I’ve been sending this press release out to the papers.  It was published last weekend in the Sunday Observer’s literary pages (Bookends).

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contraband Set for Release in April

Contraband, the debut novel by Jamaican writer J.L. Campbell, will be released on April 2nd by Nevaeh Publishing, which is based in Georgia.

Set on the fictional island of Xantrope, Contraband follows the adventures of drug runner, Paul Weekes, who does whatever is necessary to survive.   On the fast but illegal road to riches, a trusted ally betrays him and his life spirals into chaos.

The complications extend to his love life, and he falls into a web of extortion, kidnapping, and murder. Weekes is forced to make a choice between trafficking in illicit drugs and keeping his loved ones alive.

The novel will be distributed by Baker & Taylor, Inc and Ingram Book Company.  It will also be available in Jamaica, as well as through the Nevaeh Publishing web site and Amazon.com.  The genre is contemporary fiction.

A second book by the same author, entitled Dissolution, will be published in October 2010.  Dissolution will be marketed as general fiction.
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Today I called back the printery.  I wasn’t satisfied with the book markers. I ordered them with rounded edges for a reason – so that the paper would be sealed inside, hence no risk of peeling.  Well, based on how they were done, a few of them have peeled, so the rep said to bring them back if they continue to do that.

If you missed me blasting it on Facebook, my article on Contraband’s release date came out in yesterday’s Sunday Observer ( Bookends).  I gave them a head start because they publish my short stories.  The editor also wants to do an interview once the book comes out.

Today, I got a list of local papers and sent out the press release to a few of them.  I’ll continue to do this for the rest of the week.

I’m thinking that I need to put a folder together where I track what I’m doing each day to market Contraband.  Maybe I’ll use the diary from last year that I only wrote in a couple of times. After all, I do have two other projects that will be printed this year and I’ll have do these things again and again.

There are also the activities I need to remember to do each day, like follow up with my publisher on a question I asked last week.   I’m weighing my mind on whether to do a Facebook ad this month.  I do want to up the count on my fan page, but I also need to keep in mind that I’m on a limited-to-non-existent budget.

And on that note, I do have some good news.  I’ll definitely have to import copies of the book for the smaller bookstores, as they don’t order online.  Knowing I won’t have the money to order the quantity I’d like to invest in, I gathered my courage and spoke to someone who I thought would be receptive to the idea.  I explained that he’d make a profit on the venture from the sales.  That he would fund the purchase of the books didn’t surprise me.  What did, was when he said in his cockney accent, “It’s okay.  I just want me money back.”

The point of that little story is not to assume anything.

Ask and you shall receive.