Writer Conference Networking Connects with Marketing

You know when you learn of a great marketing idea and wish you'd thought of or could get in on it? While I'm finally doing a collaborative novella, twelve authors took it a step further by joining together to do a similar-themed book-a-month series. It's a great idea, and I'm happy for them. But yeah, I'm more of a band-wagon participant than an instigator. For now.
 
What I need to remember is that a year ago I was a solo book writer--period. Now my critique group is working on a collaborative novella project--all because one of them suggested it. Again, not my idea, but I was happy to be included in an opportunity that offered new potential to expand my reader base. It doesn't matter who the innovator is, and maybe it won't ever be me. The important thing is that I'm gaining experience and finding more people to network with, and that can lead to new marketing opportunities.

To my writer friends who haven't been to a conference event and want to find a way to connect with other writers, there's nothing like the pump-up you get and the variety of people to meet from a writer's conference. I whole-heartedly recommend that LDS authors of fiction and non-fiction plan to attend the LDStorymaker conference held in the Spring in Utah or the Midwest Storymaker conference in Kansas. And a big thank you to those who volunteer their time to put it on. You are amazing! Can't wait to go!

A Reason Not to Read My Book

I had an interesting experience at a book signing last weekend. This was one of those Deseret Book "Ladies Night" events with refreshments and giveaways. The place was packed, and the ladies tended to stay a while, hoping for the next drawing to call their name. Therefore, I was able to have a few conversations with those camping out near my table.

One conversation in particular has stayed with me. There was an older woman sitting on her walker seat, thumbing through a stack of books on her lap to whittle down her choices. It was the perfect opportunity to ask her what she likes to read and see if I could interest her in Secrets of the King's Daughter. As soon as she learned my story was based on the Book of Mormon, she started shaking her head. "I think that we need our own opinions of what those people looked like and did," she said.

This didn't deter me. I've considered this argument before, and wrote a blog post about finding that balance between recorded scripture and fiction. Perhaps she could be convinced. All I wanted was for readers to give it a chance so they could feel the inspirational uplift or emotional response that I expected they would from the engaging storyline and gospel messages found within, or a renewed interest in the scriptures. Something positive.

I told her that the Church filled in the details left to the imagination when they produced such films as The Testaments. I told her about the Scripture Reference List in the back of the book so that readers could look up what I wrote that was established by scripture. In fact, looking up references is encouraged. She still shook her head, so I relented. "It sounds like you know what you want," I said with a smile.

Over the course of another thirty or forty minutes, she stayed where she was and revealed more of her opinions little by little, probably wanting to explain why she turned me down flat. She'd heard me tell others that it's been getting good reviews and saw me sign a few copies. She explained that another author had steered her wrong and she won't ever read that author again. A little later she said that it took a session with her stake president to set her straight. Now it all made sense.

In most cases, I think it's good to expand your reading material into other genres and new authors, but my book was not right for this woman, and she stood firm about that. She showed me that there are valid reasons why not to read certain books. Sometimes we get easily mixed up or swayed or don't like foul language or plots that are upsetting. It might take some experimenting to learn what to avoid, but once you know, you can make the right choice for you.

My Sixty Seconds of Fame - Cover Reveal Success

Surreal. Like an out of body experience, watching the numbers from a distant place. Like becoming known to strangers for one minute of their life. I'll take it. That's what my first author online event was like for me. 
 
My publisher sponsored a Cover Reveal and giveaway this past weekend. (Great cover, eh?) My job was to repost and create interest. I did that through some posts and emails.
 
My biggest disappointment was a closed group on Facebook whose administrators must have been off for the weekend. The post will probably still be pending after the contest closes. My biggest thrill was seeing dozens of comments from strangers who loved the cover and wanted to read it. Definitely a good kind of surreal.

There's a learning curve to all this marketing stuff. I'm certain there were things I could have done better, but nothing worth losing sleep over. And I did pick up a few ideas through reading comments. My biggest survival tip: Have something else to busy yourself during the event so that you don't go crazy counting Shares and Likes. (I did some next-book revisions and went to a home and garden show.) Most of all, I'm grateful for the marketing rep who led the contest, that I might find a measure of success and learning. Thank you to all who participated and lended support!

Marching Toward Marketing--Cover Reveal and Giveaway Announced

Plunging into the unknown.

You know that moment when you've planned a trip to the amusement park and you're finally at the top of a brand new roller coaster, ready to go down? I'm there. I'm grabbing the restraining bar--not quite white knuckled, but ready for something to happen, and I don't know if it will scare me to death or turn into tummy-tickling thrills.

