From a recommended e-newsletter:

All the children’s books by Cynthia Leitich Smith are “set in the Central Time Zone and feature contemporary Native American characters,” she says. “So, for each title, I made an effort to identify those outlets with a related geographic tie and interest.”

Her examples are:

“Jingle Dancer (Morrow Junior Books/HarperCollins 2000) is a contemporary powwow set in Oklahoma. So, I made up a list of Indian museum bookstores throughout the state and sent them promotional information. Many were thrilled to have something that wasn’t just ‘Native American’ but really locally tied to the cultures being highlighted.”

Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins 2001) is set in Douglas County, Kansas and so I sent a round of media releases to nearby outlets, which resulted in a major feature article in the Topeka Capitol-Journal.

Indian Shoes (HarperCollins 2002) includes a short story set at a Chicago Cubs game. When the Cubs were in the playoffs, that was a big selling point at Chicagoland bookstores.”

Reprinted from “Book Promotion Newsletter,” an ezine featuring articles, tips and promotional coups for generating book publicity. franalive@optonline.net. www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com