Writing and Publishing News

What are you doing today? If you are an author, you’d better be doing something to promote your book.

Those of you who have a published book know what I’m saying. If you want to sell copies of your book—whether it’s fiction, nonfiction or a children’s book—you must promote it. With the competition out there for readers and for their money, authors have had to shift into even higher gear in order to sell even a minimal number of books. Is this your experience? Or are you experiencing something different? We’d like to hear your story.

Among my clients and colleagues, book sales are slow. For those who are not out there regularly promoting, sales are non-existent. Is this what you are experiencing or observing?

So what will make the difference? What can you do to increase book sales? That depends on what you are currently doing. If you are just sitting around waiting for customers, there’s a whole lot more you can do. If you are doing a minimal or a moderate amount of promotion and you are selling a few books, do more of what you are doing and add a new promotional activity or two periodically.

With 31 published books and most of them still in circulation, I’m always in book promotion mode. But I have a brand new book out and I’ve had to kick my efforts up a bunch of notches in order to introduce this book to my audience and convince them to purchase it.

Every day, I seek out new avenues of promotion—new reviewers for pet-related books, new resale outlets, opportunities for submitting articles on the topic of this book, appropriate sites where they feature recommended books of this type, book signing opportunities, book festivals and so forth. Is this how you spend your day? Do you enjoy it?

Most of the time it is pretty tedious work. But there are small rewards—such as a flurry of sales, a good book review, orders from stores that want to carry it and so forth. Yesterday morning, I had my first review of Catscapades, True Cat Tales. Yeah! The review went on a cat-related site and even Google noticed. It will also be posted on my Amazon book page. Yesterday afternoon, Barnes and Noble contacted me to let me know they have accepted this book into their warehouse program. I’ve only had one other book accepted by Barnes and Noble. I appreciate that they see merit in this one, too.

I have a poster ready to deliver to Noah’s Apothecary where I will be signing Catscapades May 22. I’ll be sending out press releases for that event today. I’ve already alerted my emailing list of my signing and will send reminders a week in advance of the event.

It’s just about time to contact my initial list of book reviewers. I want to find out if they received the book, if they plan to review it and when. I’ve found that follow-up is important—we need to hold people accountable. Sometimes folks need a little nudge—a gentle reminder.

I figure that, to date, I’ve made a total of 150 or 175 contacts with regard to the Catscapades book. Now, logically, this effort should result in thousands of sales. Think about it—if each of these contacts leads to a book review read by at least 1,000 members of my audience or 1,000 viewings of the book online or in a bookstore, I should expect thousands of sales. And it could happen. Only these things take time. I know that I need to stay on task, follow up and continually work to locate new opportunities to promote this book. Tedious? Yes! Necessary? If you want to sell books, I’m afraid so.

If you are working on a book for publication, please don’t go into publishing wearing blinders. Study the publishing industry before you decide to make this commitment. Fully understand your responsibilities as a published author BEFORE you get involved in this highly competitive field. I’m telling you, it is not enough to produce a good, well-edited book. This is part of publishing success, but there’s so much more. Talk to any successful author and he/she will tell you the same—promoting the book is way harder and much more time/energy-consuming than writing it.
And it’s not always fun.

I wrote The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book in order to help educate hopeful authors about the publishing industry, their options and their responsibilities as a published author. This 300+ page book also guides authors through every process necessary for successful publishing—writing, editing, getting published, distribution, promotion, and so much more.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Do you need help writing a book proposal? Do you want to know more about self-editing? Perhaps you would like assistance promoting your book or self-publishing your book. Do you want to know more about writing and submitting articles to magazines as a way to earn extra money or to promote your book? Patricia Fry offers courses in these topics. Sign up for one of Patricia’s 6 online courses.
http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

Order Patricia’s new book of cat stories—Catscapades, True Cat Tales. http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html

They say that any publicity is good publicity. I am wishy washy on that concept. Sure, it’s true to an extent. But an author still wants to produce the best product possible and hopes for great reviews. More people are going to purchase a book that others like than one that they harshly and negatively criticize.

I’ve had a lot of book reviews—probably over 100. And I notice that few reviewers seem to really delve into the meaning or concept of the book and give a really profound review. Some reviewers do no more than simply copy the back cover matter or pluck something from the Introduction or from your website and call it a book review. That’s okay—at least the review is positive.

Have you ever had a negative review for one of your books? I’d also like to hear about your positive reviews. I do not recall ever having a bad review, although I did have someone refuse to review one of my books because they found a typo. And I’ve had reviewers reject my books because they are self-published through my own publishing company. (This was before the onslaught of pay-to-publish companies).

What good are book reviews? Depending on where they are posted, they can definitely alert your particular readers to the fact that your book exists. A lot of positive reviews stacked up at Amazon.com looks good to potential customers. People who love or need books like yours often look for them at various sites related to this topic/genre. For example, someone seeking a book on astronomy or astrology will visit sites dedicated to these subjects in hopes that there will be a recommended book page. People who are interested in a particular topic or genre will read magazines and newsletters in kind and may respond by purchasing books reviewed in this venue.

