Martin’s guide to Shakespeare-speak

Most self-published writers are aware of the need to publicise and market their books. Martin Baum, author of To Be Or Not To Be, Innit, undertook a local publicity campaign, which, to his delight, attracted national and international interest.

‘Using The Writer’s Handbook and the Internet, I sent press releases to newspapers, radio and television. My tenacity brought me a couple of local radio spots, regional newspaper reviews and articles.’

Through this publicity, Martin’s book, a satirical take on fifteen abridged Shakespeare plays, attracted the attention of national and international newspapers. To Be Or Not To Be, Innit is now stocked in branches of Waterstone’s across the UK, in Barnes and Noble, New York and by the National Theatre and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Martin has this advice for other writers planning a publicity campaign: ‘Nothing, let alone an obscure book, will ever sell itself. It can’t be done. Product awareness doesn’t just happen and if an author isn’t prepared to promote, then the consequences will be that the only people to own the book will be family and friends who have received free copies.

‘I cannot stress enough that the success of my book only came to be because of the work I put in.
‘Had I not got on the phone and made it my business to hit all the local press and radio, then it would not have been picked up by the national network and I would still be a writer with a book that nobody knew about.’

Details: To Be Or Not To Be, Innit is available at £4.99 from Waterstone’s and Amazon; website: www.yoofspeak.net