Great resource for any amazon author. This is helping me navigate so much for a first-time author. Saves a ton of time doing research.” Jim Rowe – Marketing Strategy & Branding Expert.
Do you want a career as a successful author?
You may have worked out how to get your book published for free and launch it on the world’s biggest retailer platforms — but you still need to make people buy it. Which is not always so easy! There are a million blog posts recommending the latest book marketing tips and tricks, but where do you start? How do you find the real book marketing secrets?
The Self-Publishing Guru is a list of must-have tools for new authors. As established authors, we offer you the benefit of our experience in sharing the most efficient and cost-effective resources to develop your author platform. Not everyone can afford a publicist and self-publishing on a budget is a reality for most new authors. We hope this free self-publishing guide will help you.
Start developing your self-publishing empire with this list of the most effective resources available to authors.
Heidi’s Hot Take
This was definitely not what I was expecting when I picked up the book. Each chapter is only 1-2 pages on average. There is not a whole lot of details on the “how” of publishing or marketing.
But it is an excellent reference guide with some great tips on free and reasonably priced tools, groups, and service providers to use for everything from editing to marketing. I’ve been in the industry since 2009, and published my first book in 2011. I would say that 90% of the references are ones that I have used and would recommend. Of the 10% I haven’t, they are definitely ones that I have heard recommended in reputable industry circles.
But I do worry for a complete noobie, there isn’t enough information to help them make the right approach or how to use the tools most effectively. Fortunately, they do offer courses on some of that and there are a lot of great resources out there that can help those who are middle of the game to make wise decisions as they traverse the resources. Worth every penny, but could have been a really fantastic resource if it had been fleshed out a bit more.
Welcome back to my annual 12 days of Indies, where I share some of the top indie books available. For those who are new to this fun event, the deal is that each day I will share a new list of books that are on sale from now through December 24th. Each day, I will choose one book from the list to purchase and encourage you to do the same. Then share the one you chose and invite your friends and followers to also join the fun and purchase a book.
This is a great way to feed your reading for 2021 at a reasonable price while also supporting indie authors.
Day 10
Epic Fantasy fans, don’t miss this special at $2.99
For you action/ thriller fans, this gem is only $2.99. (I’ve already got a paperback of this one. Check out my review here.)
Looking for something to get you in the romance of Christmas, don’t miss this deal at $1.99
This lovely gem is available for only 99¢
Pick One
You know, every day we have more delightful works available but today was actually an easy pick because after the year we’ve all had, I think we could all use Peace, Love and Maki Rolls, am I right? That is certainly my pick for today.
Which do you pick? Be sure to share on social media using #12DaysofIndies and spread the bookish love.
Finishing your manuscript may seem like the biggest hurdle in your book journey, but the whole thing is a marathon, not a sprint. Sending it off to the printers doesn’t mean that everything is over and done with. On the contrary, you now have to contend with the latest challenge of modern authorship: marketing your book.
In our post The Upset of the Book Marketing Landscape — and What You Can Do, we talked about the struggle to find effective marketing techniques in the current climate. Things like traditional readings and tours may not be enough to cut it anymore, so it’s up to authors and publishers to think of new and innovative approaches to get the word out there.
That’s where direct mail marketing comes in. While not exactly “new”— it’s been around for almost as long as advertising itself, after all— it’s definitely an effective way to capture readers’ and distributors’ attention. Curious? Read on below for exactly how direct mail can boost your sales and readership.
Why Direct Mail?
First off, why direct mail? Sending out mail materials can seem like a huge drain on resources and energy that could be directed elsewhere. After all, you’re going to have to plan materials, rent a mailing list, send them out, and wait for responses. But direct mail marketing is actually worth all that work.
Direct mail marketing is high impact, low cost. Redemption and response rates on direct mail campaigns often soar high above equivalent digital campaigns. A study conducted by the UK Royal Mail found that 60% of people believe direct mail makes a more lasting impression.
In fact, as high as 95% of 18-to-29-year-olds look forward to receiving personal cards and letters in the mail, Gallup reports. Direct mail materials are effective because they tap into a part of our brain that elicits positive feelings and better memory. Where an email promotion might be forgotten as quickly as a click to another page, direct mail materials stay relevant for recipients for far longer.
How Can You Use Direct Mail?
But how can an author use direct mail? It’s pretty easy. Probably one of the greatest advantages of direct mail is that when it comes to design, your imagination is the limit. Paper postcards are a great approach as they’re lightweight and cost nearly nothing to produce, but they’re not the only option out there.