It's all brand new and I'm ready for the ride. I'd love to have you join me, starting with the cover reveal and giveaway for my debut book, Secrets of the King's Daughter. Covenant Communications will feature my cover this Friday, January 29, 2016 on their Facebook page, including a giveaway that you can enter. I will repost it on my Author page and other places. Later in February I will host an online book launch with more contests. The book will be out the first week of March and I'm scheduling a few book signings. It's finally real!

This marketing ride has been a long time in coming--long enough that I've written the book's sequel already and just need the finishing touches. I want to thank all those who have taken an interest, supported me, read my blog over the past five years, etc. The ride is much more fun with friends along!

 

Book Signing Hype - Worth It?



I went to see Stephanie Black at the Sacramento CA Deseret Book store the other day. I was excited to get her latest book, Played For A Fool, but also to remind myself of things to do/not do for future reference. She had a smile on her face, a nice display, was interested in me, and had chocolate. All good things. Oh, and did you notice that she chooses great colors to wear?

Stephanie drove two hours to the closest DB store to her. Was it worth it? I don't know. Maybe it depends upon your criteria. (She didn't know ahead of time she would get my blog post out of it.) I'm sure authors have the most success when they're a local/people know them and word of their event was wide spread. Maybe it's something I will have to experience to know, but I plan to make mine fun and prepare however I can.

For now, I'd like to know what your feelings are about book signings. Please take a few seconds to help me out. Thank you!
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Mixing Business with Pleasure for My Writing Adventures

Many authors find writing pleasurable, but not so much marketing or other aspects of being a writer. This one tops my list for both work and fun. Enjoy.

The Mackleys, Konopnickis, and Lunds at Dinner

I recently went on my first cruise, enjoying it with an LDS group of 30. We went to see "Book of Mormon Lands" in the western Caribbean, with two shore excursions to the Maya ruins of Tulum and  Lamanai. In addition, I attended lectures aboard ship, given by author and motivational speaker Dr. John L. Lund, where evidence was presented about Mesoamerican sites as candidates for locations described in the Book of Mormon. If you know a little of my writing projects, you can see how perfect this was for me.

I not only listened to Lund for the entertainment and educational value, I hoped to glean some tidbits to insert into my sequel, Secrets of the King's Daughter: A Book of Mormon Romance. And I found a couple that I never would have considered on my own.

Things I gained on vacation for my scripture-based fiction:
1. A visual appreciation for the beauty and topography of my writing project's setting for my next two books.
2. Specific scriptural references which apply to my story, as presented by Dr. Lund.
3. Cool photos to share, educate, and use for promotional posts or contests.
4. I purchased some swag to give away. (Wish I could have found more!)
5. Increased education about the best candidate locations for Book of Mormon sites, including climate, minerals, river flow, use of "up" and "down" correlating to elevation (rather than compass directions), volcanoes, and religious evidences.
6. New friends who could become potential readers.

I'll leave you with a couple teaser photos.


Lund points to Mask Temple in Lamanai, Belize

Tulum, Mexico

Taking Calculated Risks in Marketing

An airshow demonstration pilot might appear to take radical risks when in reality, much training and precision is implemented. A solid foundation of scientific principles is at the core before calculated experimentation is tested. Authors take a risk every time they put their work before a critique group, an agent, or launch a book for public scrutiny. Getting noticed might take some out-of-the-box thinking. Start with common advice from trusted sources and branch out with your own experimentation from there.

 

In reading marketing tips, I've always skipped over one on the list that didn't seem to apply to me--until now. The TIP: Write an article on your book's topic of expertise for a magazine or newspaper. I don't consider myself any kind of expert and my LDS audience is considered a niche, so it seemed both pointless and out of my comfort zone. However, we never know when all the info we file away in our brains will make sense. I was thumbing through an independent bookstore catalogue and noticed that they sometimes include recipes or filler articles that go with a theme or advertised book. The aha moment came. My scripture-based fiction would be advertised alongside scriptural study aides and LDS fiction. I wrote a short article about that happy middle ground zone between study guides and pleasure reading, to go with my upcoming release of Secrets of the King's Daughter: A Book of Mormon Romance.

I revved up my bravery factor and tracked down the merchandiser to ask if I could submit a filler article for their catalogue. I learned that they tend to feature books from a different publisher, but if it was general enough, they would consider it. That chance was all I could ask for. Here's hoping. 

Or maybe a new aha moment will appear out the sky.

An Author's Delay of Game Nets Ideas

I'm playing the delay game. It's one notch higher than procrastination. This whole year has been one big delay in waiting for my book release. Secrets of the King's Daughter was originally scheduled to release in February 2015 and moved up briefly to November 2014. It's always a hard pill to swallow when you get rescheduled for a year or so later, but it hasn't been without its perks. 

