MMA Fresh Ideas: Small Town Sales

People are always asking me whether they need to research a real town if they're only making up a town for their book. I've always said yes, because doing that helps a writer get more color into descriptions, makes the imaginary town more "real." But here another reason I think the answer should be a resounding YES!

I set my "The Anteater of Death" in a tiny, tiny fictional village named Gunn Landing, on the California Coast. However, I based that village on the very real tiny, tiny village of Moss Landing (approximately 20 miles north of Monterey). After my husband found the place on a business trip and called me, saying it was just the setting I was looking for, I immediately flew out there and stayed at the only bed & breakfast in town (Captains Inn). While doing my research, I visited with the harbor master, and talked to a lot of the "liveaboarders", folks who live on their boats in Moss Landing Harbor (my zoo keeper protagonist lives on her boat). I promised everyone I met that I'd mention Moss Landing on the acknowledgement page of the book. Knowing the real town helped immensely in setting the scenes in my book. People who have read the book said they could actually picture that village (as well they should -- I have its map and pictures hanging right above my computer). From talking to the harbor master and the liveaboarders, I also learned a lot of about pleasures and pains of boat living.

2 years later, "The Anteater of Death" is at the bookstores. And I kept my promise to Moss Landing. In the acknowledgement, I mentioned the name of the real town I'd based my fictional town on, and even gave the URL of Moss Landing's web site (www.mosslandingchamber.com). I also praised Captains Inn, where I stayed for several nights (GREAT PLACE!!! RIGHT ON THE WATER!!!). And guess what? When I emailed the folks I met at Moss Landing that the book was out (and attached the Acknowledgements page) half the town (full population is under 500) ordered the book. And that's not all. The harbor master emailed me that she was bringing up the book at the village board meeting to see how they might be able to use the book for promotional purposes. Next morning, I received several warm emails from various board members.

The upshot of the town meeting is that Moss Landing is holding a big luncheon party/book signing for me on at noon, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at the Haute Enchilada, in Moss Landing. That happens to be a great day, because it's when the town is crammed with antique-hunting tourists from Monterey and San Francisco. Captains Inn is also comping my stay at the B&B, and the local book store is supplying all the books. That night, Captains Inn is holding yet another book party for me; they've invited friends from as far south as Carmel, and as far north as Santa Cruz and San Francisco. I'll be giving a talk there, too. Plus, the town has called all the local newspapers -- including a San Francisco newspaper -- about the event. They're doing my publicity for me!

The entire village -- including those liveaboard boaters -- is thrilled. And so am I. I will be making the Moss Landing visit the cornerstone of my California tour this year. And rest assured, I'll repeat this process with all the other Gunn Landing mysteries!

So consider this type of wonderful freebie promotion when you're thinking about "making up" a town for your book. My advice? Pick a small tourist mecca, a place where the townsfolk would love to use your book for publicity purposes, and where they would respond to you in kind.