The collected
ill-informed drivel
of
Richard Asplin
A few words on...
marketing.
A few words on the subject
A few words on the subject
CHARGE!
CHARGE!
(no charge)
NABAKOV?
BUlGAKOV?
MONEY OFF
3 for 2
on a glorious range of military history
BOOKSetc.
offer applies to stickered books only while stocks last. Offer runs until 31.03.03
20% off
a classic range
of Russian fiction
BOOKSetc.
offer applies to stickered books only while stocks last. Offer runs until 31.03.03
3 for 2
on a range of
fantastic new
summer paperbacks
BOOKSetc.
For holidaymakers
Offer applies to stickered
books only while stocks last
Not just
girl's talk
20% off
a cheeky range
of chic lit
offer applies to stickered books only while stocks last. Offer runs until 31.03.03
BOOKSetc.
3 for 2
on an epic range
of fantasy fiction
BOOKSetc.
Saves you trolling around the shops
(ideal if you're a little short)
Big savings
on dwarves,
pixies
and elves!
Valentine's Day Feb 14th
BOOKSetc.
Love stories?
Because sometimes
3 little words
just
aren't
enough x.
 | ||||
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"20% Off New Year offer"
Books etc. 2003
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"20% Off Women's fiction offer"
Books etc. 2003
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"3 for 2 Military History offer"
Books etc. 2003
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"3 for 2 on Fantasy Fiction offer"
Books etc. 2003
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"Valentines Day promotion"
Books etc. 2003
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"3 for 2 New Fiction offer"
Books etc. 2003
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"3 for 2 Summer reading promotion"
Books etc. 2004
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"20% Off Russian Literature offer"
Books etc. 2004
Instore / Window Point Of Sale
"20% Off travel writing offer"
Books etc. 2004
20% off
a terrific range of
top travel writing
BOOKSetc.
Always worth taking onboard
Afar.
Fetched.
20% off
an inspiring range
of titles to help
you this New Year
BOOKSetc.
You, improved
FOR THINGS
EVEN THE GYM
CAN'T FIX
| ||||
3 for 2
on a fantastic range of new fiction
On yr way 2 wk, why nt rd smthng mr intrstng fr a chng..?
BOOKSetc.
The original mobile entertainment
schmooze
your own
adventure
A gorgeous country house? A bubbly boat party?
Straight into bed or clubbing instead?
The decisions are YOURS as you steer Barnaby or Barbarella
on their way to the perfect ending.
So get interactive, get inter-character, get WHATEVER YOU WANT…
TIMMS / HAYES WHATEVER YOU WANT
At WHSmith and
all good bookshops
His life,
his universe,
his everything
"One of the world's sanest, smartest,
kindest, funniest voices."
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
DOUGLAS ADAMS THE SALMON OF DOUBT
At WHSmith and
all good bookshops
IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE
IS IN THE SHADOWS
December 1941. Pearl Harbour is only hours away and Harry Niles - American born, Tokyo raised – must weigh the destiny of
a nation against the fate of his soul.
From the bestselling author of GORKY PARK
MARTIN CRUZ SMITH TOYKO STATION
At WHSmith and
all good bookshops
To navigate a world of
murder...
pick up the A - Z
There are now seventeenth pulse-pounding
Kinsey Millhone mysteries.
Do we need to spell it out?
SUE GRAFTON Q IS FOR QUARRY
At WHSmith and
all good bookshops
READ BEHIND THE LINES
The stories, strategy and suspense of six of the most extraordinary military manoeuvres
in the history of warfare come under the spotlight in the stunning new series from Pan.
From Stalingrad to the Somme, the campaigns, combat and context are laid bare
with expert commentary from the finest military minds.
£2 OFF PAN GRAND STRATEGY. Conflicts of opinion.
£2 OFF PAN GRAND STRATEGY
At WHSmith and
all good bookshops
Just what you need at
this time of year.
A beautiful
warm jumper.
A galloping tale of hoof beats, heartbeats and horseracing as trainer Jan Hardy returns in thrilling follow-up to
the bestselling ON THE EDGE.
JENNY PITMAN DOUBLE DEAL
At WHSmith and
all good bookshops
Before the Eagle landed.
Before the bluebirds
reached Dover.
There were...
