Writing and Publishing News from

I’ll be gone over the weekend, so there will be no post Saturday or Sunday. I’ll be busy, busy, busy at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFB). SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) has two booths this year. Some of our members will be with us promoting their own books while a few local board members talk to booth visitors about their publishing projects and how a membership in SPAWN might help them to meet their goals of publishing success.

We’ll have books on display for members who can’t make the event. And we’ll be handing out hundreds of “SPAWN Catalogs of Members’ Books and Services.” We usually have wonderful ambiance in the booth among members—most of them meeting for the first time in person. And we have a great time chatting with each other and the many visitors to our booth.

Some of us, by the end of the day (or two days) sell boxes of books and others not so many. It depends on the product (the book), the sales pitch and the crowd. We’ve always known that some potential customers will not buy books on the spot, but collect promotional bookmarks, etc. and then order the book cheaper from Amazon.com. I believe that with the rise in e-readers, even more people are doing that. So it is most advisable for authors to have their books on Kindle, Nook and other e-readers as well as in print and even audio.

Does this mean that the book festival is becoming obsolete? Well, it may be time for us to look at the book festival opportunity with renewed expectations. I’ll give you my more educated opinion after this weekend. So far this year, the book festivals I have attended have not resulted in many on-the-spot sales. But this happens in certain venues and on certain occasions. I won’t know until my royalty statement comes in whether there is an upsurge in e-book sales after these events. I have a history with the LATFB, however and a track record for the types of books I sell. So it will be interesting to see if the sales of my hard copies remain consistent or not.

Here’s to exposure!!

By the way, did you see the comment left by an author after my post on the value of hiring an editor for your book project? Here it is:
“You’re spot on! I did not have an editor for my first novel and while many people commented that they liked the story, the main complaint was editing. I’ll never make that mistake again. You can find good editors who will work for a reasonable fee. You owe it to yourself to find one. Your sales will reflect your wise decision. ;o)”

Do you have a new book or one on the horizon? Do you plan a book launch party? While old-fashioned book-signings are not what they used to be, I’ve seen and heard about some very successful book launch parties over the years.

Your friends, relatives, colleagues and other supporters are more apt to attend a “party” than a “signing.” And if you have the event at an interesting venue, you’ll attract even more guests. I also like to encourage authors to provide something entertaining or interesting during the evening/day. How can friends and others resist the possibility of winning a prize, actually being a part of a murder mystery or being entertained by magicians, a comedian, an actor or a popular local musical group, for example?

Place is important too. People will come expressly to support you on this special day, to see the magnificent home where the event is taking place or to finally visit an interesting business in town (pet spa, new library, coffee house situated in an old pioneer home, new children’s toy store, etc.).

Be creative. For a book on local hiking trails, bird watching or plants indigenous to the area, arrange a hike with a potluck or refreshment table at the end. For a novel set on or around a train pre 1900, rent a refurbished train car for a catered dinner and evening of entertainment. For a young adult fantasy, bring some of your characters to life using local actors on stage at your community theater.

Are you getting excited about the possibilities? Do you have some ideas for your book launch party going through your head?

What if your book is older now? What if you came out with it last year or three years ago? There’s nothing that will revive an older book like a re-launch party. Think about it. You’ve been promoting the book now for a year or more. You know who your audience is. You know what readers are saying about it. You know which promotional activities and which venues seem to bring you the most sales. And maybe you know what mistakes you made with your book.

Is the cover dull and uninteresting? Did you neglect to hire a good book editor? Is the organization of your book off—could the story be told better? If you believe that your book is as good as it gets, the cover is fantastic and there is a definite need/desire for your book, start now planning a re-launch party. If, on the other hand, you know there are things that could make your book better, invest in improving it now and then through an amazing book launch party for the new and improve version.

I’d like to hear about your successful book launch party ideas. Leave your comment here.

In the meantime, for more information on this book promotion idea as well as hundreds of others, order your copy of “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” It’s at amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and most other online and downtown bookstores.

Yesterday, was one of those events that most authors consider a failure. It was a local book festival in our small community and few of us sold many books. Some people left early—leaving large vacant areas in the rows of booths. And many of those who stayed until the end were grumbling loudly about not having sold books.

