Getting started

I will use this blog to chronicle the marketing activity we undertake in the next several months for my book Call to Liberty: Bridging the Divide Between Liberals and Conservatives. What the heck. We can all see how it goes. Anyone with ideas to help it go faster and better can add them, and we will try it. So, first some background.

Book published: December 2006

Publisher: Scarletta Press, a small press with little background or experience. They provided no marketing and some, but not much, distribution. I had expected more.

Book did pretty well in local Barnes & Nobles, but there was not real national distribution. A few times I went to cities for events, which were fun, but no stores had the book, so the selling was really rotten. Could not justify that expense. Some have said it was a mistake to not do more of it, but I could not see the return. All expenses were from my pocket, with only a traditional royalty.

I've done about 50 small speaking events in my local area, the Twin Cities. These average 20-40 people, and we sell on average 35% of attendees. I've been on one local radio station frequently, and several local cable TV pograms. Very comfortable with that. Would love to do more. Published two OpEds locally as well, and one review appeared. All in all, not bad on a first book locally.

However, I have to sell some books and help to make a difference in the country. We are attending a big political conference in Washington DC the week of June 18, but the problem is I am an attendee, not a speaker. I need to be a speaker.

So, we are planning to relaunch the book this fall (2007). I am looking for larger events, conferences, and other speaking engagements. I know we are going to sell 10,000 books this year, but I don't know how. I am betting this community can help.

Let me know if you have ideas, I will report more as we have our own ideas and experience to report.