Now that Kinky Friedman is running for Governor of Texas, his already-high profile has gone stratospheric, and his iconic, cult figure (and action figure) status will surely increase attention and cash flow for numerous products and causes. For example, Kinky is putting his money where his mouth is and donating his share of the proceeds from sales of Kinky Friedman's Private Stock Salsa to Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch of Medina, Texas. This money is literally going to the dogs -- straight to Utopia rescue dogs, that is! Call 1-866-327-2572 or go to KinkysPrivateStock.com to order some tasty salsa and contribute to a great cause.Buy $100 worth and get a free autographed copy of Kinky's book THE KINKY FILES. While you're at it, go to Utopia Ranch and rescue a dog to take home and sit under your chair while you munch chips and salsa and read your book!
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Much Ado About Publishing
A Kinky Book Tour
I remember the first time I ever heard of Kinky Friedman. It was in college, back in the ‘70s, when I heard Kinky’s now classic, satirical country-rock song “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven & Your Buns in the Bed.”If you’d told me then what Kinky would be doing 30 years later, I’d have thought you were crazier than he was.
He’s had a successful music career, a magazine humor column, and a series of best-selling mystery novels, and now Kinky Friedman wants to be the next Governor of Texas.
I’m not kidding.
And he’s not, either.
He’s gotten all the signatures he needs to get on the ballot this fall as an Independent, and political pundits say there’s a chance he could win.
The only person who’s happier about this than Kinky is his publisher.
Why didn’t we all think of this sooner?
Forget press releases that get you nowhere, booksignings where only three people show up, and fruitless attempts to get booked on St. Oprah, Our Lady of Perpetual Bestsellers.
Can you think of a more original or effective way to promote your book than running for (and maybe actually becoming) The Governor of the Great State of Wherever You Happen Live?
Hey, you can do it. Why not? Afterall, a political campaign isn’t much different than a book tour. Only, at the end of it, you haven’t just sold some books and showed your publisher a thing or two about promotion, you may actually get to show everyone a thing or two about running an entire state.
I don’t think you’d have a problem getting publicity and another book deal with a decent advance.
Kinky Friedman loves dogs, and runs a place for rescued pups. If he makes it to the Governor’s Mansion, the unmarried candidate’s dogs (whom he calls The Friedman Family) will be the new First Family of Texas.
I’m sure his publisher has visions of a bestselling coffee table book:
While plenty of politicians have published books, authors becoming politicians in order to promote their books might just be the new PR twist publishers have been looking for. If Kinky wins, will publishers position their authors for political office?
Will BEA double as a political convention every four years?
Will independent publishers back Independent candidates?
Will major publishers merge with the major political parties, giving us Random House Republicans and Doubleday Democrats?
And, in a literary White House, would Stephen King become the first Secretary of Things That Go Bump in the Night?
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Nina L. Diamond is a journalist, essayist, and the author of Voices of Truth: Conversations with Scientists, Thinkers & Healers. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including Omni, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and The Miami Herald.
Ms. Diamond was a writer and performer on Pandemonium, the National Public Radio (NPR) satirical humor program, for its entire run in Miami and select markets nationwide from 1984-1998. As an editor, she works frequently with other authors and journalists on both fiction and non-fiction.
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Logo image courtesy of George Glazer Gallery, NYC georgeglazer.com