So as I sit here, a safe seven months from my release date, I'm watching various friends and acquaintances as they madly dance through the steps required to promote and advertise a new book. It's important, especially for newer authors, to do something beyond just saying 'I have written a book and my mommy says it's awesome' when they have something hitting the shelves. (Although 'I have written a book and Seanan's mommy says it's awesome' seems to carry a surprising amount of weight for everyone but me. Does anybody else out there have a tattooed, foul-mouthed mother who'd be willing to fill that particular role for me?)
So the question becomes, what works? Book giveaways are obviously good things, but also somewhat self-limiting, as I sort of want people to buy things. (Oddly enough, I don't feel like earning back my advance all by myself.) Competitions are also good, providing the prizes are interesting -- and heck, prizes are just lovely things to offer. So what do you think would be a good idea? What kinds of promotion would you like to see? We have seven months to put even the strangest of plans into motion, so sing out!
One of my author friends who just released her incredibly awesome YA book, LAMENT, (homicidal fairies, FTW!) did some online chats where people could ask her questions and I know she also gave away some autographed, personalized bookplates to people who participated in the chats, so there's a give away idea that isn't, you know, your whole book. Some of your ATC's would translate nicely to bookplates.
Having people post reviews and then link them back to your journal/ website is a great way to get the word out on LJ, and the web in general. Word of mouth is your best friend for your first book, I think.
If you do make pdfs, as suggested before, I'll print some out and put them on the freebie tables at both of the Oklahoma conventions this year Conestoga in April (literary convention) and SoonerCon in June (literary and SciFi convention).
thoughtful
February 11 2009, 00:03:13 UTC 8 years ago
Having people post reviews and then link them back to your journal/ website is a great way to get the word out on LJ, and the web in general. Word of mouth is your best friend for your first book, I think.
If you do make pdfs, as suggested before, I'll print some out and put them on the freebie tables at both of the Oklahoma conventions this year Conestoga in April (literary convention) and SoonerCon in June (literary and SciFi convention).
February 14 2009, 02:14:00 UTC 8 years ago