Author Promotion

To continue my quest to promote my first novel, UNHOLY GRAIL, and D.L. Wilson as a must-read author, I decided to hire a standard publicity firm and a Web-based media firm. Today’s blog will focus on the standard media promotional venues of print, radio, and TV.

A search of private standard media publicists (promoters who seek to obtain media publicity for a client) resulted in finding costs ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per month for 3-4 month campaigns. This can take a large bite out of your budget. In speaking with authors who have used private publicists, I found the key to making a decision on who to hire is based on solid RESEARCH. Hiring a private publicity firm is not cheap and you want to get the most for your hard earned dollars. Research the results each candidate has achieved with authors who have similar credentials to yours. It’s not easy to measure the results of publicity campaigns. The measure is not simply positive versus negative, since that has a lot to do with the impact of your book upon reviewers. I have to constantly remind myself that writing is an art and falls into the classic, “You can’t satisfy all the people all the time,” category. As writers we hope to find a sufficient number of readers who love our writing style to support our career. A good measurement is the % of responses the publicists deliver from the number of reviewers they are promising to send ARCs (Advance Review Copies) and press releases to. If the publicist refuses to provide statistics, be very cautious! In making your decision, don’t forget to stay within your budget!

Once you’ve found that perfect publicist it’s time to work with them to create press materials, which include: book release announcement, press release, bio/author background, sample questions, and feature story release. During the development of an effective press release, I got my first lesson in why it’s important to use a professional publicist. I was taken by surprise at the “non-timid” approach to promoting UNHOLY GRAIL. I must admit, I wouldn’t have had the grit, pluck, or boldness to create the “hard sell” that came from the publicist.



UNHOLY GRAIL (Review article for bestselling thriller now in 8 languages.)
by D.L. Wilson

RISING LITERARY STAR’S NOVEL EXPLORES VOID BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION IN WIDELY-HERALDED RELIGIOUS THRILLER

“In UNHOLY GRAIL D.L. Wilson has created a tale rich with intrigue that grips the imagination. A must read for anyone who loves a riveting story.”
--NY Times bestselling author Clive Cussler.

The secret Gospel of James, Jesus’ brother, has just been found and reveals that descendants of Christ exist to this very day. But now, the guardians of this hidden Gospel are mysteriously dying. The quest to protect Christianity and its secrets has been taken on by one man who has made it his mission to eliminate anyone who could expose the secrets of the Holy Grail.

Welcome to Unholy Grail, (Berkley, April 2007) a religious thriller akin to The DaVinci Code on intellectual steroids.

While Unholy Grail could be compared to The DaVinci Code, author D.L. Wilson has taken the “religious thriller” genre to new heights with twists, expertly exploring the often explosive void between fact and fiction.
Acting on a mysterious caller who offers him a secret Gospel, Theology professor, Fr. Joseph Romano, is catapulted into a centuries-old conspiracy that threatens the very sanctity of the church. His mission to protect Christianity’s innocence is punctuated by a maze of intrigue, betrayal, and murder.

Moving beyond “thriller” stage, the multi-layered Unholy Grail delves into how historical perceptions, personal events, conspiracy theories, and faith shape how we choose to live our lives.

Wilson combined his extensive international travels, in-depth religious studies, and creativity to write his latest riveting novel. These travels introduced him to diverse cultures and religious beliefs, exotic locales, and foreign governments. He conducted extensive research including interviews with priests, ministers, theologians and professors. The plot for the book draws heavily on generally accepted facts, legends, myths, and conspiracy theories.

“Many things in life are not black and white, true or false, right or wrong. Much of what we accept as fact is based upon theories, claims, beliefs, and the level of science at the time,” says Wilson.
“One misquote, misinterpretation, or misread can confuse fact and fiction. What is accepted as fact today doesn’t always stand the test of time. I wrote Unholy Grail to explore the gray areas between fact and fiction.”

“A fast-paced and well-crafted thriller in the DaVinci Code vein that teems with as much erudition as it does surprise.”
Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Lifeguard and Judge & Jury

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D.L. Wilson spent his university years on a track scholarship as a Florida Gator. His degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida where he also studied law established the foundation for his career in the fashion apparel industry. Wilson worked his way through the ranks of engineering and management to become president, CEO, and Managing Director of US and international companies, consultant to industries and governments in 32 countries, and a university professor.

Wilson’s extensive international travel as an executive and consultant spawned his fascination with world cultures, exotic locales, diverse religious beliefs, and foreign governments. He found the perfect outlet for his interests in the captivating world of fiction. His initial efforts in the international thriller genre earned him first place awards for fiction at the Pennwriters’ and Mid-Atlantic Writers’ Conferences.

Wilson and his wife Miki, a property management executive as well as Wilson’s muse and research trip partner, divide their time between Bucks County, PA and Baltimore County, MD.
Website: http://www.dlwilsonbooks.com/.