Rob Dinsmoor's Blog
April 27, 2011
Molly Hacker interview
I know this is a Luddite's way of dealing with GoodReads but I just don't know any better. Read my interview with Lisette Brodey's character, Molly Hacker, by following this link:
http://mollyhacker.com/2011/04/meet-r...
http://mollyhacker.com/2011/04/meet-r...
January 20, 2011
Marketing my new book
In November, I published my second book, The Yoga Divas and Other Stories. At first, I was concerned that it wasn’t as good as Tales of the Troupe, but now people are telling me it’s even funnier and more light-hearted.
I sent copies to various fans of Tales. One day, I got a call out of the blue from my former yoga student, muse, and beautiful actress friend Victoria, who reently moved to L.A. She told me how much she was enjoying the stories.
“Glad to hear it, because I’ve had misgivings about it—I feel so exposed," I said.
“Exposed? How do you mean?”
“Well, the stories are very personal and I’m half naked on the cover.”
“Go watch that YogiRapper video again that shows the crack in your ass while you’re in Upward-Facing Dog. Then remind yourself that you’re that guy. So, get your ass in gear and start marketing it!”
The video she was referring to was “Go With the Flow.” She posted the following review of it on YouTube: “I LOVE THIS!!! Full of poetry and a special genius! My favorite ~ Keep on Rockin' and Sun Salutin' in the free world : )”
My friend Beth posted the following review on Amazon.com:
Taking on the Divas and Other Eccentric Characters
This is a delightful collection of stories. Opening with the priceless “Kundalini Awakened,” about half of the stories take on yoga, all the rage for people from all walks of life seeking maybe just physical fitness or some stretching to find spiritual enlightenment. Though often closing with an inspirational thought, these stories bore into personalities with insight and hilarity.
Then the stories go back in time, and we learn about this off-beat writer/yoga tnstructor as a child and a member of a unique family.
From there the book bangs a turn into some whacky, funny stories about the crazy situations into which this guy often stumbles. “My Mob Super” followed by “The Toxic Cookout” will have you laughing out loud. Yes, Jim Morrison, people are strange, and Dinsmoor’s piercing view of the world will reveal to you just how strange they can be.
The eollection is a stark change from Dinsmoor’s previous collection, “Tales of the Troupe.” The darkness of those stories is gone in this lighter, more upbeat collection. What the two collections share, though, is Dinsmoor’s trademark perception of character and witty comedy.
********
So, it's off to the races! Ideas for marketing are welcome!
I sent copies to various fans of Tales. One day, I got a call out of the blue from my former yoga student, muse, and beautiful actress friend Victoria, who reently moved to L.A. She told me how much she was enjoying the stories.
“Glad to hear it, because I’ve had misgivings about it—I feel so exposed," I said.
“Exposed? How do you mean?”
“Well, the stories are very personal and I’m half naked on the cover.”
“Go watch that YogiRapper video again that shows the crack in your ass while you’re in Upward-Facing Dog. Then remind yourself that you’re that guy. So, get your ass in gear and start marketing it!”
The video she was referring to was “Go With the Flow.” She posted the following review of it on YouTube: “I LOVE THIS!!! Full of poetry and a special genius! My favorite ~ Keep on Rockin' and Sun Salutin' in the free world : )”
My friend Beth posted the following review on Amazon.com:
Taking on the Divas and Other Eccentric Characters
This is a delightful collection of stories. Opening with the priceless “Kundalini Awakened,” about half of the stories take on yoga, all the rage for people from all walks of life seeking maybe just physical fitness or some stretching to find spiritual enlightenment. Though often closing with an inspirational thought, these stories bore into personalities with insight and hilarity.
Then the stories go back in time, and we learn about this off-beat writer/yoga tnstructor as a child and a member of a unique family.
From there the book bangs a turn into some whacky, funny stories about the crazy situations into which this guy often stumbles. “My Mob Super” followed by “The Toxic Cookout” will have you laughing out loud. Yes, Jim Morrison, people are strange, and Dinsmoor’s piercing view of the world will reveal to you just how strange they can be.
The eollection is a stark change from Dinsmoor’s previous collection, “Tales of the Troupe.” The darkness of those stories is gone in this lighter, more upbeat collection. What the two collections share, though, is Dinsmoor’s trademark perception of character and witty comedy.
********
So, it's off to the races! Ideas for marketing are welcome!
January 11, 2011
Marketing "Tales"
It started with a message on my answering machine. The voice sounded like that of an Indian woman, and the only syllables I could understand were “Tale o’ de Troupe,” which were repeated several times. The next time the person called, I picked up. I immediately explained that I couldn’t understand a thing that was being said, and offered up my e-mail address.
It was a book marketing company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but I'm convinced they do a lot of outsourcing. I asked about that in an e-mail and got no response. When I finally got copies of the e-mail ad (allegedly sent to one million recipients) and the media release, I was interested in the very idiomatic English. For example, the title of the press release was “Bumping with This Tricky World’s Unexpected Twists.” In paragraph one, it says “People have their respective roles and characters to play; these characters are just beginning to learn who they are. There’s nothing in the world that lasts so everyone is responsible for making his own life precious by letting go of expectations and enjoying the joy that life brings.” These were ideas that I shared with the company, but their phrasing was quite different. I decided to go with the weird wording just for the hell of it.
