Author Interview – Rob Manary @robmanary

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?

I made the decision to retain CanAm Social to do my social media marketing. I enjoy writing; I don’t enjoy the necessary marketing required of a self published author. Diane Lebow at CanAm Social is absolutely brilliant, and never tires of holding my hand.

She has developed a website, a facebook page, and has arranged a blog tour in support of “Icarus Rising”. In addition to great content she is a constant cheerleader and forces me to do things like answer questions for interviewers when I would much rather be writing.

And she reminds me to mention the newest book when I wander. “Icarus Rising” first book of the Icarus Trilogy. Can I put a link to CanAm Social somewhere?

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?

I would invite Jesus and the Pope. I think it would be fun to watch the Pope try and explain the opulence of the Vatican to Christ. My Jesus would probably put the Pope over his knee.

I’d also like to have dinner with Milo and David, two minor characters that first appear in “Icarus Rising”, members of Rachel St. Claire’s band. I don’t think I even give them names in “Icarus Rising”. I really flesh them out in “Icarus Ascendant” and they get names. I think they would be fun to have dinner with. I would lock the liquor cabinet though.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

I like to rock climb, bungee jump, or go scuba diving off the great barrier reef. That’s a lie but I thought it would make me sound much more interesting.

The truth is when I am not writing I want to be writing, or I am sketching out storylines in my head. I write to relax. Writing is my hobby, but one I am incredibly passionate about. Honestly, I can think of nothing I would rather be doing.

How do you feel about social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing?

I don’t do my own marketing so I don’t know how valuable either Twitter or Facebook is. From what little I have observed, however, I am not impressed. It might be fun to do but I don’t know how effective it is. I don’t do my own marketing as I have mentioned so I don’t know. I think in theory both Facebook and Twitter are good platforms but the reality in my experience has been a bunch of writers connecting with other writers. I’ll concede I could be terribly wrong. I just can’t imagine William Shakespeare tweeting his daily word count or about the particularly good ham sandwich he had for lunch.

If you could do any job in the world what would you do?

I would like to be Minister of Propaganda. Do they still have that post? With the media at my disposal I think I would be extremely adept at selling a concept or symbol to the masses. Like making it patriotic to wear your boxer shorts over top of your pants. That was just an idea off the top of my head as Minister of Propaganda I know I could do better.

Second choice would have to be Male Escort. It would mean getting back to the gym, that would be a good thing, and working nights, which I enjoy. Before I start getting phone calls for price quotes I should mention I want to be a high priced Male Escort. I’m classy.