This week I have mainly been .... sending out an e-mail newsletter about my new book, to as many people as possible. I enjoyed writing the newsletter, but the process of sending it out hasn't been as straightforward as I hoped (nothing ever is, I suppose!). I had to teach myself a few new 'tricks' - like sending out to 'undisclosed recipients', with all the e-mail addresses in the 'BCC' line, to protect everyone's privacy. Then, of course, quite a few bounced back, either because people's e-mail addresses have changed, or their in-boxes were full, or their internet provider didn't like the look of my 'spam' message!
The newsletter includes a competition to win a signed copy of the new book - 'Tales from a Honeymoon Hotel' - which will be published on 2 July. Here are the details of the competition in case you'd like to have a go:
Q. Gemma and Andy are one of the three couples featured in 'Tales from a Honeymoon Hotel'. What are the names of the other two couples? (First names only are needed).
You can find the answer to the question on my website: www.oliviaryan.com - and to enter, you need to send a message on the website's 'Contact Me' page, before midnight on the publication date. Title your message: 'Competition', give your answer, your name and e-mail address. Also your postal address, to send your prize if you win! - it won't be used for any other purpose.
I'll send a signed copy of 'Tales from a Honeymoon Hotel' to the sender of the first correct answer, drawn at random after the closing date. (UK only). Good luck!
I'll announce the winner on this blog as well as notifying them personally of course.
Now my next important task is preparing for a couple of talks I'm going to be doing at local libraries during the next few weeks. I'm not quite as nervous about this sort of thing now as I was when I first started, and don't now need to have the whole talk written out, in case I freeze up! But I like to have some notes to refer to, so I don't forget any of the stuff I want to talk about. So that's my main job for this week.
Hope you all have a good week!
The thought of giving a talk anywhere brings me out in a cold sweat. I occasionally have to do presentations for work and that has the same effect and these are people that I know. Is it easier when it's strangers?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the book publication. I'm sure it'll be a huge success.
Thank you, Gonna Be. I'll be quite happy even if it's slightly, relatively, successful! Yes - I think you're right, it's easier doing a talk when it's to strangers. When I was still working at the hospital, when my first novel was published, they asked me to do a talk to the staff about how I'd got published - all the doctors, nurses & secretaries etc, who I knew really well, were in the audience and I did find that difficult! And as for my first live radio interview - I think that was the most scary thing ever!
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