My friend Helen shared an image of some woman in Nairobi, holding the phone in one hand and holding an infant to her breast in the other—and being the breadwinner for dozens of family members. I didn’t make a single sale from these peoples’ efforts.
One day in January, however, I got an e-mail from someone who had bought the book off his Website but it hadn’t arrived. I promptly looked at Paypal and, sure enough, this person had ordered a copy. I sent it to her immediately. It turns out she was someone I was drinking with at the local pub, The Black Cow, during last year’s blackout, with whom I discussed my books. So, I've decided that drinking at the Cow is a good marketing strategy and I plan to do it often.
It was a book marketing company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but I'm convinced they do a lot of outsourcing. I asked about that in an e-mail and got no response. When I finally got copies of the e-mail ad (allegedly sent to one million recipients) and the media release, I was interested in the very idiomatic English. For example, the title of the press release was “Bumping with This Tricky World’s Unexpected Twists.” In paragraph one, it says “People have their respective roles and characters to play; these characters are just beginning to learn who they are. There’s nothing in the world that lasts so everyone is responsible for making his own life precious by letting go of expectations and enjoying the joy that life brings.” These were ideas that I shared with the company, but their phrasing was quite different. I decided to go with the weird wording just for the hell of it.
My friend Helen shared an image of some woman in Nairobi, holding the phone in one hand and holding an infant to her breast in the other—and being the breadwinner for dozens of family members. I didn’t make a single sale from these peoples’ efforts.
One day in January, however, I got an e-mail from someone who had bought the book off his Website but it hadn’t arrived. I promptly looked at Paypal and, sure enough, this person had ordered a copy. I sent it to her immediately. It turns out she was someone I was drinking with at the local pub, The Black Cow, during last year’s blackout, with whom I discussed my books. So, I've decided that drinking at the Cow is a good marketing strategy and I plan to do it often.
December 13, 2009
Selling in Public Places
I've been through so many fairs where people were selling stuff, trying to avoid making eye contact or engaging the sellers in any way. Now I have been on the other end of things a few times, and am wryly amused by what I see.
I attended one very well organized event at a hotel in Salem. Even though we had rain and sleet, we got pretty good pedestrian foot traffic. I had my laptop all set up to show YouTube videos of the troupe, but the location didn't have wi-fi so I showed a DVD of a rather sedate interview about the book.
At one point, my friend Helen covered my booth while I went outside and handed out flyers. People love free stuff. At someone's suggestion, instead of using the words "book signing," I used "free coffee and doughnuts downstairs!" Everyone was grateful to get the free flyer, but only a small handful entered the hotel. I sold two copies and took Helen and her boyfriend out to lunch.
At a recent holiday fair, I started to watch people. I was located in the corner with all my usual stuff. Even though it was a company that did on-line periodicals, no wi-fi, so I was back playing my interview. To pass the time, I had my friend Terry come by with his guitar so we could rehearse a couple of ballads I'd written.
I started to do impressions of the people who'd come by. They would stand a couple of feet from the table with their hands in their pockets, bending over to look at the book covers. A couple of them would gingerly open the cover and turn a couple of pages. It was as if they actually picked up the book, the tiny bear trap concealed inside would snap shut on their fingers--or I would suddenly lunge across the table, tackle them, and grab their wallets. No sales that day!
The highlight of that event was actually jamming with Terry. We'd start out as if we were rehearsing in private and build in volume. As we were launching into our third practice of "The Ballad of Bongo and the Three Cats," an important work about my cat taking back the neighborhood after ear surgery, I looked around and the women in the surrounding booths were giving me wry, disbelieving smiles.
"Yes, ladies," I wanted to tell them. "I am utterly without shame!"
I attended one very well organized event at a hotel in Salem. Even though we had rain and sleet, we got pretty good pedestrian foot traffic. I had my laptop all set up to show YouTube videos of the troupe, but the location didn't have wi-fi so I showed a DVD of a rather sedate interview about the book.
At one point, my friend Helen covered my booth while I went outside and handed out flyers. People love free stuff. At someone's suggestion, instead of using the words "book signing," I used "free coffee and doughnuts downstairs!" Everyone was grateful to get the free flyer, but only a small handful entered the hotel. I sold two copies and took Helen and her boyfriend out to lunch.
At a recent holiday fair, I started to watch people. I was located in the corner with all my usual stuff. Even though it was a company that did on-line periodicals, no wi-fi, so I was back playing my interview. To pass the time, I had my friend Terry come by with his guitar so we could rehearse a couple of ballads I'd written.
I started to do impressions of the people who'd come by. They would stand a couple of feet from the table with their hands in their pockets, bending over to look at the book covers. A couple of them would gingerly open the cover and turn a couple of pages. It was as if they actually picked up the book, the tiny bear trap concealed inside would snap shut on their fingers--or I would suddenly lunge across the table, tackle them, and grab their wallets. No sales that day!
