Archive for September, 2013

« Older Entries

Book Marketing on the Run

Monday, September 30th, 2013

I’ve been silent for a few days. I spent the weekend helping out my daughter who is recuperating from a badly broken leg. All is well.

And did I do any book promotion while I was gone, you might ask? Of course you would ask that since I constantly teach and preach that authors promote their books wherever they go. I nag that you should find opportunities to promote your book in every situation. So, did I follow my own advice? Yes, to a degree.

I left my daughter a handful of bookmarks promoting my novel, “Catnapped” and suggested she hand them out to visitors. She’s very social and has many people coming in and out. It’s like Grand Central Station there at times and she’ll have fun giving little gifts of my bookmarks to those who come to visit. If the circumstances had been different, I may have also visited local bookstores, pet stores and libraries, while there this weekend. I would have arranged ahead of time to meet with a book club or writers group in the area or maybe set up a one-day workshop at the library along with a radio interview prior to the workshop date.

My daughter is into horses (which is how she broke her leg, by the way) and my novels do include horses. The second book in the Klepto Cat Mystery series, “Cat-Eye Witness,” has a stronger horse influence, so when it is up and running on Amazon (soon, very soon) I will more actively promote to her horsey friends. I’ll leave bookmarks at feed stores, have my daughter hand them out at horseshows and ropings and maybe arrange to do a little presentation for the horse and cat enthusiasts in her town.

Now it may sound like this is all about me. But I’m only using me and my mystery novel(s) as an example to give you ideas for promoting your own book. I know that many of you who write and publish fiction are absolutely stuck when it comes to book promotion and I often use my experiences to help you get unstuck—to give you hope and ideas for getting word out about your wonderful book.

We welcome your promotional experiences and ideas with fiction and also memoirs—another hard sell for most authors.

While I was helping out my daughter, I checked my emails on my iPhone and found one from a book reviewer who had just written a detailed review of “Catnapped” and posted it at Amazon and other places with 5 beautiful bright stars. Made my weekend.

And this did not happen by accident. In most cases, reviewers don’t just find my book and decide to review it. Although this does happen on occasion, generally, the author must seek out appropriate reviewers and tell them about their books.

Sales for your fiction or nonfiction book are hugely your responsibility. This blog and my enewsletter along with my last three nonfiction books focus mainly on helping you to successfully promote and sell your book.

Learn more about my books here: http://www.matilijapress.com

Sign up for my enewsletter, “Publishing/Marketing News and Views” here: http://www.patriciafry.com

Order your Kindle copy of “Catnapped,” a Klepto Cat Mystery here: http://amzn.to/14OCk0W

Posted in Book Promotion | No Comments »

Why a Novel is So Much Fun to Promote

Friday, September 27th, 2013

I’m sure that those of you who write and publish only fiction are rolling your eyes at this statement. From your vantage point, “fun” may be the last word you’d use to describe the process of book promotion.

But if you came from my background—forty years of writing and promoting nonfiction, you might see things differently.

Oh don’t get me wrong. I write because I love it—I can’t not write. I have written 38 nonfiction books, hundreds of articles, nearly 2,000 blog posts and bunches of other stuff. I’ve contributed to other books, I’ve written speeches, handouts, promo pieces and I’ve edited dozens and dozens of fiction and nonfiction books for my clients. Don’t you know, I’ve also done tons of promotion? And, for the most part, I have enjoyed it—especially the people part—getting to meet, educate and inform authors.

But here I am now, a published novelist. Book two in my Klepto Cat Mystery series is about to be launched (watch for the announcement) and I am actively promoting the first in the series, “Catnapped.”

So where’s the fun in promoting this book? Just this week I was at the doctor’s office getting a flu shot. The nurse mentioned her pets. I told her about my book and handed her a bookmark. She asked me about the story and I got to talk about it. I don’t know about you, but I love talking about my novel.

Another nurse overheard us and she wanted to know more about it. Turns out, she has a cat named Rags—the name of the starring cat in my mystery series. What are the chances? I’m pretty sure that these two cat people, who happen to read mysteries, have already purchased the ebook for their Kindles as my ranking went up overnight. And I’m pretty sure they will hand out the extra bookmarks I left for them.

Two cousins I see only occasionally came to visit a few weeks ago. Their first questions to me were about my writing—“Are you still writing?” “What are you writing these days?” They were so interested in my new venture and hearing my stories of inspiration leading to my writing these series, they both ordered the book for their Kindles.

I have talked about “Catnapped” in the grocery store, in the waiting rooms of my mother’s doctors, while waiting for Mama to get her hair cut, when running into neighbors while I’m out walking or gardening, while buying cat food at our kittys’ veterinarian office and even when paying bills, corresponding, placing an order via snail mail or shipping books. I also handed out promo pieces for “Catnapped” at a police-writers’ conference several weeks ago.

