012, 07:04 PM

Good one, Jeanne! And that just reminded me of Tonya Hurley's GHOSTGIRL: Lovesick Book Trailer,...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ZwukxRzks

...which is more like a short claymation-animated movie than anything else. She did this herself, with some other talented friends in the biz. Apparently, she's been in the film industry. She even composed the song/music! (but she didn't sing it herself. I think that's about the only thing she didn't do!) What a major production this was. And I love Jennifer Bowsworth's STRUCK video... which looks more like a movie trailer!

Maggie Stiefvater's book trailers are like this. Very involved and she composes/performs the music herself.

SYoon · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2012, 08:07 PM »

Oh oh... I just thought of someone who's done a lot of things outside of the box. Look up Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She really knows how to engage an audience.

http://www.whoisamy.com/

RuthD · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2012, 10:48 PM »

Quote from: Larissa on October 18, 2012, 07:56 PM

Maggie Stiefvater's book trailers are like this. Very involved and she composes/performs the music herself.

Maggie also goes on long, grueling promotional book tours (in her '73 Camaro with license plate SHIVER.)

Mara · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2012, 11:43 AM »

Thanks, everyone!

Brianna · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2012, 01:06 PM »

Just saw a picture of Jan Brett doing a tour in a gorgeously illustrated bus. Wow! (Picture was shared by children's book author Lori Mortensen)

sjkincaid · « **Reply #20 on:** November 08, 2012, 05:31 PM »

Laini Taylor (THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE) is making jewelry connected with the book. The article's on PublishersWeekly, I believe.

MysteryRobin · « **Reply #21 on:** November 08, 2012, 06:09 PM »

Um, *cough*, Salina has a giant sized wooden penguin...

sjkincaid · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2012, 02:09 AM »

Ooh, I'd also look up Throne of Glass. The author had a big following from her original work on Fictionpress, and the publisher had her release a series of ebooks before the book came out. Quite clever.

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Author Topic: Examples of BIG self-promo? (Read 979 times)