I'm in the midst of it, a book launch like no launch I have ever done before! Book reviewers are on my list, interview opportunities, podcasts, postcards, T-shirts, prize giveaways - for the first time I will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to a lucky winner along with my book at Novels Alive, (come see me on August 23rd) guest posts galore, Kindle pre-orders, and more!
Fortunately, everything is written down and organized, though I still have layers of paper on my desk from people yet to contact or people I've contacted already.
And then there's my own blog and my monthly newsletter to keep going!
What I haven't thought much about are book signings. With COVID still running more rampant than makes most of us feel comfortable, setting up a signing is a bit difficult, but I am planning on doing some holiday signings this year, and you need to plan on coming to the writer's conference at the American Fork Library in September. That will be the first place I will have my book - live - with an opportunity to autograph!
Book Trailer!
A big THANK YOU to those who have already joined me in this quest!
Hi! I have a few minutes this morning and wanted to write you a little note. I have been thinking about what changes to make on my blog this year and wanted to get your advice. I do have some time limitations, but I've decided to post at least once a week on a subject you find interesting. This week the day is Wednesday :) Here are some thoughts: I have some short stories I have written that I could share. I could also do some character interviews with the characters in my books. Do any of you draw? I would love to see how you envision one or more of my characters. If I get some of these, I would gladly post them here. I do a lot of writing, so I could also occasionally post some deleted scenes that didn't quite make it into the last revision of a particular book. Any other ideas? I would be happy to hear them.
For those of you who haven't, as yet, perused my book for writers, Marketing Your Book on a Budget, now is the time to be a part of the contest I am holding at:
Almost anyone can market their book, if they are willing to get out there and talk about it.
But what about marketing with style? With flair?
Marketing so that others remember you is not always easy. There is so much competition, so much vying for attention, that it seems almost impossible for an author to get noticed; especially a newly established one.
So what should you do?
Do an unusual book signing. I have almost sworn off bookstores. Not that they aren't nice in the sense that folks are coming in to buy a book and there you are signing yours, it's just that most bookstore signings are boring.
To spruce things up I have a book signing party at my home. For my upcoming book, Sunny Side-Up, I will be having a luau at my home complete with music, dancers, food, and books. For Scrambled, I had a scrambled egg breakfast signing.
Use Animoto for your book trailers. What intrigues you the most when you hit upon a new website and/or Facebook posting? Is it the text or the video that most draws you? Even with readers, your site will get more hits and more lasting interest if you provide a video on your front page and write an occasional post with a book trailer.
To make the most of your book trailers, have a website/blog that is updated at least 3 times a week. Even more is better. Make sure your blog is professional in appearance and reflects you and your books. Make sure it is easy to use. Get out of your own head and post topics of interest to others instead of just marketing your book every day.
Get the reviews you need, the interviews that are offered on other sites; in a nutshell, work your online marketing like there's no tomorrow. Every day, along with your writing, do some marketing. Balance these two pursuits. And keep them balanced and moving forward no matter the roadblocks.
Think of creative ways to do an interview. I've started one on my site where I interview the main character of a book. I have been dabbling with interviewing the antagonist. IF YOU'RE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE, EMAIL ME AND I'LL SEND YOU A LIST OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY YOUR BOOK'S ANTAGONIST.
Finally, get out there and market! Sitting behind your desk only produces so much connection. Get out there and market your book whenever you can. Make it easy on yourself by keeping a few copies of your book in your car. Make sure you have postcards made up with your book cover on it. And be prepared to answer questions about your book because you will be asked.
Being remembered is a little like meeting someone for the first time and recalling who they are because of something intriguing they said or did.
I've got your ticket to success. Below are the five most read posts of April 2014. Again, I discovered that many of the most favorite posts had to do with what other writers are writing.
I know you are out there, I also know that you may feel as if what you have to say doesn't really matter; you're unpublished after all.
So, you know, while I have plenty of published authors willing and waiting to be interviewed on this site, such is not the case with aspiring authors.
Photo by: photosteve101, courtesy of Flickr
Tomorrows slot remains unfilled, and I may be asking my published authors to fill the Wednesday slots.
Maybe you're not interested in hearing about an unpublished author. Maybe you feel as if an author has to be published to have any wisdom to share, but I hope these same aspiring authors are just being shy, because we all have some wisdom to share.
Whether it be about writing, or grammar, or plots, or how hard it is to get out of bed in the morning to write.
What would it really hurt to get your name out there before your first book is published? What would it be like to share your writing journey, so that once you are published, you can reflect on where you've been?
I would like that. And I know you would appreciate it.
For all of you authors waiting to be published, I say, stop making excuses and email me at: kathy@ariverofstones.com.
At the League of Utah Writer's conference this past week, I meet a few writers, who, when I asked if they'd like to be interviewed on my site responded that they weren't published yet.
