Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kate Allan on February 10, 2012 at 13:08

Congrats on taking the leap! I don't have definitive answers on how much promo to do but I would say you certainly should do some. Basic things would include your blog and Twitter and Facebook but also do email your friends and let them know your book is out there. It all feels a bit embarrassing at the start but your friend's won't mind - some will actually want to read your book, some won't and the one that won't aren't going to mind being told about it once. Publishing company - I don't think this is necessary unless you think you will make significant money. I haven't anyway. I have just imprinted my book to my home town.

Permalink Reply by Emily Harvale on February 10, 2012 at 13:37

Thanks Kate. I'll do that. I'm going to put a picture of the cover on my Facebook page and website prior to release too.

You're right about it feeling embarrassing! How weird is that? I feel embarrassed, nervous and yet excited all at the same time.

This is going to sound even more stupid. What do you mean by 'imprinted my book to my home town'? Do you mean you've used that name where it asks for "publisher"?

I've been trying to read up about what to do and how to do it but there is so much about *selling* and not a great deal of practical advice.

Thanks again.

Emily

Permalink Reply by Kate Allan on February 10, 2012 at 18:10

Hi Emily, the imprint is the name of your publisher. So mine is West Quarter Publishing for example - I took the name from a old place in Scotland where some of my ancestors came from. I think this looks better than just being e.g. Emily Harvale - save your name for the author but imprint your work under a different name. I live in a town called Leighton Buzzard so I have "Originally published by West Quarter Publishing, Leighton Buzzard." I didn't want to put my home address on this, for obvious reasons!

Permalink Reply by Emily Harvale on February 10, 2012 at 18:30

Thanks Kate. That's a good idea because it makes it look more "professional".

Permalink Reply by Sandy Nachlinger on February 10, 2012 at 17:20

I have self-published my book on Kindle (and CreateSpace), as well as Barnes & Noble and Smashwords, and I'm sure there's more marketing I should be doing. However, as a start, I'd suggest you make sure your book is listed on Goodreads, including a synopsis and author profile. Join some groups there too. You'll also want to be sure you have an author profile on Amazon, telling a little bit about you. I've kept a list of what I've done to promote my book, so I'll look back at it and see what else might be helpful to you. This marketing stuff is definitely the hardest part!

If I were a good marketer, I guess I'd mention the name of my book, wouldn't I?

I.O.U. Sex by Sandra Nachlinger & Sandra Allen

Permalink Reply by Emily Harvale on February 10, 2012 at 17:35

Thanks Sandy. I've got Goodreads on my "to do" list. A synopsis? Oh dear. I hate those :-). I can see this whole thing is going to take several glasses of wine to achieve.

Permalink Reply by Francine Howarth on February 10, 2012 at 20:29

Hi Emily,

Go with what makes you feel comfortable!

I didn't (don't) send out review copies of e-books. I didn't want to do blog tours, either, even though loads of blogging buddies offered to host. I wanted the books to find their own market! They are and I'm chuffed to bits.  I haven't indulged in e-mail advertising because I hate being spammed and won't spam others.  Hee hee, I do post book trailer videos all over the place and they are a great marketing tools. Youtube can get you noticed if you link to top-rated stars. I did it by accident in naming one of my files Christina, hence I ended up alongside Christina Aguilera: they don't come more high-profile than that... People seem to love images! 

I don't think you can advertise too much on your own blog. It's yours after all and it's your selling point as a writer... 

As for the tax man: best to be on the right side of him. But the VAT men are the b*ggers to watch out for. They want to know the ins and outs of  c*t's backside, so to speak. No escaping them...  

As for putting your book and yourself out there, you need to front with a few billboards or no one will know you exist: Amazon is huge... A bit of "in yer face" is called for until sales start rolling   

Permalink Reply by Emily Harvale on February 10, 2012 at 22:02

Thanks Francine.

I'm still trying to get to grips with Facebook so I think book trailers on Youtube may be a long way off - but never say never, I guess :-)

Permalink Reply by Susan Bergen on February 11, 2012 at 23:36

Congratulations on making the big leap, Emily. You've already started to 'advertise' your book, you know! I am keen to hear how things go, so keep us posted. And lots of luck!

Permalink Reply by Emily Harvale on February 22, 2012 at 14:34

Thanks Susan. Sorry for the late reply - got caught up getting the book ready to go. x