The bestselling thriller of wartime espionage
KEN FOLLETT JACKDAWS
At WHSmith and
all good bookshops
| ||||
Sonny Gandolph.
A triple murderer,
he sits on
death row,
preparing
to take the
last walk.
SCOTT TUROW REVERSIBLE ERRORS
It's gonna
appeal
The detective,
the lawyer
and the judge
know he’s guilty.
But with just
thirty days to go,
a dying man
says otherwise.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Outdoor poster copy - Douglas Adams - The Salmon of Doubt - Pan Macmillan
Outdoor poster copy - Scott Turow - Reversible Errors - Pan Macmillan
Outdoor poster copy -Martin Cruz Smith - Tokyo Station - Pan Macmillan
Outdoor poster copy - Pan Grand Strategy - Pan Macmillan
Outdoor poster copy -Rachel Timms / Laurence Hayes - Whatever You Want - Pan Macmillan
Outdoor poster copy -Sue Grafton - Q Is For Quarry Pan Macmillan
Outdoor poster copy -Jenny Pitman - Double Deal - Pan Macmillan
Outdoor poster copy -Ken Follett - Jackdaws - Pan Macmillan
| ||||
The Company
Promotional Material
Pan Macmillan 2003
- - - The CIA.
For 40 years their agents waged a cold war on the KGB. Hearing all. Seeing all. But trusting no one. Information. Disinformation. Lies were fed to the world about the Bay of Pigs fiasco, the Cuban missile crises and the Budapest uprising. The covert assassinations, torture and betrayal. The truth was to be hidden forever - - -
But be prepared. Because next spring, their cover is blown - - -
x - ROBERT LITTELL – THE COMPANY - X
The most astonishing and sweeping epic since The Godfather is on its way to this country in Pan paperback.
Do NOT underestimate the size of this campaign.
UK operatives must be ready. At all costs.
In an unpresidented move, Columbia Pictures have given $100,000 to the US publishers
to increase publicity. Ridley Scott has been hinted as director of ops.
We have committed a six-figure budget to get this urgent word out. Blanket coverage is paramount. Marketing moles have infiltrated the British media. Be prepared for further instructions in The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mail On Sunday. Assistance from the London Underground is guaranteed.
Your contact for publicity is codename Bravo – e.bravo@macmillan.co.uk or call the secured line
020 7014 6185.
Scheduled arrival: 04.04.03. £6.99. isbn 0330372890
For further orders, contact the safehouse on Brunel Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hants RG21 6XS through the usual channels. Secure line: 01256 464481-6 or fax: 01256 812558/521
- - - THE COMPANY - - -
Be ready to show some counter-intelligence
You’re Barnaby
A bright, brilliant bookseller, you’re the carrier-bag casanova, a master of merchandising, a sex-god with a subs catalogue.
It’s early April 2003. A beautiful young lady approaches the information desk. She wants something new, something special, something a little . . . different.
So do you:
a. shrug, cough, stutter and ask her if she has a f-favourite
author m-maybe?
or
b. take charge. Smile, wink, take her by the hand and give her WHATEVER SHE WANTS?
You’re Barberalla
A bright, brilliant bookseller, you’re a kick-stool cutie, a devil with a display table, a sex-kitten with a section-header.
It’s early April 2003. A tall dark young man approaches your
till-point. He wants something funny, something clever,
something a little…different.
So do you:
a. Blush, fidget and point goofily to the sports biographies
or
b. take charge. Raise an eyebrow, smile and give him
WHATEVER HE WANTS?
This spring, the choice is yours...
or
or
This spring, the choice is yours...
Whatever You Want
Promotional Material
Pan Macmillan 2003
A high concept, highly entertaining, interactive novel for a new generation
YOU are in the hot seat, YOU choose the plot,
be the master of your OWN fate . . .
The world of Whatever You Want is your oyster. It’s a modern-day twist
on the choose-your-own-adventure books of your childhood -
but the fun to be had is much more grown-up. . .
Navigate the parties, partnerships and pillow-talk as either
Barbarella - alluring, demonstrative and sharp as the lash from a bondage whip;
or Barnaby - with his irresistible attraction to women and danger.
Dare you risk it all at an illicit casino or can you charm your way
round a country estate, where things could get up-close-and-very-personal?
