Sunday, January 11, 2009

Promotion- Learning as I go, or NO dice tattos on naked butts

I'm such a man.
I never stop to ask for directions, let alone read the directions to any new gadget or gizmo I buy. I figure if I have to stop and read directions, then it's too complicated, so I move on. Usually to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how it works on my own (unless Mel knows, then I simply ask her). I've tried to break this pattern, but I simply can't. I think it's just the way I'm wired. So I learn as I go- by trial and error. I'm pretty thick-headed, so I think it's the only way something sinks in. Like this book thing. I have 2 books coming out this year. I've done all I can artistically- I've conceptualized them, written them, edited them, etc. The next part in the process is the promotion of those books. Since I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing I've hired a publicist. But there's still a lot as an author that's up to me.

That's where I'm learning as I go.

Now that the revisions for my 2nd Bunco book are done (yes!) I actually have some time to devote to promotion. I've discovered Facebook (I mean, really discovered it), online Solitaire (whoops), and checking out the stats on Amazon.com. My first book, Bunco Babes Tell All (which can be pre-ordered by the way) has been anywhere from 30 something thousand to the millions in presales stats. It's a mystery. In one day, my book can leap thousands of numbers. Does that mean one person bought my book in that day? Or maybe ten? Or maybe none, and someone else's book has changed its status, thus changing mine? Who knows? I have a feeling this obsessive game could take up a lot of my time.

Right now though, my focus has been on my new website. This process has gone on for over 6 months. The first web designer I worked with wanted to read my book so that he could get a "flavor" of what I wrote. Great, I thought. So I emailed him my manuscript. About 2 months later, he gave me his first mock-up. It was so horrible, I can't even describe it, but I'll try... I was on a writing retreat at the beach with Louisa and Mel and I didn't have Internet access. So in an excited tizzy, we drove to a Panera where they had free WiFi and flipped open my laptop . All we could do was stare in horror. There, on the Home page of what could be my website was a picture of a naked woman's butt with a pair of dice tattooed on her cheek. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. In the end, we all laughed. I don't write anything even faintly resembling erotica. So I have no idea how reading my manuscript could have produced that image. Go figure.

On to my 2nd web designer. I told him about the fiasco of the dice tattoo on the naked butt. He laughed (a good sign, I thought) and we talked for a bit on the phone. I immediately got a good gut reaction. In October, he came up with the first design for my website. I loved it. The colors were a bit off, but the concept was exactly what I was looking for. Since I'm doing my own copy, he then asked me for the copy so that he could get a better idea of how to set things up. At the time, I was in the middle of deadline for my 2nd book, so I couldn't get him the copy for almost another month. I had no idea how difficult it was to write copy for a website. I must have studied dozens and dozens of author websites in an attempt to figure out what I wanted. In the end, I sent him 20 pages (copy and detailed instructions for each page). I should be seeing a finalized version this week. I can't wait!

11 comments:

Lucy said...

I can't wait to see your website (minus tattoo'd rear-ends) and I can't wait to read your book. :)

Maria Geraci said...

Thanks, L,
I can't wait to see my website too!

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to see it and still pacing the can't wait to read it aisle for Bunco Babes.

Congrats again, Maria.

Still doing the happy dance for you.

Maria Geraci said...

Thanks, Kristen!

Angelique Newman said...

I can't wait to see your website! Your blog is great and fun to read.

I've been checking out everyone's websites lately.

I'm still in the designing faze myself. Right now mine is big, green and boring. I haven't a clue what I'm doing. I'm using supposedly the most simplest web builder out there.

Only time will tell what I will end up with:) Fingers crossed.

Maria Geraci said...

thanks for stopping by, Angelique!
You're doing your own website? How cool. Can't wait to see the finished product:)

Kristen Painter said...

That image is permanently scarred into my brain.

Maria Geraci said...

Yeah, mine too:)

Louisa Edwards said...

It was so hot. I'm thinking of writing an erotic novella set in Vegas or something, just so I can use it. I think, with the placement of the dice, there might have to be spanking.

Unknown said...

the butt cover sounds...interesting but not quite 'you'!
Can't wait to see the finished product!

Maria Geraci said...

LOL! Louisa, I think an erotica set in Vegas is definitely in order. Maybe some day...

Hey, Kate! The finished product is coming along. The colors are still not quite right. But I think we're getting close:)

 

Blog Design by Author Web Designs By Tara