Yes, I talk about the book wherever I go. Unlike my nonfiction books—most of which are directed strictly toward authors—my novel is likely to stir an interest among the people I meet throughout the day—at the car wash, in the 99 cent store, at the nursery, while visiting the animals at the shelter and at restaurants. Oh my, restaurants are a great place to promote a novel. Just have a copy with you—or at least great-looking bookmarks. Lay them prominently on the table. Strike up a conversation with the wait person and don’t keep your voice down. If someone looks over at you, hand them a bookmark, too. Ask others about their experiences with whatever your subject matter or genre is. In my case, I get people to talking about their cats.

Next month, I will get to talk about my book to former classmates at a class reunion. I’ll be sure to bring plenty of bookmarks. And later in the month, I’m taking my bookmarks and my fun spiel to the Cat Writers Association Conference in Dallas.

If you’re interested in more information about book promotion—including scads of specific ideas for novelists—order my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” Available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order it here: http://www.matilijapress.com

If you are just starting out in the publishing industry, read “Publish Your Book.” Also available everywhere.

If you like light mysteries involving cats, purchase “Catnapped” for your Kindle. It’s only $2.99 here: http://amzn.to/14OCk0W This book features a kleptomaniac cat who always has his paw in solving the mystery. You can learn more about this book here: http://www.matilijapress.com/Catnapped

Posted in Book Promotion, Fiction | No Comments »

On the Go Book Promotion Ideas

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

You don’t have to set aside time to promote your book. It doesn’t always have to be a planned/scheduled activity. You can engage in book promotion while you’re doing other things—traveling, parenting, working, exercising, volunteering and socializing, for example.
Here are a few ideas.

• Hand out promotional bookmarks, buttons, magnets, etc. at work or at the gym where you workout. Leave some in the office at your children’s school and in the restroom or banquet room at the community events you attend. When traveling, leave bookmarks here and there—in airline terminals, restaurants, buses and so forth.

• Have your book in hand while waiting for your flight, at a bus stop, in the lobby of your hotel, in your doctor’s office so others around you will see it. Find reasons to talk about it. Say, for example, “I’ve read this book dozens of times and still laugh at this part,” or “Dang, I forgot a comma here.” Of course, reveal that you are the author.

• Hand out sample chapters to coworkers, other volunteers on a project, people you know (and don’t know) at social events and fundraisers.

• Speaking of fundraisers, donate copies to be auctioned off. You might put together a basket with a copy of your book, designer coffee, a relating coffee mug (for my mystery featuring a cat, I would buy a mug with a cat pictured on it—or have your book cover put on a coffee mug).

• Talk about your book to clerks while shopping. When you pay for your purchase, you might pull your book or your beautiful promo pieces out of your purse or pocket and set it on the counter while digging for your credit card. Give the clerk enough promo pieces for all of the employees.

As you can see, book promotion doesn’t have to be a singular planned activity. It can become a lifestyle—a habit.

For more many more book promotion ideas and to help you develop a mindset for promoting your fiction or nonfiction book, be sure to read my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for Promoting Your Book.” There are numerous stories of successful book promotion told by authors and professionals. For example, one author, when she went out of town for a signing, always carried the poster or sign advertising her presentation on her flight home. Other passengers would ask about it and she would almost always sell some of the books she carried in a tote with her.

“Promote Your Book” is at amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio. You can also purchase it here: http://www.matilijapress.com

Fiction Announcement
I received a large payment from Amazon today for “Catnapped,” the first in my Klepto Cat Mystery series. How exciting is that? If you like light mysteries featuring a most unusual cat, order Catnapped today for your Kindle. http://amzn.to/14OCk0W We’re putting the finishing touches on the 2nd in the series as we speak. Watch for “Cat-Eye Witness” soon. My pre-publication readers are saying they like the new book better.

Posted in Book Promotion, Uncategorized | No Comments »

How to Sell Books Every Single Day

Tuesday, September 24th, 2013

How many ways do you reach out to potential readers each day? Do you post a blog designed to educate, inform or enlighten readers? Do you hand out a few bookmarks with the cover of your book and ordering information? Do you talk to everyone you meet about your book? Do you visit directories of book reviewers and contact some of them to review your book? Do you include a “signature” at the end of your emails so that everyone receiving an email from you becomes aware that you are the author of such-and-such book? Do you have a great website full of things of interest to your audience?

Many authors are so busy trying to find time to promote their books or trying to come up with elaborate book promotion plans that they neglect to take the opportunities before them to actually promote it.