I’ve found pointed book reviews to be most beneficial to the sales of my books. Book reviews for my writing/publishing books published at writing/publishing sites and in writing/publishing publications definitely attract customers. But I’ve discovered that book review sites do nothing for my bottom line. It could be that readers of fiction check these sites for new book recommendations. But this is no way to sell targeted nonfiction—at least that has been my experience.

Catscapades Update
I got my first book review for Catscapades, True Cat Tales. Check it out at http://www.theproblemcat.com/misc/catscapades.html.

So I am pleased to have a review that is so insightful and thorough. RJ Peters at The Problem Cat site did a lovely job. Visit her site to see what this cat lady is all about. And get help for your cat problems.
http://www.theproblemcat.com

I also have a new blog post at
http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades Visit the Catscapades blog and meet our 5-year-old grandson as he interacts with our kitten, Lily. It’s a match made in heaven.

I’ve had some inquiries, lately, from authors in need of assistance with their book proposals. The book proposal can be a puzzle the first time around. Let me help you make sense of it through my online Book Proposal Course.
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

The Internet is a wonderful resource and research tool. However, isn’t it frustrating to find so many outdated listings? I’ve even received a few very old listings in my Google alerts, lately—one of them, a comment posted in 2006. What’s up with that?

We’ve been told that what goes on the Web stays on the Web and can haunt you forever. Gosh, maybe this is true. And some of that old stuff can sure get in the way of your research attempts when you’re seeking current information. The old stuff can really clog the system and slow your research efforts down considerably.

As you know, I’ve been in promotion mode with my latest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. Since it is a book of a very different color than those I’ve been promoting for many years, I’ve had to seek out new opportunities and venues. Last week, I found two lists of around 150 or more cat-related gift shops throughout the U.S. I spent hours checking out each listing to make sure the shop was still in business and that the address was current. Most were not. I started out attempting to use their email addresses—most of them bounced. I then checked websites for better email addresses—most were no longer operating. So I checked address books online and ended up with about 40 that are either good or possibly good.

Yesterday, I finally finished the process. I now have around 40 letters with promo material going out to proprietors of these shops asking if they would be interested in carrying my new book of cat stories.

I’m continuing to request book reviews and have sent out nearly 20 books for review so far—these have all been requested. This morning, I received a review copy request from a well-known pet magazine. Cross fingers!

Today, I will be devising press releases announcing my upcoming book signing.

I have a long list of other promotional activities to pursue, each of which will most likely take a week or longer. Again, I am reminded how much time and effort is involved in book promotion. I wish I had a staff working here with me every day from 8 to 5. And this is something I may just consider. Is there anyone out there who would like to be paid to help me promote this book? And you don’t have to come here—you can work from home.

Preferably, this would be someone who has been involved in book promotion at some level or who has a deep understanding of the process of promotion. It should be someone who understands the pet business and who is accustomed to researching down to the tiniest detail in order to locate the most pertinent information and resources. If this describes you and you’d like to earn a little cash helping me promote my cat stories book, contact me: PLFry620@yahoo.com with your qualifications, former experiences and promotional/pet interests.

It occurs to me that those who can excel at promoting their own book are those without a life or who put their former life on hold while they spend a year or so involved in book promotion. Does this sound about right to those of you who are in book promotion mode?

Check out my Catscapades blog this morning. I added a new post and photos yesterday. http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades

And don’t forget to check out my wide array of books and ebooks designed to help you write, publish and promote your book. See them here: http://www.matilijapress.com

Here’s a list of my best books for writers and authors

The Successful Author’s Handbook (NEW) (ebook)
The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book (Highly recommended)
How to Write a Successful Book Proposal
The Author’s Repair Kit ( a one-of-a-kind book for authors of faltering books) (ebook)
A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles
Over 75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book

http://www.matilijapress.com

Some of you are finding the blow-by-blow report of my book promotion activities interesting. For those of you who don’t know, I am in the early stages of promoting my newest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html

One thing I preach and teach students and clients is to get plenty of book reviews in appropriate publications and at appropriate sites. I’ve been spending my time seeking out potential reviewers of cat books. I have avoided contacting book review sites. Why? Because a review for a book like mine at one of these sites would probably go unnoticed. The audience for a general book review site most likely includes people who read novels or an interesting memoir, perhaps. Someone who is seeking out a book of cat stories, a business book or a how-to crafts book would be more inclined to search specific sites and publications—related to cats, business or crafts, for example.

I’ve sent out 17 review copies so far. I actually could have distributed dozens more review copies, if I’d just sent books out randomly to every address I found for a cat-related site, publication, pet store, etc. But I would rather make sure that the store or site owner or magazine/newsletter/ezine editor is interested. So the 17 review copies I’ve sent are going to individuals who have expressed an interest in reviewing or carrying Catscapades, True Cat Tales.