My publisher believes timing the release of my fictional Book of Mormon-based romance with other B of M-related materials that come out in January 2016 (Gospel Doctrine scripture course of study) will 1) improve sales. I have no way of comparing that, but it sounds good. I've come to see that catalog advertising of my novel in conjunction with study guides and other authoritative-sounding works is 2) a compliment. It has given me time to 3) work on the sequel without stressful deadlines. It has given me time to 4) prepare for marketing. That's my perks list.

The problem with delaying is that we get used to it. Number 4 on the perks list is also on my list of downsides. It's hard to prepare for marketing when it's all new to me and I don't know my exact role. Some things, like sending out ARCs (advanced reader copies) will be taken care by the publisher. I have yet to see their form and information, so I'm not certain what else to prepare. I've put off getting a website together and ordering cards/bookmarks because I want my cover image to be part of that. We are currently finalizing the cover so you may be seeing it soon.


Meanwhile, other people's great ideas are on my radar--ones to use down the road. I haven't been to a conference of romance writers, so I only recently learned about these genre trading cards. Sweet romance writer Danyelle Ferguson graciously allowed me to share hers with you. She held a contest to see which quote from her book she would use, and she incorporated a scan code to download sample chapters. Smart and creative.
 
My writing journey for this past week included having my editor fix the mistakes I caught during my final read-through, seeing my cover!, writing a new scene for my critique group, and reading through the revisions for my sequel. Staying busy. I'm also finding some great websites for inspiration. If you have any ideas or sites you want to send me to, please leave a comment. Have a great week!

Choosing Book Excerpts to Share Publicly

Last week I proofread my edited copy for any last errors or changes. I found surprisingly more than I expected--like twenty things. Point one being that an author should give it one last thorough perusal before deeming it print-worthy. Point two is what I'd like to talk about in this post: choosing an excerpt.

As I read along, I came to a scene that made me smile. Readers are especially going to like this scene, I told myself. That's when it hit me that I should be looking for excerpts from the book that could be shared to get potential readers excited about my book. Some authors find ways to get their excerpt published in venues like magazines, while others use them on social media to entice, or at speaking engagements to give the audience a taste of one's work. However it plays out, it's always a good idea to have some excerpts in your back pocket. Check with your publisher before sharing these, in case it violates your contract.

I selected four short sections of my manuscript that I thought would be enjoyable to hear. What was it that made me think a particular section of paragraphs would make a good excerpt? Mostly I picked what I liked--a good starting point. The analysis came later. Two of the four sections were based on scripture passages that most of my readers would find familiar. Three of the four had tension, action, or strong conflict; the other was a tender moment. Additionally, two explored relationships between characters. Avoid paragraphs of backstory, setting/world building, and long explanations. I also avoided sections that would give away too much or spoil the climax. In summary, I used familiarity, conflict in plot or character relationships, and emotion. 

Each excerpt should leave the reader with at least a hint of a resolution. Leaving an audience hanging at the edge of a cliff might elicit a desire to read more, but can produce feelings of frustration. Listeners without the book in their hands want the reader to leave them with a satisfied feeling. That, too, promotes pondering a purchase. For example, Secrets of the King's Daughter is set in the Mesoamerican jungle. One of the characters is attacked by a boa constrictor. Rather than end the excerpt with the audience wondering if the character will die, the selection goes far enough that we know help arrives, but he is not fully released from the snake's hold.

Try your excerpts out on a few friends and get their reactions before finalizing your selections. Keep these in their own file for easy access. The author should practice reading these aloud beforehand, so she can be ready at any moment to "perform". Most of all, have fun with it! You are sharing parts of your wonderful book and giving your audience a chance to find out what they want to know--if this book is for them. Do them this service with enthusiasm and the right excerpt(s) for a chance to make both of you happy.

Author Newsletters That Deliver!

I had a pleasant surprise last week. One of my author newsletter subscriptions really delivered! I'll tell you about that in a second. I'm used to seeing fiction authors tell what they are working on and giving easy ways to buy their books in their newsletters, but not much else. While this may be interesting or helpful, it's rare to find lasting value from a fiction writer's newsletter. One freebie might have initially attracted me, but soon I hardly care. I don't want to do that to my readers. Until I figure out what I have of value to offer besides announcing my book release, I haven't wanted to push starting this, even though having that email list is highly coveted as one of the best marketing tools there is.

A newsletter from Jordan McCollum came to my inbox. I like her work and have gotten to know her at conferences, so I don't mind finding out what she is up to. What I didn't expect were all the freebies, news, and helps found there. Jordan lets subscribers read samples (deleted scenes, first chapters, shorts, etc.) of her fiction. She also authored writing craft helps and I was excited to download a worksheet to help me during my current revisions. She calls for reader participation through contests and being a recipe tester for foods featured in her books. Fun stuff!