One in particular, had been in a booth near mine. I watched him throughout the day speak with many, many parents and grandparents who expressed quite an interest in his lovely children’s books. He schmoozed with other authors. He set up a book signing at a new bookstore not too far from his home. I guess he doesn’t realize the value of exposure at events such as this.

Sure, on the spot sales are nice. But authors must get over the belief that sales are the only thing. This author got great exposure. There are people now who know about his books who didn’t before. If he had a sign-up sheet, he has names of people who are interested in his books. He made at least one good contact where he has the opportunity to get additional exposure and maybe make some sales. And this is a whole lot more action than he would have gotten had he stayed home on this rather foggy Saturday.

Yesterday, I shared some of the best ways to sell a memoir or other book with a personal touch.
I talked about how personality sells books. And this is also true for many other types of books.

Readers who hear you speak and like you are likely to want to read your novel. If you demonstrate your passion for and your credibility in the field or topic of your nonfiction book in a personal way, readers are more apt to purchase your book.

It’s for sure that if you go out and speak to a group of people who are interested in your topic or genre one evening, you will sell more books than you would if you’d stayed home and watched TV or played computer games. If you make it a habit of going out and talking to your church auxiliary group, the businessmen’s/women’s club, the Red Hat Ladies group, the historical society, seniors, teens, parents, educators, etc., you will sell more books than if you promote books only online from the coziness of your home office.

If you are an author or you’re working on a book for publication, read my book, “Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.” It’s available in print, Kindle and audio at Amazon.com. It’s also available at most other online and downtown bookstores. Or purchase your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com/TalkUpYourBook.html

Authors often ask me, “What’s the best way to promote a book?”

My response is always, “It depends on the author and it depends on the book.”

What does this mean? How is this helpful to authors? What it means is that there are many different ways to promote books and there are many different types of people with varying personalities, skills, aptitudes, abilities, etc. with books. And there are also many different types of audiences for the books we’re producing today.

I’ve seen people sell truckloads of books through pushy, in-your-face online marketing techniques. Some books are actually conducive to a more commercial approach. This is generally your narrow-niche, nonfiction books with a very specific audience. You promote to the audience through the few avenues available and lure them to your website, which blasts your message rather than sharing it and where the customer can make the purchase on the spot. This author might also allow advertising at his site in order to bring in additional funds. Their websites are very commercial.

If your book is of a personal nature, I suggest promoting it through more personal means. A memoir fits into this category, of course—whether it is situational, a recovery memoir, family legacy, nostalgic, personal struggle, coming of age, travel, spiritual, healing or another type of memoir. Your readers want to meet you. When you stand up in front of a group and tell your story, your audience is more apt to purchase your book than if they simply see it at a bookstore or online.

Tomorrow, I will offer my ideas for promoting other types of books. Send me your request—what type of book are you attempting to market?

In the meantime, if you want to become more familiar with the concept and the reality of public speaking, communicating with your public more successfully, locating speaking gigs, conducting more interesting interviews, getting radio/TV coverage, having more successful book signings and so much more, order your copy of my book, Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Books Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. It’s available in print, Kindle and audio at Amazon.com.

This month, SPAWN’s creative and diligent newsletter editor is asking members for some of their most unique and unusual book promotion ideas. Since I’ve been busy, busy, busy with a 3-book editing job, I thought I’d try to multi-task. So today, I will tell you about some of the most unusual, odd, unique and, in some cases, ultimately successful book promotion ideas I’ve tried, observed or heard about. Of course, I’ll also give this information to our newsletter editor.

As you may recall, SPAWN is Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network. http://www.spawn.org Subscribe to our FREE enewsletter, SPAWNews. You’ll find lots of great information, ideas, tips and resources.

One of my favorite unusual book promotion ideas is one an author told me about. He and a friend have co-authored a fun book of humor. They like selling it on the fringes of Farmer’s Markets throughout the county. They set up a small table or TV tray outside the Farmer’s Market and sell lemonade to passersby. The lemonade sells for $10 a glass, but their thirsty customers get a free copy of their book along with it. Works for these guys and their book!

One of my friends used to travel to sell her cookbook through kitchen stores. But she also sold books when flying home as she carried her poster advertising her book on the plane with her. It caught the eye of people in the airport and on the plane and she said she always sold books to fellow passengers.

