Thinking outside the bee-yox

I just read Joe Konrath's very detailed description of his book promotion activities after his big sale. And there can only be one word to describe how I'm feeling right now. Freaked. Actually, he describes doing exactly what I want to do when my book is available at bookstores: a series of drop-in signings. Since my novel covers a cross-country roadtrip, why not follow the same path as Leigh and Denise, stopping in to sign stock at bookstores and making pitstops at all the familiar places along the way: Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug, Cheyenne, Moab, Aspen, Las Vegas, Chateau Marmont in LA. (And I can't think of a better place to end, really.)

And maybe I could have a bunch of keychains done up with my title and name. So every time you start your car or open your front door you’d think, “Oh yeah, I really liked that Larry Resnick book and I can’t wait to buy the next one that chick writes,” or “Oh yeah, that book totally sucked but I got this cool keychain out of it so maybe I’ll buy the next book anyway in case it comes with a tire gauge. I need one of those.”

Now, if you’ve been following this blog, you know how my sick little mind works. My next book will (hopefully) cover the lives of four people working in a prison. (It will be twisted and aching and funny and hopeful and I really want it to turn out like the book in my head or I’ll be totally depressed.) So maybe I could have a contest on my website, and the winners could have inmates named after crummy ex-boyfriends or psycho bosses!

This may not be a good idea—in fact it’s probably a very bad one and could get me sued—but I’m getting excited about this. I'm still freaked out, but in a good way.

And with that, I'm off to soak my fingers in some Imodium. Happy weekend everyone!