How I Plan to Market Whalers Somehow, Someway

Drawing attention to a novel is no easy feat, and I’ve been spending a lot of time brainstorming ways to get Whalers in front of readers. With the explosion of “BookTok” on TikTok, social media has become one of the most powerful platforms for book promotion. Many major influencers on BookTok share what they’re reading, why they love it, and why their followers should check it out too. I’ve reached out to a few influencers to gauge their interest in reading Whalers and sharing reviews with their followers. As expected, I haven’t heard back yet—these influencers receive a flood of requests, so it’s no surprise. But I know I need to be more creative to stand out.

To get Whalers the attention it deserves, I need to craft a unique marketing strategy that captures readers’ curiosity. Here are a few ideas I’m developing to market the book on TikTok and other social media platforms. I hope these concepts will draw people in and give them a taste of what Whalers is all about.

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1) NOT Hot Ones

Imagine this: me, an interviewer, and five incredibly spicy chicken wings. If you’ve never seen Hot Ones, it’s a YouTube show where the host interviews celebrities while they eat progressively spicier chicken wings. By the end of the interview, the guest is usually sweating, in pain, and struggling to talk—making for an entertaining show. I’m not exactly a fan of spicy food, but the concept is irresistible. Answering questions about Whalers while eating super-hot wings would be a fun, unique way to engage people and spark some interest. Let’s be clear, though—this is not Hot Ones, and I don’t want to get sued.

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2) A Tour of New Bedford

Since Whalers is set in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and features many real locations around the city, a video tour would be a great way to immerse readers in the book’s world. I plan to take viewers through some of the major locations featured in the novel—from New Bedford Harbor to the Cask and Pig restaurant to Pine Grove Cemetery. I’ll share how these places inspired scenes in the story and offer some historical context on each spot. By bringing these locations to life on screen, I hope to give readers a deeper connection to the setting and maybe even inspire some to visit in person. A visual tour like this could really help capture readers’ attention and transport them directly into the world of Whalers.

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3) Book Trailer

I’m currently about halfway through creating a book trailer for Whalers. The trailer aims to introduce some of the novel’s major themes, such as addiction, resilience, and the challenges within the education system. It’s a big project—filming, editing, and producing a high-quality trailer takes time and a lot of effort. But I believe the more I invest in this, the more likely it is to draw people in. The trailer will be short and impactful, designed to give viewers just enough of a taste of Whalers to leave them wanting more. I’m focusing on visuals, music, and narration that capture the novel’s intensity and emotional depth.

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The official marketing rollout, starting with the cover reveal, kicks off in December. This gives me one month to finalize these promotional materials and start building anticipation for Whalers. Each of these ideas is designed to spark curiosity and create a unique experience around the novel, hopefully turning potential readers into enthusiastic fans.

I’m excited—and maybe a little nervous—to bring these plans to life. But if these videos can convey even a fraction of what Whalers means to me, I think they’ll resonate with the right audience. Here’s to hoping these ideas help get Whalers into the hands of readers.

Stay tuned.