The highlight of that event was actually jamming with Terry. We'd start out as if we were rehearsing in private and build in volume. As we were launching into our third practice of "The Ballad of Bongo and the Three Cats," an important work about my cat taking back the neighborhood after ear surgery, I looked around and the women in the surrounding booths were giving me wry, disbelieving smiles.
"Yes, ladies," I wanted to tell them. "I am utterly without shame!"
December 11, 2009
Volume 2?
Well, it's funny that Amazon added "Volume 1" after my book title. Should I take it as a sign? As Chuckleheads and their fans have started reading Tales of the Troupe, new stories have begun to emerge. For example, I now am pretty sure I know who gave Steve AIDS. And I found out that Chuckleheads, led by Dottie, were actually hoarding drinks during open bar so they wouldn't have to pay for drinks during cash bar. And I recently unearthed a story I never put in the collection--and there were several others that I had started but hadn't figured out how to end. So, if Tales Volume 1 takes off, I'll definitely consider Volume 2.
Meanwhile, Ronnie (AKA "Angie" in the book) posted on my Facebook wall how much she loved the book. I didn't know how Ronnie, whom I had a serious crush on, was going to react, so I am very gratified and relieved. She said she laughed her way through the four weddings and that the last chapter made her cry really, really hard. So, I've made the experience real again for all these people I really loved, who were like a second family to me. I might start crying myself again soon.
Meanwhile, Ronnie (AKA "Angie" in the book) posted on my Facebook wall how much she loved the book. I didn't know how Ronnie, whom I had a serious crush on, was going to react, so I am very gratified and relieved. She said she laughed her way through the four weddings and that the last chapter made her cry really, really hard. So, I've made the experience real again for all these people I really loved, who were like a second family to me. I might start crying myself again soon.
December 8, 2009
The post-publication journey
Hi, folks:
The journey after publishing "Tales of the Troupe" has been a truly amazing one.
At a book expo in New York, no one made any sales but my book got stolen, making me something of a celebrity. Several people shook my hand, and one guy said, "No one cared enough about my book to steal it." I also made a great friend, fellow writer Lisette Brodey.
The experience gave me an idea for a column in the local paper, the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, called "Good Enough to Steal." Meanwhile, members of the troupe have been hearing about the book. Jay Martel, the Creative Director, e-mailed me saying he had bought the book on-line and couldn't wait to read it. I had to warn him that he and Bruce Handy (now a heavy hitter at Vanity Fair) were the villains.
I was exchanging posts with former Chucklehead Bob Keenan. I wrote: "Say, um, Bob, do you know how to cover up scratch marks to the face? I had a date last night that ended really, really badly."
A lady named Vanda posted: "If we scratch you, that means we really, really like you!"
Me: "A lot of women must really like me, especially the ones with restraining orders against me."
Vanda: "Restraining orders are so coy. 'I don't want you near me!' Yeah, right!"
Me: "Bob, who is this lady? Never mind, I'll go on Zabasearch, get her address and phone number, as well as her credit and criminal history."
Vanda: "Stalk me all you'd like."
Bob: "I knew Vanda through Chucklehead. She is a yoga teacher with a wicked sense of humor. Nothing in common with you."
Vanda and I became Facebook friends, exchanged phone numbers. She sent me an e-mail message this morning to call her on her cell as she drove to Mexico. We talked for over an hour and I may wind up writing her life story. Stay tuned!
The journey after publishing "Tales of the Troupe" has been a truly amazing one.
At a book expo in New York, no one made any sales but my book got stolen, making me something of a celebrity. Several people shook my hand, and one guy said, "No one cared enough about my book to steal it." I also made a great friend, fellow writer Lisette Brodey.
The experience gave me an idea for a column in the local paper, the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, called "Good Enough to Steal." Meanwhile, members of the troupe have been hearing about the book. Jay Martel, the Creative Director, e-mailed me saying he had bought the book on-line and couldn't wait to read it. I had to warn him that he and Bruce Handy (now a heavy hitter at Vanity Fair) were the villains.
I was exchanging posts with former Chucklehead Bob Keenan. I wrote: "Say, um, Bob, do you know how to cover up scratch marks to the face? I had a date last night that ended really, really badly."
A lady named Vanda posted: "If we scratch you, that means we really, really like you!"
Me: "A lot of women must really like me, especially the ones with restraining orders against me."
Vanda: "Restraining orders are so coy. 'I don't want you near me!' Yeah, right!"
Me: "Bob, who is this lady? Never mind, I'll go on Zabasearch, get her address and phone number, as well as her credit and criminal history."
Vanda: "Stalk me all you'd like."
Bob: "I knew Vanda through Chucklehead. She is a yoga teacher with a wicked sense of humor. Nothing in common with you."
Vanda and I became Facebook friends, exchanged phone numbers. She sent me an e-mail message this morning to call her on her cell as she drove to Mexico. We talked for over an hour and I may wind up writing her life story. Stay tuned!
