When I started my writing career, I spent most of my time and energy writing articles for magazines. I eventually took a few of my articles a step further and produced books on these topics—a variety of topics. I wrote a book on caring for the backyard horse, a few related to local history, one on how to present a luau on the mainland, one on grandparenting, a book on youth mentoring, one on journal-keeping. I was all over the board with my topics. Consequently, I found it difficult to promote my books.
The individual who was interested in local history, may not care much about horses, or Hawaiian luaus. Someone wanting to know more about long-distance grandparenting, probably doesn’t also want a book on journal-keeping.
I learned the hard way that it is easier to promote and sell theme books. When I began writing books for authors, in order to sell them, all I had to do was to go where authors hang out (either in person or online) and talk about the books I have available on publishing and book promotion. I could promote this entire line at one event or website, as opposed to being scattered trying to sell several books on very different topics.
Novelists often create series for this very reason. Readers who enjoy horror stories, graphic novels, historical novels set in England, romance or animal stories, for example, will continue buying books with these themes. If you can entice a readership for your first novel, many of the same readers will buy your second and third, etc. in the same genre, with the same case of characters, etc. Once you learn where your readers for your particular series of books are and how to approach them, you can use this information to promote subsequent books.
So keep this in mind when you are writing fiction or nonfiction books. If you want to write more books, you’ll be wise to stay within the same topic or genre. You’ll sell more copies because you’re promoting to only one group of readers instead of scattering your efforts and energies in two or more different directions.
Klepto Cat Mystery update
Cat-Eye Witness, the second in the Klepto Cat Mystery series is now available in print here: http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2 You can also purchase my first novel, Catnapped in either print or for your Kindle.