The traditional press release

Traditionally I post my author appearance press releases here, and is this not a traditional time of the year? So here's what I sent out to various newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, and all the ships at sea, and it might even end up being used somewhere. If you want to use it--you're welcome to.

However, I would discourage you from starting up your own TV station for the sole purpose of displaying my press release on the screen. You'd be surprised at the initial investment, plus there's the whole part about actual programming.

December 11^th will mark the 200^th anniversary of the state of Indiana’s formation, and two Hoosier authors are celebrating a day early with an appearance in downtown Albion.

Mark R. Hunter’s newest book, written with his wife Emily, is all about Indiana, and created with the bicentennial in mind. Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving At All, is a tongue-in-cheek look at Hoosier History, personalities, and trivia. The Hunters spent almost two years researching and touring the state, and the book is illustrated with photos they took on their travels.

The Hunters already collaborated on two local history books: Images of America: Albion and Noble County, and Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: A Century or So With the Albion Fire Department. In addition, Mark Hunter has five other published books, four of them fictional works set in Indiana.

Mark and Emily will be appearing from 1-5 p.m. December 10^th at the Noble Art Gallery, 100 E. Main Street, in Albion. The gallery holds the works of artist/owner Dan Gagen, as well as over twenty other area talents, and features items ranging from wall art to jewelry and pottery. They also have the books by the Hunters, who have visited twice before.

In addition, the event will serve to unveil Mark Hunter’s newest novel, which is scheduled to be published March 7, 2017 by Torrid books. Hunter hasn’t announced the book’s title, but its cover has been approved and will be on display at the appearance, along with all of his previous books.

Hoosier Hysterical and all the Hunters’ books can be found at http://markrhunter.com/, and on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Mark-R-Hunter/e/B0058CL6OO.

Mark R Hunter can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter/, and on Twitter at @MarkRHunter

Because I’m slow, that’s why

In an earlier post I mentioned trying to come up with original ideas to promote author appearances; I’ve now done over 734 thousand of them, and have a new one coming up December 10^th. My newest book, as all fourteen of my regular readers know, is Hoosier Hysterical, a humorous look at the history, people, and trivia of Indiana. The signing at the Noble Art Gallery will be the third since Hoosier Hysterical came out, and also the third appearance I’ve put in at Dan Gagen’s gallery in downtown Albion.

What hook could I use to get people to come? The first thing I thought of is to have the cover reveal of my new novel there, and that’s great, but I wanted something more.

Then I realized the bicentennial of Indiana’s official formation is December 11^th—just one day after the book signing.

And what inspired me to write the book was the upcoming bicentennial.

Say it with me, now: “Duh.”

So, the Facebook event details are now on my FB writer’s page, along with the hooks. While you’re checking it out, please like my page!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1024817860997691/

A view from the Noble Art Gallery. Well, actually a view from the middle of the street. Boy, were the other drivers mad.

R.I.P., Uncle Paul

 

My Uncle Paul Hunter passed away yesterday; he had been under treatment for cancer in the hospital at the University of Kentucky, which coincidentally is where he attended college. Prayers would be appreciated for my Aunt Jewell, their kids, and all the family.

My dad beat cancer a few years ago, and my brother this year, and I had a scare myself awhile back; but this time it was the disease that ultimately won. We can only grieve, remember, and work toward a cure.

When I was a kid, Paul and Jewell’s house was next to Mama and Papa’s, so they got a lot of spillover guests during family get-togethers—and with nine brothers and sisters in the family, the get-togethers could get pretty big. It was in a hollow in the area of Mousie, Kentucky; I haven’t visited for some time because I’ve heard the area has changed a great deal, and I’d rather remember it as it was.

I don’t recall now the name of the hollow or what road it’s on, but I remember sitting on my grandparents’ big front porch, looking down toward Paul and Jewell’s house and past it to the big mountain that rose in the distance—well, big to me, an Indiana boy.  It was uphill on either side, too, and to visit relatives you’d walk up the narrow road, past houses built in single file. Just about everybody had a big porch, and the adults would sit there, sometimes snipping green beans, while they got caught up. The kids would play in the yards, climb the hills, and watch for ticks.

It’s funny what you remember from your kid-hood. Even back then, I thought Paul and Jewell had infinite patience, for putting up with all the kids running in and out with what was no doubt not their indoor voices. There were probably a lot of balls and Frisbees stranded on their roof.

We all seemed so very alive back then.

If I have this right--and it is 4:30 in the morning, after all--that's my Aunt Ruby, Aunt Dorothy, my father Delbert, and Uncle Paul.

Cover reveal … wait, not yet

It can be hard to find new ways to promote author appearances, especially when they happen close together. In this case, that’s close together in distance—the next one’s less than a mile from the last one, and only three and a half weeks later. The advantage is that they’re in different kinds of places, moving from a library to an art gallery.

At the same time, I’ve been planning an announcement concerning my next writing project. Right now few people know about it, except those who subscribe to our newsletter. So I was faced with two questions: How to get people to our next book signing, and when to make the big official publishing announcement.

You might already know where this is going. You might have thought of it way before I did, but when it comes to promotion I can be a little slow.

The cover art has already been approved for the new book, so I thought, hey – cover … art! And we’re going to an art gallery! So the official unveiling of the cover art for the book, which is titled ********, will be at the Noble Art Gallery, 100 E. Main Street in Albion from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, December 10^th. And you’ll know the title then, ‘cause it’ll be on the cover. We’ll also have the back cover, so you’ll know what the book is about. And, of course, we’ll have all our already published books, including my current favorite, Hoosier Hysterical.

Speaking of supporting local businesses, their Facebook page is here:  https://www.facebook.com/nobleartgallery.

Now, let’s face it: They’ll have way better art there than what will be on the cover of my newest novel. Just the same, aren’t you just a little curious? Sure you are. If not, could you pretend to be for my sake? Thanks.