What is a "Book Bomb" and Why?

What is a “Book Bomb”?

For the most part, a book bomb is simply us asking interested folks to buy the book on a certain day – in this case February 24th.

Why?

Because the more book purchases are made on that day on Amazon.com the higher we can push the book up both the regular rankings and the “movers and shakers” page.  We 

learned quite a bit from our Surviving Off Off-Grid Book Bomb a year ago, and we know that it takes a LOT of book sales on that one day to push the book into the Top Ten.  We sold 800 paperbacks on day one of the SOOG Book Bomb and we hit #26 for the day.  We estimate that it will take well over 1,000 books to get us into the Top Ten... probably closer to 2,000.

What this means

Most book ranking or bestselling sites and services are “gamed” by the big publishing houses, and folks selling books about vampires, zombies, and politics (three peas in a pod).  Book publishers arrange to have their books released on certain dates and they spend tens of thousands of dollars to make sure that book stores and other retailers push Why you should Vote for Zombie Vampires in order to get those books a higher ranking.  It’s hard for a book that can actually help people, not pushed by a mainstream publisher with deep pockets, to get noticed.

While those rankings really mean nothing in the real world, the exposure for a book like ours could well help get the book some notice from people who might otherwise have no idea that the book even exists.  Bookstores may choose to carry the book, which is doubly hard for any book not pimped by a major book publisher.

So this is our quest.  Our original goal was to sell 2,000 books on that date, but now – with the enormous amount of attention the book is getting pre-release – we believe that 2,500 or more sales is reachable.  Who knows?  What we do know is this… YOU CAN HELP.

What YOU can do

First of all, and most simply, you can buy the book on Amazon.com on February 24th.  If that is all you want to do, then we do appreciate it and we do thank you.  But many of you might really want to help make an indie novel a success… starting now.  Here are some steps you can take to help, and some advice for making multiple purchases if you are inclined to do so:

1. Please “Like” us on Facebook, and “Share” the page with your Facebook friends.  If you will, give us a plug and encourage other like-minded people to help.
2. Please DONATE for our advertising/marketing war chest:  http://indiegogo.com/the-last-pilgrims
3. Share our Book Trailer with your friends, family, and anyone else you know.  Post the trailer on your blog, or on your Facebook page.  Please tell folks that the goal is for them to buy the book on February 24th on Amazon.com, and if you are really good friends, get them to help out too.
4. Put as much energy into pushing the Book Bomb as your friends do spamming you with Josh Groban, Zombie Vampire Politicians, and Farmville!  Make them pay!  (just kidding… a little)  Post info about the book bomb on blogs, comment sections, discussion forums, etc.
5. Contact your local library and get them to order a copy.  Most libraries will do so if you are kind and helpful and tell them that the book is available and will be quite popular considering the current world situation.
6. Many people have contacted us about making multiple purchases, and they wonder how larger orders will help or hurt the Book Bomb....  We are asking every one of our supporters to order 5 (FIVE) copies of the book on that day.  One for everyone in your family, and the rest to give away.  Multiple purchases or bulk purchases will NOT hurt our number.   Order as many as you like from Amazon.com on February 24th!
7. On Book Bomb day – February 24th – let us work together and get this thing over the top!  Talk it up, print out flyers or notices and post them around, or take them to the local coffee shop.  And don’t forget to buy your copy of The Last Pilgrims!
8. After Book Bomb day… Please, please, please go to Amazon.com and post a review of the book.  Even if you hate it.  And “tag” the book (Amazon lets everyone add “tags” to the book where you can put down keywords that will help others find the books in searches.  The more people who “tag” the book, the higher the book ranks in searches).

So, that is what a Book Bomb is, and we really need your help.  We cannot do it alone.  In this commercial society, the big boys usually game the system and make the rules.  This is ONE way we can get a book some notice, that really needs it in these troubled times.

Thank you much!

Michael Bunker