Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Lucky Me

Cricket McRae

The third Sophie Mae Reynolds Home Crafting Mystery, Spin a Wicked Web, came out this month. I feel both thrilled and extraordinarily lucky.

First off, look at that cover. Once again Lisa Novak in the Midnight Ink art department outdid herself. Oh, I know I’m a proud mama and bound to be biased, but so many people comment on all the MI covers that I know I’m not making this stuff up. Other MI authors know what I mean: There’s something almost tactile about the designs, inviting folks to pick them up, handle them.

Then there are the mystery authors who provided cover blurbs. I’m grateful to them for taking the time and for saying such nice things. Just another reminder of what a generous group writers are.

Early reviews are good. Nope, still nothing starred from Kirkus, but they continue to review my books. That’s something! And Booklist and Library Journal continue to recommend the series, which I hope will result in even more library sales.

Reader feedback has been good, too. More email is hitting my inbox than ever, and more people are picking up the first two books, too.

So, of course it’s vital to promote the heck out of Spin. It doesn’t matter that I’m up against a tight deadline on the next Sophie Mae mystery. I mean, what a problem to have, eh?

I’ve scheduled the first dozen signings and more are in the works. My uber-targeted mailing list is receiving postcards. Spinning guilds and book clubs are showing interest. Book trailers populate the web. The list of promotional activities is long, but I’m glad to have it. Much of that list is due to the combined marketing prowess of the authors here on Inkspot. I’ve learned so much from this crew about creative -- and efficient -- book promotion.

Thank you. Seriously, knowledge = sanity. If it weren’t for you, I’d be in a constant state of semi-panic.

I’m really looking forward to Spin a Wicked Web’s virgin reading and signing. It’ll be at The Readers Cove in Fort Collins, Colorado tomorrow, Thursday the 26th, at 6:30 p.m. No booze, but a great deli and terrific coffee shop. Those people at The Readers Cove know what they’re doing.

My full signing schedule, including the Seattle venues, is here.

And this is the book trailer. As predicted, I found animoto to be totally addictive!

13 comments:

Susan Goodwill said...

The book cover is fantastic, and the trailer blew me away. I love, love love it!
Congatulations, Cricket.
Enjoy your busy promotional schedule. It's another way to add to that rich human stew in Column A. Bask in the admiration you're going to receive. You deserve it.

G.M. Malliet said...

That is a thoroughly engaging cover. I don't see how anyone could resist picking up the book for a closer look.

Terri Thayer said...

Awesome cover. I just want to stroke the yarn. Congrats!

Cricket McRae said...

Thanks for the kind words!

I must say that I'd have a hard time resisting ANY of those MI covers displayed on the right.

"rich human stew" -- love it.

Cricket McRae said...

I'm told the fiber and spindle on the cover belong to former MI editor Barbara Moore. She's a talented spinner. I sent her some wool from Alpacapalooza (don't ask), and she went and won a ribbon at the MN State Fair with the resulting yarn.

I, on the other hand, took the same stuff and now have a rather, er, rustic looking hat that lives at the back of the closet.

Keith Raffel said...

Go get 'em, Cricket!

Jessica Lourey said...

I tried to look at the trailer at work and was told I could not visit pornographic websites, so thanks for that. I just got my Internet privileges reinstated.

LOVE the cover. I was going to ask if Barbara had actually knitted (crocheted? I'm dense that way) the skull and crossbones. You're right that I just wanted to reach through the computer and touch it.

Congratulations, Cricket! You do us proud.

G.M. Malliet said...

Jess - LOL. Glad the IT guys caught on to you at last.

Cricket McRae said...

Thanks, Keith!

Jess, thanks for the laugh. Now the cat is glaring at me for disturbing her sleep. I am glad they let you back online, though.

The first time I rendered that trailer I found this totally cool music. It seemed so familiar ... then I figured out it was the music from the August Moon trailer. Sigh.

Turns out Barbara did knit that swatch -- from her homespun. The red yarn is hers, too. But I'm pretty sure the skull and crossbones is photoshopped.

Could be wrong ...

Alan Orloff said...

Great title, great cover. I know the words inside are great, too.

Good luck with the promotion!

Cricket McRae said...

Thanks Alan -- and welcome to the roster!

Julia Buckley said...

Have fun with it all, Cricket. And I want to know more about Animoto!

jbstanley said...

I love the cover - this book is going to fly off the shelf! Congrats. There's something magical about Book Three!