Publishing and Promoting

by Linda O. Johnston

            Last month was a busy one for me.  I spent a lot of it doing what novel writers gotta do: write and promote. 

 

            I once thought that writers just wrote, but thanks to the publication of a nice number of books I learned that part of the requirement--and fun--is to promote.

 

            And so, I did a lot last month to let the world know about the launch of my third Barkery & Biscuits Mystery, Bad to the Bone, published by Midnight Ink. 

 

            I talked about it on my usual blogs, and also went on a Great Escapes blog tour.  I visited libraries.  I visited book stores.  I encouraged reviews.  But none of this sounds new to those of you reading this who also happen to be writers.

 

            I also had a June 1 deadline for turning in the manuscript for Barkery book #4.  Its title isn't established yet, but I did meet the deadline despite some health issues, so I'm glad about that.  And those of you reading this who also happen to be writers also know a lot about deadlines.

 

            One would think that, as with any career, learning what to do to could get stale with time.  But that's one fun thing about being a novelist.  Things may be the same, but they're also different.  We meet lots of people, in person and online.  We're always plotting, so our minds are never inactive. 

 

            And then, when the latest book comes out, we celebrate, in lots of ways--which of course includes those elements of promotion.

 

            So Happy June to all of you.  And may it be productive in your own plotting, promoting, reading, and everything else you do!