How to Build Book Buzz

There are certain things you, as an author (or wannabe author) can do to BUILD BOOK BUZZ. Of course, every case is different. There is no cookie-cutter solution. Having said that, I want to share my own experience.

About 2 years ago, I released the first book of my planned "trilogy" called "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality".  

Now, here is where things get a little dicey!

You might say, I was over-eager to create some excitement around my new love-child... so I rushed into a very small book-reading at a tiny book-store in Saskatoon. About 10 people attended. Although I thoroughly enjoyed myself, this was a strategic mistake. A couple of months later I expressed my desire to hold a reading at a larger book-store in the same city.

The person in charge of this took extra care to explain that since I had already held my "launch", they could not accommodate me.  My feeling at the time was, I never called it a "launch" and also, she could have invested her energy in welcoming me with open arms, versus spending such an inordinate amount of time pushing me away with her long, drawn-out explanation.

My point is... do NOT rush into a less than favorable situation in a small venue. Wait for your cards to line up in a venue that will serve your purposes. It's probably a good idea to generate some advance media coverage and online buzz prior to a live reading. That way, your chances of attracting a fair-sized turnout of fans, supporters, friends and admirers will be greatly enhanced.

Here is a good example of a pre-launch (or live reading) article, that appeared on the front-page of a Nova Scotian newspaper:

Mural painter and author to hold public reading of memoirs in Truro

Cody McEachern (cody.mceachern@trurodaily.com) 

Published: Nov 10, 2017 at 10:35 a.m.

Michael Gaudet has painted murals across Canada since the 1970s. He recently released his second book, ‘A Work In Progress’, which he will be reading from at the Truro library on Wed., Dec. 13.SUBMITTED

TRURO, N.S.

Michael Gaudet has been painting murals across Canada since the late 1970s, in his words, to ‘leave his mark on the world.’

Now, he is coming back to his hometown to give a reading from his memoirs ‘Dancing With Rejection’ and ‘A Work In Progress’ at the Truro library on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

“The first book, ‘Dancing With Rejection,’ a lot of it is set right in Nova Scotia so I want to read some passages that were reminiscent of the province,” said Gaudet.

Read More...

Next, what is the meaning of "LAUNCH"? When will you know you are ready? Is it really a one-time thing that cannot be replicated over and over again? Be careful using that word... it has a definite meaning and finality to it.

Back to my strategy...  There is a local TV Show on Shaw Cable here in Saskatchewan that is dedicated to the literary scene called "Lit Happens". I made a special effort to meet the host (Saskatchewan-based Story-Teller Danica Lorer) to present her with complimentary copies of BOTH my books. ("Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality" and "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved") She graciously agreed to send me a picture of her holding her acquisitions. This picture has become a staple of my social media promotion.

"Lit Happens" host Danica Lorer was gracious enough to send me this beautiful photo.

A couple of years ago, I was interviewed on "Lit Happens" by the former host, the late great Wes Funk. Here is that interview:

Also, Sasktel Max TV created a wonderful short film that features some of my best artwork, as well as a live reading from my first book:

 

Now, I am excited to announce that Danica Lorer will be conducting a fresh new interview to build on all of the momentum. You might say, I have done all of the legwork required to EARN more high-profile publicity, in order to create a real BUZZ around my first two books, and also my career as a mural-painter.

Happy Trails, fellow authors. I hope I have communicated a little of what it means to build momentum, and to grasp the opportunity when it comes your way. You have heard the expression "Strike while the iron is hot", right? Well, I am here to tell you, you must come up with creative ways to HEAT IT UP in the first place. You have to come up with a strategy to stand out from the milling crowd. The good news is, with a little perseverance and insight, it is totally possible. You might even say, INEVITABLE. Remember, all it takes to rise above the primordial muck is to show the world that you have something a little special. And oh, it also helps if you have the ability to write a RIP-ROARING good tale!

About the Artist/Author:

Please Read More at www.mrgaudet.com

Book 2 Getting Closer to Publication

This is a widget. Click through to read my latest "Kickstarter" update.


About the Artist:

Chronic Disease and Creativity

Creativity is what saves me as a person who lives with chronic disease. When I say "creativity", I mean painting and writing. When I was initially diagnosed in 1979, at the tender age of 19, with  End Stage Renal Failure, it changed my creative path forever. Suddenly, I was painfully aware of my mortality. Indeed, this spelled a harrowing "Near Death Experience".

