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Promotion 101 With S.W. Hubbard
Interview by Lorraine Bartlett
Guppy S.W. Hubbard is the author of the Frank Bennett mystery series from Pocket Books. With two books now out, Susan has had ample opportunity to sample the promotional waters and shares what she's learned.
LB: The Adirondack setting for your Frank Bennett mystery series is unique. Do you think that helps build interest in your work?
SWH: Definitely. It's a hook for people who have vacationed in the area and want to return via a book. It's also a hook for people who like to learn about new places they've never visited.
LB: How has your interaction with Book Clubs enhanced your writing career?
SWH: I love book groups! I love any opportunity that lets me interact with my audience and make an impression (hopefully positive). It really makes you stick in readers minds and they become loyal fans. Book groups are great because everyone buys your book to read it for the discussion (some borrow from the library, but that s good too). Also, they tend to have yummy treats at the meetings! I get most of my book groups through word-of-mouth, but recently I've been actively soliciting by circulating flyers and contacting American Association of University Women chapters. I'll also visit groups by conference call.
LB: Tell us about the Deadly Divas and how you became involved with them.
SWH: We're nice ladies who write about murder. The other Divas are Denise Swanson (a former Guppy when the group was young), Susan McBride, and Letha Albright. We do group signings together and have a whole routine with feather boas and tiaras. We mainly tell funny stories about the writing life--it's easier to carry a one-hour presentation in a group than solo. I had met Denise and Susan at Deadly Ink when I first got my book deal. Later, after seeing me in action on some other panels, they recruited me to be a Diva.
LB: How valuable is it to work with other writers to promote your books?
SWH: It's great. You have more fun, and you can share leads. If I get an opportunity to do a group event, I call some other writers I work with regularly and they do the same for me. If you put on a good event, people usually buy one of everyone' s books. And if no one comes, at least you have each other!
LB: This may sound like a frivolous question, but what kind of pen(s) do you use for signings?
SWH: I like those roller-ball pens because they have a nice smooth flow of ink.
LB: With the threat of identity theft ever present, do you sign your books differently than your official signature?
SWH: I never even thought of that. My legal name is not S.W. Hubbard, so it's not an issue, but frankly, I think the risk of someone copying your signature would be greater from a waiter or a gas station attendant than from someone who comes to one of my signings. Maybe Stephen King feels differently!
LB: You've got a terrific Web site. How has it helped you build your career?
SWH: It's a great reference tool. When I'm soliciting book groups or signings or interviews I can refer them to my Web site to read the first chapters of the book and learn more about me. And of course, it allows fans to get in touch with me (I love fan mail!) and to find out about my upcoming events, etc.
LB: You've held a couple of contests on your site. Do they help you build a data base of interested readers? How many entrants do you get for each contest? How often do you change the site's content?
SWH: Contests are a great way to drive people to the site and collect names for my database. I announce the contests on DorothyL and other lists I belong to, and also people just stumbling onto the site enter. I usually get about 60 to 100 entries for a contest. I'll be announcing a new one in September. Watch for it on the Guppy List. I try to update the site every three months or so. My webmistress is great and helps me come up with ideas, but I still have to write the content, which takes time.
LB: Do you have plans to write another series or a stand-alone mystery?
SWH: Yes, I have a few ideas floating around in my head. I have to work up proposals and see what my agent thinks of them.
LB: What kind of career-building advice have you received from your agent?
SWH: She doesn't push me to go in a particular direction--she knows you have to write what you love. But I won't proceed with these new projects if she doesn't feel confident she can sell them. The good thing is that I can get that feedback from her on a proposal now, and not have to write the entire manuscript.
LB: As a writer, where do you see your career taking you five years from now?
SWH: I don't think my career will take me anywhere if I don't set the course and do the driving. I'm learning this is a very tough business. Success is part luck, but mostly hard work. I'm trying to learn as much as possible about the business end of publishing so I can use that to my advantage. I think it's silly to be one of these writers who whines about how unfair the world is and how publishers and agents are greedy. No one is in business to lose money--there's nothing wrong with publishers wanting to publish books that sell. My goal is to make a living as a novelist. It will take time, but having come this far, I have to believe I can do it.
Let me close by thanking all the Guppies. The group has been a great support to me in every stage of my development as a writer. I still really enjoy the discussions on this list. I don't always have the time to participate as much as I once did, but all Guppies should feel free to contact me on list or off if they have a question or need advice. I m happy to repay the group for all the invaluable support I've received.
Visit Susan's Web site at: http://www.swhubbard.com/
Lorraine Bartlett © 2004
This article originally appeared in First Draft, September 2004
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