An unconventional marketing strategy

Over the years, I’ve used different marketing strategies to promote my ideas, recordings, and books. Print advertising, internet advertising, word of mouth, release parties, signings, you name it. I’ve always said that the world is engaged in a battle of ideas and whether it’s an article on my website or blog or a new recording or book, I have ideas that I love to share with others.

By now, readers of The Last Trombone know about my newly published book, An Illustrated Dictionary for the Modern Trombone, Tuba, and Euphonium Player. My publisher, Rowman & Littlefield, has sent out review copies to various publications and I’ve been getting the word out in diverse ways. But a few days ago, my friend and illustrator for the book, Lennie Peterson, told me he had a different idea, an unconventional marketing strategy.

Lennie is not only a superb illustrator and fine artist, but he’s also a superb cartoonist. In fact, I first met Lennie through his comic strip, The Big Picture, which was syndicated for many years and now can be read daily at gocomics.com. Lennie’s comics tell stories of real life and they often revolve around the trombone (he is a really great player) and his girlfriend (or ex-girlfriend). In 2003, Lennie sent me a copy of his book, The Big Picture: A Comic Strip Collection by Lennie Peterson. It’s a fun read, with over 300 comic strips drawn over a four year period. Get a copy: you’ll be glad you did!

With the freedom of using gocomics.com as the primary platform for his cartoons, Lennie can make new cartoons whenever he wants, and revert to reruns when he’s doing other things. He has a large, loyal following which includes me. Lennie understands life and he has a way of representing it that hits my funny bone.

So, when Lennie told me that he was going to make four comic strips to promote our new book, I had no idea where he was going to go with the idea. I found out soon enough. Last week, Lennie released four new strips, on October 17, 19, 20, and 21. Here they are. My editor is thrilled about this, and he told me that he can’t recall a book ever being promoted in a comic strip. I can’t either. Thank you Lennie. You never cease to amaze me. Enjoy!

The Big Picture by Lennie “Sackbut” Peterson, October 17, 2021