Photo by: ed_needs_a_bicycle, courtesy of Flickr
And it got me to thinking.
What makes a writer keep writing when he/she hasn't yet published? What does their writing day look like, and what sorts of things do they do to study the craft? Did they have a goal for when they'd like to put out their first query or first manuscript? Had they decided if they wanted to self-publish or go the traditional route?
And it made me think of something else.
Interviews for the emerging author.
And so, here's what I'm going to do. Every Wednesday, I'd like to post an emerging author interview. The questions will be similar to the ones above. I will have the writer include a photo of themselves and their favorite book (in place of their not yet published book).
One of the best ways to learn about writing is to read books (especially in the genre we will be publishing in one day) and I think it will be fun to see what books you emerging authors have chosen.
At the highest point, Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013 reached #3 in the Writing Skills arena, and #4 in the Marketing arena of free books at Amazon!
Fantastic!
When one 'window' closes, another opens.
Photo by: pfly, courtesy of Flickr
I will also be co-teaching a class on Marketing on April 3, 2013 at the Holladay Library; 2150 E. 4800 S. at 7 p.m. All Utah writers that live in or near Salt Lake City, will want to attend this FREE class!
In the class I will be discussing various elements of Marketing Your Book on a Budget. If you want to know how to get book reviews, interviews, connect in social media, advertise for free, and more, you'll not want to miss this class.
I will also be offering a special deal on my book following the presentation for those who are interested.
I look forward to seeing you!
Kathryn
P.S. Some of you may know that my husband went in for emergency gallbladder surgery last week during my book's release. Wow, that was exciting! So you know, he is doing well and returned to work today. Thanks for all the well-wishes!
Do you want to get your hands on an electronic copy of Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013?
FOR FREE?
Release date: March 21, 2013
Well, I'm in need of some book reviewers!
Here's what you need to do if you're interested:
Write me back here, telling me of your interest. I will get a pdf out to you within the day. (The book is a short read: under 50 pages).
I'm not looking for experienced reviewers, but I am looking for writers who need help with marketing their book(s). You can be a new or established writer, but you have to also be in the market for learning more about getting the word out about your book.
I need reviewers who are willing and able to post their reviews on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com. Goodreads is nice as well. If you have a blog, and can post it there, that's even better.
If this is you, please let me know.
Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013 will be released on March 21. Without getting ahead of myself, there will be some fine deals during that time too, but keep in mind that if you decide to review my book, you'll get a nice head start!
One more thing!
You're not comfortable doing a review? Here's what I'll do. If you take a picture of yourself reading one of my books--and that means any of my books--and send me a photo of yourself reading one of my books, I'll send you a free advanced copy! But March 20th is the deadline. Send your photo to: kathy@ariverofstones.com and I'll send out your pdf copy! That's all. Just be prepared for your photo to show up somewhere soon on my website!
I'm getting excited to share even more inexpensive marketing tools! If you read my book last year, Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2012, you found some great ideas. Be prepared for an update, including more links!
Today's post will be short but I wanted to let you in on a new booklet I'm working on that should be out in the next couple of months.
UPDATE: Release date March 21! Paperback $5.98, eBook $1.99.
If you've read "Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2012" then you should have a heads up on what is currently happening with book marketing. If you haven't, consider getting the 2013 edition; if you have, know that the 2013 edition will be giving you even more.
If you've wondered about reviews, book signings, interviews (both radio and blog) book trailers that won't cost you a dime to produce, social media, contests, free advertising and more, you'll want to check back.
The first time around, "Marketing Your Book on a Budget" was produced in Kindle form only for .99 cents. I have since discovered that there are many readers who also prefer the paper version, so expect to see this addition in the next few months.
Once you've purchased one copy of the book through Amazon, (and you let me know per instructions at the end of the book) you'll be on the list and I'll send you updates every year without you having to purchase another book!
Yesterday I did a bit of marketing on foot. What that means is that I gathered my books and other marketing materials and talked with local business owners.Those owners that were not in I tried to gather business cards for.
My goal was to place books, book materials, get some writing classes going and be at the right place at the right time for some book signings. In the end, I set up one writing class, was given a possible opportunity to be a part of an art festival and had met some wonderful people.
Photo by Craig Cloutier, courtesy of Flickr
I think it's interesting that only when a writer steps out of their comfort zone that even more changes begin to occur. When I'm putting my book out there for the very first time, that takes guts, and changes occur. When I began marketing online I gleaned even more interest, but it wasn't until I began asking for reviews, interviewing and posting blogs on others sites that more change occurred.
I used to think change was hard, and I used to think of change in a sort of negative light. But change is about new discoveries and growth and a quickly beating heart. And I'd like to think that marketing on foot will bring about even more of the same.
If you're stuck in front of the computer, trying to figure out how best to sell your book, don't forget to leave your front door and talk to your neighbors.
