How to Launch a Debut Novel (in the U.S.) from Shanghai, China

I'm a member of small club...the "I Live In China And My First Novel Is Being Published Halfway Around The World In The U.S. So I Need To Figure Out And Put Into Action Really Kick-Ass Marketing Strategies That Work From A Distance" club (Acronym? ILCMFNIBPHAWITUSINTFOPIARKAMSTWFD) There aren't many members in this club, but I've always liked doing things a little differently than others. Here's the scoop on what I've figured out so far...

Facts:

• My first novel THIRSTY is being published on October 1. (Yep, just three weeks from now!)
• THIRSTY is being published in the United States.
• I live in Shanghai, China. (I'm an American.)

Challenges:

• Blocked: The "powers that be" here in China control the Internet in interesting and challenging ways. For instance, they block many websites to which I need access: my own websites for THIRSTY and me, Twitter, Facebook, my blog, YouTube, many writer-related sites, etc. This, as you can imagine, makes life difficult considering that the way I try to reach readers and would-be readers is via these sites.

• Time Zones: Shanghai is twelve hours ahead of the east coast in the U.S. When it is 9:00 a.m. in New York or Boston, it is 9:00 p.m. in Shanghai. If I need to talk to my publicist or a bookstore events coordinator, I have to stay awake and alert until at least 10:00 p.m....often later.

• Delay in Responses: The difference in time zones means that if I send a question to my editor or publicist or website designer or anyone else via email, I often have to wait an entire day to get a response...because my morning is the U.S.'s night...and vice versa. This often means a short delay in being able to move forward on a project.

• Communication: Once you live halfway around the world in China, you find that communicating with folks back home isn't all THAT hard. Skype is convenient and affordable. I buy cheap phone cards that allow me to call the U.S. for pennies a minute. iChat and other video conferencing tools allow visual meetings, etc. BUT folks back home who don't often use these tools think it's impossible to communicate easily with someone in China. Thus...in some situations, I'm (warmly) ignored. (That's when I jump up and down and holler, "Hey, hey, look at me! I'm here, too.

• Books in English: I like to read novels that are similar to mine in some way...the ones that are getting reviewed in newspapers and blogs, the ones that grab the public's attention for one reason or another. In addition to the pleasure of reading them, I like to see how they're packaged, marketed, received, and reviewed. I learn from them. Oh, we've got lots of books in English in Shanghai, but usually not the ones I need. And the ones we do have are VERY expensive. (A few weeks ago, I paid $33 for a Wally Lamb paperback.)

• Jetlag: On September 18, I'm heading home for the launch of THIRSTY. Though I'd like to say I'll be able to dive right into the work that needs to be done, I know that jetlag will dull my senses and inhibit my ability to produce good work.

• Loneliness: Ever hear that song, "Here I sit like a bird in the wilderness...bird in the wilderness...bird in the wilderness?" Well, that's how I sometimes feel (albeit in an urban jungle)...isolated from others in the industry. I do my best to stay in close contact, but the truth is, I live in China.

• Community: If I were living back home, I'd have more opportunities to grow my writing community (teaching at conferences, attending industry events, getting involved with local groups, etc.).

Solutions:

• Blocked: I use various "workaround" sites to access the sites from which I am blocked. Some days, one workaround site works and I get access; other days, it does not. I never know what access I'm going to have when I wake up. (Have I mentioned how smart and tech-savvy the "powers that be" are?)

• Time Zones: I stay up late and get up early. If don't feel like talking at midnight but have to, I chug a Diet Coke, jog in place, do jumping jacks...whatever it takes to nudge (shake) me out of sleepiness and into work mode.

• Delay in Responses: I practice patience. Usually when I get something in my craw, I need to move on it immediately. Chop-chop. But while living in China and working in the U.S., I don't have that option. So while I wait for a response about one aspect of a project, I work on something else. I've become a pretty good multi-tasker. (The patience? Always working on it.)

• Communication: I use communication tools as often as possible with contacts in the U.S. The more you use them, the smaller the world feels. "You're calling me on Skype?" people say when I tell them. "You sound like you're right next door." (The other response I often get is, "What's Skype?" Hhhmmm...)

• Books in English: Again, patience. I use Amazon a lot (much to my husband's dismay), but it is wildly expensive and unbearably slow. A Kindle is on my list of "things to buy in the U.S."

• Jetlag: I haven't planned any events or work for the five days following my arrival in the U.S. This may change, but right now, I'll be doing little but getting myself and my nineteen-month-old daughter through the jetlag. (Wish me luck.)

