Shameless? Me? Here’s my card…

Before you ask, this isn’t a reference to my fellow blogger, Shameless, but to the act of publicising one’s book (this book. actually). Roger, known for his quick hitting (and witty) plugs on his blog has been an inspiration for me, so I’ve been jumping on the whole publicising thing with a mixture of bold enthusiasm, and sometimes self-loathing. I’m still not completely comfortable with self-promotion, but I’m learning to buy into a certain self-image to gain some confidence (which is harder than it sounds).

So, I’m turning into an opportunist. I’ve used our regular house-hunting chores to plug my book to those people kind enough to let us look around their properties, such as the lovely couple we met last weekend. They were avid readers and once they discovered I was getting published next year (or rather prompted by me going into a now automatic spiel of “I need a study or quiet place so I can do my writing”), they were instantly interested and I spent fifteen minutes or so chatting about the book and books in general. It was fun actually, and made light of the whole-horrible-house-hunting thing which can be a little depressing.

This isn’t the first time during house-hunting I’ve promoted the book. I was doing it way back in November, but back then I only mentioned it in passing. Now I seem to be telling people when it gets published, where it can pre-ordered, even a potted blurb to get them interested. Hell, I’ve turned into a walking advertisement for the book, and it doesn’t come out for a few more months yet. And to sell my soul even further and find that place inside that knows no shame, I’ve even got some business cards printed. It seems sensible that I have something to “hand-out” when anyone takes interest in the book. In September I’ll step up a gear by getting some bookmarks printed, advertising The Secret War. And then who knows what else I shall “stoop” to?

Seriously though, self-promotion is something most writers must do, and for those who want to run from the lime-light, it is perhaps the worst part of the business. I am currently cherry-picking those practises that keeps my integrity relatively intact, and stops me breaking out into a cold sweat, but I know that eventually even those avenues will be exhausted.

Until then, my wife and I are still house-hunting and will no doubt meet more people who will be interested in The Secret War, and I will no doubt smile the big smile when I drop them a hint that I’m a writer – and then the spiel will begin again.

And again.

And - mercilessly - again…


Now where did I put those business cards?