Category Archives: Marketing and Publlicity

January 21, 2013

Making a defeat look like a win

MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND did not win the 2012 Goodreads Choice Award. Being nominated was an honor, of course, and making it to the finals was thrilling, but the book finished ninth behind such bestselling authors as JK Rowling, … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing and Publlicity, MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND | 4 Comments
December 18, 2012

Gender equality doesn’t always make good business sense

I’ve recently been debating a friend over the new Carter’s children’s clothing commercials that feature the tagline, “When a child is born, so is a mom.” She argues on her blog: I’m more than just a little bit curious. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing and Publlicity | Tagged , | Leave a comment
September 23, 2012

My unglamorous self

The Hartford Courant ran a piece about me today. I have yet to purchase a newspaper, but my friend was kind enough to send me a photo of the story as it appears in the paper. My favorite part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Magazines/Newspapers, Marketing and Publlicity, MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND | Tagged , | Leave a comment
February 28, 2012

I am not a Starbucks zombie.

I recently read in the Harvard Business Review that Starbucks seeks to train its customers at nearly the same level as its employees. This is why a Starbucks cashier will convert my request for a medium coffee into a grande … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink, Marketing and Publlicity | 7 Comments
February 24, 2012

Cat Stevens taught me that authors should not act like jerks.

I have a more-than-slight tendency to act like a jerk. I can be biting, sarcastic, oppositional, confrontational, aggravating, nonconforming and disagreeable. My mother consistently referred to me as The Instigator. I know all this must be surprising to you. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Marketing and Publlicity, Music | Leave a comment
May 3, 2011

Does knowing the author enhance the story?

I recently wrote: A book talk places the author in the position of salesperson.  He can sell the product or sell himself.  I believe the latter to be always preferable. I have always believed that if I can offer an … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing and Publlicity, Quandry, SOMETHING MISSING | 4 Comments
April 18, 2011

Feminine hygiene products meet SOMETHING MISSING

Ever think that your feminine hygiene product could use a little more pizazz? Kotex did, and that’s why they are sponsoring a design contest that allows you to “Make your Mark on the Future of Feminine Protection.” I opted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Idea, Marketing and Publlicity, SOMETHING MISSING | 6 Comments
August 26, 2010

Is it time for product placement in fiction?

A month after SOMETHING MISSING hit the store shelves, I began receiving the occasional but persistent email from readers asking and sometimes accusing me of having made product placement deals in the writing of my book. It would seem that … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing and Publlicity, SOMETHING MISSING, The Writing Process, UNEXPECTEDLY, MILO, Verbal Sparring | 11 Comments
August 16, 2010

UNEXPECTEDLY, MILO update

My book tour continues this week with appearances at The Book Cellar in Brattleboro, Vermont on Thursday night at 7:00 and at Water Street Books in Essex, New Hampshire on Saturday night at 7:00. I’ve been guest blogging about book … Continue reading →

Posted in Appearances, Marketing and Publlicity, UNEXPECTEDLY, MILO | Leave a comment
August 9, 2010

An idiot with a difficult name

A surprisingly large piece about me and the book appeared in the New London Day on Sunday.  There was a photo of my book on the front page of the paper and a reference to the story, which was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Marketing and Publlicity, SOMETHING MISSING, UNEXPECTEDLY, MILO | 26 Comments