A year and half ago, I wasn’t a published author. Monkey Fist is my fifth book. It has been a rapid, steep learning curve. Early on, I asked myself: What could I do to help my publisher raise my newcomer profile and increase public exposure to my books? I am a computer programmer, a systems analyst and an experienced project leader. Surely those skills could add some value to my writing?

There are two sorts of writing that come naturally to me. Historical fiction with action, adventure, humour and a touch of fantasy. That’s where Monkey Fist fits in (I hope!) The other thing I write a lot of, is lists. And that’s what I’m going to do now. List the things I have done to help promote my books.

Book launches. Hold it and they will come. I have celebrated in a heritage listed building by the ocean, spoken at libraries and held a Japanese tea ceremony. I’ve sat on the floor with kids making origami owl book marks. At my son’s school we ate iceblocks to launch Polar Boy and White Crane took flight at the 2008 Australian School Librarian Association Conference. Monkey Fist will launched at the Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature.

School Visits. These are my favourite. They are such fun and as an author I feel this is what writing for children is really all about – taking my love of books and reading into the classroom. School visits often introduce my title to the library and sometimes the teacher will recommend me to other schools.

Physical appearances. I go everywhere I am asked. And if someone asked me to go to Japan, I would! It’s important to add a name, a face and background story to your books. Tonight I am at the Asia Bookroom in Canberra talking about Monkey Fist and about writing northeast Asian history for children. Tomorrow I follow up by visiting some Canberra schools.

Media releases. To capitalise on launches, school visits and physical appearances, I send media releases and a photo to the places I am connected to (as appropriate) – where I grew up, where I went to school, where my family live, where the event occurred. A well constructed press release makes it easy for a newspaper to slot a small article into their publication. The local Wollongong media are very supportive of local authors. I once had a full page in the Wollongong Mercury and I have appeared on commercial and ABC radio.

Teacher’s resources. My novels have curriculum relevant themes and locations. I enhance these with relevant education-based resources. Polar Boy is supported by a Teachers Resource Kit which includes Interactive Whiteboard games and activities. The Samurai Kids website has downloadable resources ranging from a web quest to craft activities.

Establish a strong web presence. In today’s world it’s the first place adults and kids look to find more information. I have three web sites. http://www.sandyfussell.com/
profiles me as an author, http://www.samuraikids.com.au/ is dedicated to the Samurai Kids series and my blog, Stories Are Light, is where I indulge my love of children’s literature. I provide teachers’ resources, games for kids, a forum for readers, interviews, newsletters, information sheets and stories about my writing experiences.

Visit cyberspace often. There is so much opportunity for networking. It is critical to choose options carefully and not overcommit. For example, a blog is not useful if you don’t post regularly. I enjoy Twitter, where I easily exchange information and ideas with book lovers and educators, and I have recently decided to join Facebook.

Networking. I tell everyone about my books (in the nicest possible way of course). Friends, family and colleagues are always interested and the power of six degrees of separation is surprisingly effective. For example. My sister lives on a small rural farm in southwest NSW, near Grenfell, home of The Henry Lawson Festival of the Arts. When the 2008 Official Guest unfortunately had to withdraw at short notice, the committee urgently needed a replacement from the Arts community. “My sister is an author,” Neridah said. So there I was, Official Guest at the longest running literary Festival in the country. Past guests include Di Morrissey, Thomas Keneally and Nobel prize-winner Patrick White!!!!

Keeping Up to Date. I read every industry journal. Change is a key to promotional opportunity. When I read the bookstore at my annual holiday destination had changed hands and was keen to focus on children’s books, I saw an opportunity to offer to run school holiday workshops.

In the beginning I found promotion hard. I don’t like to talk abut myself but I have since found I love to talk about children’s books, including my own. On that note, did I mention Monkey Fist was released this month?

Thanks Sandy. And good luck with promoting Monkey Fist and all those other titles. I am in awe of all you do.

1st August http://tips4youngwriters.wordpress.com/ – Dee White, author of the recently released YA novel, Letters to Leonardo will be interviewing the narrator Niya Moto to find out what it’s really like to be a Samurai Kid

2nd August http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale – Dale Harcombe, poet and children’s author (latest release The Mystery of Goanna Island) will be interviewing Sandy about writing Samurai Kids.

3rd August http://www.letshavewords.blogspot.com/ – Sandy will be visiting Claire Saxby, children’s author (latest release Sheep, Goat and the creaking gate August 2009) to talk about the unique challenge in writing a historical novel about a group of children with disabilities.

4th August http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com/– Sandy will be visiting author and manuscript assessor Sally Odgers (too many books to name but the Jack Russell Dog detective series and the e-Manual (Giving our Kids) A Reason to Write are just two examples) to discuss ‘the hour of the rat’ and how she gets to Japan and China inside her head.

5th August http://belka37.blogspot.com/ – Storyteller and author Mabel Kaplan interviews Sandy about how her interest in Japanese and Chinese history has influenced the series. Mabel uncovers the meaning of Monkey Fist.

7th August http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com/ – Sandy will be visiting Robyn Opie, author of more than 75 books including “How to Write a Great Children’s Book” and the novel “Black Baron”. Sandy will be discussing Zen and the Art of Writing for Children – her view on why the series has been so successful.

8th August http://soupblog.wordpress.com/ – Magazine editor Rebecca Newman will be interviewing Sandy about her research techniques and asking questions to discover whether all that historical research is really any fun

9th August http://thebookchook.blogspot.com/ – Writer, reviewer and children’s literature advocate Sue Stephenson will be interviewing Sandy about how her own children’s reading experiences have influenced her writing

10th Augusthttp://jefferyedoherty.blogspot.com/ – Writer and artist Jefferey E Doherty will be interviewing Sandy writing illustrated novels – the artwork, graphics and working with an illustrator

Enjoy!