October 1, 2011

My editor tells me that A Voice for Kanzas will be available in January–just three months from now. Amazing! And suddenly my head is whirling with things to do: photos, and website, and trailer–oh my!

I was fortunate to attend a workshop on marketing for authors at this summer’s SCBWI conference in Los Angeles. Susan Raab shared many ideas with us, and her book, An Author’s Guide to Children’s Book Promotion, is an excellent reference. I feel almost overwhelmed with the tasks before me, despite my excitement and anticipation of the release of my Debut Novel (I love that phrase!).

I have procrastinated on having publicity photos taken. I have a fledgling website that needs new photos and content. I have a long list of potential sales outlets for which I must look up addresses and then send to the marketing department at Kane Miller. I need to find the perfect place to have my book launch party! I should be contacting some libraries now to line up some book talks for Kansas Day, January 29, where I can appear with books in hand. I’m hoping to see cover art soon, so that I can have bookmarks and business cards and post cards made.  And on and on…

And then there’s that marathon race three weeks from tomorrow…26.2 miles in the shadow of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Wow.