New Year, New Plans

Christmas is very quickly approaching and with the Festive Season well and truly underway, my marketing for 'Bullseye' is slowing down temporarily.  


During the holiday period (well....holidays for many...I won't be taking a break apart from the normal public holidays) I will be working on my school strategy, which as mentioned I am changing in light of recent information I have been provided with.  I am still awaiting some testimonials and they will arrive eventually, favourably hopefully.  The feedback that is arriving from the contributors etc has been wonderful thus far.  


As 'Bullseye' becomes better known, and in turn I do too, I am finding that a lot of people are asking how I did it.   I am trying to answer these enquiries as I can and I am having other potential authors asking for my assistance, which I am more than happy to provide, where I can.  I am helping three people to prepare their manuscripts for possible publication at the moment and will continue with this through the Christmas period.  While I cannot help everyone, I am taking all that I can and working with these people to realise their dreams, if possible.  


I have also started work on my own autobiography as I am gaining a lot of interest in my background, my life in the outback.  So this will all be happening during the Christmas break.  For those of you who do not know, I am also a wife and Mum and I work full time and very long hours.  I have recently had a birthday, the most wonderful birthday, thanks to my family and friends, and....for me....life is just starting.

Christmas Is Coming

Having a few rather interesting things happen and starting to 'uncover' a few interesting facts.  Also starting to receive quite a lot of feedback which has all been very positive so far.  Have a couple of testimonials being written which is also terrific.  Also possibly have support from a celebrity which is brilliant.  Not confirmed yet but I live in hope.  All going really well.  


Will now slow down with Christmas almost upon us and concentrate on contacting other bullying websites around the world (starting to receive positive responses here too), along with preparing 'snail mail' letters to issue to schools, from a different angle.  This has been recommended to me so will follow up on this idea.  But no point sending them until the new year when the start of the new school year is nearing.  


But everything is great....really exciting.  Having a few downers here and there, but that's to be expected and the highs are still well and truly winning.

Stay tuned.

Fighting for the Cause

Have had reports of a few sales in the USA, which is great.  And it does appear that interest is gradually gaining momentum here as well.  This marketing battle is a long, hard slog but I also do consider it to be an intense labour of love as my passion for making a difference out there in this battle against bullying is only causing me to change tacks/rethink a strategy or two and the more negativity/rejections/ignorance I receive, the more determined it is making me.  


The schools seem to continue to be in denial, or it does appear that the information I was provided with last week could well be absolutely true and, while that is staying under the belt for the moment, as I learn new things, some of which are not for public knowledge yet, but are certainly adding to my ammunition .... I have decided to focus on another area in the education area and see how that goes.   


Through all this I am also meeting a few other authors who have published similar sorts of books (not on bullying) and everything I am experiencing seems to be in common with these people.   Some of them have had success, others are starting to feel it, others are still fighting and will continue to.  They have all told me NEVER to give up, that the fight and 'Bullseye' itself are FAR too important.  So I won't.  Stay tuned.

Bullseye jumps on the Twitter bandwagon!

Yup, that's right!  We're going full force and establishing our own Twitter page; you can find us (and follow if you'd be so wonderful :)) at www.twitter.com/bullseye_book!

Next step:  LinkedIn!  More news on that when it's ready...

Keeping Positive

Have had a few slowish days although small things have continued to happen, which is all lovely and does add to the big picture.  


A shipment of books arrived yesterday so I have just prepared copies for most of the remainder of the contributors (had already sent three) as well as two extra to one who had requested them.  Have also put a few copies into my local newsagent as a 'guinea pig' to see how they go.  As they are dealing direct with me (at this stage) I am 'giving' them their copies at cost price to keep that within reasonable range for their potential customers.  This won't happen at other outlets.  


Have also heard from a psychologist who has said she would consider doing a testimonial for me, which is great news.  Have to email a copy to her tonight.  


Also had contact with the local community newspaper for this area yesterday and they are looking at doing an article on the cover artist, Rebecca Trinca, the newsagent here and me.  We all work in the same shopping centre, but live elsewhere, at least I do.  Have no idea where the other two live.  


Anyway, things are moving for the positive....all good.

Stay tuned.

Ammunition

I am gradually gaining contact with a few very interesting people in my efforts to get both my camaign and 'Bullseye' into the public arena.  


One area I have never had much to do with and does seem to be increasing, sadly, is cyber-bullying, so I will be devoting some time and effort to learning more about this side of this hideous phenomena.  I have now had contact with a couple more bullying sites in the eastern states and it will be a matter of 'you show me yours, I'll show you mine' ... ie supporting, helping each other as time progresses.  One person asked me to send a copy of the book which I have done.  Have also sent complimentary copies to three more people in WA, so only time will tell what happens there.  


Had contact with a psychologist yesterday and hoping more will come of that in time.  Also started focussing more on my home state of South Australia and had a piece published on a site over there.  One aspect that I have been wrong about in one way, but right in another, is the schools' reactions to any bullying which occurs on their grounds.  I had thought they might be in denial about it, but I was told something very interesting last week.  Not for publication as yet but certainly something more for my 'ammunition'.  


I will now be bi-passing (sp???) most schools and aiming straight to the top, as has been recommended by many people.  Just trying to find an appropriate contact now.


Once again......stay tuned.

Little Obstacles and Bigger Progress

As mentioned in an earlier entry, it does seem that something, however small or big, seems to happen almost daily.  And this continues, even if it is only one small thing.  I applied for my ABN on Tuesday evening, and apparently the Tax Department has taken exception to it and it is on hold for a mandatory eight days.  The people who run the site that I applied through have been wonderful in keeping me up to date on progress.  


I have also started to contact all sorts of websites and this is also starting to get a response.  Just had a call from Sydney about it but need to return it so I will be doing that later today.  


Have also selected three celebrities and have emailed one of these, in Qld.  I will be sending a complimentary book to a second one this afternoon and the third I know indirectly so awaiting a response email from my 'contact person' on that one.  


Have also established contact with the wonderful lady who runs the company which acts as the Australian distributor for Xlibris (she is a fellow Xlibris author) and she is being just so helpful and encouraging.  


It's all very exciting.  I am loving this even when I get a rejection.  The highs are well and truly beginning to outnumber the lows.  Stay tuned.......