 | 15 Oct 08 |
Oh, I absolutely love the Halloween season and was thrilled when I found out my latest novel, WATER WITCH, was coming out smack dab in the beginning of October!
To celebrate this auspicious occasion, since most of my novels have been released during the summer, I figured I’d try something a little different in the promotions department. The standard fair for most promotions, of course, are book marks, post cards, ARCS for reviewers, cool coffee mugs with the book cover imprinted on both sides, radio and television interviews, book trailer, etc, all of which I still did for Water Witch’s release. The new and different was a specially made commercial that’s now airing on syndicated radio, and wow, is it ever paying off! Sales are up 15% in one week, and the sales office for the syndication keeps getting calls from folks, asking if they’d repeat the commercial! How cool is that?
Normally when you lock in commercial time with any radio station, some local talent from the station reads the script. Although they seem to try hard to get it right, he or she still sounds like used car salespeople to me. To combat that, I had a voice over guy with a terrific voice ‘act’ the script. And the numbers are showing that that decision was a bull’s eye. (Lawd, you should hear this guy read romance or romantic suspense! PANT!)
Anyway, all that said, I thought I’d share a little Halloween happy with ya. =) Below is the commercial for Water Witch. So turn up your speakers—-and let me know what you think!
Oh, and I have to add a side-diddy for today’s blog. I’ll do my best to respond to any and all comments, but it will probably be this evening before I get to it. We just found out that my youngest daughter has to have her gall bladder removed, and the surgery is schedule shortly after noon today. So keep your fingers crossed for the kid, will ya? And please bear with the tardiness of my responses…..I’m a-comin’. 
deb
© 2008 – 2009, Deborah LeBlanc. All rights reserved.
Deborah LeBlanc is an award-winning author and business owner from Lafayette, Louisiana. She's also a licensed death scene investigator and an active member of two national paranormal investigation teams.
She is the president of the Horror Writers Association, president of the Writers' Guild of Acadiana, president of Mystery Writers of America's Southwest Chapter, and an active member of Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc, and International Thriller Writers Inc. In 2004, she created the LeBlanc Literacy Challenge, an annual national campaign designed to encourage more people to read, and founded Literacy Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting illiteracy in America’s teens. She also takes her passion for literacy and a powerful ability to motivate to high schools around the country.
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OMG, Deb, that was too cool. What a great idea, and the voice was perfect. I can’t wait to read it. (Now, I just have to get to a bookstore.)
Sorry to hear about your daughter’s surgery. I’ve known several people who had theirs out and it’s always gone well. I’m sure your daughter’s will too. I’m still sending positive thoughts your way, though. Never hurts. =o) Hang in there and let us know how everything goes. :hugs:
by B.E. Sanderson October 15th, 2008 at 5:57 amThanks so much, B.E.! I’m glad you liked the commercial, and I certainly appreciate every positive thought sent this way.
by Deborah LeBlanc October 15th, 2008 at 6:01 amI’m sending all positive thoughts and prayers to you and your daughter.
Oh, and the commercial was awesome!
by HollyD October 15th, 2008 at 6:44 amCool commercial! I picked up Water Witch in Bouchercon and I’m saving it as a treat for when I get my next chapter finished. I love the cover!
Keeping you and your daughter in my thoughts and prayers today.
by wendy roberts October 15th, 2008 at 8:49 amGreat promo, Deb! Loved it. Cyber hugs, prayers and good vibes going out to the patient today. It’s never easy when one of our babies is sick, and I hate those few hours when they’re “under” the most. We’ll look for your post when you return to tell us it’s over and all is well.
by Roxanne St. Claire October 15th, 2008 at 8:53 amVery, very cool commercial!!!
by Allison Brennan October 15th, 2008 at 9:42 amoooooh, cool creepy voice–great commercial! And fingers crossed and good thoughts sent your way for your daughter’s surgery.
by toni mcgee causey October 15th, 2008 at 9:48 amDeb–I’m sending good thoughts for your daugher. I hope her surgery and recovery are smooth and quick.
Love the commecial, and I’m always blown away by your energy!
by Jen Apodaca October 15th, 2008 at 10:17 amDeb, hope all is well with your family and daughter. Yucky, I hate hospitals! And to think, I wanted to be a doctor. LOL
Bummer, my computer doesn’t like the link, I can’t hear the commercial. Darn!
by Amanda October 15th, 2008 at 10:52 amI downloaded the mp3 and then I got to listen to it. Cool!!!
by Amanda October 15th, 2008 at 2:24 pmAdd my good thoughts and cyber hugs for your daughter. And keep some for yourself–I know how tough it is to deal with the helplessness of waiting until the surgery is over.
by Terry Odell October 15th, 2008 at 4:06 pmDeb, prayers coming your way for your daughter. The new promotional idea sounds amazing! I love, love, love your title!
by Debra Webb October 15th, 2008 at 5:50 pmDeb, hope it all turned out okay. Let me know.
by Natalie October 17th, 2008 at 2:12 pmThanks, everyone, for your thoughts and well wishes for my daughter. The surgery went well, although longer than anticipated, which drove me nuts, of course. Dr. was surprised that her gall bladder was in such bad shape for someone her age. He claims it was a good thing they caught it when they did or she would have been headed for much bigger problems within a short period of time.
Her recovery has been slow but sure, thank heaven! Whew…
Thanks again, everyone!
by deborah October 19th, 2008 at 6:52 am