Allen & Unwin fiction promotion: May – June 2008
April 26th 2008 02:07
Those of us who write fiction are inclined to stuff our fingers in our ears and go ‘lalalalala’ when we’re told that ‘fiction doesn’t sell.’ Given how much fiction I read personally, and that I have to make do without a market research team at my beck and call, I have to rely on those who know better for my data on this matter. It is also abhorrently difficult to hear this when I know, as I know the texture of my children’s skin, that part of the reason I am here, is to write stories.
It took me ten years on and off to write my first novel, The Dreamcloth which sold a staggering 1800 copies in South Africa. My publisher there was ‘very pleased’ with the sales. I worked out that for every year of writing, I got 180 readers. Which works out to about 0.49 readers for every day of those ten years. Really, it was just as well I didn’t give up my day job back then.
But now my day job is writing.
So we’ve got to improve on those figures, otherwise my daughter will not be going to that private high school next year on which she has set her prepubescent heart.
Contrary to the deepest anxieties of my parents, I’ve been fortunate enough to fall in with a very good crowd. Or perhaps just a rather cunning marketing plan by my publisher (I’ll just point out that Allen & Unwin have been voted Publisher of the Year by Australian Booksellers in 1992 - the inaugural award - 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007).
Being just the writer, the newborn of my writing labour is whipped away by the neonatal marketing and publicist team and I am left to pray with the singular angst of the biological mother, that the adoptive carers will treasure it and help it find its feet in the world.
Allen & Unwin have not disappointed. They have been working generously to promote a handful of its author with new books of fiction coming out between May and June 2008. The campaign is called VIVID: WRITING TO STIR THE IMAGINATION.
In addition to a website dedicated to the campaign (www.vividfiction.com.au); a trailer promoting nine new books (of which my new novel is one), they have printed 10 000 free samplers which will be distributed in bookshops throughout Australia containing the first chapters of each book. In addition, if you buy one of the books, you can get another one free. Personally, I think this is pretty cool and I hope you will all rush out to buy at least a couple on the list.
In addition to Things Without A Name, the other books on the list are:
The Stranding by Karen Viggers
A beautifully told story of loss and recovery, exile and belonging, and the redemptive power of the natural world.
Texas by Sarah Hay
The compelling new novel of life, land and love in the Top End.
The Great Arch by Vicki Hastrich
A deeply moving novel linking two centuries, two world wars and two generations inspired by the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Musk & Byrne by Fiona Capp
A tumultuous and enthralling historical drama/romance set in the 19th century Victorian goldfields.
Dark Mountain by Catherine Jinks
Based on a true story this is a compelling and intriguing family saga - a novel of closely guarded family secrets, public shame and private passion.
Beneath the Bloodwood Tree by Julienne van Loon
A tightly-woven tale of ghosts, death, love, and dislocation.
One Foot Wrong by Sofie Laguna
A brilliant first novel of profound depth, startling originality and breathtaking talent.
Bright Air by Barry Maitland
A new fast-paced and nail-biting stand-alone mystery from the master of crime writing, Barry Maitland
If you count the literary awards amongst these writers, they number about five, and there are even more whose previous writings have been shortlisted for literary awards – in short, these are all astonishingly talented writers who can all tell a bloody fabulous story.
Within the next few weeks, I hope to issue an invitation to all Sydney-based Orblers (but those who wish to fly in from foreign destinations are also most welcome) to attend the launch of Things without A Name which will be on 7 June 2008.
In the meantime, look out for the bright pink and orange samplers, and be inspired to stock up on some stories for the long winter months ahead.
www.joannefedler.com
It took me ten years on and off to write my first novel, The Dreamcloth which sold a staggering 1800 copies in South Africa. My publisher there was ‘very pleased’ with the sales. I worked out that for every year of writing, I got 180 readers. Which works out to about 0.49 readers for every day of those ten years. Really, it was just as well I didn’t give up my day job back then.
But now my day job is writing.
So we’ve got to improve on those figures, otherwise my daughter will not be going to that private high school next year on which she has set her prepubescent heart.
