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TIP TUESDAY #155 AND GIVEAWAY OF THE POTATO CHIP CHAMP

Tip Tuesday features writers' tips on craft, research, querying, blogging, marketing, inspiration, and more. If you'd like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

Hi Everyone! Natalie here today. Today I have author Maria Dismondy here to share some fantastic tips on having a successful book launch. Her most recent picture book, THE POTATO CHIP CHAMP, was released on December 1, 2012. A blurb about her book and details on her giveaway are at the end of the post.

Tips on A Successful Book Launch

Your book is about to be released and you want it to be super successful. Help get your book the exposure it deserves. Follow these simple tips to get your release off on the right foot!


1. Launch Party

Plan an event. To decide on a location, think about your target audience. For example, I write books for children. Parents, teachers and caregivers are the people purchasing the books. I chose to have my book launch at a local coffee shop. It was a win-win for the storeowner and I. My guests bought coffee during their slow time and I had a place to host my party at no additional cost. Remember, it’s a party. Buy a cake, balloons, have prizes and favors. Hire a photographer to get pictures of the event. Advertise in local papers and offer incentives such as; review my book and receive a free coffee gift card. Your family and friends will want to celebrate your success so start off the release of your new book with a launch party.

2. Virtual Book Launch

You are having an actual party for the release of your book but what about all of your fans that live out of state and want to participate in the release? Plan a virtual book tour. For details on setting up a virtual book tour, read my step-by-step directions on how-to HERE.

3. Bookstore Tour

Contact your local booksellers and schedule book readings and signings for the six weeks after the release of your book. You are going to be getting your fans super excited for the release, be sure you have several dates and locations where they can come purchase your new book and have it signed! I have found that having something to giveaway at the bookstores always helps to lure customers over to my table. Items like bookmarks, candy, stickers, or anything creative you can thing of that might go along with the theme or concept of your book.

4. Media

If you are working on the marketing of your book yourself, you will want to be sure to advertise your release before, during and after the actual date. Contact your local media and get yourself out there on your social media outlets as well. You can read hundreds of thousands of readers via social media. Do not be afraid to start tweeting. I promise you will gain readers!

5. Extras

Here are a few suggestions to really spice up the release of your book. Think about having a contest on Pinterest to get added exposure. Offer giveaways as a reward for readers who review your book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Get on Twitter and host a Twitter Party. People like books but when prizes and freebies are involved, they get crazy about reading!

Maria Dismondy, mother of two, reading specialist, fitness instructor and bestselling children’s author living in Southeast Michigan. You can find Maria at:

Website

Thanks for sharing your awesome tips, Maria.

Here's a blurb of THE POTATO CHIP CHAMP: DISCOVERING WHY KINDNESS COUNTS from Goodreads:

Champ and Walter Norbert Whipplemoore are about as different as two kids can bewell, except for their love of baseball and potato chips. Champ had everything, but always wanted more. Walter had very little, but was never seen without a smile on his face. In the end, it is Walter and some crunchy potato chips that teach Champ a lesson about character that can't be taught in school.

Maria has generously offered a copy of THE POTATO CHIP CHAMP for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on March 30th. I’ll announce the winner on April 1st.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is for U.S. residents only.

Hope to see you on Saturday when I'm participating in the Kick Butt Characters Book Giveaway Hop. I have lots of great book choices for you.

28 comments:

Kimberly Gabriel said...

What a fabulous title and premise! Great tips for launching your book. I have to ask - did you have potato chips at your Launch Party Maria? I'm intrigued by the Kick Butt Characters Giveaway Hop, Natalie! I'll have to stop back this weekend and check it out. ;)

Booklady said...

I'm always looking for good character education books to add to the school library collection. I'm going to see if I can read this over spring break and maybe get it added to our next book order. Thanks for the recommendation.

I shared on Facebook (Beverly Couzens Archer) and I tweeted it: https://twitter.com/Bookworm307/status/313990876798013440

Beverly aka Booklady

Maria said...

Kimberly, you know it! Bettermade, a local Michigan chip company donated over 200 bags of potato chips for the launch!

Maria said...

HI Beverly, check out my other titles too! Not sure if you've every hopped over to the blog Corner on Character by Barbara Gruener, she writes amazing recommendations on character education books and lessons!

Brenda said...

Wonderful title, you had me at potato chip. Great tips on launching a book and thank you for further recommendations on character books.

Kristin Lenz said...

Congrats to Maria on her newest book. She spoke to my daughter's Girl Scout troop a couple years ago and was a bit hit (although my daughter was sick and we missed it). Maria is also an example of how to be very successful with self-publishing.

Cherie Reich said...

What a great list of tips for a book launch and tour!

Congrats on your book, Maria! It looks so adorable!

Martina Boone said...

Great tips! Thanks for sharing them. The book looks wonderful, and I hope you have a ton of success with it. Congrats!

Martina

Angela said...

Maria, I'm looking forward to reading your new book. Congrats! I received a copy of your other book, Spaghetti on a Hot Dog Bun, at your book signing at South Arbor School a few yeas ago.

Much success to you.

cleemckenzie said...

Adorable book and great tips! Thanks so much.

Romance Book Haven said...

Congratulations Maria! Awesome premise and great tips!

~Nas~

Jessie Humphries said...

Good stuff! Oh man, I hope I get to take you up all this fab advice one day! :)

The Pen and Ink Blogspot said...

I want to read that book. Thanks for the tip. This week on Pen and Ink we have a giveaway of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back. I loved this quirky book. Hope you can stop by.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic tips. I'm pleased to meet Maria.

Donna K. Weaver said...

Some great ideas there. Author Beth Revis posted about an inexpensive way to have a traveling signing with several authors through her state.

javediqbal said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jess said...

These are fabulous tips! And the book sounds adorable :)

Theresa Milstein said...

Wow, the coffee book party sounds like a wonderful idea. I'm going to share this post. Thanks!

Kim Van Sickler said...

OMG, the Kick Butt Characters Book Giveaway Hop. I gotta check that out!!!

Maria said...

I will check this out! Thank you!

Maria said...

I will!

Maria said...

Thank you Kristin! I am hosting a Twitter Party Thursday night 8-9pm EST and will be answering questions about self-publishing. There are a ton of giveaways! I hope you will join us! @mariadismondy and #MarchReading

Julie Musil said...

Bookmarking this!!! Thanks, and good luck :)

Unknown said...

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Thanks for the great tips.

Evelyn said...

Sounds like a fun book. Thanks for sharing the tips.

Natasha said...

Sounds like a great, fun read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

Elaine Faber said...

Too many things on this blog to read and absorb. Will bookmark the spot and come back and research some of your older blogs and the list of agencies, etc you have included. What great tips and lots of good info. Thanks for sharing.