Whatever You Want
Whatever You Want
Rachel Timms and Laurence Hayes
Rachel Timms and Laurence Hayes
Will you mix with the stars at a celebrity boat party or set up a politician
who indulges in some seriously deviant behaviour?
Whatever You Want - it’s time to
schmooze your own adventure . . .
The Pan super-lead title for Spring 2003 - Big eye-catching marketing campaign - Poster advertising on the London Underground - Escalator panels in premier London Underground stations - Changing room panels in Oasis
Author publicity
Full colour double sided poster - choose either Barnaby or Barberella
A key title for in-store paperback promotions especially in the lead up to summer
Review coverage guaranteed
0330491482 pub date 04/04.03 £6.99 B format paperback
Whatever You Want
Promotional Material
Pan Macmillan 2003
Peter Robinson, the smartest man on the crime scene,
has quickly become synonymous with
assured, atmospheric and addictive fiction.
Respected by booksellers and craved by crime-fans,
a Sunday Times bestseller and Dashiell Hammett Award nominee, he has a fan-base that is expanding
with every taut new title.
His nerve-shredding plots, conflicted characters
and vividly conjured locations bring a new depth of drama to the British police procedural.
The unquestioned quality of each fresh Robinson has created an unparalleled interest and demand for the full story,
guaranteeing continual backlist sales and firmly establishing Robinson as both the best man on the beat -
and simply unbeatable.
HE’S AT THE TOP OF THE WANTED LIST.
SO IF YOU’VE A HEAD FOR HEIGHTS,
HEAD FOR ROBINSON
PETER
ROBINSON
Peter Robinson
Author Promotional Material
Pan Macmillan 2003
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I have what I can only really describe as a love/hate relationship with marketing, advertising and promotion of all kinds. I change my mind on the issue, vehemently pro and against on an almost hourly basis depending on my mood, medication and monetary status.
The two arguments, for what they’re worth, go thiswise:
The job of all marketeers, without exception, is to create a feeling of dissatisfaction within as large a group of people as they can. Once this group is unhappy, dissatisfied, niggled by self-doubt and low self-image, the marketeer steps up with his or her product and illustrates with puns, flashy visuals and judicious use of celebrity, to convince you THEIR product (film/book/eyeliner/car/holiday/plimsoll/ newspaper/pharmeceutical/cosmetic/soft-drink/whaddever) will alleviate this feeling and make the populace cheery once again. That’s it. That’s all marketing is.
The much confused yet bleakly hilarious Bill Hicks used to say in his routines that everyone in marketing and advertising should commit suicide. (Whether he meant those with the responsibility of marketing the tours, shows, books and videos of entertainer William Hicks was never elucidated).
The writer Stephen Fry made this point through a fictional exchange in his debut novel ‘The Liar’ – that talented, gifted and blessed individuals with fountains of creativity are drawn, as if in some Hitchcockian conspiracy, away from lives of art, wonder, creativity and acadaemia, into commercial service, turning their artistic gifts to selling insurance, shampoo and family hatchbacks. A conspiracy called “capitalism”. I’m not sure why I mentioned this, only that I remember reading it with amused wonder as a youth.
Then on the other hand, I am struck by the beauty of a well-crafted advertising message (I’m thinking of D&AD Pencil grabbing examples such as Volkswagen and The Economist, rather than Cilit Bang or Hastings Direct.com). At the moment I am left shaken, tearful and moved every time I witness BBC iPlayer’s slogan “making the unmissable, unmissable.” 4 words that must have earned the copywriter the afternoon off surely.
Is using one’s gift for language to persuade working class parents in Bradford that they are neglectful for not giving their children Dairylea or Sunny Delight a criminal waste of talent? Is arguing this point making me a communist? Should I just go an LIVE in Russia?
I don’t know.
Anyway, all this is very much award-winningly beside the point. I used to work in Marketing and think, frankly, it’s where I belong. Is it not the sign of a born marketeer that I can’t see the current advert for Adult Education courses with the strapline “The proverbial fairy-tale” without screaming “you can’t have a proverbial fucking fairy-tale! It’s either a fucking proverb or a blasted buggering fairy-tale! There aren’t any poxy proverbs about fairy fucking tales! Jesus!” in my tiny head until blood runs out of my ear?
Probably.
Anyway, here are some examples of what can be done with a Thesaurus, a decent hourly wage and a desire to amuse.
