At what point in the publication process should a writer begin promotion, marketing, seeking a publicist?
If an author has a publisher, the decision is based on the marketing budget for the book. I suggest that authors ask publishers right up front, before they sign the contract. You can ask a publisher to provide a plan. Some publishers may resist this or give a boilerplate plan that looks good but that is used for most of their titles. If you are a nonfiction author, ask for a publicist. You can even ask for a specific freelance publicist as part of the deal. It can make the difference between the success and failure for a book. You have to look at fiction on a case-by-case basis. Not all radio or television programs will consider fiction. In fact, many won’t. As a fiction writer, you have to revise your expectations for the quantity of interviews. This is when blogs or print reviews can make a difference in getting the word out.
