How to Promote Your Tween Book

You have sent the query. The publisher is interested. The contract may have been signed. Perhaps the book has been written, edited, tweaked and finished. The presses are rolling. Bookstores and libraries have pre-ordered. Now you have to tell the word that your book is coming. Read on to learn how to promote your tween book.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Attend writers conferences, particularly those relevant to your genre. If you can get a guest speaker spot, all the better. Guest speakers are usually asked to do an author signing in conjunction with book sales.
2. Set up an author website or blog. Some authors have a website specifically for the particular book, and link this to their main author site. Two sites are of course, more expensive, and are more likely used by established authors with a big publicity campaign around the book.
3. Join online forums where there may be interest in your topic. Also consider forums for parenting, work at home mothers, writers and educators to spread the word.
4. Approach your local newspaper to interview you and to review your book. Send out press releases to newspapers. Do any have a children’s book section?
5. Approach your local radio or TV station to feature you.
6. Approach local groups and schools who may want a guest speaker.

Tips & Warnings

• These are just a few ideas. As you start the ball rolling, the people you interact with will become your advocates, and suggest other options and contacts to you. The important thing is to get that ball rolling and keep it rolling.