book promotion

No, it’s book promotion in the age of the author video. Seth Greenland waxes eloquent on the rapidly blurring line between writer and salesman:

“Now, because of recent developments in the world of publishing, writer and merchant are fusing into one. Willy Loman and Arthur Miller have commingled. Call it -- forgive me -- Birth of a Salesman.”

An Indonesian businessman known for publicity stunts dropped 100 million rupiah, or about $10,700, from an aircraft Sunday to promote his new book. Tung Desem Waringin circled eight times over a soccer field in the city of Serang, about 40 miles west of Jakarta, emptying bag after black bag of cash.

I never seem to be in the right place at the right time.

Specifying a character’s brand of lipstick, shoes or handbag is a commonly accepted way to add an aura of reality or consumer aspiration to books aimed at young readers: just think of “The Gossip Girl,” with that series’s abundant references to Prada. But what if writers and publishers enlisted companies to sponsor those branded mentions, as is the widespread practice in Hollywood?

The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches author Jeff Yeager is walking the walk, or rather he’s biking it. In order to promote his new book on how to enjoy life while spending less, Yeager is “pedaling around the country with a piggy bank strapped to the back of his bike and staying with people he meets through CouchSurfing.com.” Tres cool.

Do book trailers do anything for you as a reader? Do you find them boring, the same old slideshow with a soundtrack, a “slow, agonizing presentation of the cover blurb of the book?” Well, you wouldn’t be alone. Here’s what not to do if you’re thinking about a trailer for your masterpiece as well as a discussion of the pros and cons of having one at all.