The 'Elfmobile' and other wacky 'marketing moments'?

[Archer]

Okay, authors. We all know that, regardless of publishing path, we are responsible for much of our own book marketing. I would expect that, being an inventive bunch, we've come up with some wacky ways to call attention to our books. How about it? Have you staged a rubber-sword fight in a Barnes and Noble to call attention to your booksigning? Have you tried to climb the Chrysler building while wearing a pink tutu (especially if you're a guy...)? Have you ever paid an Asian restaurant to switch their regular fortune cookies with custom made ones that read: 'You will soon read a wonderful fantasy trilogy by C.S. Marks'? Ever driven around the country in a car plastered with your cover art?

What's your memorable marketing moment?

(If you can't do 'wacky', how about heartwarming, thrilling, or disastrous?)

  

[J.E.Johnson]

Hey Archer,
    Since I'm relatively new to this, I don't have anything too exciting.  I'm afraid the best I can do (at the moment) is say I've left several bits of paper in geocaches in my area.  If you don't know what geocaching is, it's a relatively new sport where people hide containers stuffed with small treasures or simply a log book and pen and people use their gps systems to find them.  Some were easy to find, some harder and some were more remote than others.  It is rather fun, I suggest you try it if you haven't already. 
    Anyhoo, this summer I did some geocaching and before I went out I printed out small pieces of paper with a paragraph or two from my book, burnt the edges, decorated the back (adding a saying written in kruelt (dragons' language)), rolled them up and tied them with gold ribbon.  Now, when you geocache if you take something you must leave something behind.  I never traded one of my papers for something; it was always an extra gift in case anyone was interested. 
     I have three copies of my book set aside and three well camouflaged boxes to put them in.  Next time I get a chance, I'm borrowing my friend's gps so I can hide the boxes. First people to find them get to keep the books (I'll leave a note to encourage them to return them when they are done, so someone else might find them.  I also plan on leaving other goodies in the boxes  ).
-Jenna

[NAmbrose]

Jenna, I think that is extremely imaginative, and very cool.  I'm a die hard techie, and I would not have thought of that in a million years.

[Archer]

Jenna:
That's brilliant! I like it much better than my fortune cookie scheme!

I sort of went overboard with mine, I guess, but it IS effective. I covered my vehicle with artwork from my book covers. The 'Elfmobile' is now a rolling billboard wherever I go. I did the same with my old van (which I take to conventions). I cannot tell you how many cards I have handed out (especially at drive-through windows), and I know I've sold quite a few books as a result. The only information people are given is the web address (www.elfhunter.net), but that's enough.

The car is awesome. I catch people taking photos of it in parking lots all the time.
Wish I could drive it to the National Book Fair.

:-)

[J.E.Johnson]

Hey Archer and Nicolas,
     As soon as I actually find the time to get my three caches with the books hidden, I'll have to let you know how it goes  .  And Archer, I also want to do more with my car, but it already has too many bumper stickers to be deemed safe in the relatively bumper sticker-free area where I live  .  BUT I do plan to make one, something that catches the eye but forces people to visit the site (Right now I have "Do you speak Draggish?" - draggish being the dragons' language - and then my web address listed just below).  But I might go with the word "Kruelt" instead of "Draggish"; I've been told it conjures images of drag queens . . . didn't really think of it until someone pointed it out.  Oh well! 
     I've also made business cards, which I think is the first step, and bookmarks.  On one side I have an image that relates to the book, on the other I have an Ethoen quote and the web address.  I highly recommend this, especially to you Archer since you have so much artwork to choose from.  I had fifty made, with a gloss finish and rounded edges, for about $10.  So worth it.  Right now I'm going to be giving them away with any of the books I sell on my own at the Book Festival I'll be attending in a week.  In the future I might just give them away  .  Anyways, the site I used was Overnight Prints: http://www.overnightprints.com/main.php?A=start_page&product_group=bookmarks.  Hope you guys find it helpful!
-Jenna
PS - I've even thought of going to the beach and writing, in big letters in the sand (or using rocks/driftwood/seaweed), the question I want to use for my bumper sticker and the web address below.  It's free, it's very public and, from my experience, people usually read what has been written in the sand.  Only works if you live near a beach though . . . 

[mom2karen]

Jenna, could you make one of your books a geo "bug"?  They are tracked and are supposed to be moved to a new site.  Might spread the book to far away location. 

Archer, any chance we can get a picture of your Elfmobile?  Very cool idea!

[Archer]

Jenna:  Good plan. I am the QUEEN of bookmarks, postcards, and posters. 
I give away 16 x 20 signed prints of our covers and maps at signings.  VERY popular!

Hi, Mom2karen:

Sure, you can see the Elfmobile. I'll let you know as soon as I have it up on the website...that's an easy way to get to it.
It has nearly caused a few traffic accidents. People slow down while passing me on the interstate so they can photograph it. One of these days, I'll probably get sued for distracting people.   

