We finished the book. Now what comes next?

Now that our manuscript is ready to be published, Estelle Rice and I are in the next stage of getting our book out. Marketing.

Although writers must start their marketing long before a book is published by getting their work known to the pubic and making a name for themselves as a writer, now we must get word out about our new book, Paws, Claws, Hooves, Feathers and Fins; Family Pets and God's Other Creatures.

While marketing a new book, writers must continue to write -- either another book or work on another project. My next project is to publish a poetry collection. My poetry chapbook, Night Might as Well be Then was published by Finishing Line Press in 2009. Amazon says that book is no longer available, but it is available from the publisher and from me. The price is only $12, but I sell it to my friends for $10. 

Today I created a postcard to send out to a long list of people I know who might be interested in the new book. There is a cost to marketing if you want it done well. The postcard will have the gorgeous picture of the front cover on one side, a message about the book and how to order, on the other side.
I am glad we have an eye catching cover. Covers have a large influence on book buyers.

But no matter how pretty the cover and how well it is written, if no one knows the book is available, on Amazon or in Barnes and Noble stores, how can they purchase it? So the job of the writer is to make herself known and then make her book known. 

I am delighted that Paws, Claws, Hooves... will come out in September just in time for Christmas. It will make a perfect gift for anyone who likes or ever owned a pet. You will meet Mary who saved Gracie at church. You will be impressed with Chanook who saves someone's life. The story of the Horse with a Halo always brings a tear, not from sadness, though. What about a pterodactyl cat?

We have orders coming in already and we are so, so excited. 
I plan to do an interview with my co-author, Estelle Rice, who was a young girl during WWII. In fact, her fiance' was lost in the war. She has so much to offer the public, and I can't wait to do that interview. As you get to know her, you will fall in love with her.

ESTELLE RICE co-author of Paws, Claws, Hooves, Feathers and Fins

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"Personality Sells Books" says Patricia Fry

Patricia Fry says:

"Personality sells books. It's true. The most powerful tool in your book promotion toolkit is

 your personality. More now than ever before, readers want a relationship with authors of the 

books they read."

Thanks to my friend, Bill Ramsey, I found Patricia Fry online. She is a prolific writer

with tons of books on how to write, publish, and most important, I think is her advice 

on promoting your book. As she says, your book can be on Amazon.com and on the

shelves of Barnes and Noble but unless someone knows it is there and wants to read it, 

it will just sit where it sits.

That is when the author must step up and promote his book, himself, and do all he can

 to get the public to want to read his book. I talk with people all the time who are so 

frustrated that their books are languishing on the shelves or lost in space on Amazon. 

Sadly, these authors never gave a thought to how they might sell their books once they 

were written or published. I heard from a writer tonight who is hoping for recognition

 of his new book, published by a small press, and that his book will somehow reach all 

the people who would appreciate it. I don't know what he is or has done to make this 

happen, but I feel sure he will have to work on promoting it. Small presses certainly 

don't have the funds to send authors on promotional forays or pay big bucks for 

advertising.

No matter how much we think folks will love our work that we have slaved over 

for such a long time, most of them don't care about our books unless we make

them care.

How do we do that? As I told a friend recently, I never see her husband, the author, 

at any writing events or making talks to groups or any articles by him or about him

in the newspapers. I never see where he is holding a book signing or giving a talk.

The days when a writer could sit home, write a book, and send it to a New York 

Publisher who snaps it up, prints it and sells it, are gone forever. Even if a large 

publisher accepts a book, the author is still responsible for selling that book. 

Why do we see authors on TV shows, blogging, speaking at events? They hope 

they can present a warm and inviting personality the public will like well enough 

to buy their book.

I have watched successful authors at festivals and conferences. They engage people,

make eye contact with everyone who passes by, and finds some way to talk 

with them. As one who purchases books, I have bought books from authors that I 

would never buy in a book store.

I go to conferences and hear writers speak. If that author's personality grabs me, I'll go

and look at her books. I have lots of novels around here that I plan to read one day 

because I liked the author when I met her or him although I am not into reading novels

at this time.

I don't have a book to sell right now, but I am reading all the advice I can find on 

how to market the book I plan to write. I will create a marketing plan. I know that 

the most important part of writing for the public is getting them to read my work.

Do you have a book you are trying to sell? Are you writing a book, and do you have

a marketing plan? Do you have any advice for our readers?

Online Promotion of Your Book

http://onlinepromotionmadeeasy.blogspot.com/

The above is a good article on marketing your book online. The way my life has been turned upside down, I will follow the advice here and see if I can promote my poetry collection, Now Might As Well Be Then, online.

I hope by November I can read from the book without weeping. I would like to visit bookstores or any gathering where talking about my book and reading a few poems from it will be welcome.