Taking Care of Business Panel Prize Pack

 

    Book Marketing Basics: The 5 Ps a book by Jodie Toohey, a local author in my neck of the woods (eastern Iowa & western Illinois). Active in the Midwest Writing Center as a past president and frequent workshop leader, she went back to school for her MBA. I’d be willing to bet that book marketing and promotions were high on her agenda even then.

    Her book came out in February 2019, and I bought my copy in November of that year. I’m sure it was dated even then. The publishing world was changing so fast that keeping up with new platforms and the new possibilities they offered would be impossible for a printed book. Which is why this was the only marketing book on my bookshelf when I went looking for information for the panel “Taking Care of Business.”

    I read through this and saw that basics count as much today as yesterday. This is why I wanted copies of Toohey’s book. Anyone can read through this work for ideas to try, for directions of pursuit, and come away with the encouragement to find innovative solutions in today’s world of global marketing.

    My personal story here involves my first efforts of going out into the field armed with my pitch for placing my first Bishop Hill Mystery book in area stores and shops and being successful. I was quite pleased but unprepared for the business manager’s request for an invoice. She wanted an invoice with duplicates no less. I was caught off guard and had to make wimpy excuses while I desperately tried to think of a way to finish the sale. I drove twelve miles to the nearest town and was lucky enough to find what I needed at a Walmart. I was saved and learned a valuable lesson: Prepare to Succeed. That would be my suggestion for a sixth P should Toohey update her book on marketing basics. I’ve included a pad of invoices with carbonless copies in my prize package for that reason.