They Got It! “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” is dedicated, in part, to the band, Los Lonely Boys, consisting of three Garza brothers. I sent each of them a copy to let them know what one of their fans has been up to. I am happy to report that they got their copies over Christmas. As for the fires around here, they have been put out and, while others around us lost their homes, our neighborhood remained unscathed – thankfully.

Fire! Follow-ups with potential reviewers for “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” yesterday resulted in one more ‘yes’ from the original 100 contacts. I also made an initial contact with three Texas newspapers’ Entertainment and Arts editors, hoping they would like to do a story on a new Texas author. We’ll wait and see. It didn’t cost anything to ask. In the meantime, grass fires have been raging to the east, north and west of our house here in North Texas. We can see and smell smoke from either ends of our road. People east of us are being evacuated and some have already lost their homes to fire. My husband says we’ll be all right. He’s watered the yard and roof of the house. And, thankfully, the winds have died down. But, there is no rain in the forecast for this tinderbox area for 10 days or more. Rain dance – anyone? All I know is that, if we have to evacuate, my laptop goes with me!!!

Monday, Monday Christmas was great! But, it’s time to get back to work on publicity for “Black Wolf: Lakota Man.” I have several contacts (about 80) to make regarding potential reviewers. Actually, they’re follow-up contacts. Then, I need to start a serious endeavor on a rewrite of the second book in my T′on Ma series, “Syân Kûy Joshua.” On top of this, my editors and I need to get cracking on editing “Black Wolf at Rosebud,” the second book in the Black Wolf series. I love this work. I really do.

Feliz Navidad! I’m taking a break today in blogging for “Black Wolf: Lakota Man.” Instead, I wish all a Merry Christmas. Notwithstanding the different religious connotations and the ‘political correctness’ required in today’s social mine fields regarding this time of year, I hope each one of you reading this finds happiness, good health, love and laughter. Feliz Navidad!

Press Kits This week has been filled with putting press kits together for “Black Wolf: Lakota Man.” My publicist has contacted 100 potential reviewers and, according to our deal, I am responsible for the follow-up. Any reviewers who agree to review the book (and there have been several so far) get a copy of the book along with a press release and a Q&A sheet with a cover letter and business card. I’m also in charge of e-mailing everyone who we don’t hear from the first time with follow-ups. Next week, the publicist is taking time off, but the week after that, I get another 100 names. A new 100 is sent every week for four weeks. I’m gonna be keeping my postman busy. All I can say is ‘thank goodness for on-line postage and pick-up scheduling.”

More Waiting The copies of “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” have started reaching their final destinations. So far, everyone is really happy with them. My webdesigner, Kirk Osburne, was pleased with the ‘team’ list where his website is mentioned on the dedication page. Besides him, I also listed my editors and cover illustrator. Getting “Black Wolf” ready really was a team effort. I’m hoping to hear from the publicist today about what was done yesterday on her end. I contacted a newspaper here in Texas Monday morning about running a story on “a new Texas author,” but haven’t heard back from them. So, I guess I’m in the waiting stage, but, hopefully, not for long. I don’t wait very well.

One Media Blitz Comin’ Up The copies of “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” made it out the door Friday. Since then, I’ve received a few more orders, which I can fill. But, I’m running out of copies. (What a wonderful problem to have!) My publicist says the ‘media blitz’ will start Monday. I am very curious to see what all that entails. I also have contact with one – count ‘em – one - newspaper that might be interested in a story from a local point of view. We’ll see how that goes. The worse that can happen is the reporter falls to the floor, helpless at the waves of laughter engulfing him at my naivety. (sigh)

Whew! My copies of “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” arrived early this afternoon. I spent 2+ hours printing on-line address labels with postage and delivery confirmation numbers. Another hour was spent taping labels to padded envelopes (I know, I know. I could have bought sticky labels, but am just too cheap). Then, when my poor husband got home, he had the privilege of opening the boxes of books and then stuffing each book into its envelope after I’d signed it. The trick was to keep the envelopes in zip code order. Whew! We now have three large boxes sitting by the side door for pick up by our postman this afternoon. Plus, hubby is going to the Post Office to mail a box of books to Germany. But, it’s done! There are a few stragglers (as in any operation this size), but they will be a minimal effort compared to this massive mailing. Now, let’s hope none of these babies get lost in the Christmas rush.

I Won! I Won! Blogexplosion is having a surfing contest where a winner is chosen each day for a certain time in December. “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” won $50 Tuesday, Dec. 13. Yipee! Happy Holidays to me. Thank you, Blogexplosion. I promise that I won’t spend it all in one place. (Okay, maybe, yes, I will.) I also received notification from UPS that three boxes of my book were shipped on Tuesday. I hope — oh how I hope — that they will arrive by Friday at the latest. Then, it will be Happy Holidays for a lot of people (except for maybe my postman).