Now for brainstorming what might be fun stuff in a newsletter of my own. I'd be thrilled to know if any of these interest you or you have new ideas for me. Keep in mind that the majority of my readers will be women of adult and young adult age, readers who belong to the LDS faith (Mormons), readers who would like to understand the scriptures or become inspired, and readers who like some history, adventure, and romance. 

1. Photos of Book of Mormon lands (from an upcoming cruise)
2. Mayan/American Indian recipes and traditions
3. Book of Mormon fun facts and personal insights
4. Tidbits about writing my book: inspiration, inventing names, creating characters, etc.
5. Balancing fact and fiction when writing scriptural-based fiction
6. Contests for readers to participate

Please leave your favorites by number in a comment. What would you like to know more about from me in a newsletter?

Social Media (or lack of) for Authors

I don't have a Twitter account. I haven't worried about it since anything new takes time to learn, and takes away time from my writing. I haven't tried Instagram or some of the other sites either. Is that a big deal? You tell me. I accidently opened a Pinterest account and oddly--since I have never posted a board--I have some followers, but they are also ones that are Facebook friends, so what's the point? Perhaps when I get my book's cover image...

Maybe now is a good time for Twitter, before my debut book releases, but I'd like your input. So far, it's only been Facebook for me. That has been manageable and mostly fun. I have an author page separate from my personal page. I know to keep marketing posts to a minimum on my personal page, not to vent, etc. I agree with those "rules" and know there are times to sneak in a little marketing, but I'm not yet certain of my target audience. I expect the biggest share of that audience will be LDS women. If I find teens taking a big piece of that audience pie, it will probably be beneficial to join Twitter.

Do you find Twitter more of a complication or a connection? What media do you use to connect with authors or fans? Should I go for it now or wait and see?

Entertaining (and Profitable) Marketing Gimmicks

I spent Christmas day 2014 at Universal Studios Florida (strange, I know) and was intrigued by several marketing gimmicks. If someone purchased one of the special wizarding wands with an electronic sensor inside it at Diagon Alley, there were several spots within the park where he/she could flick the wand to make something happen. Fans didn't want just any wand, they wanted the special wand that could make their experience more fulfilling. How can this translate into publishing? Hm. It's worth thinking about. 

Other products/events at the park had that something extra to make them stand out, like the souvenir pumpkin juice bottle with a pumpkin-shaped lid or breakfasting with superstar characters. It's more than satisfying food or drink needs. Unusual but iconic sights, like the blue heads of Blue Man Group, not only create interest--they're identifiable and unforgettable. Think "branding". Would a featured color best attract readers to your next book series? Sounds of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music brought one's attention to considering their show. Consider putting the senses into your marketing.

 Here's a new-to-me idea. Kickstarter.com lets you share your creative projects with fundraising pledges toward publishing great books, like The Pancake Menu. The well-done video on this site is another great marketing tool.

What marketing gimmicks have attracted you?
Speaking of marketing, spotlighting an author's new book is great advertising for them. Here's one you might like:

Newly available this week: 
Infertility stinks. No one knows that better than Megan. After six years of insanity-inducing hormone drugs and desperate prayers, all she has to show for her efforts are enough negative pregnancy tests to fill a bassinet. All around her women are accidentally getting pregnant—like her star piano student—while Megan remains hopelessly barren. Megan’s never felt so alone. But she’s not the only one struggling. 

Christina has just entered the world of infertility, made worse by the fact her husband isn’t ready to be a father. Their marriage, already hanging in the balance, is being torn apart. 

Then there’s Kyra, the mother of a precocious three-year-old. She’s shocked to be struggling with secondary infertility. A baby is priceless, but sometimes Kyra feels like she’s being forced to choose which commandment to keep: stay out of debt, or multiply and replenish the earth. 

When Megan and Christina are assigned as Kyra’s visiting teachers, they all realize that what you see isn’t necessarily what’s beneath the surface. Some secrets aren’t worth the cost of keeping them.

Book Review - Marketing

While preparing for last week's marketing post from a panel of authors, I read Tim Grahl's Your First 1000 Copies: The step-by-step guide to marketing your book. This was a good combination for getting me in the marketing mode. Yes, marketing starts before the first book comes out.

 

About the book: Grahl has a marketing system he calls The Connection System. Having a system gives you confidence, saves time, and lets you be creative. His focuses include: Connections, Permission, Outreach, Sell, and Track. These are described on his website www.first1000copies.com.

This book gave me some great ideas that we first-time authors can implement. The only thing I wished for was more ideas on fiction authors giving readers content they want in a newsletter. He seemed to have more examples from non-fiction and how-to book authors. Though geared more to the self-publisher, I think any reader interested in marketing can gain something from its pages. I especially liked the chapter summary bullets and website links. I gave it 5 stars.