Plastic postcards, for example, are a great out-of-the-box approach to direct mail marketing. Marketing specialists Triadex Services report that plastic postcards can yield redemption rates as high as 71%— a huge return on investment. You can also try sending out little trinkets or freebies related to your book, sparking opportunities for conversation and sharing among your recipients.
When it comes to marketing techniques that are high ROI but low cost per lead, direct mail marketing definitely tops the charts. If you want to bring your book into your readers’ homes even before it’s launched, then this might be the way to do it. Unique, impactful, and effective, it’s a marketing tool that every book author should be able to master.
contributed by Celine Soria Briones
Thank you, Celine, for an interesting new idea on old marketing techniques.
Do you have a tip on book marketing techniques that you’ve tried? Feel free to share in the comments below.
Some of you may remember not that long ago we had Joshua on the blog to share about Cloud Diver. Well, he is back with an exciting new book and delightful new takes on classic characters. Come with us to meet The Cheshire Cat from Alice Zero.
Grin with me, won’t you? I have a question for you. Do you know who I am?
I’m the last hope.
It’s a cruel joke I know. When Alice opened up the box, all the darkness in the world shrouded Wonderland for all eternity until the mantle of the kingdom cracked and scattered across the multiverse. When all that darkness and madness and chaos left, only I remained.
When I saw this broken, shattered girl swallowed in the shadows, I smiled. I had found a new adventure to observe. A new rabbit to devour in the course of the journey.
Alice’s head is an empty space. Well, that’s not quite right. They shrouded her thoughts and mind in darkness. They want her to forget you see. Because as long as she doesn’t remember, more darkness and strife can infect all the worlds out there. I could do something to speed it along, but you see, much like my darling Alice, I too am curious.
What will happen next?
Because with me there is truly no hope. I’m not a hero. I’m more an observer. The mere sight of mayhem and pandemonium makes me stretch out my claws in contentment. I love disorder and disharmony and the universe is all those things. It is sick and confused and is looking for a cure to this madness.
Did the world know who I was?
I whisper here and there, telling Alice things, pushing her, poking her. She still doesn’t remember her name after all this time. I’m tempted to tell her. But would it make my game end all too soon? No. Better she discover that for herself. Because when she learns that she will find that there is more to her.
I almost didn’t believe that about her myself. At first I thought she was nothing more than my plaything. A piece of yarn to roll around with my claws. Or maybe even a mouse to bat around until it’s time to play. A juicy treat waiting for the right time and place to expire.
Then I saw that I wasn’t the only thing she was carrying inside her. The box had nestled itself in her soul. Every once in a while it opened and something comes from that nothing. It filled me with fear and wonder. I’ve not been afraid in such a long time. I thought I knew everything.
I wasn’t the last thing in the box. If I’m not the last hope, who am I?
And who indeed was my host whose head I occupied? Whoever she was, she was not a toy, but rather a puzzle. A game to watch play to its conclusion. No longer a game, but an answer I need to know.
Alice is the wild card of the whole story. She could save the world, or destroy it. If she ever figured out who she was.
Would she?
Perhaps I am mistaken. Perhaps, I understand exactly who I am and what my purpose is. We all need purpose in this life do we not? My own confusion on the things I’ve seen. Perhaps my imagination? I get a front row seat, adding my own little bits of chaos to this fascinating tale.
My brand of mischief keeps the story on tilt. I’m not sure I’ll ever want it to end. All stories get told at some point. But what I want more than anything is to make sure my mark is felt. My little bits of discord add their own disharmony to whatever symphony is being played. You can’t appreciate light without shadow.
I am the shadow. There has to be a reason I was in there too right? There always is a method to madness.
“Since it was originally published in 1994, The Oz Principle has sold nearly 600,000 copies and become the worldwide bible on accountability. Through its practical and invaluable advice, thousands of companies have learned just how vital personal and organizational accountability is for a company to achieve and maintain its best results.
At the core of the authors’ message is the idea that when people take personal ownership of their organization’s goals and accept responsibility for their own performance, they become more invested and work at a higher level to ensure not only their own success, but everyone’s. Now more than ever, The Oz Principle is vital to anyone charged with obtaining results. It is a must have, must read, and must apply classic business book.”
So, full confession, I picked this book up after interviewing for a sales enablement position for a local SAAS company. The interviewer mentioned that the executive suite was really big on The Oz Principle and creating a team based on accountability. They even had one of the authors come out and teach the whole team a seminar on the principles. It sounded like a great place to prep for my second interview.
