The Future of Promotion, an Interview with Canadian Speculative Fiction Author
M.D. Benoit
M. D. Benoit has been writing for over ten years. Metered Space was her first published novel. The next Jack Meter Case File in the series, Meter Made, came out in November 2005. A third Jack Meter novel, Meter Destiny, is scheduled to come out in 2008, and her current novel, an SF story on genetic warfare entitled Synergy, is just out from Zumaya Otherworlds. M. D. also writes reviews of SF novels for The Eternal Night, an online SF Review site from the UK.
M. D. is promoting Synergy with a virtual book tour and online launch. We thought the idea sounded so intriguing, we had to find out all about it.
The Scriptorium: We're so pleased to be able to talk to you about your new novel, Synergy, which is just out from Zumaya Otherworlds. Can you tell us what the story is about?
M.D. Benoit: Thanks for having me. The story is set in Ottawa, Canada, in 2096. Cloning, accelerated growth of replacement organs, DNA repair are all possible, but forbidden by law. Three people will defy these laws to save the life of a young child. But, once developed, the cure can also be used as a gene-specific weapon. The question becomes, is the life of one child worth the potential of unleashing a reign of terror?
TS: That sounds fascinating! Now, you've decided to do a "virtual" book tour and book launch for the novel. How does that work?
MDB: Virtual book tours are far from new. Many companies are now set up to do it for you, but they're extremely expensive. Since I'm a poor, emerging writer, I decided to ape the big guys. I contacted 10 bloggers I knew and asked them if they would host me and my book on their blog for one day. They can do what they want, and it will result in book reviews, discussions about the themes in the book, characters, interviews, and other cool things. The tour spans two weeks (a bit like a real book tour) and will culminate with the official virtual book launch for Synergy.
At the same time, I'll promote my hosts and their blog on my own blog and my launch site to give them more exposure. I found that it was a lot easier approaching people I'd already met through other communities such as LiveJournal or MySpace.
TS: So you've done a lot of the work yourself?
MDB: I did all the work myself, except for setting up the website for the virtual book launch, which is at http://mdbenoit.com/synergy, although I'm responsible for the content. Then my hosts are also doing some work, plugging the tour before hand. I have fantastic people who agreed to be my hosts.
TS: What gave you the idea to do it all virtually, and was it difficult to find support for your plan?
MDB: My publisher, Zumaya Otherworlds, is small and didn't have the funds to send me on a physical book tour, so I thought I could do it virtually. The advantage of doing it virtually is that you have the potential of reaching the whole world instead of hitting a few cities. I know that on my blog, I have people visiting from the UK, Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong, South America, the US and Canada. Those are the people I want to reach. It would be impossible to do so physically.
TS: How does your publisher, Zumaya, feel about the project?
MDB: They're very excited. I'm the first one from Zumaya doing it, and I think they're using me as a test case *grin*. I must say I definitely know more about promotion, now. Elizabeth Burton, Zumaya's Editor-in-Chief, has been helping me with my press releases, with the blurbs on my website, etc. I also can cry on her shoulder whenever I want. We use IM almost daily, so I can solve problems with her as they occur.
TS: It seems that many writers, especially speculative fiction writers, are doing more and more work on their own to promote their projects. Do you think this "entrepreneurial spirit" is becoming a necessity in the current publishing climate?
MDB: I think it's the reality of things. Even big publishers have little money for beginning and mid-list writers, preferring to keep it for large advances to best sellers. So if you want to get your name out there (it's all about name recognition, not selling books), you have to think creatively and put in the effort. The trick is to do it on budget when you're on one. You can spend thousands of dollars promoting and you're not guaranteed a return. Word-of-mouth is still the most powerful book seller, and that's why you have to get your name out there.
I think that the authors who don't think globally will eventually be left behind. That means you might need to learn new skills and learn a new language.
TS: Do you think that SF/F writers are ahead of the curve on this? I'm thinking of things like James Patrick Kelly's Free Reads, Bruce Holland Rogers' Short-Shorts subscriptions, and Cory Doctorow's simultaneous print/free ebook publishing projects. You seem to be on the same track.
MDB: They're my heroes! It surprises me how so many SF/F writers are Luddites and eschew technology. There's an entire new movement, heck an almost tsunami, called open source and Web2. With open source, people write software, develop whole technologies, web templates, take pictures, and offer them for free on the internet. With Creative Commons, it's extended to text and music. Web2 is the whole "second generation of Web-based services—such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies—that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users," (from Wikipedia) where people exchange information, and acquire credibility not because of their credentials, but because of their following and the accuracy of what they're saying. That's why blogs are such a powerful force, today, from influencing politics to mega companies. The world is changing, and if you don't embrace its new configuration, it'll leave you in its dust.
TS: So, what's next on your project list?
MDB: I'm focusing on my book launch, next, on 15-16 April, from 8pm-8am EST. I'm trying to hit every country around the world in the afternoon or evening, hence the overnighter. Then I'll be preparing for the physical book launch, in May, here in Ottawa, for friends, family, and other generous people whom I can embarrass enough that they'll buy Synergy.
After that, back to writing! It's taken me two months to set this up, working almost full time. I'll look forward to getting back to my work-in-progress.
TS: Do you think you'll consider doing something similar to launch and promote your next book?
MDB: The structure is all there, and I've learned a lot, so I'd say yes. It was a lot of work but I also had a lot of fun. If it turns out that people actually show up, I'll be doing the chair dance.
TS: Well, thanks so much for telling us all about this, and good luck with the tour and the book.
MDB: Thanks for those great questions. If anyone would like to pick my brain in more details about my experience, please feel free to do so. You can reach me at mdbenoit (at) gmail (dot) com.