I was disappointed to discover that some of the great directories I located are sorely outdated. After studying one directory of around 90 online pet stores and sites, I discovered that 23 of them were no longer in business, emails to another 27 of them bounced and 20 of them were not appropriate matches for my book. I am currently preparing to send letters by mail to those whose email addresses bounced and for whom I have addresses. While I expect to get quite a few bad address returns on these, I might also discover some worthwhile opportunities among them. A few excellent reviews in well-read pet magazines or placement in a couple of busy pet stores would be a nice reward for my efforts.

Book promotion is more time-consuming and tedious than I remembered. Let me back up the truck here for a second. I am in constant book promotion mode, as you should be if you are the author of one or more books. But that initial, out-of-the-chute promotion is quite different than ongoing book promotion. It is more intense. If it is a book of a different color—dissimilar to the books you are accustomed to promoting—you must spend a lot of time reinventing the wheel that will fit that particular book. It can get a bit overwhelming and intimidating as you weed through the enormous array of superfluous material to discover those gems that could result in book sales.

I have been working for over a month on promoting this book and I have not even scratched the tip of the iceberg. But I have a marketing plan which includes book signings (one scheduled so far), book festivals (4 coming up this year) and my book has been accepted to be included in one online pet site, so far. Hopefully, several positive reviews will be forthcoming, my book will be accepted to more appropriate sites and orders will start rolling in. My initial order of books from the printer is minimal and I hope to experience enough volume to go into a second printing by February or March of 2011.

Are you promoting a new book? How’s it going? What are you doing to get word out about your book? We’d like to hear about your process of promotion. It’s an ongoing learning process.

Also, I’m interested in your leads. One reader already sent me the name of a potential outlet for my books in Arizona. Come on, I know some of you others know of possibilities for this book.

Disrespect on Your Online Discussion Group
Do you belong to an online discussion group related to your book topic or something of interest to you? I belong to two of them and I have to tell you something that I’ve noticed. Please tell me if you’ve noticed this, as well. Some members of a discussion group seem to behave as if they are anonymous in a way similar to how we feel when driving. You’ve noticed how you have enhanced courage when you’re behind the wheel and are irritated with another driver. You may say unkind things under your breath when a driver cuts you off or you see someone talking on a cell phone while driving, etc. You have no problem calling this person a “jerk,” “yo yo,” or worse. But if you were face-to-face with this person, you might not express your reaction to their behavior in quite the same way.

I’m noticing that some people treat other people in their online discussion groups with the same disrespect. It’s as if, “heck, they can’t see me and I don’t know them, anything goes.” I’ve seen people indicate that another member is stupid, dense or irresponsible. Some people don’t even think about how they are coming across when they crassly or rudely discount something someone else has offered.

It’s embarrassing to the “victim” and it should be embarrassing to the perpetrator. I hope that we can all step back and look at what we’re writing before we click “send.” Think about how your words may come across.

I remember editing an article for my brother once. It was a good article with some valuable points and information. But I told him that it wasn’t publishable until he took the anger out of it. Yes, it was a rant. He took another look at the piece and complied. While he admitted that this was a topic he is passionate about, he had no idea that the anger showed in his article.

Let’s all try to write with passion, of course, but without attacking or making others feel inadequate, ignorant or wrong.

My article on how to write a daily blog appeared this morning in Fran Silverman’s Book Promotion Newsletter.

I sent out four more review copies of my newest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales today. And today, I plan to explore cat specialty shops. Believe it or not, I located a directory of cat specialty stores—they only sell things related to cats—cat figurines, cat stationery, cat pens, cat jewelry—everything cat. This is an example of what diligent research can produce for a persistent book promoter. Isn’t it fun to make these little discoveries?

Are you in book promotion mode? Have you been using the Internet to locate promotional ideas, resources, leads, reviewers, appropriate stores, sites, etc? And have you found some lovely surprises along the way? I can tell you that you’ll also find a lot of distractions and go-nowhere dead ends. I get sidetracked when I come across an adorable cat video, for example—have you seen the one where the kitten is fiercely grasping and defending his stalk of broccoli? OMG, soooo cute!

The process of research can be tedious and seem like a waste of time at times. But it can also be worth your while when you uncover really good directories of reviewers for your science fiction book, for example, a specialty bookstore focusing on western novels, an active site where business books are featured or other great opportunities for promoting your particular book. And, yes, this definitely happens.

If you are in promotion mode and the work is getting tiring and the fruits of your labor sparse, don’t give up. Keep plugging along. Continue your dedicated search. Look for new avenues of research. Come up with fresh ideas.

It may sometimes feel as though the well is dry. But you never know when you’re going to break through the parched soil and discover a fresh water supply. And sometimes it is the seemingly insignificant puddles or trickles that result in the greatest gushers.

For book promotion ideas, and for hand-holding support throughout the writing, publishing and book promotion process, be sure to read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. You can get it through the library system, but you’re going to want to own a copy so you can refer to it often at all stages of your publishing project—distribution, dealing with Amazon.com, writing articles to promote your book, selecting a publishing option, working with your printer, shipping books and even writer’s block and self-editing tips and techniques.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

NEW Self-Editing Course
Speaking of self-editing, I have developed a NEW online Self-Editing Course designed to improve your writing and save you tons of money on all of your writing projects.
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_self-editing.html