Between this book and my recent marketing panel post, I've been thinking about what I (you) can do now to implement the beginning (and all-encompassing) step in Grahl's marketing system--Connections. Marketing is about helping people. To build connections and help others, I (you) can:
1. Figure out my platform. What do I want to talk about that helps  others (besides writing tips)?
2. Write useful posts on my blog and author page.
3. Embrace the fact that I have something to offer of value/be a fan of my own book. Be excited!
4. Share interesting facts, tips, photos, etc. on my book's topic without going overboard. What ways best reach my intended audience?
5. Keep in touch with writer friends through social media, email, etc.

Authors' Marketing Panel

Want juicy marketing secrets? Here's the follow-up to my Author's Publishing Panel (reposted last week). Today's participants don't claim to be experts (in fact someone called it a crap shoot!), but I'd bet we can gain from their secrets, er experiences. Afterall, marketing is simply finding the best ways to talk about your book(s).
In order of the responses as they came to me, let's meet the MARKETING PANEL (*drumroll):

Cheri Chesley, author of The Peasant Queen Series, believes in miracles and the magic of books in everyday life. When not writing, she can be found reading the dictionary for fun or devouring any of the many books in her library. She lives with her husband and numerous children in Waurika, OK. Look for updates on her latest works at www.cheri-chesley.com. 

Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming and is the author of The Geis series for young adults and The Book Blogger's Cookbooks. Christy is a World Champion Irish dancer and when she's not reading or writing, she's probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen. She is the author of Awakening, available on Amazon and B&N. www.christydorrity.com
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christydorrity@yahoo.com
facebook.com/authorchristydorritywww.tinyurl.com/christydorritynewsletter
 

Maria Hoagland writes LDS women's fiction with a medical twist. When Maria is not working at her computer, she can be found walking barefoot in soft grass, remodeling houses with her husband, or enjoying campfires with their three children. She loves crunching leaves in the fall, stealing cookie dough from the mixing bowl, and listening to musicals on her iPod. Although she adores mountain resorts near her Idaho home, she is no longer a fan of ice skating. She is the author of two novels: Family Size and Nourish & Strengthen. You can find her at: http://www.mariahoagland.com/ https://www.facebook.com/mariahoaglandauthor.

Ronda Hinrichsen (Kathleen Marks) is the author of Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Adventure, and Speculative novels as well as the Heroes of the Highest Order 1 chapter book series. She has traveld throughout the world in search of exotic settings and intriguing characters, and loves introducing them to her readers through her stories. Ronda just self-published a novella titled To Sleep No More (A Dalton & Dalton Preternatural Mystery) under the pen name Kathleen Marks. Her next traditionally published novel will be released in June 2014 with Covenant Communications. It is titled Betrayed.

If you'd like to subscribe to her newsletter, please email her at rondagibbhinrichsen@gmail.com.

Website: www.rondahinrichsen.com   

Blog: www.thewriteblocks.blogspot.com

Gregg Luke says that he started writing seriously after graduating from college. Even then, it took nearly ten years before he had any success getting published. He has published in the New Era, Destiny Magazine, and Pharmacy Times. His literary claim to fame is being a finalist for a Whitney Award in 2008 for Do No Harm, in 2009 for Altered State, in 2010 for Blink of An Eye, in 2011 for Bloodborne, and in 2012 for Deadly Undertakings. His favorite reading genre is science-based thrillers.
Website: www.greggluke.com
(I appreciate Gregg's participation at my invitation, with his different perspective. He gave me a few comments, which I have put into the questions below.)

M.E. (Melissa) Cunningham came from a land far, far away, and ended up on a little farm in Northern Utah, living with numerous magical creatures: horses, chickens, dogs, cats, and a goat. M. E. began writing quite by accident when the fall through the fabric of time dropped M. E. into the mysterious land of Terratir.
Favorite topics include ghosts, monsters, dragons, and magic. M. E. also likes TV, going to the movies, and camping in the mountains as long as there are no spiders, mosquitoes, or ticks.
Cunningham's first book, Relucant Guardian, was published in August 2013. The Eye of Tanub is now out. While always in search of the strange and unexplainable, this author will write each story as it is discovered. Be on the look out!
See more at: http://www.cleanteenpublishing.com/pages/m-e-cunningham#sthash.Rqk7IND5.dpuf 
Website: www.melissajcunningham.com

Nichole Giles, the author of DESCENDANT (Jelly Bean Publishing May 2013), and BIRTHRIGHT (May 2014), has lived in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Texas. She loves to spend time with her husband and four children, travel to tropical and exotic destinations, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.  
FBpage: https://www.facebook.com/NicholeGilesAuthor?ref=hl 

 

Now on to the MARKETING QUESTIONS!

