Writing and Publishing News

Now there’s a question few authors think to ask. And it’s a good thing, because there is no definitive answer. All we do know is that it takes exposure to make sales. People have to know about your book before they will purchase it. And just having it sitting on a shelf in a bookstore, doesn’t necessarily mean that people will be inclined to purchase it.

They need to hear about it, read about it, hear others talk about it, see it reviewed in their favorite related publication, see it a few (or many) times, have it recommended and learn more about it. Not only do they need to know about it, they must be convinced that this is something they want to read—that they will enjoy it or benefit from it or that someone they know will. Handpicked books make great gifts.

I’ve spent a good portion of my life attempting to get exposure for my writing/publishing books. I go out and speak, I have a website, I teach courses related to these books, I have my books at Amazon and other venues, I have them in Books in Print, I talk about them wherever I go, I belong to organizations that will widen my exposure as well as offer learning experiences and I attend conferences related to my topic. It’s continuous.

Currently, I am testing new waters while getting exposure for my latest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. Initially, I am sending books out to reviewers of cat books—those with cat websites, blog sites, newsletters/magazines, columns, radio shows and so forth. I am placing books in a few local stores and I am planning book signings locally. I’ve already made arrangements to speak and sell books at the large Cat Writer’s Association Conference in New York in November. And I’ve signed up for a few book festivals where I will offer Catcapades and my other books for sale.

Additionally, I’ve announced my new book in all appropriate publications where I can do so for free (as a member, for example). And I’ve kicked my Catscapades blog up a notch—posting every few days instead of every few weeks.

How much time is it taking? LOTS of it. Getting exposure in all the right places is my full time job at the moment. I’m researching cat writers, cat columnists, cat sites, cat publications, cat blog sites, etc. for hours each day. When I take a break, I head downtown to make personal contact with key people who can help me get exposure for this book.

I’m telling you this not to complain, but to demonstrate what it takes in order to launch a new book. Yes, I’ve been busy, diligent, persistent and creative in my pursuit for exposure and, frankly, not much is happening, yet. But it’s early—the reviewers are barely receiving their review copies as we speak.

How long does it take to get the results you want through exposure? Do you want me to be candid? This is an ongoing activity for as long as you want your book to sell.

Until you have major name recognition as the author of mysteries, true crime books, children’s or young adult books, fantasies, science fiction or books on finance, for example, you will need to practically hand sell each and every book you produce.

Sure, you’ll get a flurry of sales after a positive review is published by a reviewer of some credibility and with a large following. You may sell a box or two of books at a book festival or a large conference where you speak. And you will surely sell a dozen or so books at a well-publicized book signing. And some of those customers will tell others about your book and you’ll get some residual sales. But then, you’re back to the drawing board reminding potential customers about your book on a regular basis while attempting to find new ways to get exposure.

Soon, I’ll be submitting articles to appropriate sites and publications, for example. And I’ll continually be on the lookout for new reviewers of cat books, new speaking opportunities and so forth. It doesn’t end until you no longer want to play the book promotion game.

Does it sound like a dismal reward for writing a marvelous book—to have to promote for evermore? It depends on how you look at it. I suggest shifting a measure of your creativity over from your writing efforts to the process of promotion and look at it as a creative challenge.

Here’s another tip. Don’t ever allow yourself to be discouraged when your sales during a particular event or after a great review fall below your expectations. Exposure doesn’t always lead to immediate gratification (sales). In fact, I like to tell the story of a SPAWN member who shared in our SPAWN booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books one year. He didn’t sell very many books that year, but he made some amazing contacts that led to him being involved in a documentary featuring the topic of his book. It airs frequently on the Military channel.

I hope this rant today has helped you to put things in perspective regarding your promotional efforts. It’s darn hard work. If you’d like to complain or brag to us here—use the comments feature. We’d like to hear from you. We can all use encouragement and ideas. And maybe we can offer you some specifics that will assist in your promotional efforts.

For additional support, information, resources and gobs of stuff you need to know about the publishing industry and how to get involved without getting harmed, your publishing options and, of course, book promotion, read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Sign up for my online Book Promotion course and let me help you chart your course. http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm

For a delightful, fun read, order your copy of Catscapades, True Cat Tales here: http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html

Check out my Catscapades blog:
http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades

Yesterday we talked about using ideas from other authors’ events calendars to promote your own books. The idea is that you would visit websites of authors with books similar to yours and find out how they are promoting their books. Then borrow some of these ideas for your own arsenal of sales techniques.

You might discover, for example, that an author of a mystery novel has been speaking at mystery writers’ groups and conferences. Maybe she gives presentations and does readings locally—find out what sort of venues. Perhaps, you can arrange to do something similar in your area. If you’re not sure how to go about it or how to get in touch with appropriate genre groups, contact the author and get some pointers. (You’ll also learn volumes about promoting through public speaking in the promotions section of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.)
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

If you have a Google Alerts designed to alert you to blogs on the topic of your inspirational book, you may discover other authors with books of this type. Search their blogs for information about their promotional activities or leave a comment that opens up some dialogue on promotional ideas for this type of book.

I suppose in today’s strong social media climate, you’ll also discover ideas through authors’ Facebook and Twitter sites. And I would suggest something I’ve actually been doing lately in the process of promoting my book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. Do a Google search to find promotional ideas for books in your genre/topic. Use keywords, “cat books + promotion,” “author + cat book,” “promote cat book.”