[Thumper]

I covered my vehicle with artwork from my book covers.

How? I am totally taken with that idea, but how...?

[J.E.Johnson]

Mom2Karen,
    I'm not sure if I could make my books geobugs. . . but I like that idea  .  I'll have to check into it . . .
-Jenna

[Archer]

Thumper:  A picture is worth more than a description...as soon as I get one up on the site, you will be able to see the Elfmobile in all her glory!
I can hardly wait to hear what you guys think of it! 

[J.E.Johnson]

Eagerly awaiting the Elfmobile . . . . 
-Jenna
PS - did I ever mention how much I love being able to come to this forum and chat with people of a like-mind?  We don't have too many "fantasy nerds" on the Central Coast, and when I say "fantasy nerds" I mean that in the best way 

[Archer]

Here, by popular demand, is the link to the famous 'Elfmobile'! Enjoy.
 

http://www.elfhunter.net/chkelfmobile.html

[telracs]

way cool!

[Archer]

Scarlet:

Ten queue! 

[J.E.Johnson]

I love it!   
-Jenna

[intinst]

Here, by popular demand, is the link to the famous 'Elfmobile'! Enjoy.
 

http://www.elfhunter.net/chkelfmobile.html

That is fantastic!

[911jason]

The car is awesome. I catch people taking photos of it in parking lots all the time.
Wish I could drive it to the National Book Fair.

Wow, you weren't kidding! It looks so professional, like it's promoting a new LOTR movie or something... not nearly as corny as I was expecting, actually, let me clarify, it's not corny at all!

Very nice job!!!

As for geocaching, David Morrell recently wrote a book using that as a major plot element... it was alright.

[NAmbrose]

Holy C#*P!

That is unbelievable!  Makes me want to take my 12x18 mag sign and hide it in a drawer.  Fantastic job!

Nicolas

[Archer]

Nicolas:
I can live with 'Holy C#*P!'
 

(And I also went through a phase with limited vinyl graphics on the windows of the van...until I decided to pull out all the stops. )

Thanks for appreciating my labors, everyone. I can also live with 'not corny'!

Anyone have a memorable moment at a booksigning? Not necessarily wacky...
I'll give an example of a recent one. Booksignings, of course, involve DTBs. Mine are large, POD, and pricey (they are as inexpensive as I can make them, but they are large and POD...therefore pricey). One young man bought the first one at GenCon Indy on Friday. He came back on Sunday--the other two books were already on sale (they were all on sale all weekend) but he couldn't afford them. He told me so.
Apparently, he had already powered through book I. He wanted to know if he could order the books directly, as he wanted them signed.

A woman in an electric wheelchair was browsing the table to my right. She overheard him, maneuvered over to my table, whipped out cash and thrust it into his hand.
'Buy your books,' she said.
The young man was stunned. So was I, actually. 'Really?' he said.
'Yes, really,' she replied. 'I've already got all three of them.  You want to buy them now and get them signed.'

I took their picture together. He was a very happy young man...I hope, after reading the books, that he still is.

[911jason]

A woman in an electric wheelchair was browsing the table to my right. She overheard him, maneuvered over to my table, whipped out cash and thrust it into his hand.

What an AWESOME story! You just don't hear this kind of thing much anymore...

[Archer]

Yes, that was a special moment.  Much more so than those involving people lurking and discussing the plastic surgery I had on my ears...(NOT!)

Ye gods, people...have you never heard of prosthetics? 

Next year at GenCon, when she comes back (which I know she will...she comes every year), I'll give her my newest for free. Least I can do.

Anyone else want to share? 

[koland]

Since no one else asked, I will -- how did you get that on your car?  Artist drawn by hand or computer generated? If the latter, what process?

Oh yeah, and ... want to do mine?

[Edward C. Patterson]

I think I'll paint my car pink, have my friends drive it down Broadway, while I dance the Naked conga dance in my stilettos wearing a Carmen Miranda tutti-fruiti hat. That'll get some attention. Well, maybe not in New York.   Guess I'll settle with my bookmarks.

Ed Patterson

[Karen_McQ]

Oh my word, the Elfmobile is amazing! I can only imagine the reactions you get. Now I want an Elfmobile!

I also loved your random acts of kindness story about the older lady who bought the young man the next two books in your series.
What a heartwarming story.   :)It started my Sunday on a happy note.

I'll echo koland in asking how you got the images on your car. I'd love to know the process you went through. Way cool!

[Chad Winters]

I was the KC Renaissance Festival recently and the authors of "Rowan of the Wood" (I think it was a free book awhile back, its on y TBR list) had done up their RV pretty nice.

http://www.christineandethanrose.com/index.htm

Oh yeah and somehow they managed to get a color Kindle, check out the pic on their front page