Sonia visiting local Indie Book Stores for future book signings.

Who can blame authors for feeling queasy about self-promotion.

That dirty word, “self-promotion” makes some of us feel we’re peddling our work like a Viagra salesman, however, this may not be a new thing. In fact, while researching how a writer should build his/her brand, I came across a great article by Tony Perrottet in the Sunday Times, Book Review. Tony points out the easy part is writing the book, but what comes after, can be horrific.

It might help to take a look back in time. Realizing that Herodotus, a first-time Greek author paid for his own book tour around the Aegean in 440 B.C. or so, makes me far more willing to shell out my own money for a book tour. Since Herodotus’ big break came during the Olympic Games, when he stood up in the temple of Zeus and declaimed his “Histories” to the wealthy, influential crowd, I now understand the necessity of hiring a PR expert to book new authors on radio and television. If Herodotus promoted his writing in front of thousands, shouldn’t we?

Then in 1887, French author, Guy de Maupassant, sent up a hot-air balloon over the Seine with the name of his latest short story, “Le Horla,” painted on its side. Now that’s Gutsy, don’t you think? I read in Guerilla Marketing for Writers: 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work, about having your book cover painted on your car, and thought, Why not?

One publisher, Behler Publications, offers a unique idea for book promotion: a book purse, or a book cover on a purse or handbag, (if you’re British.) Take a look at the concept. Imagine shopping with your book cover on your purse. (I used to sell Cookie Lee jewelry and remember my purse had small, see-through compartments, displaying the necklaces and earrings. It was a great way to get a conversation going and I sold necklaces, even while shopping at the grocery store.) So why not your own book?

Finally, I have to bring up the 12th century, clergyman Gerald of Wales. He organized his own book party in Oxford, hoping to appeal to college audiences. “The Oxford Book of Oxford,” edited by Jan Morris states that Gerald invited scholars and offered them good food and ale for three days. This did not take place without long recitations of his golden prose. So I ask you, how is that different from a cheese and wine book salon signing today?

When my friend Penelope James from Don’t Hang Up, mentioned, “My blog was originally intended to support my soon-to-be-published book, “Don’t Hang Up!”Some newbie bloggers, like me, in search of a wider audience, find ourselves caught up in the blogging world. .. At first, it was like taking an intensive course in blogging, learning about blogging from the pros, about content, traffic, message, communication, etc. Only after six months of this have I realized that I still have a lot more to learn, which will require much more involvement before I can even aspire to improve my disappointing Google stats. However, in this time, I have not written a word – not a single word – of my book. I haven’t even made corrections or done any editing.”

I told Penelope, “Please Don’t Hang Up. You have to keep going especially after all the work you’ve put into your social networking.”

And one last piece of advice from an article entitled, 5 Crippling Beliefs That Keep Writers Penniless and Mired in Mediocrity” from Copyblogger.com,  “If you want to be successful, you can’t be a writer and nothing more.You also have to be a constant caretaker, a shameless promoter, a fearless champion. You have to fight for your ideas the way a mother fights for her children.”

So what do you think? Have times really changed? Hasn’t it always been about self-promotion? Do you think it’s far worse today, or are we offered more opportunities than we had in the past?