What are your plans for today? Will you be home—spend a couple of hours at your computer spreading the word about your book. Design a website, add a post to your blog, comment at other blogs related to the theme of your book, send your pitch letter to a dozen or so appropriate reviewers, write an article or two for related publications.

Are you going to work? Leave bookmarks in the break room, challenge a few coworkers to read your book, discuss it briefly with a client or customers where appropriate to do so and certainly, hand out bookmarks and talk about your book when you go out to lunch.

Are you running errands? Stop by local bookstores and see about setting up a signing. Leave bookmarks here and there for people to pick up. Visit appropriate specialty stores and other sites where you might be able to arrange for a presentation or demonstration. This might be libraries, schools, cupcake bakery, pharmacy, travel agency, children’s bookstore, kitchen store, Christian bookstore/church, auto parts store, airport or pet store, for example.

Once you become a published author, book promotion should become part of your daily routine both on the computer (researching opportunities, connecting with book reviewers and conference organizers, webinars, etc.) and in person (talking about your book).

If you need some real-life examples from me and dozens of other authors and processionals along with over 250 ideas for launching or jumpstarting your book promotion program, order my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author” And for those of you who want to get out and speak to your potential readers at conferences, book festivals, at signings and you need help honing your public speaking skills, you must read “Talk Up Your Book.”

Both books are available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Also available here: http://www.matilijapress.com

Posted in Book Promotion | No Comments »

How to Write “The End” and Mean it

Monday, September 23rd, 2013

Authors sometimes ask me, “How do you know when your book is finished?” I’ve known authors who couldn’t let go. They just kept rewriting and revising. Some continue on for years making changes to their stories or their nonfiction books. Ebook publishing is great for these authors as they can rewrite, revise and resubmit their books for publication in ebook form over and over again. I’ve done it once with my first in the Klepto Cat Mystery series, Catnapped. I pulled the original version, rewrote it and ultimately published the revised book just this month.

So when is your book finished? When you can walk away from it with a sense of satisfaction and pride—when you can concentrate on a new project—a sequel, perhaps.

How does it feel to finish a book? I’ve been writing for publication for forty years. I experienced the writing of my first book in 1978. And I can tell you it was exhilarating when I dotted my final i and crossed my final t. Until June of last year, I have always written nonfiction. I have had no problem finishing a book and being confident that it was complete. After having written and published 38 nonfiction books, I can tell you that the experience is always the same—I complete the book and never look back. For me, writing nonfiction is almost a science. You write what you know, you do tons of research, you organize the material logically and you present it so it is easily understood.

Fiction, however, is more art than science. There are more possibilities and options. You have more liberties with characters, the storyline, the tone of the story, the backdrop and every action that moves the story along. Sometimes the story writes itself. Sometimes you write yourself into a dead end, you decide to add a major new element to your story or you change the entire direction and theme of your story. Other times the story seems etched in stone—a done deal—unmovable. Right or wrong, you’re finished.

I finished Catnapped and Cat-Eye Witness—both part of my Klepto Cat Mystery Series several times. And that’s the beauty of the ebook. You can do a revision and resubmit it fairly easily. Just double check to make sure the new version is the one being sold to customers. I can tell you from experience, it is awfully embarrassing when you find out that you are promoting and selling the old version, after spending weeks doing a revision.

Read my first novel Catnapped. It’s on Kindle for $2.99 here: http://amzn.to/14OCk0W

Watch for Cat-Eye Witness soon.

Posted in Writing | No Comments »

Story Critique—The Blessings and the Curses

Sunday, September 22nd, 2013

I’ve been putting the finishing touches on Cat-Eye Witness—the 2nd in the Klepto Cat Mystery series for a few months now. I announce to friends and family that it’s done. Then I find myself editing it again—doing more minor revisions.

I’ve incorporated suggestions from seven readers and a proofreader into the final manuscript. I’ve read it through and did more editing at least two dozen times. I am ready to publish it—as soon as the cover art is completed.

Is it a good idea to farm your novel out to readers before publication? Many novelists like to (and probably should) invite people to read their stories before they are deemed finished. The benefits can be many—you receive validation, serious problems with the story or the characters may be identified, punctuation errors and typos will be caught. However, you might also receive some negative feedback—“your characters are not likable,” “they’re shallow” or “your story isn’t believable,” for example. The level of your attachment to your story and your characters will determine whether you can accept truly constructive criticism or not.

But what about the criticism that seems to be based on the other author’s or reader’s own vision?

There are hundreds—maybe thousands/millions—of ways to write a single story. And I’ve seen authors allow the opinions of others to interfere with the story they want to tell in the way they want to tell it. The thing is, every author and even many readers have an opinion about how they would engineer a story. Seldom are the visions of others relevant to your story—your way of telling your story. It’s a fine line between staying true to your story and listening to/accepting the valid suggestions of others.

