Book Launch Q&A: David Myles Robinson Author Tropical Doubts #booklaunch @dnrobinsonwrite @pumpupyourbook

David Myles Robinson was a trial attorney in Honolulu, HI for 38 years before retiring to the mountains of New Mexico, where he lives with his wife, a former Honolulu trial judge. In the days of yore, before becoming a lawyer, he was a freelance journalist and a staff reporter for a minority newspaper in Pasadena, CA. He is an award-winning author of six novels, three of which are Pancho McMartin legal thrillers set in Honolulu.

Having traveled to all seven continents, he has also published a travel memoir entitled CONGA LINE ON THE AMAZON, which includes two Solas Traveler’s Tales award winners.

He says he includes his middle name, Myles, in his authorial appellation because there are far too many other David Robinson’s running around.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: davidmylesrobinson.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DNRobinsonWrite
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMylesRobinson/
 

When Honolulu’s flamboyant and quirky attorney, Pancho McMartin, agrees to step out of his normal role as a criminal defense lawyer, he thinks it will be a challenging but welcome change from his daily dose of criminal clients. His old friend and father-figure, Manny Delacruz, has beseeched Pancho to handle a medical malpractice claim against the physicians who botched what should have been a routine surgery, but which resulted in Manny’s beloved wife being in a permanent vegetative state. The case looks good, the damages enormous, but when Manny is arrested for the murder of one of the doctors, Pancho finds himself back in his old role. If Manny is convicted, it means he won’t be able to be at his wife’s bedside to hold her hand, caress her face, and read his poems to her. He will have lost his reason to live. The pressure on Pancho is enormous. While he and his team try to make sense out of one of the most sinister and complicated murder schemes he’s ever seen, the medical malpractice case chugs forward, in jeopardy of being worthless should Manny be convicted.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2WJQSnx

 Barnes & Noble → https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tropical-doubts-david-myles-robinson/1128284518?ean=9781948749015

 

 

After your book was released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch?

I had just terminated my relationship with my marketing people and so I began researching options which appeared to be viable, meaning potential for success and cost efficient.

After that, what was your next step?

I hired a PR person to work on getting more reviews and for assistance on beefing up my website.

Did you do anything different to spice up your website in lieu of your upcoming book release?

Nothing particularly different. We added the new book.

Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route?

I’ve done both, with marginal success.

Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that?

It was a top priority, but even after hiring a PR person and even though the reviews I have received, both from reviewing companies and individual readers have been excellent, the net result is not great. My publisher warned me that even friends and family often don’t take the time to post reviews. I didn’t really believe that until I did.

What are your views on social media for marketing your book?

Social media is probably the most cost-efficient way I have experienced for marketing. I have boosted my marketing posts on Facebook for relatively small amounts of money and that is pretty much the only times I see a bump in sales. I do have a twitter account, set up by my prior marketing people, who were supposed to do regular posts, but they dropped the ball. So far I pretty much rely on my email blasts and Facebook. Hopefully I will see some success with this blog tour and I thank you for including me.

What social media has worked best for you?

Facebook, by far.

Did you write a press release and do you think it worked for you?

My indie publisher sends out a press release up the publication of my books, as they did for Tropical Doubts. I have not seen any discernable benefit from such.

Did you revamp your author’s page at Amazon in any way to prepare for the launch (https://authorcentral.amazon.com/)?

Yes, updated to include the latest book.

Did you have other books you offered for free in order to help sell your present book?

No, although Book Bub did pick one of my novels for inclusion in its daily bargains, which required a price reduction to $2.99. Since then my publisher has lowered the prices of my ebooks to $2.99.

Did you set up booksignings and, if so, how did that work for you?

I live in Taos, NM, and the local bookstore here has invited me to speak at its mystery book club where I meet and greet and answer questions. I’ve done that on several occasions to a group of about 20 members, but I have not set up book signings outside of my geographical area. The cost/benefit analysis just didn’t seem to justify it.

Did you create a book trailer?

No

Did you time your book launch around a certain holiday?

No

What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch?

Hopefully on the current marketing company that has arranged for me to be interviewed by you. Time will tell. Until now, I would have to say Facebook boosts, which give good bang for the buck.

I believe Amazon has changed its rules regarding the posting of reviews, so most of the companies I’ve seen which would promise x amount of reviews for x amount of dollars are no longer offering those services. Frankly, to really derive a great benefit from such offerings, one would need to spend quite a large sum of money.

Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch?

If you are willing to spend the money, and you have done your due diligence as to marketing people/firms, go ahead and let a professional handle your launch. Just be aware that there are many hucksters out there waiting to take advantage of authors. I have spent thousands of dollars on trial and error (mostly error). If you find someone who does a good job and gets results, stick with them.