Shining the Book Promotion Spotlight on YA ... - Book Marketing Buzz

Christopher Cloud began writing children?s fiction after a long career in journalism and public relations. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1967 with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist for newspapers in Texas, California, and Missouri. His work has appeared in many national publications, including Time Magazine. He was employed by Sun Oil Company as a Public Relations executive, and later operated his own PR agency.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Cloud/144889658941239

Welcome to Book Marketing Buzz, Christopher.? Can we begin by having you tell us a little about your book?

A Boy Called Duct Tape tells the story of Pablo Perez, a 12-year-old kid without much going for him. His classmates have dubbed him ?Duct Tape? because his tattered, discount-store sneakers are held together with?you guessed it, duct tape. He can?t escape the bullying.

Pablo?s fortunes turn, however, after he finds a $20 gold coin on the river bottom while swimming near his home. Pablo later buys a $1 treasure map at the county fair. The map shows the route to the legendary ?lost treasure? of Jesse and Frank James. Pablo can?t help but wonder: Is there a link between the map and the gold coin? He, his sister, and cousin are determined to find out.

What is the first thing you did to promote your book once your publisher accepted your manuscript?

Retaining a good publicist will go a long way toward finding a home for your novel.

If you had to pick just one book marketing tool that you?ve used to promote your book, which would you say has been the most effective?

A Boy Called Duct Tape features Latino characters, and it only makes sense to target literary bloggers who reach the Latino community.

Do you do more promoting online or offline and which do you prefer?

Online.

Do you use social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to promote your books and have you had any success with it?

Yes, I am promoting A Kid Called Duct Tape on Facebook even as we speak. Publicity is fickle. One never knows where the Publicity God will take you after a posting on Facebook. It?s all about exposure.

Do you own a blog and how often do you update it?? Did you set up your blog solely to promote your book and what is its effectiveness?

Until recently, I wrote an Op-Ed column for the Joplin Globe. I write fiction four or five hours every day, and I simply don?t have time to write a blog.

Do you recommend authors getting publicists to help them promote their books?? Do you have one?

Absolutely, and yes, I have one. A good publicist is worth his or her weight in gold. It?s all about having the right media contacts. Speaking for myself, I am swimming in uncharted waters. A good publicist can help me chart a more successful course. In the end, however, you must have a good story. A good story will always find a home.

If an author prefers to do it alone rather than hire a publicist, where should they start?

It?s all about target audiences, and a writer should isolate these markets. A Kid Called Duct Tape, for example, has a primary audience of Latino boys between the ages of 9-13, and a secondary audience of middle-grade readers, in general. Isolating literary blogs that reach your target audiences would be my best advice.

Thank you for coming, Christopher! ?We wish you much success!

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