Writing and Publishing News

Many people today are writing books with a message. That is, they write to share a perspective, information, an opinion, or knowledge with the reading public (or a selected portion of readers). The message might be in the form of a story, a memoir, a how-to or self-help book, or even an informational or inspirational book. Poetry and children’s books are sometimes vehicles for messages.

Perhaps you have produced a message book. You want to show people new ways of being/living or thinking/believing, for example. If you’re like most such authors, you aren’t selling very many books. And for some of you, that’s because you didn’t know it was up to you to promote it.

How does one promote a message book? Here are some ideas:

• Locate websites of organizations related to the theme of your book. Study the sites to discover how your book might fit in. Do they have a newsletter where you could announce your book? Do they review books like yours? Do they feature books at their website?
• Locate blogs related to the theme of your book. Do they interview authors, review books, seek guest bloggers, etc.? Contact the bloggers and set up appropriate methods of getting exposure for your book.
• Study magazines and newsletters that your proposed audience would read. Remember, your audience is made up of people who are interested in the topic of your book, not people you think you can change.
• If you want to reach the general public, as well as your primary audience, contact the program chairs for local clubs and organizations. Ask to be put on their speaker roster. If you are not a public speaker, join a Toastmasters Club and gain the tools you need. Also read “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signing, Festivals, Conferences and More.” (By Patricia Fry, publisher, Allworth Press.) http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html
• Check into conferences related to the theme of your book—health, mental illness, writing, behavior, psychology, cooking and so forth. Choose the conferences that your audience will attend. Apply to be a presenter or workshop leader. Note: The point of speaking to your readers is not to sell your book, it is to demonstrate your expertise on this topic. Once potential readers feel confident in your credibility, they will be more open to purchasing your book. Here are some directories of conferences:

http://www.allconferences.com

http://www.bventes.com

http://shawguides.com

• Write articles for appropriate publications. Mention your book in your bio at the end of the article.
• Build your own website and begin blogging. Advertise your sites at every opportunity—through social media, during interviews, in your bio following articles you’ve written for publications, etc.
• Solicit reviews for your book’s Amazon page. If you know people who have read it, ask them to post a review. Contact reviewers of books on this topic. Here are a few directories of book reviewers:

http://acqweb.org/bookrev.html

http://dir.yahoo.com/arts/humanities/literature/reviews

http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/free-book-reviews.html

The point is to go where your readers are. Become visible. Get exposure for yourself and your book.

For more about book promotion, be sure to order your copy of “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven. Low-cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

Today, we’re continuing our discussion about getting book reviews for your book. Yesterday, I explained how important it is to make your book the best that it can be in order to attract more of the right kind of reviewers. We talked about finding the hooks in your fiction or nonfiction book that could attract reviewers. I also touched on reviews in magazines and other periodicals.

The most revered reviews of all, however, are those posted at amazon.com. How do you get those reviews? Here are a few ideas:

1: Beg and plead for them. Well, at least ask politely. Put out an all points bulletin at your website or blogsite asking for reviews. If a friend or colleague mentions having read your book, say, “Cool. I’d love it if you’d review it at Amazon.com.” Send out emails or post a note in your monthly newsletter reminding people to post a review.

2: Contact book reviewers who review books like yours. You can check to see who has reviewed other books similar to yours. However, most reviewers are either readers whom you’ll never be able to find or they’re reviewers who have hidden their identity. Occasionally, a reviewer will use their real name or the name of their website and you can trace them down. The best method of finding reviewers, though, is through book reviewer directories. Here are a few:

http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net. They also have a book that comes out every other year—The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages. It contains over 775 pages of reviewers in every category, and the majority of them review self-published books.

Here’s a list of book review sites: http://writersresourcedirectory.com/Book_Reviewers.html

Here’s a list of 352 book reviewers http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers

Most (or all) of these do not charge for reviews, but they will give honest reviews.

If you’re an author, you’ve heard the term Book Review. Some of you consider a book review to be an honor bestowed ony on the most famous and the very lucky authors.

Some of you are aware of the pre-publication book reviews, but have been duly warned that these reviewers will NOT review books by unknown authors. Is this your belief?

Okay, let me say that you are right and wrong. I’ve certainly known of the coveted pre-publication reviewers, such as the editors of Kirkus Review and Library Journal, to review books by unknowns (without a fee). In most cases, it seemed to be because the books were well suited to the public library system. Think about that when you plan your next book!

As for the rumor that, if you miss out on getting your book reviewed by a pre-publication reviewer, you’ve lost your chances of a review forever—hogwash!

Here’s another myth I’d like to expose: You can get your book reviewed, but you’ll have to pay for it. No, no, no! Well, let me say that there certainly are review sites cropping up that require payment for reviews. But I have to tell you, they are not the only reviewers in town!

There are hundreds of FREE book review opportunities for books in all genres and topics. Here are my suggestions:

1: Write a book that reviewers will want to review. Now this sounds like a big fat no-brainer, doesn’t it? But think about it. What more could you do to make your book in progress more appealing to reviewers—more appropriate for a larger number of reviewers?

I advise authors to build promotion into their books—in other words, to add wider dimensions to attract a larger audience. This practice will also attract a greater array of reviewers.

2: Seek out magazine book reviewers. Not every magazine runs book reviews, but many of them, too. Editors of some literary magazines and others that publish fiction, review books. Some genre fiction magazine editors publish book reviews—this might include science fiction, romance, horror, young adult and children’s.

Likewise there are hundreds of consumer and association/trade magazines that run book reviews on appropriate books. My book on presenting a Hawaiian luau on the mainland was reviewed in dozens and dozens of cooking and foods magazines. My writing/publishing-related books have been reviewed in numerous writing and publishing magazines and newsletters. There are magazines in every category imaginable—business, child-rearing, pets and animals, public speaking, fitness and health, education, sports, hobby and craft and on and on and on.

Again, the more aspects you have skillfully worked into your novel or nonfiction book, the more potential you have for having your book reviewed.

Here’s an example: Write a book about a run-of-the-mill factory worker and his life after divorce and your book will likely appeal to a relatively narrow audience of reviewers. Add the fact that he (or another character) is dealing with an affliction such as deafness or ALS, for example, and they have a therapy dog that saved someone’s life, and you’ve expanded your options. Now you may get a review in fiction and relationship magazines as well as those related to handicaps, ALS/deafness, therapy dogs and animal heroes.

3: Make the most of what you have. Okay, your book is a done deal. How can you maximize your book review options? Get personal with your book. Dissect it and jot down what you find. For example, what city is the story set in? Pursue reviews in regional magazines in that area. Do you have a section in your budgeting book for teaching children money-awareness? Parenting magazines might be a good secondary review option for this book. Is your book clean and honorable? Consider reviews in religious magazines. Maybe your novel has a séance scene. This may provide an opportunity for a review in a metaphysical or New Age publication.

Secrets number 4-7 will be revealed in the next blog post.

I’m Patricia Fry, the author of 45 published books including many for authors. The most recent 3 books are Publish Your Book, Promote Your Book and Talk Up Your Book. All 3 are available here: http://www.matilijapress.com. And at Amazon.com in print, audio, and for Kindle.

Also enjoy my Klepto Cat Mystery series on your Kindle. http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2 Catnapped, Cat-Eye Witness and Sleight of Paw are now also in print.