5 Ways to Get Your Novel Noticed at a Party
“Yeah, so I published my first suspense novel. It’s really a great story.”
“No kidding! That’s awesome! I’d love to read it!”
“Sweet! Check it out. It’s called —, and you can find it on Kindle.”
Let’s be honest, they won’t remember you or your book five minutes after you walk away.
It’s difficult for us new authors to find opportunities to market our books, especially to those outside our inner circle – business associates, influential friends of the family, and other acquaintances who might not have seen our full-page book cover post that we pinned to the top of our Facebook timeline. And let’s face it, your 105K Twitter fans, for some crazy reason, haven’t taken the hint from your “buy my book!” tweets and retweets.
Author Unlimited compiled a list 50+ ways to promote your book to a general audience. But I wanted to share a few more successful but subtle approaches I have used to get my writing directly into the hands of readers in a social gathering or party. I hope you’ll find them useful.
(1) Casually drop your book onto the coffee table of the house you’re visiting. As soon as a good number of people have gathered in the vicinity, gasp and squeal, “Oh my god! You bought my book! That’s so awesome, thank you!” The host will be so stunned and embarrassed, she’ll just smile and nod. Bonus: Ask her if she’d like you to sign the copy for her.
(2) Find a child between the age of six and twelve. Offer to pay them ten dollars to interrupt you during a conversation, hold out your book, and ask for your autograph. Bonus: If said child is older than ten, offer them an additional five dollars to relay this prepared statement: “I thought the character arc of your protagonist was really well developed,” plus an additional five dollars if they can further memorize, “and the inciting incident was perfectly staged.”
(3) Set your iphone alarm to ring every twenty minutes. Pack it with a copy of your book and other items into a fancy leather satchel, and carry it around with you as you mingle. When the alarm goes off, dig frantically through your bag to find it. After several rings, finally roll your eyes with frustration, and pull out the book, along with your sunglasses and a package of tissues, and hand each item to your acquaintance while you fish out your phone. Give him an apologetic but grateful look as you excuse yourself to take the call. Step away and fake a conversation with your publisher. Bonus, walk to your car while on the fake phone call and reload your bag with another book so that you don’t have to reclaim the first one for the next alarm.
(4) While attending a happy hour at a restaurant or bar, sneak away and pull the fire alarm. Exit the building with the rest of the irritated patrons (no one likes to leave an unfinished drink), and walk to your car. Open the trunk to reveal a keg, and pour yourself a beer into a red plastic party cup, the universally accepted indicator of “keg in the vicinity.” Reach into a box filled with your novels, and pull out a book. Pretend to read it as you sip your beer, glancing up occasionally to make eye-contact with other patrons lingering in the parking lot. As they notice your beer and walk over, offer them a cup, as well as a copy of your book. (This has a 100% hit rate. Look up the social norm of Reciprocity. They won’t take the beer without the book.) Bonus: tell them the book is free, but could they kindly donate $5 for the beer?
(5) I saved this one for last, as it’s a bit more involved. But don’t be intimidated by the preparation. It’s worth it, believe me.
Step 1. Ahead of the party: Purchase a bottle of Baileys Irish Crème Espresso liqueur. Pour the liqueur down the sink (or down the hatch, whichever you prefer), and replace the contents with a bottle of milk of magnesia plus four shots of espresso. Do not use decaf espresso.
Step 2. Early into the party: visit the guest bathroom, and remove the magazines from the rack. Replace the magazines with a copy of your book. Place a toilet paper square between the pages as a bookmark for an authentic look. Find an additional roll of toilet paper and set nearby. Bonus: sneak into the remaining bathrooms in the house, and place your book in arms-reach of the commode.
Step 3. Just before dinner is served: Pull out the tampered bottle of Baileys and hold it up as you call out, “time for a pre-dinner appetite stimulant!” Pour double shots for everyone and lift your own into the air. Propose a toast to good health and lifetime happiness. (Extra hint for those not following the plot: pretend to drink your shot.)
Step 4. Wait thirty to sixty minutes.
Good luck with trying these out. I hope you’ll find them as effective as I did!
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