So, how was January?
I hope you’ve all survived the cold weather (unless you’re on the other side of the planet, in which case I hope you’re enjoying your summer). This month I’ve been gearing up for publication of The Florentine. Thomas Walker has been working on the cover, you can see his original concept below. It’s just for layout purposes, using stock images, keep checking my social media feeds to see the final design when it’s revealed this month.
In January I also started “the hustle”, by which I mean emailing book bloggers, newspapers, magazines, trying to get them to review the book or write an article on self-publishing (featuring quotes from me, obviously). I’ve had luck in the past with a local group of newspapers and will be speaking to them nearer to publication, and some book bloggers who often review my work, as well as new ones.
If you want to read the last interview I did with a newspaper, you can check out the very sparse press page on my website. I’ve been kicking myself for years that I didn’t download a copy of the interview I did on Latest TV before they removed it from their YouTube channel.
Press — Tom Trott — tomtrott.com
As for the bigger fish (Guardian Books, TLS, Bookseller, etc.), I might try the Andy Dufresne technique and write them one email a week. You can’t have any shame or modesty as a self-published author, and the most you’re going to do is annoy someone. Give self-published books a chance, that’s what I say.
And, last but not least, I’ve made The Florentine available for pre-order, so if you missed my last email, visit tomtrott.com/tf/buy now!
Don’t forget, I post writing extracts most weeks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, so follow me there if you want to get a glimpse into what I’m writing next.
All my best,
Tom
