tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post7332470981471131285..comments2023-08-14T10:44:59.007-04:00Comments on Novel Spaces: Yo, I’ve Got a Book Over Here!KeVin K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-71537780075071790452015-11-09T09:05:24.189-05:002015-11-09T09:05:24.189-05:00I've learned a lot reading this post and comme...I've learned a lot reading this post and comments. Looks like I have a lot of work cut out for me. I'm excited to be in the company of the posse and Sunny Frazier. Augiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17848187134055619150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-54244625240602963302015-11-02T13:08:56.787-05:002015-11-02T13:08:56.787-05:00I've heard you have to hand-sell the first 200...I've heard you have to hand-sell the first 2000 books by the sweat of your brow. I've sold many more than that, both traditionally and as an indie, and I still have no answers. Some books fly off the shelves with no effort on my part. Others don't make a blip even with paid advertising. Which all brings us back to the tried and true "Yo! Come over here" I guess.Liane Spicerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035607144500219524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-49485898391169162122015-10-31T10:09:49.846-04:002015-10-31T10:09:49.846-04:00From Posse member Kathleen
Thanks for sharing your...From Posse member Kathleen<br />Thanks for sharing your experiences. I've also found that face-to-face contact sells the most book. I've made a lot of connections via social media, but I most enjoy getting our there and talking to readers whether it is teaching a class, giving a workshop, or being on a panel.Kathleen Kaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500241341014235792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-67237856507322263112015-10-30T09:13:24.922-04:002015-10-30T09:13:24.922-04:00I also do best when I can meet people in person. ...I also do best when I can meet people in person. Here in Upstate New York where I reside during the summer, there are no population centers of any number within a hundred mile radius, so, factoring in gas, it's difficult to justify that kind of travel unless its a big event I know I will sell at. However, in Florida during the winter, I have numerous events where I sell and a bit of a fan following there. I'm presently trying out a number of social media sites.Lesley Diehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10552765934908042306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-44314333412877818712015-10-30T08:16:10.775-04:002015-10-30T08:16:10.775-04:00Posse member Tim here. This is exactly what I'...Posse member Tim here. This is exactly what I've learned over the past five or six years. This past weekend I was camped next to another author at a Civil War Reenactment. He did very well and had displayed his gear and opened his tent to show how the visitors how his "soldier" had lived during the war. His book was half the cost of mine and he had the "Square" on his phone to swipe credit cards.<br /> I had my own thing going, but that's another story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-32007028852820635832015-10-29T20:31:38.973-04:002015-10-29T20:31:38.973-04:00Sunny's idea of getting readers to know her wi...Sunny's idea of getting readers to know her with other things like a magazine column sounds wise to me.<br />I forgot to mention I'm in her posse when I first commented. I enjoyed reading the post and the variety of comments here.authorlindathornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02605805996356003012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-10455583832276853232015-10-29T20:21:01.028-04:002015-10-29T20:21:01.028-04:00I'm getting use to Twitter. It does reach more...I'm getting use to Twitter. It does reach more people quicker. It's not as hard as I thought it would be. You ask online "how to" questions and the answers are all there & the next thing you know you are twittering. I do not like it as well as Facebook, but I'm still using it and getting more used to it. Some swear by it, but I'm not sure I'll ever be in that group.<br />Good article. Thanks.authorlindathornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02605805996356003012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-44238792730171769242015-10-29T19:56:13.537-04:002015-10-29T19:56:13.537-04:00Thank you for your take on marketing and promotion...Thank you for your take on marketing and promotion. One group tells me Twitter is the ultimate promotion tool, another holds out for Facebook ads. I believe a personal connection with your readers is very important. Trying all of these things can't hurt, but I hope I soon find my best one. Writing great books has got to be the best marketing tool of all.Joyce Ann Brown (Posse)http://www.joyceannbrown.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-41927908399908156972015-10-29T18:54:18.756-04:002015-10-29T18:54:18.756-04:00Building a market, a fan base, is a slow process. ...Building a market, a fan base, is a slow process. Many get discouraged and quit before that magical moment when something happens and people begin to notice. And what works for some may not work for the next person. You post reminds us of the work that goes into marketing. And you advice to look at why people are at a particular place is excellent. Thanks.James R. Callan (Posse member)http://jamesrcallan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-84611288611766074812015-10-29T18:09:32.816-04:002015-10-29T18:09:32.816-04:00Since there are no bookstores in my immediate area...Since there are no bookstores in my immediate area, libraries and small club gatherings have been primary in my 'reaching out' efforts. Writing a local history column for two area newspapers also helps in getting my name out there.jrlindermuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-81995194157027695952015-10-29T17:14:31.110-04:002015-10-29T17:14:31.110-04:00Loved the post!