Break Out the Stationery I expect my order of 100+ copies of “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” to come in before the end of this week. So, I finally got to break out my brand-spankledy new “Black Wolf Books” letterhead stationery. I’ve spent this afternoon composing and writing letters to enclose with everyone’s copy. Depending on what ‘group’ the recipient belongs to determined which letter they get. I belong to one forum that has been the impetus, encouragement and hands-on knowledge givers of how to get this book published. Another forum deals mainly with music and they have been a cheering section for me. Then there is the letter that goes to relatives. No matter which version of the letter I send to whom, though, it’s going to look beautiful. Those remarkable blue wolf eyes pop out the minute the letter is unfolded. Sweeeeeeeet.

Another POD Tip Another Printing On Demand (POD) tip that I’ve learned for self-publicizing “Black Wolf: Lakota Man,” involves Amazon. They have a way for self-published authors to list their books for sale. Amazon wants to have a certain number of copies in inventory and they charge 55% of sales. (Ouch. I guess that high percentage is to cover taking orders, shipping and handling.) On another topic altogether, congratulations to Los Lonely Boys on their Grammy nomination for “More Than Love.” They won last year for “Heaven.” Let’s make it two in a row!!!

Going International More orders are coming in for “Black Wolf: Lakota Man.” I started out the day by receiving an order for 15 books from a buyer in Germany! Woohoo. I know, I know. Small potatoes for those who are really into marketing and know what they’re doing. But for my first time out, I’m tickled. I guess, combined with my sales to Canada (1) and England (1), I’m officially an international selling author. (Thud! I haven’t even received my copies from the publisher yet.)

Google Your Book Now that marketing for “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” is beginning, I’m learning a few new tricks. Thought I’d pass them on, in case you don’t know about them. The trick for today is Google. They have a site available for listing POD books. http://books.google.com/ It’s free to list with them. You will need to have your book in PDF format so that they can scan it. To read how they handle the listing, click on this link. http://books.google.com/intl/en/googlebooks/ publisher.html Neat little tidbit, huh? And the price is sooooo right for someone who’s bank account is in an iron lung (mine!).

Help Me! I’m Spinning Now that “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” is ‘officially’ for sale, I find myself spinning in the middle of my den. I need to remember to do several things this week and am hoping my remaining two functioning brain cylinders will keep firing. First on the list is to contact my publicist. Upon her recommendation, we should wait to solicit reviews until I have the copies in hand. That won’t happen until the middle of this month…which puts us a few days away from Christmas. So, I need to ask her if it would be better to wait until after the first of the year to tackle that. Also, I need to find out from either the publisher or the publicist exactly how to hook up with Amazon’s ‘self-published’ section and to include my site on the Google ‘self-published’ links. The publisher has an agreement with Google, so I should be able to step right in on that. Just need to figure out how. And then there is the desperate need for me to take a serious look at who should be targeted for press releases locally. I’m in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, so there should be A LOT to choose from. My publicist will be a big help with that. The press release has been written, edited, edited again, given a final polish and is now ready to go. (At least that’s something I can cross off the list.) Coordinating getting the autographed copies of my book to my customers is also proving to be a very detail-oriented task. Dusted off Excel yesterday and started a spreadsheet for money in, Paypal fees, Cost of goods sold, etc., etc. Keeping straight who wants how many copies and whom they are to be made out too is also more detail. Not to mention addresses. Do I send all of the copies to the buyer, or does the buyer want me to mail each copy to other people as the buyer’s Christmas present? (Did I mention that I’m spinning?) That’s all I can think of right now. I’ve got an “oh, yeah” list – somewhere. I’ll find it in a minute. (Oh, yeah, still haven’t started holiday shopping, either.)

I’ve Been Activated! It's official! I am now a published author. After a week of enough twists and turns that would make a roller coaster aficionado jealous, I managed to land on my feet. The site selling “Black Wolf: Lakota Man” went active late this afternoon. The link: Trafford Publishing: "Black Wolf: Lakota Man" The site has several pages of excerpts to give readers the 'flavor' of the book. I am thrilled that I don't have to miss another weekend before Christmas. There are several people who want copies of the book to give as gifts. By the time the copies are printed up and then mailed through Canadian Customs, I should have copies by Dec. 15th or 16th. That will give me time to get them autographed and out to their owners in time for Christmas. If you ever want to see Murphy's Law alive and well, just try self-publishing! I no longer have 'the skin of my teeth,' or any fingernails from hanging by them so long. And, my last good nerve left the room screaming about a day and a half ago. But, it's all good. My next leg of this journey - publicity, looking for reviewers, book fairs. (Sigh - another straight-up learning curve.)