Welcome to New Yolk City

[gwen]

This is for my middle-grade mystery series, the first of which is entitled BRAWK FEATHERSTON & THE MOLT-EASE FALCON. Brawk’s a hard-boiled detective. He’s also a chicken. (All the animals in the story are anthropomorphic . . . think Geronimo Stilton.)

Markets are kids grades 3-6, Reluctant readers (the books feature a strong illustration component with clues hidden in certain spreads), Film Noir fans buying for their kids/friends/family, Mystery fans

Marketing ideas:

Online “Bird Food” contest. In the book, Brawk and his friends eat all kinds of “bird food.” For example, some of the ducks enjoy “quackaroni and cheese.” The contest would involve kids (or parents!) inventing their own dishes and submitting them online. The prize? The winner’s food will appear in the next book!

Make up some “Cock-a-Doodle Chew” sticks of gum (Brawk’s favorite in the books). Include the Molt-Ease Falcon website and purchasing info on the back of the labels.

Create some colorful Molt-Ease feather product labels as stickers or on t-shirts. Use some of the silly company slogans from the book like, “Molt-Ease: Go From Fluff to Buff!”

The Forecaster: The weather is sometimes a clue! Potential readers can find out what different weather might foreshadow in Brawk’s noir mystery world. This might work for school visits, signings, or even for displays in book stores. Kids can spin the large wheel or flip up a flap to find out what certain types of weather might foreshadow. For example the thunder and lightning flap could flip up to say, “Watch out, Brawk! Trouble is brewing!”

Another book display (or possibly giveaway idea) could be a New Yolk City poster as a kind of mock travel and tourism promotion (illustrating the wacky birdish city Brawk inhabits). Future books in the series take place in other animal-themed cities, and the idea could be repeated (poster for Baaston with the sheep and goat sites, etc.).

Why did the chicken cross the road? (This question puzzles Brawk at one point in THE MOLT-EASE FALCON.) This would be a board (either electronic via the website or an actual poster board that travels from visit to visit) where kids could add their own endings to this classic joke and read the ideas left by other kids. Could also possibly work for a bookstore display, but would require a bit of maintenance/supervision.

In case you can’t tell, I had a lot of fun doing this! Thanks in advance for any feedback, and I look forward to seeing the ideas posted by others.

[Buried Editor]

Really quite clever, and some of the ideas have the added bonus of being good merchandising possibilities. None of them seem unrealistic or even something you couldn't do (or have done yourself for a reasonable cost) should the publisher not be as forthcoming with marketing dollars as you would like. I assume you are the illustrator as well?

[bnlippy]

I posted last night, but must not have hit enter!

Anyways ~ I love your concept and play on words. You have the potential to go market crazy. I have learned that being able to tie food into something adds another element. I am glad to see I am not the only one to dream BIG!

Keep me updated on you progress and release date. I have two kids that would enjoy the quirky humor.

[gwen]

Thanks very much for the feedback! This story was really fun to write. I've started querying it and had some interest, which is encouraging.

When I wrote the manuscript I assumed I could illustrate it. However, I think I've come to accept that probably won't happen. I've been querying it writer only, and my hope is that the story and concept is appealing enough that I can sell it without needing to pull off the coveted author/illustrator combo package.

Anyway, perhaps these marketing ideas rely too heavily on an illustrator's services. Would they still be feasible if I'm not doing the art?