As I have mentioned before, more than a few times…I’ve been working on a graphic novel the past 30 years…OK. That’s not true. It only took 5 years. Maybe 7 since the first idea. Anyway, it comes out next June from Chronicle Books. It’s for ages 8 and up. I’ve been working on trading cards and book trailers to support the book when it comes out. My plan is to have 4 book trailers, releasing one every month or two until the book is released. Each trailer will take a different approach. The first one is looking great. A friend of mine has done the motion graphics and written original music for it. Now I just need to get the Earthing website updated to its new design. And THAT is the real topic of todays missive.
Creating the book is only step one of actually making a book. Creators used to be only tangentially involved in marketing a book. But these days authors and illustrators need to be knee deep. I don’t want it to be this way…I have fought it and feared it. Of the many things I MAY be, a salesmen is not one of them. I would love to just work on the material and not be concerned with marketing. But unless your name is Stephen King (and a few others out there…) it’s really up to you to support the work you do. I recently had lunch with a screenwriter friend and I was complaining about all the time I have to put into marketing my books. He pointed out that really, it’s an opportunity to market yourself and share your excitement with the project. And in this day-and-age, with so many ‘channels’ of content, it makes sense to do whatever you can.
That didn’t make me any happier. But he’s right. If I don’t do it, it won’t get done. I am excited to do the book trailers and trading cards and art prints, because I love the book. And as with so many ‘new things’ – a new book needs all the unconditional love and support you can give it.