In my opinion, there's no doub...Loved the post!<br />In my opinion, there's no doubt about it. My in person events have been so much more effective than my attempts to sell my books online. I've done well at book launch parties and festivals. Next weekend, I'll have a table at a craft show at the high school I graduated from. Fingers crossed!Patricia Gligor's Writers Forumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16801554698484928100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-4011932506261989492015-10-29T15:01:05.124-04:002015-10-29T15:01:05.124-04:00Well said! You gotta sell yourself if you wanna s...Well said! You gotta sell yourself if you wanna sell your book.Dachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004321696572753739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-39080868642861204892015-10-29T14:07:57.040-04:002015-10-29T14:07:57.040-04:00My two best promotional efforts basically involved...My two best promotional efforts basically involved me just being me. In my previous corporate life, I was big on the team approach and I try to involve my FB friends in my writing process. I'll have book cover contests, ask for help choosing a song in the book, or submitting recipes for my new culinary mystery. Personal appearances via short luncheon presentations to community organizations, Soroptimists, Rotary, etc. can result in huge sales. I recently spoke to a group of 50 women and sold out of both suitcases (60 books altogether). And it's great word of mouth on a local level.<br /><br />PS - I love your display. It's the best I've seen.Cindy Samplehttp://www.cindysamplebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-66472308750223269702015-10-29T14:05:58.975-04:002015-10-29T14:05:58.975-04:00I also agree. I get better results selling books w...I also agree. I get better results selling books when I actually go somewhere in person, whether it's a library or a bookstore or a book club. I've found that reader-centric book festivals are great, too. The one I like best is the Suffolk, Virginia Mystery Authors Festival. I've never been to any of the bigger ones, but I do love the small ones. And, yes, I do give out candy and postcards at my signings. <br /><br />When it comes right down to it, there are a lot of people competing for shelf space in someone's living room, and it is the personal connection that may make the difference between me and someone else. I shell out a lot of money to attend events that don't pay me back, but I have to look at it as getting out there, getting noticed, and meeting people.<br /><br />I've also started a newsletter, which I'm hoping will bring a little more of the "personal touch" that readers are looking for. We'll see!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-52666407091826233712015-10-29T12:33:18.385-04:002015-10-29T12:33:18.385-04:00First off, I totally agree with you when you say p...First off, I totally agree with you when you say personal contact sells books. I have several "sneaky" tactics in that dept., including hijacking other authors' fan base. <br /><br />Second, I love your table and offerings. I need to pick up my game and try some of those ideas. Yes, I also steal ideas.<br /><br />Third, think about offering people more than just your books. I write a column in Kings River Life ezine promoting mysteries hitting the shelves. This puts me in good standing with authors. However, I have built a fan base from readers trying to win free books and I Facebook friend them then take the time to notify them when free books are offered. I even go to such lengths as learning the names of their pets and letting them know there's a cat mystery or dog mystery available. I build relationships beyond marketing. Readers are impressed an author takes the time to notice them. And, why not? They in turn notice me, follow me on blogs, buy my books. I add about 7 or 8 new readers every time my column comes out. Growing a fan base is critical in the tough competition for readers. Sunny Frazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03693884364418711551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-39373157309301852062015-10-28T19:49:50.099-04:002015-10-28T19:49:50.099-04:00All authors must work to sell their works. There ...All authors must work to sell their works. There was a New York Times best seller at a table once autographing his books. When I talked to him he said 12,000 books is not enough to support his kids. His wife is the breadwinner. We have to do it for the love of writing.S Connell Vondrakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08452999505503598834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-1197014701845360932015-10-28T12:43:40.122-04:002015-10-28T12:43:40.122-04:00Thanks for the affirming information. I have not t...Thanks for the affirming information. I have not tried Facebook yet, but the things I have tried did little but take my money. I have spoke at several functions and have found, like you, that they work. I sell books and the next day or two I sell a few through online sellers.Face to face does sell books, hard work but it can be fun and profitable.Neil A. Waringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01806771906152936599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-26359156220610877852015-10-28T09:38:04.651-04:002015-10-28T09:38:04.651-04:00I think this is the key bit of information for tho...I think this is the key bit of information for those of us who aren't famous already. Personal contact sells books.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com