What a sleeping baby, a serial killer, and a box of Tootsie Rolls taught me about marketing strategy.

In roughly six months my debut novel will release into the world. Which means scary words are popping up more frequently these days. Words like marketing. Promotion. Launch. Preorder. Sales.

Ah! See? I warned you it was scary. Part of me wants to hide under the bed until all those scary words go away. Especially when those scary words are followed up with an even scarier word—strategy.

I’m supposed to have a marketing strategy? (All the members of my marketing team are nodding their heads yes. It appears I’m supposed to have a marketing strategy.)

Well, good thing I’ve been saving a special marketing strategy in my back pocket for such a time as this. It stems from an incident I had about nine years ago. An incident that resulted in my husband suggesting I never answer the door again when he’s not at home.