• Loneliness: I have an awesome writerly support network in the United States. Friends and writing colleagues who step up again and again (especially the most amazing Writer Mama, Christina Katz). If I can't reach a particular website that I really need/want to read, they'll send an archived file of it. If I need someone's contact info, a friend tracks it down and sends it. They rock! I've forced myself to get over the "Oh, no, I don't want to put you out" response. If someone offers help, I accept. If I need help, I ask. (And I know that what goes around, comes around. I repay in kind whenever possible.)

• Community: I get involved in as many writing-related events here in China as possible. I curate and host a reading series for local writers (Out Loud! The Shanghai Writers Literary Salon) and I volunteer for the most amazing Shanghai International Literary Festival that takes place every March. I also have a wonderful writing group here and lots of supportive writer friends.

So that's it in a nutshell. If you read this and you're thinking, "What in the world can I do to help Kristin Bair O'Keeffe spread the word about THIRSTY?" I've got a few friendly suggestions:

1. Buy THIRSTY. (It's available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Swallow Press, and many local bookstores.)
2. Have me write a guest post on your blog. (Just send me an email and ask! Easy peasy! You can catch me at kristin[at]kristinbairokeeffe[dot]com.)
3. Interview me for your blog. (I can call you on Skype or send email responses from a different time zone.)
4. Share THIRSTY with friends, family, and readers. (Great gift idea!)
5. Come to my readings/signings in the U.S. in September and October. (I'd love to see you in person. See EVENTS calendar.)
6. Ask me to meet with your writing group or book club while I'm in the U.S. (I'll be in New England, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and hopefully Chicago, and I love talking about writing and publishing.)
7. Find a cure for jetlag. (You'll make millions!)
8. Friend me on Facebook.
9. Follow me on Twitter.
10. Go to YouTube. Watch the book trailer for THIRSTY. Fall in love with the trailer and the book. Share it with friends and family. Rate it. (um, preferably lots of stars)
11. And the eleventh way you can help me spread the word about THIRSTY is to comment on this blog entry. (See...see...look down a little. There's a comment button right there. Yep, yep, that's the one.)

That's all for now from the headquarters of ILCMFNIBPHAWITUSINTFOPIARKAMSTWFD.

Zai jian!

Comments

[Traci]

Wow! You're an amazing woman, needless to say, m'dear. Your sense of humor about the challenges and opportunties you face living in China will see you through. You made me chuckle much this a.m.!

[Karrie Z Myton]

I second that first comment. I'll be doing what I can (including buying your book). I'm thinking of launching a blog related to my work as an ESL teacher. If I get it together in time, I'd love to interview you for my debut. A book with an immigrant protagonist would be grand.

[banana_the_poet/Michele Brenton]

Sympathies! I live in Greece and I am just about to publish the first of a series of seven poetry books in the UK.
I've got it much easier than you - and I think my situation is tricky enough :)
Good luck!

[Melissa Lynch]

Realized that I had most of the "Support Kristin/Thirsty" checklist done except for actually posting! Read the first installment and can't wait to read the whole book (which I have preordered on Amazon - item #1 -- check). Hang in there and enjoy the wonderful, chaotic ride.

[Amy Bennett U.]

Having semi-obsessively read everything I can about you & your life over the past 48 hours (since I "re-discovered" you), I see you as a woman who has a great voice and WILL be heard as YOU CAME TO LIVE OUT LOUD, and you are. In case you haven't lately, turn around and pat yourself on the back.
Having not done this before (traveled across the world to "do" your book deal WITH CHILD IN TOW!!!!) you sound very realistically prepared. The "with child in tow" is not to be taken lightly (I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old and travel to Pgh with some frequency---no jet lag involved, though) and you've allowed a great amount of time to recover from jet-lag and re-group.
I'd like to order from Amazon to support your "spike"(?) day and hope to make it to a signing in the 'burg. Hope Tully gets to enjoy her first(?) Danny's hoagie (412-833-7788 in case you need their #). The duck pond at South Park is nice these days, buffalo are hard to see.

You'll do great. Some things won't come off as planned, as to be expected, and it will all be okay. :o)

Supporting you from VA

[Laura - The Journal of Cultural Conversation]

You are a trooper and keep such a positive attitude despite all the technological and sleep obstacles! So excited for THIRSTY and the upcoming greatness to come for you!

[Kristin Bair O'Keeffe]

Hi All,

Thanks so much for all the support! A friend in Indiana (who is doing a kick-ass job spreading the word about THIRSTY) said to me about the THIRSTY campaign last night, "Grassroots, baby!" And that struck a chord with me.

So that's it. Grassroots, baby!

And Amy Bennett...so, so great to hear from you. Send an email address! :)

[daisy wakefield]

k-

congrats on the book coming out! excited to read it. kisses and a skidamarink to tully.

daisy