Self-promotion or self-delusion?

As it got closer to the time when my book-launch is planned, I went looking for a book distributor. They all said, ‘can you send us your sales and marketing plan, and also your publicity plan’.

I’m sorry, what? My what?

I’ve never written a sales and marketing plan. I’m an ex-teacher and now a writer. Where does sales and marketing come into that? I’ve never been good at self-promotion. I’m good at talking up someone else, but not myself. I’d rather sneak in the back door and do what needs doing, than jump up and down, rah-rah-ing my own work. Besides, what if it’s not that good. What if my book gets terrible reviews, and I am derided for thinking it’s better than it is? How embarrassing!

Let’s face it, I’m just a minnow in a HUGE ocean of other authors. Authors who have been writing for far longer than me; who have a grasp of story arc; who understand the rules of grammar, (I was away the day they taught the use of the apostrophe). 

But I’m quite proud of my little book. I think it’s the best I’ve written. So, I’ve hired a publicist, and she’s going to be arranging interviews, reviews, and promotions. Scary stuff.

I heard Hilary Barry refer to ‘self-promotion or self-delusion’. It struck a chord with me. I like the ‘Imposter Syndrome’ too. Who, really, do I think I am? Well, I’m a wife, mother, grandmother several times over, member of a great community, singer in a community choir, and a holder of a vast array of memories. My books are my legacy.

Deluded? No, I don’t think so. We’ve all got a story to tell, whether it’s in a poem, or a painting; a photograph or a song. Mine just happens to be in a novel.

For those who are interested the book launch of ‘The Other Side of the World’ will be on Friday 1st October, 5.30pm at Matakana Village Books.  Hope to see you there.