Comments on: Lessons Learnt From Dan Brown: The Lost Symbol http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/09/21/lessons-learnt-from-dan-brown-the-lost-symbol/ Writing, Self-Publishing, Print-on-Demand, Internet Sales and Marketing...for your book Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:44:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gary Val Tenuta http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/09/21/lessons-learnt-from-dan-brown-the-lost-symbol/comment-page-1/#comment-3002 Gary Val Tenuta Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:55:45 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3245#comment-3002 Hi Joanna - I enjoyed reading your comments about The Lost Symbol. Not sure I agree that the book is not controversial. Granted it doesn't generate the explosive kind of controversy that The DaVinci Code did. But I think a lot of readers may, indeed, find some of the information to be of a controversial nature. Just a little difference of opinion there. But we do agree on the ending. It was okay. I didn't hate it. But somehow I felt a little disappointed. All in all, however, I have to say I really enjoyed the ride. Then again, I'm more than a little prejudiced when it comes to the kind of subject matter contained in the story. :-) Regarding what you wrote: "Could you use a teaser campaign to promote your book?" I think this is a terrific idea and I'm using this technique right now. A friend of mine (a well-known and rather controversial figure in what most people consider a "fringe" area of research) is planning to launch a book next year that will be tied in with an "event" of a most unusual and dramatic nature. I'm using Twitter for the pre-publication/pre-event "buzz". Here are a few of the buzz teasers: There is a virus in the program. Help is on the way. 111121122012 A real life "Leap of Faith" will propel a man into a portal and take him to the "Source". Who is the man? What is the "Source"? 111121122012 The CCP is infected. A contingency plan has been set in motion. 111121122012 "A Leap of Faith" from the top of a "bell" will "rock" the world. 111121122012 The teasers are intentionally cryptic but they do have meaning. The question we hope people will be asking, of course, is what the heck do they mean? Time will tell how effective this will be. Hi Joanna -
I enjoyed reading your comments about The Lost Symbol. Not sure I agree that the book is not controversial. Granted it doesn’t generate the explosive kind of controversy that The DaVinci Code did. But I think a lot of readers may, indeed, find some of the information to be of a controversial nature. Just a little difference of opinion there. But we do agree on the ending. It was okay. I didn’t hate it. But somehow I felt a little disappointed. All in all, however, I have to say I really enjoyed the ride. Then again, I’m more than a little prejudiced when it comes to the kind of subject matter contained in the story. :-)

Regarding what you wrote: “Could you use a teaser campaign to promote your book?” I think this is a terrific idea and I’m using this technique right now. A friend of mine (a well-known and rather controversial figure in what most people consider a “fringe” area of research) is planning to launch a book next year that will be tied in with an “event” of a most unusual and dramatic nature. I’m using Twitter for the pre-publication/pre-event “buzz”. Here are a few of the buzz teasers:

There is a virus in the program. Help is on the way. 111121122012

A real life “Leap of Faith” will propel a man into a portal and take him to the “Source”. Who is the man? What is the “Source”? 111121122012

The CCP is infected. A contingency plan has been set in motion. 111121122012

“A Leap of Faith” from the top of a “bell” will “rock” the world. 111121122012

The teasers are intentionally cryptic but they do have meaning. The question we hope people will be asking, of course, is what the heck do they mean? Time will tell how effective this will be.

]]> By: Joanna Penn http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/09/21/lessons-learnt-from-dan-brown-the-lost-symbol/comment-page-1/#comment-2666 Joanna Penn Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:53:30 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3245#comment-2666 That's so interesting! I also found it funny that he makes sure that we know there is a branch for women so it is not seen as sexist (yeah, right!). It just wasn't polemic enough for me, but I guess it doesn't matter - it will sell truckloads. That’s so interesting! I also found it funny that he makes sure that we know there is a branch for women so it is not seen as sexist (yeah, right!). It just wasn’t polemic enough for me, but I guess it doesn’t matter – it will sell truckloads.

]]> By: beatcoach http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/09/21/lessons-learnt-from-dan-brown-the-lost-symbol/comment-page-1/#comment-2665 beatcoach Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:41:11 +0000 http://www.thecreativepenn.com/?p=3245#comment-2665 The little I read about Dan Brown, the Masons and the book - I believe at BBCNews.com - would rather confirm your suspicion that Dan might be a (future) Mason. Masons are sworn to secrecy. You're not allowed to write a book about the Masons if your are one, and predating Catch-22 by a few thousand years, you cannot write a book about the Masons if you're not one. I believe the way Dan Brown worded it at the end of the interview, he's received assurance from the Masons that "the door (to join the Masons) is always open." PS. The Masons love the book. They see it as a means to re-ignite interest and revert dwindling membership numbers. The little I read about Dan Brown, the Masons and the book – I believe at BBCNews.com – would rather confirm your suspicion that Dan might be a (future) Mason. Masons are sworn to secrecy. You’re not allowed to write a book about the Masons if your are one, and predating Catch-22 by a few thousand years, you cannot write a book about the Masons if you’re not one. I believe the way Dan Brown worded it at the end of the interview, he’s received assurance from the Masons that “the door (to join the Masons) is always open.” PS. The Masons love the book. They see it as a means to re-ignite interest and revert dwindling membership numbers.

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