With my book launch scheduled for 28.7.22, I have been on full promotional mode over the past few weeks.

My business breakfast group, BNI Building Bridges, has been a remarkable and surprising source of support. We get 60 sec every week to promote our business and to say what kind of referrals we are looking for.

I normally ask them to look out for opportunities for art commissions e.g. people with pets who might like a pet portrait or who are looking for uniquely personal gifts for weddings, birthdays, Christmas or anniversaries.

A few weeks ago, I asked for help to promote my book and said I needed contacts who do local radio shows, journalists, podcasters, owners of independent bookstores, TV presenters etc.…wow! The response was amazing.

Since then, thanks to a plumber, electrician, website developer, charity manager and business coach I have been on two local radio shows, had a 2-page colour feature in the Sunday Mail (including photoshoot!), been interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland and have a podcast recording in the planning.

I also have an independent bookstore willing to stock my book. There are still more irons in the fire. This is the power of referral networking in progress. We help each other to access each other’s network of contacts.

As a result of the newspaper and radio publicity I found myself temporarily at the number one ranking on Amazon (biography/ true crime, police subsection!) I captured the screenshot, so that’s what mattered!

Hopefully the book launch and virtual book tour will generate even more publicity. What a rollercoaster of excitement over the past few weeks!