Several of my clients and colleagues have sold books in unusual settings. I am a big fan of selling books and having signings in specialty shops related to the theme of your book. This might include pet stores or spas, feed stores, flower shops/nurseries, hobby shops, coffee houses, delis, metaphysical/spiritual stores, cafés, airports—wherever your readers gather. I know authors who have sold books at cupcake bakeries, gift shops, children’s clothing/toy stores, a zoo and of course libraries and schools.

Authors who give something of value to their audiences generally sell more books. I go out and speak to my audience on publishing and book promotion. And I sell books. When I have a booth at book festivals, I do my best to respond to visitors’ questions. Where appropriate, do demonstrations. One author I know used to show how to make crème brule—the theme of her book. Another demonstrates how to make a succulent wreath—and sells books on this topic. I once put on a full-blown luau in order to promote my book on how to present a luau on the mainland.

I like to encourage book launch parties. If your book is older, have a re-launch party or a coming out party or…whatever you want to call it. All I know is that when I (and others) have had a book launch party and did a lot of publicity, sent special invitations, followed-up, etc., it has been quite successful.

If you missed the point of experiencing success through these unique or interesting book promotion suggestions, here they are simplified:

1: Go where your audience congregates and make sure they become aware of your amazing and pertinent book.

2: Get creative in your choice of venues and your presentation.

3: Give something of value to your guests/audience.

4: Be extremely ambitious in your publicity efforts in order to entice people to your activity.

For more book promotion ideas and more detail on these I’ve mentioned, order my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. It’s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio. Also at most other online and downtown bookstores.

Sign up for my online book promotion course. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

Yesterday, I responded to a few questions posed by a SPAWN member and one of the things I told him is, “Successful book promotion means just doing more of the same things that have worked in the past and trying new things on to see if they work.”

I thought about this statement and realized that it’s probably something that many authors don’t think of. Some of us are still trying to find the magic that will catapult our marvelous books into instant success.

Here’s your lesson for today. If you are an author with a book in hand, reevaluate your marketing strategies. Which activities have resulted in book sales? Which have not? Is there a reason why some of them didn’t work out well? Did it rain at the book festival you signed up for? Did you schedule your book signing on the nicest Saturday of the year when everyone wanted to be outdoors? Did you neglect to do any publicity for your signing? Do your blogging efforts seem to be useless? Could it be because you are not backing up your blog with publicity? Are you reluctant to go out and speak to groups? Have you neglected to seek out book reviews?

Book promotion requires a whole lot more from you than just a blast of promotion out the chute. And the sooner you understand this and embrace this truth, the more success you will experience.

Of course, my “prediction” depends on the value of the product you are promoting. So if you are in the writing or research stages of your project, this is the time to start thinking about promotion. Is there an audience for your book? Where are they and what sort of promotional efforts will they respond to? This is the time to think like a businessperson—not an emotionally attached author.

In either case, this may be the right time for you to read Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. It’s available at amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most online and downtown bookstores. You can also order it through my website: http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

The easiest book promotion idea isn’t always the best. Nor will the most elaborate idea necessarily result in the most success.

When I came out with my first two books of national/International interest in 1996, I planned to sell them through bookstores. Remember, we had a lot of independent bookstores then and it was a rare home office that had access to the Internet.

I sent out hundreds and hundreds of promotional packages to bookstores promoting both a metaphysical book and a specialty cookbook. And the results were zero! Zip! Nada!

So how did I promote those two books? I discovered that specialty metaphysical/spiritual stores were interested in Quest for Truth if I showed up in person with the book. And I sold many copies of the luau cookbook through cookbook stores, cooking and foods newsletters and barbecue organization newsletters, etc. I also took a trip to Hawaii and got the Hawaiian book placed in several stores there. A Hawaiian publishing house eventually contacted me about publishing the luau book and it became available through bookstores all over the islands and now online.

The point of my post today is to urge you to keep an open mind about promoting your book. While you might plan to create a fun website for your children’s book and put it on Amazon.com. You may not actually sell many copies until you get out and start reading it at story time at libraries and in schools.