As soon as I was feeling marginally better, thanks to the powerful "dialysis" therapy that I was soon to undergo, I decided that I must paint a mural called "Recovery". This was my "visual prayer" for my own recuperation from the insidious disease that I was battling at the time.

The seminal mural "Recovery" was a "visual prayer".

Fast forward to 2017... by this time I have designed and painted over 60 large murals in a swath across Canada. But I am getting ahead of myself! Only 7 months after I started on dialysis, my loving brother Steven stepped up to donate a kidney to me. This miraculous Gift of Life saved and sustained me for over 34 years!

In mid-May of 2014, my kidney function had once again deteriorated, which meant, I was forced to return to thrice weekly dialysis treatments. Over the years, I had been working methodically on hand-written notes... the story of my life and the fascinating people I have met over time. I thought, if I fail to write down these stories, they will be lost forever.

My first act upon returning to dialysis (4 hours per session, so 12 hours every week) was to run out to purchase a laptop. I would make the most of a shitty situation! Within about a year, I had published my first book, called "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality". Follow this link to acquire your copy now...you will be joining a worldwide community of hundreds of readers.

Now, I am combining my writing and painting to live a full, rich life... and in fact I am just about ready to publish my second book, called "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved".

Cover art for my 2nd book...

On top of this, I have just been commissioned to paint another "monumental" mural in Tisdale, Saskatchewan. This is early days and I have not yet started the design...however as soon as I fire it up, I will be sharing the process. Please stay tuned, I am not going anywhere! 

This wall is the site of my next mural. Might not look like much now, but just wait!

Chronic disease and creativity might seem at first blush to be unlikely bed partners, but let me tell you... they feed off of each other. There's nothing like the specter of ones own mortality to light a fire in the heart and soul. Put simply, realizing the precarious nature of life and death on a weekly basis is a helluva powerful way to stimulate a driving creativity!

Till next time,

To read more and to purchase a copy of "Dancing..." please visit www.mrgaudet.com

'65 GMC Truck Painting

One of the "rewards" that I offered in my recent "Kickstarter" campaign... created to pre-sell advance, signed copies of my 2nd book (called "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved") was... for every contribution of $500.00 or more, I would create a painting based on the photo or idea of your choice!

Four individuals opted for this reward during the course of the campaign.

Here is a picture of one, that is finished:

Painting of '65 GMC truck, for a "Kickstarter" campaign reward, in return for a contribution of $500.00 or more.

I wanted to post this to let you all know that indeed, I am busily fulfilling my obligations to the generous contributors to my Kickstarter campaign, even as I carry on with the #1 goal of finishing the manuscript for Book 2... and also, bringing it closer every day to the ultimate goal of publication!

About the Artist/Author:  

To read more about both my artwork and writing projects, please visit www.mrgaudet.com

A Visceral, Mystical Painting Experience to Share

Yesterday morning, I was working on the manuscript for my 2nd book in my Trilogy Writing Project called "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved" and the chapters that described the "Visceral, Mystical Painting Experience" aka "Vision" was in my cross-hairs. The writing projects back to the year 1992.

It is a very emotional chapter, as it describes the hands-on approach that my dearly departed blood-brother Douglas Severight took during the painting process. Not to give too much away, however it can be said that this was an experience like no other in my long painting career!

I felt the powerful energy that Douglas poured into the painting, as he hovered over my hand as I worked, imparting a current of energy into my brushes.

The end result looked like this:

After many joyous days of painting "under the influence" of Medicine Man Douglas Severight, we had created this!

The "Vision" painting went on to earn a fair bit of notoriety, as it was replicated to become a fund-raising mechanism for a "Community-Building" project. This project aimed to bring together the various cultural groups of the area (Eastern Saskatchewan in 1991) with an emphasis on sharing the wisdom of the 1st Nations Elders. By and large it was very successful, as you will read in my upcoming book "A Work in Progress: The Life my Brother Saved" , scheduled to be released in the spring/summer of 2017.


L-R: The late writer Joan Elyofson-Cadham, myself, CTV host Elizabeth Popowich, and Douglas Severight with the "Vision" painting shortly after its completion. (1991)

These images will appear inside the pages of Book 2, just wait and see.

About the author:

To read more about my writing and artwork, please visit www.mrgaudet.com You can purchase Book 1 of my trilogy writing project called "Dancing with Rejection: A Beginner's Guide to Immortality" at this link. Join the worldwide community who have read this book!