One day I’m not home. ONE. DAY.
Ah, the glamorous life of a kidlit author!
Truth be told, that sink is almost always full of dirty dishes…and the day was somewhat glamorous…as I appeared at an Eastern PA SCBWI event.
During the “squibby” shindig at the Bethlehem Area Public Library, an attendee asked me what the best book marketing methods were. I answered honestly: I DO NOT KNOW. (I wish I did.)
There are a multitude of things I do to promote my work, but I really have no way to gauge the effectiveness of any of it. Sometimes I will show up to a book reading and stare at this…
…and think it has been a total disaster. I go home to a pile of dirty dishes and cry.
But I forget the efforts to market the event—my books that sat in the window display for weeks, the mentions in the paper, the little things that helped to promote the unfortunate empty-seat syndrome. It was just dumb luck that the event occurred on the first sunny weekend in October and everyone went pumpkin picking instead. (Hey, can you blame them?) So I do not know how all that publicity actually fared in the long run. I may never know. And so, I keep plugging away.
So today, I have for you WAY PAST BEDTIME Pre-Order Prize Packs.
WAY PAST BEDTIME features a precocious hero who’s determined to stay up late. Joseph imagines a party of epic proportions going on and he doesn’t want to miss all the frivolous fun.
Kirkus Reviews says, “It’s not all DJ dance parties and hot-fudge fountains when parents stay up late…or is it? Forget staying up to wait for Santa Claus. After reading this, kids will clamor to investigate someone a little closer to home.”
If you pre-order WAY PAST BEDTIME before the release on April 25, leave a comment below stating so. (This is on the honor system. No need to send me a receipt. I will believe you.)
You will then be entered to win one of THREE PRIZE PACKS.
Grand Prize Pack:
- Edu Science 3D Night-Sight Goggles
- Sleeping Emoji Pillow
- Superhero cape
- Three Signed & Personalized Books
- 45-minute SKYPE visit (with your child’s class or your class if you teach)
Two Runner-Up Prize Packs:
- Two Signed & Personalized Books
- 45-minute SKYPE visit (with your child’s class or your class if you teach)
You can preorder a signed copy by calling my local indie, The Bookworm at 908-766-4599.
Or you can order via your favorite local or online bookseller. The choice is yours.
Leave your comment below confirming your order—with one comment per pre-order made—and you will be entered to win.
Winners announced on release day, April 25!
GOOD LUCK!
18 comments
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April 3, 2017 at 10:59 am
Angie
And still we keep on going, right? What a rough day for you! Can’t wait to read your new book. Congratulations!
April 3, 2017 at 11:04 am
danielledufayet
Being a writer is a tough business and marketing just piles on a whole new challenging dimension! I’m excited to read this book. It looks really fun and kid-friendly. Congrats!
April 3, 2017 at 11:10 am
caron
Love that you show the “dirty dishes” side of author life. And adore the cover of the new book, Tara. (One of my favorite empty seat syndromes was when I was competing with a re-enactment of Paul Revere’s ride literally outside the bookstore. Book vs. HORSE! I didn’t even want to be at my reading:)
April 3, 2017 at 11:14 am
Lindsay Leslie
Oh, this book will give my kiddos lots of ideas, so I ordered it! 😉 We look forward to reading.
April 3, 2017 at 11:14 am
Claire Bobrow
That sink looks very familiar.
Can’t wait to read your new book – congratulations!! This isn’t a contest entry, though, because I don’t want to deprive other folks of the fabulous classroom visit opportunity. (My youngest is about to finish high school).
And when you figure out that marketing thing, please share 🙂
April 3, 2017 at 11:25 am
Sharon Lukasik
Next Fall, why not hold a book review at a pumpkin patch? My book about WWII life in a small Texas town also includes scenes in the POW Camp that was at Hearne, Texas. I hope to hold a reading at one of its historical society’s living history events. Just some random thoughts. Have a blessed day. http://www.sharonlukasik.com.
April 3, 2017 at 11:29 am
Sheri Radovich
What fun to have another book coming out. I will certainly look for it and tell me, does the author do all the work on book sales and marketing or does the illustrator ever get involved as he gets a big cut of sales, too. Do illustrators of your books come along or do their own selling and drawing somewhere?
April 3, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Tara Lazar
Yes, the illustrators do promo, too, but it can vary depending upon several factors. Illustrating a book takes a lot of time and they may have several projects on deadline when the book is releaased. Also, some of my illustrators have been from outside America, so they cannot do appearances. Really, a lot rides with the author…but not all.
April 3, 2017 at 11:36 am
Darcie Durr
I am going to pre-order your book. We love all Tara Lazar books at our house! (My 3-year old is especially taken with Little Red Gliding Hood. He guffaws at Old McDonald’s EIEI-Ouch, ever
y time!)
April 3, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Tara Lazar
Haha, I do, too. Gets me every time.
April 3, 2017 at 11:42 am
Donna L Martin
I am so excited for you and all your lovely books, Tara! Keep them coming!!
April 3, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Amber
Going to pre-order now! My class had so much fun Skyping with you earlier this year and would love to do it again with this book!
April 3, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Anne Bromley
Congratulations,Tara! Another book for so many to love. All the best to you.
April 3, 2017 at 3:09 pm
mariagianferrari
These look great!! Congrats, Tara!! Just shared on FB!!
April 3, 2017 at 3:12 pm
Emmie R Werner
LOVE THE TITLE! My granddaughter and I —she is 10, had a bet she could stay up all night. Her parents sent her to bed! 🙂
April 3, 2017 at 3:50 pm
julieannegrassobooks
You know we love your books, so we’ve pre-ordered and look forward to when it wings its way down to OZ. Huge congrats….
April 4, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Emily Eberts
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read your latest book!
April 4, 2017 at 11:02 pm
seschipper
can’t wait to “stay up” and read your latest book!!!!!! 🙂