Developing a support system of your peers makes complete sense. Networking with other authors and small publishers provides mental stimulation, emotional comfort, and a source for getting your questions answered. Find a writing group or publishing association in your area, or organize one if none exists. The collective promotional ideas will amaze you. You may also find someone willing to serve as an informal mentor, guiding you toward greater heights in this exciting venture.

Capitalizing on contacts is a surefire way to expand awareness of your book. Alert friends, relatives, acquaintances, and business associates about your new baby. They may know someone who produces a local TV show or be able to put you in touch with an organization that would be interested in making bulk purchases. There is a six degrees of separation rule that connects all of us. That means anyone you would care to meet is only six people away from you. Start asking who knows whom!

But dont stop there. Tell the main newspaper in the city of your birth that a native son or daughter made good. If your parents, children, or brothers and sisters have influence in their hometown, see if you can ride on their names to get mention in a newspaper column or maybe even a feature story or author profile by telephone.

Cultivate word-of-mouth buzz

Anything you can do to get people talking about your book is like money in the bank. The most baffling and elusive element in a books success is word-of-mouth. Statistics from a Gallup poll bring this point quickly into focus: When asked why they bought fiction, 4 percent of the respondents said it was because of ads in magazines and newspapers; book reviews fared only slightly better. By contrast, 27 percent bought because they were familiar with the author and 26 percent because a friend or relative recommended the book. Powerful testimony to word-of-mouth.

Said the former president of B. Dalton in an interview in the New York Times, I would probably rate the most effective techniques for selling books as being the individual telling a friend, reviews, and the authors ability to appear on talk shows.

Sometimes you can turn adversity into opportunity. When the Wall Street crash struck, the financial community mourned the loss of a fortune. Meanwhile, the publishing community dreamed of a fortune to be made. Publishers across the land reached into their backlists and dusted off titles having to do with the stock market and investing. Headlines capitalized on the crash. Simon & Schusters new ad campaign shouted, Brilliantly plausible . . . Horrendously disturbing . . . and starting to come true. Its the old story: If life gives you a lemon, make lemonade! Better yet, add salt and a lime slice and make a margarita.

Donate to charity auctions

Our friend Raleigh Pinskey suggests you donate products to charity auctions. Its a giving to get philosophy that builds title recognition and goodwill. Learn about such possibilities by checking the social section or calendar listings of your local newspaper for charity events, association happenings, chamber of commerce banquets, service organizations auctions, childrens events, businessmen/businesswomen meetings, etc.

All you do is call the RSVP number and offer your book for the auction, a raffle, a gift table, goody bag, or what have you. Charitable donations always reflect positively on the giver.

Copyright 2005 Marilyn Ross