RBCP-
I've ordered my book and I'm waiting for your publisher to send it to me.
A few random thoughts from an idiot newb:
1. Generate buzz locally and nationally. Part of the fun of this is the pure fun, obviously. The publicity alone should be fun. A lot of books start as imprints and get picked up later. John Grisham wrote A Time to Kill before The Firm and nobody knew about it. Go to a few independent bookstores and beg them to let you do a signing. Even if nobody comes, what's the big deal? Some of these owners also know publishers...
a) Locally: Send a copy to specific reporters at newspapers in your state. Put a cover letter emphasizing that this has a local angle. Send a copy to student newspapers at the large universities nearby. Reporters in the towns / cities mentioned in the book.
b) Nationally: Trade publications / blogs involving telephony. You never know who might find this interesting... at your own risk.
c) Separate category: Radio. Get a list of all of the B-list talk show hosts and send a copy to their producers. With the cover letter, you can provide links to soundbites that they can play on the air.
d) Synergy: You'll find that getting going gets you going. Buy a press release, even though they aren't worth much. Cast the release in such a way that it will get picked up inanely by other feeds. If one outlet hears you or prints you, others will see it.
Strike while it's new!!
