By Stacey J. Miller, Book Publicist
S. J. Miller Communications
bookpromotion@gmail.com
I'm absolutely appalled by what Penguin Young Readers is trying to get away with!!! *tongue firmly planted in cheek*
First, and seriously, congratulations to fans of Roald Dahl's wonderful book, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. As every book lover knows, Dahl's classic children's book inspired the also-classic Gene Wilder movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." (The book also inspired a second and more recent "Willy Wonka" movie, not starring Gene Wilder, that I'd prefer not to discuss as well as some candy that, similarly, will not be part of this discussion.
Anyway, the anniversary of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory's publication is a wonderful opportunity to score some book publicity opportunities for the book which, hopefully, will lead to an increase in interest in the book...and a surge in book sales. Book promotion is easy when you're Roald Dahl, everyone loves your work, and most of your readers credit you with changing the way they look at the world.
That said, this book publicist has a major complaint about the sweepstakes Penguin Young Readers is running so book sales will spike even more. No, this book publicist has no problem with the sweepstakes, per se. The sweepstakes are a very cool concept -- particularly since, as you know, a good part of the Charlie & The Chocolate Factory story involves a group of sweepstakes winners. No, I have no complaints about the sweepstakes. What I must complain about are the sweepstakes prizes. According to MediaBistro (whose fault this whole book publicity travesty is not), "Five young readers will win a trip to New York City and a VIP experience at Dylan’s Candy Bar. In addition, winners will get a year’s supply of chocolate, a library of Dahl books and tickets to see Matilda the Musical."
A year's supply of chocolate? Really? That's what I call book publicity cheating!!!!
As everyone who loves Roald Dahl's wonderful book, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory knows, the character who won the sweepstakes in the story won -- not a year's supply of chocolate, but a lifetime supply of chocolate!
Give me a break, Penguin Young Readers. If you want this book publicist to feel great about the book promotion campaign you're launching for Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, then get it right! Give your sweepstakes winners what they deserve! Give them the chocolate, Penguin. Please! Give them all the chocolate they deserve to go along with their terrific literary taste!