An author who farms his/her manuscript out to be critiqued before publication must prepare on many levels. He needs a thick skin. He must detach enough from his project so he can view it without emotion. He must also be able to separate useful suggestions and critique from emotion-driven opinions.

Read my first attempt at a novel—Catnapped, a Klepto Cat Mystery. It has been revised for your Kindle. It’s just $2.99 at http://amzn.to/14OCk0W

Posted in Writing | No Comments »

The Value of Author Workshops

Friday, September 20th, 2013

Here’s something that few authors consider. I like to suggest that authors of nonfiction conduct workshops even before their book is a book. What are the benefits?

• You will meet your potential readers face-to-face and learn what they truly need/want in a book on this topic.

• You will begin to establish or add to your credibility in this field or on this subject.

• You will get publicity every time you advertise your workshop or mention it on your Facebook page, at Twitter, etc.

Posted in Book Promotion, Platform | No Comments »

Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Successful Author?

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

Many authors write a book without thinking beyond the publishing (or self-publishing) contract. Today, I’d like to share with you some of the mistakes authors make along their writing/publishing path.

• They write the wrong book for the wrong audience.
• They don’t keep their readers in mind throughout the writing process.
• They don’t bother to hire an editor for their book.
• They don’t study the publishing industry, so they don’t know that:
o It is the author’s responsibility to promote the book.
o Promotion is a thousand times harder than writing the book.
o Authors must promote for as long as they want their books to sell.

And when it comes time to promote their books, they don’t know where to start. Some authors think they know, but many of them fall flat, become overwhelmed, become exhausted and frustrated and they quit. What happens when you stop promoting a book? It dies.

Nearly 78 percent of books published these days fail. And the reasons are printed above. Before you produce that amazing novel, fascinating memoir or valuable nonfiction book, take a look at these points and make sure you have covered all of them when preparing your book for publication. Publishing is not a walk in the park—it is a seriously competitive business that requires your full attention and then some.

For an education about the publishing industry and how you can more successfully fit into it, read, “Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author” and for additional help promoting your book, study, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” Available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio as well as at most other online and downtown bookstores.

Posted in Authorship, Book Promotion | No Comments »

How to Plan a Casual Author’s Blog Tour

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

I often suggest that authors promote their books through their own blogs. But you can also get exposure on other people’s blogs. Here are some tips:
• Do an Internet search for blogs focusing on the subject, genre or theme of your book. For my new mystery novel, Catnapped, I seek out blogs related to mystery writing and those featuring cats.

• Streamline your search by locating blog directories. Most are separated into categories.

• Spend some time at each potential blog. Find out if they post guest blogs. Does the blogger interview authors? Do they review books?

• Contact those bloggers that provide the sort of coverage you require—they have a large following of visitors interested in the topic or genre of your book, and they welcome author participation.

• Follow through with what you say you’re going to do and do so in a timely manner. This might be to send a copy of the book and a jpeg of the cover. Or you might write a guest post on an agreed upon topic.

• Watch for comments after the post goes live so you can respond where appropriate.

• Always thank the blogger for the opportunity.

A caution: Check the date of the last post at the blog site. How often does this blogger post? How many comments does the blogger attract? If there’s little activity at the blog site, your book won’t be noticed.

For over 250 more ideas for promoting your book, enhanced by anecdotes from two dozen professionals and authors, read “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” It’s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order it here: http://www.matilijapress.com

For a fun read, check out Patricia’s first novel—Catnapped, a Klepto Cat Mystery. It’s on Kindle only. http://amzn.to/14OCk0W

Posted in Book Promotion | No Comments »

Promote Your Website

Sunday, September 15th, 2013

I promised that today I would give you some tips on how to promote your website. Here are some ideas to get you started. Include your website address:

• On your business cards and promo material (bookmarks, post cards, etc.).
• On your handouts when you speak or work a book festival.
• In your bio at the end of the articles/stories you submit.
• In your email signature.
• Inside (or on the cover of) the books you publish.
• In your blog posts.

In other words, don’t keep your website a secret. This is where people can go to learn more about you and your book. Your website might offer just the incentive and encouragement some fence-sitters need in order to make the commitment to buy your book.

This is where they can find you when they are looking for someone to speak to their group, conduct a workshop at their conference, contribute to their book. And all of these activities can lead to more book sales.

For more ideas, tips and techniques for promoting your book, read Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. (Allworth Press). Available at Amazon in print, Kindle and audio as well as most other online and downtown bookstores.

Posted in Book Promotion | No Comments »

« Older Entries