You might plan to promote your nonfiction book through a few emailings to your 100 contacts, online book reviews, your blog and your social media sites. But it may not take off until you start building your credibility by going out and talking about it to your audience and writing articles for appropriate publications.

If you are confused about the best way to promote your particular fiction or nonfiction book or if you want some ideas for developing a promotional plan, be sure to order your copy of Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. It is at Amazon.com in print, ebook and audio. Also available at most other online and downtown bookstores.

What’s the best promotional tactic for selling this book? This blog, public speaking to authors and hopeful authors and articles to appropriate magazines.

Do you belong to organizations related to writing, publishing and/or the theme or genre of your book? Does this organization produce a newsletter? Do they have an online discussion group? Here’s the big question, are you taking advantage of these opportunities to promote your book through these avenues?

Most organizations have newsletters that include a section for member news. You should be reporting new books, announcing awards your book has won, talking about your book promotion activities—new blog site, guest blogs, appearances, reviews and so forth. You can share these things with fellow members through the online discussion group, as well. It’s publicity, after all!

Some organization newsletters run articles. Why not get additional exposure by submitting articles to these publications related to the theme or genre of your book?

It’s a simple step that could open up a wide range of opportunities and give your book great exposure.

This is just one of the over 250 ideas for promoting your book that I’ve included in my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” For this book, I interviewed two dozen authors—some of them experts and professionals within the publishing industry. If you are writing or promoting a book, order this book now. It should be in the library of every serious author of fiction or nonfiction. You’ll find it in print, Kindle and audio at Amazon.com and many other online and downtown bookstores. Or order it from the author at http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

It’s common for me to get questions from authors. And it’s interesting to see how the nature of the questions have changed over the years. It used to be that hopeful authors asked, “How do I find a publisher?” “Do I need an agent?” “What publisher/agent would you recommend?” “How do you write a query letter?”

There was a period when I got a lot of questions related to writing a book proposal, identifying genre, copyright and so forth.

Lately, I seem to be getting questions about marketing. “How do I prepare a marketing plan?” “What’s the best way to promote a book?” “How do I promote my ebook?” And today, I got a question from a Toastmaster about how to start going out and speaking about your book.

Of course, I told this author about my latest freebie—“50 Ways To Sell Books Through Your Personality.” http://www.patriciafry.com

And I told him about my latest book—Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Books Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. This book is available at amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. It is in print, on Kindle and audio.

Talk Up Your Book offers up step-by-step assistance for anyone who is eager to start selling books by personally addressing his/her audience as well as those who are terrified of public speaking or anything that resembles it. The book covers stage fright, noodle knees and the whole lack of confidence scenario for reluctant speakers whether you are the author of a nonfiction book, a novel or a children’s book. And it is a no-nonsense guide for those who know that public speaking is an excellent mode of book promotion.

My best advice for a new author who wants to get out in public and promote his or her book, but who isn’t accustomed to it or who is reluctant is this:

1: Begin stepping out into the limelight. Take it slow, if you want. Volunteer to head a committee at work, your club or church so that you get the opportunity to speak before a group. Join a Toastmasters club near you and participate. Join a storytelling or even drama group. Take a speaking course at a local college. Practice, practice, practice.

2: Talk about your book everywhere you go. Come up with a short spiel describing your book and share it often with people you meet at work, socially and in passing. Listen to their questions—these are the things your future audiences will want to know about your book. Make note to weave this information into your speeches when you start writing them.

3: Create a presentation that you would be comfortable presenting to a small group. It should involve an aspect of your book that you know well, are excited about and can convey to others fairly effortlessly. Use some of the notes you’ve collected reflecting some of the questions people have asked about your story, the writing of it or the information in your nonfiction book, for example.

4: Go in search of your ideal audience whether it is children during story time at a local library, civic group members during their monthly lunch meeting, your church auxiliary members, history buffs convening at the museum for docent training, a meeting of businessmen or women or a book club, for example. Contact the program chair and set up a date to speak.

Fill in the blanks—how to write a speech, how to prepare for a presentation, how to create rapport with your audience, radio interviews, getting people to attend your signing, ideas for unusual venues, great introductions to your speeches, how to rehearse your speech, tips for talking about your novel and so much more by reading Talk Up Your Book.