10/2/2013

Addison Westlake’s new novel Facebook Jeanie is out today. She has popped by for a guest post!
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Book Marketing Ultimate Playlist
By Addison Westlake

I’ve heard about people making ultimate playlists for workouts, parties or game days. But when do you really need to get psyched up? When you’re pitching your new book, of course! It takes a lot of adrenaline and confidence to get that word out. Forget kicking it up a notch while out for a run—you need to get pumped while sitting down at your computer
and shouting out on social media about your new release to reviewers, bloggers, the universe!

Here are my picks for the Book Marketing Ultimate Playlist. I’ve realized these 11 songs span 36 years and genres ranging from punk to heavy metal to pop. Just for kicks, I’ll lay them out chronologically, starting with the newest releases first. So fire up that computer, crank these songs up to eleven, and get ready to have a bestseller on your hands:

Brave – Sara Bareilles. Show me how big your brave is! You must also watch the video for this song, but only once.
After all, you need to stay focused on your book!!

Roar – Katy Perry. You may have had fears in the past. No longer. Now you ROAR. About your book! You have the eye of the tiger (see below for more of this).

I Love It – Icona Pop. I don’t care! I love it! It makes no sense and I’m totally into it! You may have to jump up and down
occasionally while listening to this. That’s allowed, it’ll get the blood pumping nicely, just remember to sit back down again and send out another email requesting a review. Crash your car into the bridge and sell that book!

Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5. Start with that intro whistle, the jangly guitar, then the relentless beat. You’ve got the moves, you hottie. OK, you may need to get up and dance in your kitchen to this one, too, but then sit back down again and show the world how much your book rocks, too!

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson. Your book might not be revenge themed, but we’ve all had someone say something discouraging to us at some point. Remember that time someone told you couldn’t do this? Think you’ve got the best of me? Think you’ve had the last laugh? Oh yeah? How do you like me now?

Dirt off Your Shoulder – Jay Z. It’s been scientifically proven that listening to this song makes you more of a badass.
And that’s true even if you use phrases like “scientifically proven.” You’re totally hardcore. People are so lucky to even catch a glimpse of your book. ‘Cause that’s how you roll.

Bottle of Smoke – The Pogues. You have no idea what he’s saying, I have no idea what he’s saying, but I think we can all agree that no one can let out a wild whoop like Shane MacGowan. And you! Let’s hear it for your book!

Waiting Room – Fugazi. That bass, those drums, the guitar. Then the vocals: “I am a patient boy” sounding anything but. You can yell along with this one, it’s OK. You don’t need to exercise restraint. Your book is sitting in the waiting room no longer.

Cum on Feel the Noize – Quiet Riot. Come on feel the book. I wish I could insert a photo of the hair on these men in full 80s glory. It did not get bigger or more foofy. The pants could be no tighter, the leather of their vests no shiny-er. So much animal print and tasseled, spiked black leather bands around their biceps. These men did all of that and they still got the ladies. Your book is going to clean up.

Eye of the Tiger – Survivor. Come on, you know you want to get up and throw some punches when the beat starts pounding. You have the eye of the tiger. Get in that ring, tough guy! Rise up, back on the street!

NOTE: runner-up goes to the theme song from Rocky (Gonna Fly Now) – Bill Conti. In fact, you could just put this on loop. I now realize this ultimate playlist is really all about Rocky. Picture him throwing punches in that tight, high-waisted grey sweatsuit and running all the way up those steps in Philly. That’s you.

We Will Rock You – Queen. Stomp stomp clap. Stomp stomp clap. The ultimate get psyched song, riling people up since 1977. It’s not just for game day anymore. Your book is going to rock the literary world. Also in the original video Freddy Mercury is wearing star-shaped sunglasses. Maybe I should look into packaging this playlist, sending it out with a pair of complimentary star-shaped sunglasses?

So have fun pitching your book! With these songs pumping you up, there is nothing stopping you.

Next, I’ll give some thought to playlists for other things, like getting a bad review. I think that playlist can begin and end with Edith Piaf’s “No, Je ne regrette rien”. This song is best listened to cranked up when you have mascara thick and black running down your face.

Or how about something happier? When you’re a huge bestselling indie author you can sing along to “My Way” by none other than Frank Sinatra. Sing loud, sing proud. Maybe with a dirty martini in your hand, shaken not stirred. Toast to you, you self-publishing super star!

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Facebook Jeanie is OUT NOW on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Facebook-Jeanie-ebook/dp/B00FI92IFI

It’s Bridget Jones meets “Groundhog Day”…

Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could go back and find out?

31-year-old Clara is in a steady relationship—with Facebook.
Every night after her depressing bureaucratic job (so much for saving the world), Clara comes home to her empty apartment (yes, she was dumped) and settles down with a pint of ice cream for some good, old-fashioned Facebook
stalking. It’s her college boyfriend, The One Who Got Away. With the bod of a God and a net worth of umpteen bamillion, he now has the perfect life—everything she could have had if she hadn’t been so, so stupid.

But, wait. Jeanie from Facebook shows up at Clara’s job. There’s a new app they’re beta-testing and Clara’s perfect for it. That night she clicks on it and… nothing happens. But the next morning when Clara wakes up at noon, hung over, listening to her roommate blow-drying her hair and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, she realizes she’s back in college. With the chance to do it all over again.

Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?

About the Author

Addison Westlake made her debut as an author at age 13 by rewriting the “Sweet Valley High” series.
Despite copyright violations, she maintains that her rendition of Elisabeth and Jessica Wakefield as preteens in a British orphanage is a classic. Between then and now she went to some fancy schools, swapped out the East Coast for the West Coast, and had oodles of kids. Some of her favourite things in life include coffee, Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat and the sleepwalking scene in “Step Brothers.”

She would like to thank MCM cover design, mcm@1889.ca, for the awesome “Facebook Jeanie” cover. And for the unfailing patience with questions such as “should she have an earring” and “do her pinks clash?” Addison loves to hear from readers, so please find her at:

addisonwestlake.blogspot.com
facebook.com/addisonwestlake