1. Getting Noticed: What has been your most effective marketing tool for getting your name known, early stages and/or later on? 

Cheri: When just starting out I did very well with a hectic series of Costco signings. Sales for that month were great. Though I'm still building and working on broadening my writing platform, what has currently helped to keep my name "out there" is offering one short story permanently free. It has a consistent number of downloads every month.
Christy: I think the best way for getting my name out there came from the interactions I'd had over the years as I made friends with writers, authors, and readers. Social media plays a key in this. And now that I have a newsletter I'm beginning to see how that one-on-one connection truly is the jackpot of all marketing. 
Ronda: Writing books, connecting with people, and presenting/ teaching classes.
Gregg: I do very little if any marketing of my books. Covenant Communications does all that for me. (Renae's note: This includes getting books in the publisher's catalogue and setting up interviews.)
Melissa:  I use Facebook to its full ability. I've joined a ton of different pages that will advertise for me, and I also have my account set up so that it automatically posts to twitter and vice versa. I have a Pinterest account where I pin picture of quotes from my books. Being a member of Goodreads will do you a world of good also. The biggest help I have is my publisher. They go above and beyond to help me in any way possible. Not everyone has that, so these other avenues are vital.
Nichole: Years ago, when I first started writing, blogging was the thing. Reading blogs, posting blogs, participating in group blogs, swapping guest blots—it was all the rage. Now that Facebook and Twitter have gained momentum though, blogging seems to be sliding a bit, even though book bloggers still have a very strong hold on the review market. I think now, even though focus has shifted slightly toward social media, it’s important to be diverse in spreading the word. Blogging, social media activity, Goodreads are all great ways to be seen and heard. Another really good way to get your name out there with other writers is to attend and participate in conferences and conventions. There is SO much value in meeting people in the industry.

2. Audience: How can authors widen their audience? How do you build connections or keep your audience interested?
Cheri: This is something I'm still working on, and I think I will continue to work on it throughout my career. When writing YA one has to consider that every year brings another group of youth eager to read and discover a new book/series. So it's important to try and stay fresh. Another thing is to post regularly to your social connections. If you're on Facebook, post book updates, fun tidbits, etc, to engage readers. Post consistently on your blog/website. Post to twitter. Be engaging and positive.  
Christy: Be where your audience is. Interact with readers online. I would suggest picking one social media tool and then keep up on it daily. Twitter isn't your thing? Fine, get on Instagram. Don't like Instagram? Master Facebook.
Maria: Getting the word to your target audience is a must. Because I write for such a small niche market, I have difficulty getting to them.
Gregg: I do post occasionally on Facebook, teach writing classes, and do book signings when I have a new release. I go to various writing conferences and sell my books there.
Melissa:  A street team can really get the word out there. They will read your book, advertise, and write reviews. I love our street team.
Nichole: Word of mouth is a huge thing. If you put out a high-quality product, people read it and they talk about it, and they tell their friends, and those friends tell their friends. The hardest part, I think, is finding those initial readers who will get the ball rolling, so to speak. When you do find those initial readers, the next biggest important thing is to encourage (or beg) them to leave reviews. Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, etc. Reviews sell books. Period. The more reviews a book has, the more exposure, and the stronger the author’s ability to choose to purchase good advertising space.

3. Getting Subscribers: How do you build that all important e-mail list? How big a role is it for you?
Cheri: I have yet to effectively employ my subscriber list.
Christy: Newsletter subscribers are gold. Even if all of the social media sites were cut off and you were alone in your little house, with no one to promote to, you can always contact your newsletter subscribers. These are people who have given you permission to tell them when you have a new release! Every time I have a speaking engagement, I hold a giveaway for those who sign up for my letter. When I do signings, I encourage those who look as if they would buy my book if they had the money to sign up-it's free! And if anyone asks for donations for an online launch, offer to donate something (even an ebook), in exchange for the contest goers signing up for your newsletter. It grows a little bit at a time.
Nichole: My focus hasn’t been solely on my email list, though I do think it’s important to have a list and send a fairly regular newsletter. I send mine about once every two or three months, usually around the first of the month, or when I have news I think will interest my readers. Other than that, I try hard not to spam my subscribers inboxes with notes about how I spent my holiday weekend, or where I’m going on a family vacation or research trip.  

