I have a new client: myself!

My second book is in production and due for release in around April. While the first one had only moderate success, my publishers and I are hoping things will pick up with the second. They're also hoping to do some web-based publicity. Since a lot of you here are up to speed with web-based marketing, I thought I might ask for some ideas.

I have a website based on the series/characters/etc. I was planning to redesign it with the new book (and also move it to Word Press). I also thought that one way to get publicity is to have a competition of some kind. Since it is a children's book series, my publishers might be able to get notices, etc. to schools about it, and even have a prize of some sort. Not a fan fiction type of thing, obviously, as I'm the author :P , but something themed on the book itself.

It's good timing as April is when exams get over in this part of the world. A creative writing competition would rekindle interest in the first book and hopefully make people look forward to the next. It'd be an exclusively online thing - that is, submitting via the website. This could also form a basis for making a sort of community, like a forum, later on.

Is this making any sense? Am I missing something? Doing something I shouldn't be doing?

Thank you, Karen, you're most kind! I'll let you know when the site's ready

And I could use some help with the graphics, actually - especially ideas for a new (less lame) logo and colour scheme

I will mail you soon - hopefully my publishers will get back to me quickly on this so I can get a move on.

Payal, no problem...I'll look forward to helping you with this...I love children and anything that benefits them...well, I'm a softie