Novels 'n' Newspapers

Happy Friday! I'm pleased to welcome Stephen Tremp to my blog today, talking about strategies he used to get coverage for his novels in newspapers -- great information!

Take it away, Stephen.

Thanks Talli for hosting me again! You hosted me on my Breakthroug Blog Tour and here we are again. 


Okay, here we go ... Since Borders Books is no longer with us, I had to make some serious changes as I sold a lot of books through them. I took a serious kick in the ol’ knickers with that one. To quote Tom Cruise from Collateral: “Okay, look, here's the deal …. Still breathing? Now we gotta make the best of it, improvise, adapt to the environment, Darwin, #%^$&**# happens, I Ching, whatever man, we gotta roll with it.” 


 So I revisted some of the promo strategies I used in the past and the word “newspapers” jumped out at me. Newspapers? Are they still relevant? Do people still read them? I did a little homework and looked at circulations of newspapers (print and online) in the two areas I’ve lived; Lansing, Michigan and southern California. Turns out, there is still a lot of opportunity in this department. They’re not just for lining my birdcage anymore.

I contacted the good people at the Lansing State Journal and sent them a Press Release. The Hook: Local boy does good. They printed it! Glory hallelujah! So I contacted the Detroit News, a much larger circulation. The decision is still pending. But at least they’re considering it. Stay tuned! 


Next up: The Orange Coast Register and the Los Angeles Times. These are two papers with very large circulations. The OC Register reaches 1.5 million adults every week. Problem: I don’t have any contacts. Steve who??? I can’t just send them a Press Release and expect them to print it. Or can I. 


Fortunately, I’ve been lining up book signings with local Indie bookstores. And they have contacts at these papers. Will the OC Register print a Press Release for me? Maybe. Maybe not. But they will announce the book signing because the Indie bookstores, who have a great working relationship with the paper, have a name for me to contact!

 So I’ll at least get my name in the Events Section. Perhaps an image of my smiling face or book cover. Then I’ll have a second book signing announcement. And a third. Now I’m building a relationship. Then perhaps a Press Release will follow. I’m working it. It’s all about building relationships and that’s what I’m doing. Stay Tuned! 


Finally: don't forget the smaller, local papers. They can be easier to work with and reach a lot of people. And thanks to the Indie bookstores, I now have contact names for local papers that will advertise the book siging events! You can check out the press release from the Lansing State Journal here: SELECT LINK. I hope this helps and perhaps stokes the fires of promotion and marketing for you. 



Stephen Tremp: author of the BREAKTHROUGH series, has a B.A. in information systems and an MBA degree in global management. Stephen has a background in information systems, management, and finance and draws from this varied and complex experiential knowledge to write one-of-a-kind thrillers. His novels are enhanced by current events at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and other scientific research facilities around the world. These potential advances have the ability to change the way we perceive our universe and our place in it! You can visit Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs. BREAKTHROUGH and OPENING can be downloaded: Download Breakthrough: Amazon Kindle $1.99 Download Opening: Amazon Kindle for $1.99

Have a great weekend, everyone! Oh, before I forget: Fabulosity Reads is doing a giveaway for Build A Man! Head over for your chance to win.