Publisher: A John Scognamiglio Book (Kensington)
Genre: Thriller
Format: $27 hardcover | $17.95 paperback | $15.26 ebook | $20 audiobook
Released: January 23, 2024
Kemper Donovan is a full-time writer who previously published the standalone novel The Decent Proposal (HarperCollins). He is the host of the podcast All About Agatha, dedicated to all things Agatha Christie, in which guise he has appeared on BBC TV and Radio New Zealand. Donovan attended Stanford University and Harvard Law School and now lives in Southern California with his husband and two daughters.
In The Busy Body, former Senator Dorothy Gibson is the most talked-about person in the country, though largely for the wrong reasons. As an independent candidate for president of the United States, Dorothy split the vote and is being blamed for the shocking result. After her very public defeat, she’s retreated to her home in rural Maine, inviting her ghostwriter to join her. But when a neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances, Dorothy is determined to find the killer in their midst. The investigation—much like the election—may not unfold the way anyone expects.
When asked what contributed to the book landing on the USA Today bestseller list, Donovan said: “In a word: promotion! I feel very blessed to be working with Kensington Books and in particular with my editor, John Scognamiglio, and my in-house publicist, Larissa Ackerman.” The book’s promotional rollout began more than a year ahead of the book’s release. This included delivering ARCs to libraries and independent booksellers, some of which Donovan signed and hand-delivered while attending American Library Association and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association conventions. These efforts contributed to the novel being named a LibraryReads and Indie Next selection for its release month, raising its profile.
Kensington also arranged a book tour with multiple legs in Northern and Southern California, the Southwest, the East Coast, and the Midwest. While on tour, Donovan not only connected with readers but also made a point to foster relationships with booksellers, who could hand-sell the book to future customers. Additionally, Donovan promoted the book through his podcast, All About Agatha. “My listeners are all engaged mystery fans, and I made sure to give them multiple opportunities to buy my mystery novel and to attend in-person events surrounding the book,” Donovan said.
“For those who choose the traditional publishing route as I did, there is no overstating how important it is to work with a publisher who is passionate about your book,” Donovan said. “It’s also important that you work hand-in-hand with your publisher. They will need a lot from you in terms of your time and even extra work product. … It’s not that your publisher is working for you; you are working together to make your book as great a success as possible.”
Emily Wenstrom is a freelance writer and platforming expert and writes award-winning speculative fiction for teens and adults as E. J. Wenstrom.
E. J. Wenstrom believes in complicated heroes, horrifying monsters, purple hair dye and standing to the right on escalators so the left side can walk. She writes dark speculative fiction for adults and teens, including her new release, a young adult dystopian novel titled Departures (August 10, 2021). When she isn’t writing fiction, E. J. Wenstrom is a regular contributor to DIY MFA and BookRiot, and co-hosts the Fantasy+Girl Podcast. Learn more at her website.
