My pursuit of Press Release Distribution

I have my media kits ready and ten sample books to send out to interviewers and or reviewers. I have spent the last several days pursuing services that will take some of the load off of this starving author.  I wrote my own Press release through PR Log and I probably should have done more research on the front end of this but I am a one man jerk of all trades right now and my learning curve on this aspect of the biz is huge.

Once The Press Release was posted on PR Log I began to receive requests from companies to serve me in submitting the release to media outlets.  Hurray!! I could stop searching for current book editors at every major paper and magazine in the U.S.; or so I thought.  One thread leads to another and I still have some unravelling to do.

What to do, what to do?  

There are companies out there who will gladly take your money and distribute your press release for you.  Here are some things to be aware of when approaching these companies for their services:
*Who exactly are they distributing to?  Are the contacts genre specific.  I'm certain a DIY editor is not interested in seeing my Mystery Novel.  I saw a review of one company where an editor was simply ignoring emails from a service because they sent ALL of their clients' press releases to them.  Editors are busy people.  They don't have time to sort through for genre specific releases.
*Where are they distributing: Locally, Regionally. Nationally, Internationally?  Be sure you know what you are paying for.  Each list and additional service can cost around $100
*What information are they supplying to the editors?  A book name and your phone number or email? Or are they supplying web site links and book trailers if you have them.

Another way to go..

Purchase UP TO DATE media lists that have current book editors names, email contacts, phone numbers and mailing addresses. This can be a good way to go if you have time and don't mind contacting the editors with a brief (1page) cover letter about who you are and why you wrote the book to go along with the press release.
These lists are available by state, type of media, ( for example newspapers, TV, radio) so do your research and be confident that you are purchasing what you need.  You can purchase lists seperately from these companies for around $100.
Again there are several companies that provide these services and although I cannot recommend one over the other; I found a good source was www.easymedialist.com 
they allow you to pick and choose from their list so you only pay for what you want. I recommend checking them out for no other reason than to get a feel for what is out there.
The link for their newspaper book editors is here:
http://www.easymedialist.com/usa/top100books.html
They have a sister company that expands on their lists through membership. http://www.mondotimes.com/  browse their site to see what they have to offer, from a free membership to professional.

Search for news media guides and or Press Release Distribution

There are several companies that offer these services. I am not recommending any of them, but my research has caused me to ask the questions I have laid out for you.  Search for news media guides and or Press Release Distribution and they will come up for you.

I am in the process of weighing my options at this time, but wanted to share my thoughts so far, so those of you going through this might have an easier time.  I will write again in a few days to share my decision and experience.  Perhaps at that time I will have a  recommendation.

Happy hunting, and thanks for your consideration,
Nance

Try a free sample of Minstrels' Gambit chapter 1

http://dreamerdesigns.net/BookExcerpts/sample.html
Follow this link to read a short excerpt.  If you are interested you will be taken to a form that will generate a link where you can then load a free PDF of Chapter 1.  I hope this will encourage you to purchase the entire book either through kindle or in paperback format.  Either way I hope you will enjoy what you read and keep me in mind when looking for an escape through reading.

 

MINSTRELS' GAMBIT is in the birth throes of "Real" book publishing.
$15.98 suggested retail price on all sites
CreateSpace eStore: Immediately, https://www.createspace.com/4600393

•Amazon.com: 5-7 Business Days
•Amazon Europe: 5-7 Business Days
•Expanded Distribution channels: 6-8 Weeks

If you are ever interested in leaving a review the following link will take you to a page where you can do just that.

https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1143197



 

My Foundation

My passion to be a published author affects the lives of those around me. I tend to get very focused on my work, which not only involves the creative process of writing, but the creative and business processes of self publishing as well. I love what I do and the days fly by when I am ‘working’. It rarely feels like work though.

The work falls more to those around me. My husband sometimes feels shunned and neglected. Still he manages to have the coffee ready after I sleep in because I couldn’t stop writing until 3 A.M..  I go into self imposed exile to commune with my art. This is what shows me that I have chosen my friends and family well. They do not bait me for attention or grow angry from my neglect of them. If they feel it they kindly keep it to themselves.  They seem to know, as I do, that this is a race for me. They let me run it and cheer from the sidelines. I write this today because I feel them all around me, no matter how far away they may be. I feel my husband especially, because he is rather affectionate today.

I write because I must, my mind would explode if I couldn’t. It is only recently that I have given into self publishing. I was a misguided writer who thought that to be an author I must be recognized by an editor with a degree and an office. Then one day I had an epiphany; I am not just an author, not just a writer.  I am an artist!  Maybe to some of you that seems arrogant to say.  To be recognized as an artist is like being called a national treasure.  Of course I don’t feel that way about it.  What I mean is that I live and breathe this.  I create my art and put it out for the world to see. I stand up to the critiques and I take that all away and go back to the art and do it again, striving to be better and better. I have somehow been able to step away from the desire for recognition.  I no longer seek recognition of an agent or an editor.  I write for the heart.  For your heart.  That is what I want to capture.  I write for the imagination.  I want to set yours free.  Someday I hope to be good enough that I give you the same rush that I get the moment that I put the words down on paper.

This is not only a godsend, but a gift. I get to express through my art on a daily basis. There is a gift of love that those around me give repeatedly. They cheer me and encourage me and I do not recognize it enough. A gift from God that has been in me since as soon as I could talk. I’ve always told stories. My mother used to say my imagination was going to get me into trouble. If I have this gift for imagination why must it be a bad thing? So part of this is a gift from Mom. I have always hoped to prove her wrong. My husband's gift is given knowing that we may crash and burn, but we will do it together.  I hope that my gift to him will be to soar on the winds of success.  We shall see.  I hope that the gift to my readers will be a fantastic read.

Don’t forget about those around you who quietly support you and let you do what you must. Don’t lose sight of the gifts they give you. Just by virtue of letting you do this thing that locks you away from them for hours and days at a time, they deserve your thanks at least. I hope they know they have my great respect.  I must let them know that. I pray for strength to continue and then I see my prayers are already answered. These people are my strength--my foundation.

Don’t let the desire for recognition cloud your creativity. Toss it away, it is liberating.  I will keep writing and try to get control of my misplaced commas. Although, my misplaced commas just might be my signature brush stroke. For now I have a kind and generous man who sits beside me proof- reading my latest work. I think that for all he does for me—I will hug him now. You can’t get that job perk everywhere. Go hug someone that supports you. Let them know that you stand upon their shoulders.  Let them see that they are your foundation.

 

Final Cover Designs

The winner of the cover poll was #1. This sets the style for this series of books. We now have a redesign for Minstrels' Gambit in the works as well. Thank you all who voted. We are working on a design theme for the first three Minstrel Tale Mysteries. Minstrels' Covenant in in the editing phase and we are designing the back cover and interior elements. Check back for more news as we move forward.

This is always a good feeling

Minstrel's Covenant is through phase one. I finished the first draft just moments ago. Now for a week away from it to clear my head of it and I will begin editing. The next week will not go without writing anything though. Minstrel's Prize is about to spill out of my ears. It seeks print and I must begin to make it so.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone who participated in the holiday promotion of my books: Legend Destiny and Minstrels' Gambit. It was a great success! I hope you are enjoying them. Feel free to post comments or criticisms about the books to this post

Minstrels' Covenant is coming along nicely; a few more chapters should wrap it up and then I will enter into the editing phase.  I am still shooting for a spring time release.

Thanks for reading.  Nance