4. Selling: What ways do you sell your books and which have been the most effective?
Cheri: Again, I find that offering a free quality sampling of my work creates interest and draws readers to check out my other books. Also have occasional sales of the other books in a series when you release something new related to that series is not only fun but can be quite successful.
Christy: As an Indie author, my focus is on online ebook sales. I do a small print run as well.
Maria:  About the only thing that has worked for sales is doing group sales where we cross market. To get reviews, often times I do Google searches and look for bloggers to read and review my books. I don't know if it helps, but it does increase reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and B&N.
Maria: I do sell more at 99 cents than full price (we all want a deal, don't we), but it seems to only work if I temporarily lower the price. If I keep it at 99 cents all the time, it isn't as effective.
Ronda: I consider my audience and what I believe they want from a book before I write. After the book is complete/on sale, I create quick pitches that I hope will hook my audience.
Gregg: I go to various writing conferences and sell my books there. (His books can also be bought on his website as well as traditional means.) I have no idea what impact any of it has on sales; I do it because it's fun. But I can tell you Covenant has sold out of all my books in the past. (Why they don't reprint them is anyone's guess!)

Nichole: My books are available everywhere online, and can be ordered through any brick and mortar bookstore. I don’t have a storefront or sell them from my website but I do link to the places that do.

As far as garnering sales, I have recently discovered some great places where I can get free or inexpensive advertising for short-term promotions, and the ones I have tried have been very effective. The biggest trick is carving out the time to visit these sites and enter all the information and links, and researching to figure out which ones are worth paying for, and which ones are not. Nichole shares a few links she likes:

http://www.trainingauthors.com/47-places-to-submit-your-free-kdp-promotion-for-your-kindle-ebook/ 

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/free-ebook-promotion_b52130 

http://www.authorpreneurmagazine.com/72-places-to-promote-your-kindle-book-when-its-free/ 

http://jamescalbraith.com/2013/01/09/80-sites-to-advertise-your-book/ 

 

5. Failures: What has been your least effective marketing tool or biggest waste of time/money? Other lessons learned? How do you deal with discouragement?
Cheri: T-shirts. When I first started out I ordered shirts for each member of my family advertising the book with the cover and website info. Not only is this not terribly cost effective I saw very little return. Conversely, I have had several authors write me about where they can purchase wrist bands that can be imprinted or embossed with their book's information, as I have done for each of my Peasant Queen series novels.
Christy: When I launched my first book I did a 13 hour Facebook party BY MYSELF! I seriously started having anxiety problems after that day. Although the party was a great idea, I'm not sure it was worth all of that time and stress. I could have limited the party to a few hours and seen the same results.
Maria: I have good days and I have bad days. Sometimes I wonder why I'm even writing since I am nowhere near to making back the time I have invested. But I think a lot of that is because of the genre. So I've decided to branch out and try something new--a new genre for a general market. It might help with sales, but more than that, it's given me the spark I needed to keep going (it's always fun to start a new project).
Melissa: I don't know that I've had failures other than I wish I could have been more active in advertising my book. I have been sick and it really put a cramp in my style for a while. But being actively out there is something to work on.
Nichole: Believe it or not, I have found giveaways to be almost entirely ineffective. People are happy to enter to win a prize if they don’t have to work for it, but if you require them to tweet or Facebook or leave a review, they are far less likely to care unless you are giving away a crazy expensive or rare prize. I am not well enough known for rare, and not rich enough for crazy expensive, so I tend to give away books or gift cards, and while those promotions are fun, they NEVER boost my sales. Ever.

6. Analytics: How do you measure your marketing's effectiveness? What analytic tools are employed?
Cheri: I still measure my success in terms of sales. Lately, because I haven't released anything new, my sales are down. But I am planning a fairly large "comeback" for later this year that I hope will drive sales up again. 
Christy: That is an area that I am not very good at. I do keep track of my sales during a promotion so that I can see what works and what doesn't.
Ronda: If my book(s) sell during or after an event, such as presentations or online events, then I know what I did that day worked. 
Gregg: I have no idea what impact any of it has on sales.

Nichole: I recently tried a promotion where I gave away the first book in my series for free for five days. During that five days, I ran several inexpensive ads, and a few more free ones. The experiment was for me to see how many downloads for each day (depending on which ad was running—or not running) and what happened on the days when I didn’t advertise at all.

Because it was a Kindle promotion, I used strictly the Kindle analytics tool on KDP, and I watched the graph change throughout the day. (Yes, I did get a little obsessive with the refresh button—sadly.)
It turned out to be a highly successful promotion, with an overall total of just under 10,000 new downloads, which have resulted in new sales of the next title in the series (the third of which has not yet been released). I am still using that same tool to track my daily sales. Most sites have those analytics capabilities, and I plan to learn to use them all.

