Gone are the days when writers could just stay home and write, now we need to market ourselves up the ying yang. When you get a book published you have to get out and sell it (and you thought writing was hard?)  You have to figure out how to do it yourself because most publishers are too busy, too stressed and lack the resources to send you on a nationwide tour. So you do your own tour and figure out what bookstores will give you readings, and how will you draw people in to listen to you read and then buy your book for you to sign.  

One of the wonderful things about doing an anthology with other writers is that you feel like you have your own posse when you do readings, and also they'll bring in more friends and help you publicize it. (This past month I've been doing readings for CHERISHED and also for Victoria Zackheim's HE SAID WHAT? – Great fun because I'm hanging out with other writers.) 

Here are some thoughts for bookstore readings: Have a party – bring wine and pretzels or cheese. If your book is teaching something, give a short class or workshop as part of your reading. (When I'm marketing a writing book I always offer a free writing class.) And go for evening readings – I can tell you horror stories of readings in the middle of Saturday afternoon at shopping malls.

There are also book trailers and videos of authors speaking or being interviewed, and this is what I'm getting into right now.  It's a whole new world, a world that anyone who writes books needs to become part of. I feel fortunate because my friend Rob Daly (Mac Man) is getting into the author video field and I get to be his guinea pig. (and you could get to be his client soon.) We're going to do a book trailer for CHERISHED, but right now he's filming our readings. You can find one of my bookstore introduction videos on my website: http://www.BarbaraAbercrombie.com

(in photo above: Monica Holloway, me, Bob Goldman, Jenny Rough and Charlie – at Vroman's in Pasadena.)