Contrary to the deepest anxieties of my parents, I’ve been fortunate enough to fall in with a very good crowd. Or perhaps just a rather cunning marketing plan by my publisher (I’ll just point out that Allen & Unwin have been voted Publisher of the Year by Australian Booksellers in 1992 - the inaugural award - 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007).
Being just the writer, the newborn of my writing labour is whipped away by the neonatal marketing and publicist team and I am left to pray with the singular angst of the biological mother, that the adoptive carers will treasure it and help it find its feet in the world.
Allen & Unwin have not disappointed. They have been working generously to promote a handful of its author with new books of fiction coming out between May and June 2008. The campaign is called VIVID: WRITING TO STIR THE IMAGINATION.
Viction fiction
In addition to a website dedicated to the campaign (www.vividfiction.com.au); a trailer promoting nine new books (of which my new novel is one), they have printed 10 000 free samplers which will be distributed in bookshops throughout Australia containing the first chapters of each book. In addition, if you buy one of the books, you can get another one free. Personally, I think this is pretty cool and I hope you will all rush out to buy at least a couple on the list.
In addition to Things Without A Name, the other books on the list are:
The Stranding by Karen Viggers
A beautifully told story of loss and recovery, exile and belonging, and the redemptive power of the natural world.
The Stranding
Texas by Sarah Hay
The compelling new novel of life, land and love in the Top End.
Texas
The Great Arch by Vicki Hastrich
A deeply moving novel linking two centuries, two world wars and two generations inspired by the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Great Arch
Musk & Byrne by Fiona Capp
A tumultuous and enthralling historical drama/romance set in the 19th century Victorian goldfields.
Musk & Byrne
Dark Mountain by Catherine Jinks
Based on a true story this is a compelling and intriguing family saga - a novel of closely guarded family secrets, public shame and private passion.
Dark Mountain
Beneath the Bloodwood Tree by Julienne van Loon
A tightly-woven tale of ghosts, death, love, and dislocation.
Beneath the Bloodwood Tree
One Foot Wrong by Sofie Laguna
A brilliant first novel of profound depth, startling originality and breathtaking talent.
One Foot Wrong
Bright Air by Barry Maitland
A new fast-paced and nail-biting stand-alone mystery from the master of crime writing, Barry Maitland
Bright Air
If you count the literary awards amongst these writers, they number about five, and there are even more whose previous writings have been shortlisted for literary awards – in short, these are all astonishingly talented writers who can all tell a bloody fabulous story.
Within the next few weeks, I hope to issue an invitation to all Sydney-based Orblers (but those who wish to fly in from foreign destinations are also most welcome) to attend the launch of Things without A Name which will be on 7 June 2008.
In the meantime, look out for the bright pink and orange samplers, and be inspired to stock up on some stories for the long winter months ahead.
www.joannefedler.com
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
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Techbreak
What kind of sales are you targeting?
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
My book Secret Mothers Business (non-fiction) sold about 8 000 copies in Australia, also healthy, and has sold in five other countries and been translated into 3 languages.
The new book, being fiction has a print run of about 5000 copies. I guess anything around 4000 copies would make my publisher happy. The idea, of course, is to sell hundreds of thousands of copies. It's all in the marketing. Apart from a handful of truly magnificent books whose literary merit and genius is incontestable, I think writing success is 99% marketing. I have nothing against Bryce Courtney and Jodi Picoult, but there are many much more talented writers out there who don't have the same success as they do.
Jo
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Jayne Kearney
Writers In Writing (and other writing)
Sounds as if Allen & Unwin have a fabulous idea here. Of course, Things Without A Name is on top of my list and I rather like the sound of One Foot Wrong by Sofie Laguna
"A brilliant first novel of profound depth, startling originality and breathtaking talent." Now that's the type of marketing blurb that gets me in. My eyes shall be peeled (or is it 'pealed'?) for the promotion.
Shall be wishing for big, big sales for you (and your daughter - haha)
Jayne