7. Parties: What has your experience been like with book launches, blog tours, virtual tours, swag, or other devices, as far as enjoyment and effectiveness?
Cheri: I find the online parties/tours/launches to be far more successful than book launches held in stores. It's easier for people to participate online and it's a lot less inclusive. My in person launches have been met with much less success, though I can't say the same for better known authors. When Shannon Hale or Brandon Mull show up at your local bookstore it will pull you out of the house!  
 Christy: Like I said, doing the long Facebook party by myself was not great. Since then I've participated in multi-author parties and the burden is spread out. I like that much better! I have done my own blog tours, and hired some out. It just depends on how much time I have.
Ronda: For me, the biggest value in these events is that they help an author/book get noticed. I don’t know that they increase sales, initially, but hopefully they will in the long run.
Gregg: My publisher would love it if I got out and did a bunch of self-promotion, tours, blogs, etc, but as I have a full time career as a Pharmacy Director for three clinics, I have barely enough time to write the books, let alone market them.
Nichole: I have tried all these things. My book launches have had great turnout from family members and friends, and always result in a significant number of books sold on that particular day. Also, I think for me the launch of a new book is (or was) a rite of passage that made my career as an author feel more real. So I do recommend launch parties for first time authors. Maybe for every time authors, I don’t know. I didn’t do a launch for the second book in my series, and I sort of wish I had. Swag has been effective only when I am signing books in person. Giving it away online and having to mail it to far away places really hasn’t been all that effective in my experience, and can be costly. (Do you know how much it costs to ship bookmarks to Romania? Books to Australia? South Africa? I do. Not cheap.)
Blog tours are a great way to gain exposure and gather reviews from important book bloggers, which will often also post their reviews on sites in addition to their blogs. Reviews (as mentioned above) are EXTREMELY important to help books get noticed, so I have found it worth giving away free e-copies to a few reviewers for the long term benefits. HOWEVER, blog tours can be expensive, and they don’t generally help sales much (at least, they haven’t really affected mine significantly) so if you’re going to schedule a tour, make sure you know why you’re doing it and have a clear goal in mind. 

8. Social Media: What role does social media play in your marketing plans? Has it been effective?
Cheri: The rising generations are the people I write for, and their lives are much more online than the previous generations' lives. One has to have an online presence in order to reach one's target audience. It's important to stay tuned in to the current trends. For instance, Twitter is much more widely used by tweens and young adults than Facebook.
Christy: I like Facebook because it gives me an opportunity to interact with readers, and brings in new readers. It takes time, but I do believe it to be effective.
Maria: I feel like I've maxed out with my Facebook friends, but am in the process (next on my To-Do List) to look at how marketing on Pinterest might work. 
Ronda: It helps with getting noticed, and sometimes it does help sell a book.
Gregg: I post occasionally on Facebook.
Melissa: This is huge these days. Even the big guys use it now. You can instantly have your book's cover all over the internet. One of the things my publisher has encouraged us to try is a vlog. I've yet to do that, but I think I'll give it a go. Read from your book, teach a mini class on something, or just share your feelings on any given topic. SCARY!

Nichole: Social media is very important to my marketing success. I think it’s important to have an online persona who people can connect with and see regularly. But I also think it’s important to make sure you’re there as a person, and not just a marketer. No one wants to have you constantly shoving your book down their throats. You will lose more readers than you will gain that way—in my experience (on both sides of that fence).

One thing about social media is that it can be overwhelming. There are SO many platforms from which to choose, and no one person can keep up with all of them. I think you pick one you like, and focus mainly on that one. Or two. Stick with those, and leave the others alone until you’re tired of the first two, or until they cease to be effective.

9. Advice: Any other advice or tips to leave with us?
Cheri: One thing I love to see is authors working together. If a group of authors team up and throw an online launch (say, if they have books coming out around the same time) then they can draw readers from each of their circles. It's a win-win since readers get to broaden their horizons by checking out new authors and authors enjoy the benefit of meeting new people, which often leads to book sales.
Christy: I've heard this time and time again, and I believe it to be true: The best thing you can do to market your book is to continue writing and publishing quality books. If you tell good stories and keep publishing them, you will build your presence as a writer. 
Ronda:  Marketing has always been a trial and error experience, partly because I’m learning as I go, and partly because what works for me doesn’t necessarily work for someone else, so overall, my advice is to try different things that you’re comfortable with and see if they help you reach your goals.
Melissa: Just don't give up. Keep going. It's those who give up that never get published. Keep plugging away and you cannot fail! 
Nichole: Find what works for you. Every author is different. Some of us join groups of other authors and team up for marketing. Some of us feel overwhelmed by groups and choose to do our marketing solo. Some people pay for advertising, others take advantage of every free exposure opportunity known to writers. ALL are good choices, even as they’re different. The key (in my opinion) is to keep an open mind and be willing to try new and different things on a regular basis.
Also, every once in a while, be willing to do something big to shake things up. Stir the cold pot of soup.

 

Thank you, participants! I'm sure we all got something from your valued comments. If any visitors would like to add their favorite tip from these comments or from personal experience, we would love to hear from you too!