Kingmakers

A kingmaker, according to the Pocket Oxford English Dictionary, is a person who brings leaders to power by using their political influence. I’m going to borrow the term and use it relation to the influential people in your circle.

As authors, our ultimate goal after writing our story is to get that story out to the masses. Naturally, we’re going to do all we can to get our latest work noticed. Part of that would be shouting in the town square, which in my mind is the equivalent of the social media scene.

Other than that, we turn to the ‘Kingmakers’ among us for help with promotion. There are folks like Alex, the Ninja Captain, who is good enough to even while you’re working up the courage to ask and there’s Arlee Bird, the founder of the Blogging from A-Z Challenge. Add to those, Mike Offutt, one of my favourite blogging buddies and Nick Wilford.

There are several women who I’m always pleased to have participating in anything I do, who are staunch supporters of the blogging crowd. Among these are Damyanti Biswas, Mina Burrows, Denise Covey, Clarissa Draper, Elise Fallson and  Michelle Wallace. Last, but by no means least, are two Jamaican ladies who’ve made the blogosphere a not-so-lonely place for this islander. I’m pleased to call Sheena-Kay Graham and Peaches Ledwidge friends.

Note that association with persons who own high-traffic blogs is not a guarantee that your book will be successful, but your product will benefit from a significant level of exposure.  

I’m sure there are persons I haven’t thought of, but who might be within your own circle of influence. So, when organizing your tour, think about persons who might not necessarily be able to host you, but who make a difference to your visibility level and also make the journey less lonely.   

Since I haven’t come up with any nutshell items. Can you think of any?