Also in my pursuit, I have contacted authors directly to discuss promotional ideas. It’s usually a win/win situation for everyone if you have some ideas of your own to share.

Have any of you gone this route, yet? I’d like to hear some of your stories and so would my blog followers. We all need help and support along the long and lonely path of book promotion. Let’s use this venue to provide it.

For primary help with your book promotion, order The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I devote 3 chapters (70 pages) to book promotion. And as readers say, “Patricia Fry’s books are some of the most reader-friendly and useful around.”
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Catscapades Update
I continue to send out review copies of Catscapades, True Cat Tales and I have placed them in two local stores, so far—one is a business center that recently started selling books. It gets a lot of traffic. And my name is definitely known locally as the author of several local history books. The second store is called Made in Ojai. Everything in the store comes from Ojai artisans, herbalists, authors, crafts people, quilters, etc. I don’t know if I mentioned, it is also for sale at a veterinarian’s office in Connecticut. I have a promise of a signing, just need to pin down the owner of the pet store. I understand she will be in the store on Monday—so will I—with day planner in hand. Oh yes, and a couple of cat site owners have already agreed to place a link to my book site for their visitors who are looking for a cat book.

Of course, I’m also talking about the book wherever I go (and so are those who have read it). And I am carrying it everywhere I go.

New Flash: I can hardly believe I finally did this—I joined Facebook. I now have my own Facebook account and some friends. I’m not at all sure what happens from here. I am also on Twitter and I’m sure I am not using it to the fullest extent. We all have strong points and weak ones—the social media explosion is sort of beyond me. I haven’t figured out what the point is. I am not in a position to spend my days playing and visiting. I am hoping to use both Twitter and Facebook to connect with people I would not ordinarily connect with, sure, but mainly to further my reach with my books and editorial services. Anyone with ideas on how to do this, please let me know.

Order your copy of the adorable, delightful, heartwarming book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales today. It is fully illustrated by around 40 color photos of cats and kittens.
http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html

Do you let other authors in your genre/topic help you along the bumpy, difficult book publicity road? Or do you try to go it alone?

There’s no reason why you should chart a whole new course for your book on family budgeting if there are already books out there on this topic. Why would you create a whole new promotions plan for your memoir when others have paved the way for you and your book?

I’m not suggesting that you can skip the task of creating a marketing plan. As an author, you still have tons of work to do toward the promotion of your book. I’m just saying that there are authors of books in your genre/topic who can actually help you create your promotional plan. How?

Some—certainly not all—authors post their promotional activities, media coverage, retail outlets, online bookstores, etc. at their website. They want their potential customers/readers to know where they’ll be speaking, what the reviewers are saying about their books, where their articles or short stories have appeared, where their books can be purchased and so forth. And you want to know where they’re speaking and who is reviewing their books, where they are submitting articles/stories and where their books are being sold.

The first step is to acknowledge authors of books like yours. Locate their websites. If they don’t offer media information at their sites, check to see if they have a testimonials page. Read the testimonials—some of them may be from reviewers of publications you want to approach. Read what reviewers and others are posting on these authors’ amazon.com pages. And be sure to read these authors’ blogs. While they may not be good at keeping up a media page at their site, they may blog about their publicity strategies and their promotional activities.

Sign up for Google alerts in order to keep alert to new authors in your category, new book reviewers and, of course, other promotional opportunities for authors of books like yours.
http://www.google.com/alerts

Don’t avoid your competition, let them guide you toward the success you desire. Keep an eye on what they’re doing and the publicity they’re getting and get in on the action, where appropriate.

Tune in tomorrow, when I will offer some explicit examples of how to use what you learn from other authors’ sites, blogs, etc.

Catscapades Update—Promotion is HARD Work
With 31 published books, I am always in book promotion mode. But I am still always surprised to rediscover how intense, overwhelming, time-consuming and energy-draining hard hitting book promotion can be. I am in full book promotion mode with my latest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales While I love meeting some of the cat people out there who are reviewing cat books, operating cat sites, maintaining cat blogs, selling cat books, etc., I am feeling disorganized and, yes, overwhelmed.

Last evening, I took a break from the intensity. I sat down away from the computer and created a plan—like I tell my clients to do. I listed the type of research I want to do in order to locate book promotion opportunities. I want to visit cat-related websites and see about getting my book featured on them. I want to get in touch with reviewers of cat books. I will go in search of cat blogs—yesterday, I met a sweet cat named Sparkle, who reviews cat books at his blog site. I am searching out cat shows and will see about either attending or hooking up with vendors who will include my book among their merchandise. I want to be guest blogger at cat blog sites, find cats only bookstores/gift shops, locate cat-related newsletters and magazines where I can get my book reviewed and/or submit articles. I’ve already started the ball rolling locally as far as book signings and I have placed books in two specialty stores in town.

I’m open to ideas from you all. Brainstorming is good for authors who are in serious book promotion mode. Do you know of prime opportunities for promoting Catscapades, True Cat Tales? PLFry620@yahoo.com (or leave a comment here.)

If you want to purchase a copy of Catscapades, True Cat Tales, this is an excellent time. I’ll send you a free gift along with your book.
http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html

And be sure to stop in once in a while at my Catscapades blog. We’re having fun over there:
http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades