Indie-authors publish their books on Amazon and many other sites without the help of agents. There are advantages such as receiving 70% royalty on the cover price of e-books. The huge disadvantage is many excellent books go unnoticed due to lack of adequate marketing. Writers are writers and often unskilled in selling themselves or their products.
Writing a book from beginning to end requires focus and endurance, often taking years if not decades. Finishing a manuscript is a great accomplishment but reaching the end of the first draft is the beginning of another huge time-consuming step. Numerous edits, rewrites, beta-reads and paying for professional editing finally brings the book to the point of publication. At that time, the author makes the decision to either indie-publish or begin writing query letters to agents if seeking traditional publishing.
First time authors find the years of writing a novel or non-fiction book to The End quickly realize those words really mean – The Beginning of Marketing. Whether self-published or through a contract with a traditional publisher, advertising and marketing will take the author on a new journey. Unless you are a celebrity, large book tours are a thing of the past. Marketing takes unexpected time and education unless you are already an expert in this field or can hire a publicist.
Some indie-authors are highly successful marketers, many on their internet sites providing webinars, others on self-designed and orchestrated book tours, or by participating in writer events. If you have a platform for sales, such as writing a self-help book in a field where you are an expert, you already have a following who will purchase your book.
If you have indie-published and are ready to market, there are hundreds of options that
can take a tremendous amount of time. I have watched many webinars, talked with successful marketers and bought a stack of books on the topic. There is no easy way.
Below are a list of URLs as a starting point. I have not found a site that has everything, but I have used theses and found them helpful.
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/marketing-your-book/ – Blog with numerous articles of interest
https://www.Authorshout.com – Comprehensive information on publication, book cover design, book trailers and banners to use on Facebook and Twitter, and ads to purchase to feature your books.
There are numerous sites to feature free books: Kindle Nation Daily and Digital Book Today – two I have used.
Offering free books is a marketing technique to generate visibility to that title and other books on your sales page on Amazon. Writing reviews on Amazon on the books you read is helpful to the author. Some advertising sites such as BookBub require a certain number of reviews before they will run a book ad.
Thanks to everyone who downloaded my free books on Jan. 5 & 6
Authors of the Flathead will have a panel of authors present a Thursday evening class on this topic in the near future. Check out https://www.authorsoftheflathead.org. for our meeting schedule and topics.
Happy New Year and Happy Writing,
Betty
Deadly Pyre is the first in my Kelly McKay Medical Thriller Series. Experiences as an ER physician and pilot energize my writing. Search and rescue, sled dog racing in Alaska, and surviving a plane crash in the snowy mountains of Idaho inspire stories including this novel set in Seattle.
One of my current projects nearing completion is a bio-thriller addressing the real threat of spreading prion disease. There have been numerous beginnings and titles, but the ending has never changed – death. After years of research, multiple critiques, two final beta reads and a new title, I have the book nearly ready for agent queries.
wildlife. Prevention is key to survival. Spread among animals, and to humans must be stopped. Infection means death. It takes 1-2 years for symptoms in animals to become apparent so early detection to cull infected animals before they enter the food supply is essential. You could be eating contaminated beef, venison, elk, and moose without recognizing it is infected.
Landing upside down in the wreckage of our airplane in the snowy mountains of Idaho with bones sticking through my favorite jeans a few years ago was easier than coping with the first year of Trump’s presidency. I’m not kidding!
thought retirement from medicine would leave me with a feeling of accomplishment and time be creative, instead I have a new job, it’s activism. As another activist said, “It’s cheaper than psychotherapy.”
Eyes of a Pedophile – Sexual predation and child victimization are prevalent problems in the US and around the world. It happens at home, on college campuses, schools, churches and in the workplace. The #MeToo movement has allowed women, men and children the acceptance to report and reveal sexual violence they endured. Many who have hidden the secrets for decades finally have an avenue to reveal the stories that years earlier would not have been believed.
Your Heart – Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease in Women, Men & Children – Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women. It is preventable, treatable and sometimes reversible. The 200-page book provides the science behind the disease, symptoms, and what you can do to improve heart health. It is a valuable handbook for information on medical workups, medications, food choices and longevity.
Modern Birth Control – The CDC reported the highest number of STDs ever in 2016. Did you know sexually transmitted diseases could kill you? That some cause infertility? This 50 page booklet is based on current scientific information on biology, ovulation, birth control methods, how to better protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy, and avoidance of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.