December 15, 2005
My editor let me know that the publication date of THE DEVIL'S PITCHFORK is locked in for October 2006. I got an e-mail from the cover art guy, Kevin, describing his ideas and the color scheme. (Can't wait to see it).

So what am I doing (besides breathing heavily?). I'm organizing a marketing campaign. And it ain't just one or two things.

I've started soliciting blurbs and so far I'm pleased with the yeses.

I contacted a professional website person telling her when I wanted to get going on it.

I've started culling my e-mail addresses and am looking at Vertical Response to create an e-newsletter, etc.

I already started accumulating addresses of previous book buyers and I'll plan on sending out flyers and/or postcards to them.

I'm looking at the dates of Bouchercon and Magna cum Murder. B'Con is at the end of September beginning of Oct in Madison, WI, and Magna, as usual, is probably at the end of October 2006 in Muncie, nicely close to my pub date.

I'm going to start organizing lists of all the southern Michigan bookstores and some others throughout the state for drop-ins and phone calls and mailings.

I expect to be working with the same publicist again, probably in Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec, especially with focus on lining up book signings and radio interviews. I'll be coordinating with my publicist at Midnight Ink.

Library lists. Rotary talks will probably continue.

Listservs I'm already on.

I'll organize other things as they go on.

I've published 2 books previously, and each one has received more marketing energy and dollars. Pitchfork will get even more. I'm thinking of this not as a battle, but a war, and I'm really going to work my butt off here. Because the other options is to consider never getting a novel published again. I want this to be successful.

Best,
Mark