the Scott Stein

I have a novel coming out in February 2007: Mean Martin Manning.

So how do you break through the static of all the books released each year? How do you get your novel to stand out? How do you find readers, with all of the competition for their attention?

Who the hell knows? Here's what I'm trying:

I have created four sites that bring the characters from my novel to readers, for free, and that give them some entertainment value outside of the novel itself. Some of the characters on these sites are from the novel, such as Mean Martin Manning, Caseworker Alice Pitney, and Dr. Karen. Other characters, such as the students running Mean Martin Manning for President, are not in the book, but exist in a setting that takes place some time after the book's events. Confused? I'm only getting started.

Characters from the novel and sites will be blogging and will be visiting other people's blogs to comment on threads, leaving links back to the sites. Readers will be able to participate in the sites, not just by commenting on the blog, but by adding to the content on the sites on interior pages.

All of this will make a lot more sense after you've visited the sites. Give them a good tour. There's lots of content on the interior pages and opportunities to play along (you can join mmm4prez.com and post a campaign button on your site; report a recent sighting of Mean Martin Manning to itsdrkaren.com; make suggestions for Mean Martin Manning's list; and more). Then pass on the links and this post to your friends and readers.

Mean Martin Manning's home page
Mean Martin Manning for President
It's Dr. Karen
Caseworker Alice Pitney's blog

I think you should be able to follow along even if you have not read Mean Martin Manning yet.

Don't be shy. The sites are now live. Check them out and blog about it. And feel free to participate in my little fictional circus. Thanks!

Oh, and if you run a blog that seems appropriate for my characters to visit, I hope you won't mind if my fictional creations make an appearance or two. Hopefully, you and your readers will have fun with it.