WHERE'S MY BOOK NOW?

Writing a book is a lot of work.  It’s fun, but it’s work.  Editing and rewriting is even more work, but they’re fun, too.  Not as much fun as writing, but still enjoyable.  Marketing is NOT fun.  Not even a little.  I think it’s fair to say I hate marketing.  I have a website, I blog on several sites, I’ve made a couple of personal appearances; in short, I’ve used several methods that those “in the know” recommend.  I even did a giveaway on the book site, Goodreads.  The purpose of a Goodreads giveaway is to get your book to a number of people who, in turn, are asked to write a review.  I called mine “10 Books in 10 Days”.  From July 1 through the 10th, 932 people entered the giveaway.  Goodreads selected 10 winners and I shipped the books.  In all, between the buying the books, having them shipped to me, then shipping them to addresses in the US, Canada, and Australia, I spent around $100.  I got 3 reviews.  3 out of 10 might get you into baseball’s Hall of Fame, but it didn’t seem like a very good percentage of people who asked for a free book, so I tried to think of another way to get my books in the public’s hands.

A couple of months ago, I was trying to come up with ways to get my books to potential readers.  I remember finding a dollar bill one time that had “Where’s George” stamped on it.  Curious, I went online and found a website where you can track a specific dollar bill, wherever it goes.  The bill I had come across had started being tracked in Florida, turned up in Ohio, then New Jersey.  I received it in my change at the grocery store here in Rhode Island.  So, when I was trying to think of ways to get my book out there, I came up with a similar plan that I called “Where’s My Book Now?”  I made up a label that I would stick inside the front cover of some copies of my books and then just leave them in places where people gather; the waiting room at the doctor’s office, a bus or train station, restaurants.  Anyplace that draws crowds of people who might be there a while.  The label asked people to read the book, then pass it along.  I also requested they go to my website and add their location so I could track the books.  I was very proud of my “brilliant” idea.  Then, last night, I was doing some marketing research and I came across a website called BookCrossing.com.  It does exactly what I wanted to do with my “Where’s My Book Now?” campaign, but it’s organized and has a central website.  In short, it’s fantastic, just like the “Where’s George?” site. 

Starting in the next couple of weeks, keep your eyes open for my books lying about in public places.  If you find one, please go to Bookcrossing.com and log it in, then either leave the book somewhere (after you read it, of course!!) or give it directly to someone else and encourage them to keep it going.

I know my books have made it to several states, the UK, Canada, and Australia.  I’d love to see where else they will go.  Hopefully, one or more will find themselves on a bus, or a train, or a plane, to be discovered by a new reader.

Comments?  Questions?  Maybe you’d like to serve as the “starting point” for one of my books.  I can be reached at - rick (at) www (dot) rickmarchetti (dot) com.