Biography Progress Report #14: It’s All About the Marketing
Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 79
There’s not too much to report from the University Press of Kentucky, other than everything is going along smoothly and they’ve assured me that the book is going to be wonderful. I have started filling out their marketing questionnaire which asks for appropriate publications, websites, blogs, or other media outlets who might be called upon to promote the book.
First and foremost, I have contacts at Turner Classic Movies, so that angle is covered. I also know people at the LA Times, New Yorker, and Los Angeles Magazine who I hope will be interested. I figure there are a few die-hard Ann fans who are aware the book is coming out along with pre-Code fanatics who will catch wind pretty quick and be interested. The way I see it, there are two target audiences I have to market to; the classic film fan who is interested in cinema history, but maybe not obsessed like yours truly and probably many of you who regularly visit this site, and the person who is interested in film and celebrities in a very general way and will read a biography that sounds interesting, even if they are not familiar with the subject.
My goal with the Ann Dvorak book was to present the life and career of an actress working within the confines of the studio system, but to also include an overall view of Hollywood at the time so as not to alienate readers who may not be well-versed in the history of the industry. At the same time, I wanted to give this overview without detracting from Ann’s story or boring people who already have that knowledge going in. I hope I have accomplished this task of presenting Ann’s story in a way that is accessible to the casual film fan. This is where the clever marketing comes in.
This may be pie in the sky, but I am hoping to get some of the more mainstream publications interested in her story. Vanity Fair seems to love stories on old-timey Hollywood. I don’t have any ins there, but hopefully the publisher will. Maybe a title like Better Homes & Gardens would be interested in the story of her San Fernando Valley ranch house which is still around and where I got married? This is a little less mainstream, but perhaps World War II would want to do something about her service in England, which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the book. Hopefully, the Honolulu Star Bulletin will want to run something on their adopted daughter who spent the last 20 years of her life on the islands.
What about the blogs? I have a couple in mind, but have been so caught up in writing the book that I have not kept up with what the popular film blogs are.
So, dear Ann devotees, I now call upon you to help me figure out how to get her story out there! If you can think of any magazines, newspapers, blog, websites who might be interested in the story of Ann Dvorak, please let me know, and thanks in advance!
I remember an excellent Vanity Fair article about Pre-Code Ladies some years ago. There was a substantial mention of Ann, so I hope someone there will have an interest. Good luck!
I don’t recall seeing that article! Do you think it might have been when the book, “Complicated Women” was released?
The article, by James Woolcott, is from the April 2001 issue. Ann only gets one paragraph but Woolcott is clearly impressed by her.
Awesome, thanks! I am ordering the issue from storage at the Library as we speak, and will probably include a copy of the article in the marketing questionnaire. Thanks again.
I’m glad to be of help. There’s also a nice picture of Ann and Paul Muni from Scarface.
“Ann Dvorak, vibrating like a struck tuning fork as the high-strung thrill seeker in Three on a Match.” Outstanding!
Most all of us don’t have the contacts that you have obviously, but we can work hard to support you by utilizing mass letter writing campaigns or similar efforts. We just need to time the effort for the maximum impact, which would have to be your call of course. As an example, I’m a member of the TCM message board and would be glad to flood them with multiple requests for Ann Dvorak films at the proper time (and plug the book of course). Some of the popular sites that fans visit (ex: Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen, The Ladies of the Silver Screen, etc.) might be worth noting perhaps.
I wouldn’t recommend all those “Nude Ladies of the Movies†type sites, although rumor has it that our leader has been compared to the famous Betty Page of photo fame!! Say, if you were to appear on, for instance, the Yahoo News Home Page dressed in a Betty Page like manner, balancing a book or two in strategic places that would certainly provoke a lot of interest. Now that would be real publicity..Right?
The main thing is timing the campaign in a way where we can support you in whatever effort you need.
Can’t wait!!! It should be very, very exciting…
Drip, drip, drip…
I would totally submit my book to “Nude Ladies of the Movies” if it means book sales! Don’t count on any photos of the author holding strategically placed objects though. 😀
I cannot wait to get your book. I’m catching up on Ann’s films gradually and your site has been such a valuable source. What a talent. Ann could do everything – comedy, drama and sing too!
May I suggest you have a look at SILVERSCREENOASIS.COM . They have guest authors from time to time who answer the forum’s questions.
Vienna’s Classic Hollywood
Thanks Vienna! I was not familiar with that forum which I will definitely include on the questionnaire.