by Ellen Byron (and her alias, Maria DiRico)
Originally published on The Chicks on the Case blog, August 9, 2021
The following statement may make people who know me snort a beverage out their nose, but I’m really uncomfortable promoting my work. The reason for the disbelief on the part of my friends is the blaring, may I say ballsy, “Shameless Shilling Campaign” I create for each of my book releases. Ironically, my discomfort with promotion is the whole reason I created this tongue-in cheek campaign. When I realized a lot of the book marketing heavy lifting fell on me, I felt like I had two choices: apologize for incessant promotion, or own it. I took a deep breath and went with owning it, but in a way that also has a hint of apology to it. You know, like, “Hey, I’m hitting you up to buy my book in a funny way, ha ha, hope you don’t mind and even enjoy the ride!”
I tiptoed around promo paths with my first two releases, then fully committed to a Shameless Shilling Campaign–heretofore known as an SSC–with my third book, A Cajun Christmas Killing.
Here are a few samples from my other SSCs. I’ve had more fun with some than others. I think the campaigns where I’m able to utilize personal photos–thanks to my graphics wizard Hunter Martin, who uses Photoshop, which I can’t do–are the most successful.
I even got my kid into the act for one SSC, using past Halloween pictures, but only ones she approved.
Cajun Kiss of Death, my seventh Cajun Country Mystery, officially launches tomorrow. Since you’ll be receiving a shameless e-blast about it, courtesy of the Chicks, I’ll spare you the SSC for this release. But as long as publishing will have me and no one is shaking me by the shoulders while yelling “I CANNOT TAKE ONE MORE GRAPHIC ABOUT YOUR FLIPPING RELEASE!!!” the SSCs will continue. Oh, what the heck, here’s one for Cajun Kiss of Death…
Okay, I’m done being shameless… until my next release. Buhwahaha…
Agatha Award winner and USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron is a television writer, playwright, and freelance journalist. Her TV credits include Wings, Still Standing, and Just Shoot Me. Her written work has appeared in Glamour, Redbook, and Seventeen, among others. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, their daughter, and the family’s very spoiled rescue dog. Writing as Maria DiRico, she pens the Catering Hall mysterie.
