Libraries are great places. I've had a library card ever since I was old enough to get one. I recall needing to check out material with my mother's card before I reached whatever magic age one needed to qualify. Sadly, I probably don't spend enough time borrowing and reading books, especially now that I am trying to be not just a self-published author, but one that people want to read.
My latest gambit into the world of promotion involves libraries. I thought I was totally original with this until I saw the same idea expressed by John Betcher. Let's face it, there is nothing new under the sun, including plots and marketing techniques.
Here's the idea: libraries are open to accepting book donations. Even if they decide not to put them on the shelves, all libraries have "Friends of the Library" auxiliaries that organize sales of books ready to be discarded as well as donations. Excepting books in damaged condition and a few other conditions, they are more than happy to sell books for less than list price. The payoff for the author is exposure. Maybe a reader will like the work enough to be a copy of the next book in the series, or tell somebody else about it.
I can get copies of Win or Go Home for less than half retail and distribute them as I see fit. I could sell them from the trunk of my car, give them away, whatever. I'm going to start with local libraries and expand to Washington State, the novel's setting.
I'm also going to write some press releases for my community newspaper and some of the ones in the Puget Sound area to see if I can generate some author buzz. Can't hurt.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Publishing update
Well, it's the end of the month and sales of Win or Go Home are, well, trickling in. Not entirely unexpected, although I confess to having a few fantasies about being "discovered" and becoming the Next Big Thing in publishing. Well, as the saying goes, the harder I work, the luckier I get.
The first draft of Winner Takes All is done, coming in at a fraction under 95,000 words. I should take the advice of master writers and let it mellow for a bit before I tackle revising it. In fact, there has been a partial revision already because I had written myself into a corner at 60,000 words earlier this year and had to pretty much start from scratch to extricate myself. New version: vastly inproved.
Marketing tasks: here are some links to the Big Three e book sites to find a copy of Win or Go Home. Download a sample. It can't hurt. Besides, it's the 4th of July weekend and you need a good beach read to take to the cabin/shore/mother-in law's.
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058B9JIA
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/kLeTNr
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/68568
The first draft of Winner Takes All is done, coming in at a fraction under 95,000 words. I should take the advice of master writers and let it mellow for a bit before I tackle revising it. In fact, there has been a partial revision already because I had written myself into a corner at 60,000 words earlier this year and had to pretty much start from scratch to extricate myself. New version: vastly inproved.
Marketing tasks: here are some links to the Big Three e book sites to find a copy of Win or Go Home. Download a sample. It can't hurt. Besides, it's the 4th of July weekend and you need a good beach read to take to the cabin/shore/mother-in law's.
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058B9JIA
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/kLeTNr
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/68568
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