I really struggled with the first half of this book. It seems like principles that are so obvious and which I was raised to practice in my life. I have always looked at every situation, whether personal or business and asked myself three key questions.
1. What went well?
2. What didn’t go well?
3. What can I do to make things go better next time?
I guess it was something my mother taught me as a self-reflection tool for building strong communication and accountability. But honestly, I cannot recall being “taught” this. Perhaps I just learned it through observing her? Hard to say.
Around 1/3 of the way into the book, with a bit of reflecting, I realized I do know people for whom being accountable is not the norm. I had dealt with people who were always blaming others for what went wrong. It had not occurred to me that this behavior was the norm or that it could get built into company culture.
Now, on the other side of reading and reflecting on The Oz Principle, I actually see it ALL. THE. TIME. Especially with the crisis hitting just as I was finishing reading it. Companies complaining because they couldn’t afford to be closed. Laying off employees because they would rather take a wait and see approach. Many people who were furloughed fell into the same wait and see pattern. I watched people take to the streets protesting and blaming the government for not being able to work.
I also watched people take on the Oz Principle quite quickly and adapt to this crisis. Change their business model to meet the public’s needs during lockdown. Individuals starting new businesses online, focusing on their side hustle and treating it like a real job rather than just waiting for their steady check to come back. The difference in the outlooks of each group is quite striking.
So what is the Oz Principle? In a nutshell, it is 4 basic principles done in a specific order.
Step 1- See It
The book lists a ton of examples of companies who did not acknowledge that there was a problem until they were already flying off a cliff. I watched a bunch of companies who had no contingency plan for when COVID-19 struck and were not prepared. They didn’t know what to do except close their doors. But there were a lot of companies who were prepared. For example, my husband works for a global corporation. They saw how this was spreading through their non-US communities. They knew that when it hit the Americas where the bulk of their businesses were, they needed to be prepared. A week before New York went into lockdown, corporate sent out a notice to all offices to encourage staff to work from home.
They have always allowed 1 day a week that staff could work from home. The network was originally only designed to support 20% of the team. After IT did some major rework, they estimated it could maintain 80-100% of the workload but were not sure. Without wanting to panic the teams, they encouraged a greater number of people to work from home specifically so that they could test the system. When New York was required to go to lockdown, my husband’s company was ready and confident they could handle the whole corporation’s workload. They saw the potential problem and they followed the steps recommended by their teams to keep their employees operating.
Step 2- Own It
So often we see problems in the world, in an organization, in our relationships. We know the problem is there, but we blame others for the problem. By blaming others, we (according to the book) allow ourselves to be the victims. As victims, we have no responsibility. But we also have no power to change anything either.
This section was really hard for me because I am an over-owner. To the point that I feel guilt and responsibility for things for which I have little ability to control or change the outcomes. It leads to me offering advice unsolicited, developing programs to try and help others, and spending entirely too much of my time trying to solve major problems alone. I then get angry when others feel no responsibility to try to solve them. For example, for over 4 years I have listened to friends and loved ones complain about the political divide in this country and how the other side blames all the ills on them…. and then watch them do the same thing.
Over and over and over.
I point out when people are doing it, suggest non-biased articles to “fact-check” opinion bias, and try to get either side to see the other’s point. In return, I am called a Libtard by one side and an Alt-right “snowflake” by the other.
I can’t fix how people choose to communicate, however, I can choose how to invest my time. If my previous approach one-on-one is not working, I can choose to take a different approach. In my case, rather than telling people why they are wrong, I refer them to Fighting Disinformation. I suggest that they take a look at some of the tools and recommendations to aid in fighting disinformation.
Step 3- Solve It
This is the natural progression of seeing the problem then owning the problem. If you own it then you empower yourself to take the next step, solving the problem. When I got to this section I realized that perhaps I had experienced this more than I thought. When everyone is implementing the Oz Principle, then everyone welcomes input on how to address problems. When you operate in a siloed management style where X department is responsible for Y then having someone not from your department pointing out a problem that exists and making recommendations to address said problem could feel like blaming or finger-pointing instead of that person taking ownership of helping to address a problem. No matter how much “we” language that person coaches the suggestion in. The same in your personal relationships. When someone asks for advice and you provide concrete steps for them, often they justify and shut down the advice you offered because for them your advice may feel like blame. What they really are looking for is someone to tell them it is not their fault.
Step 4- Do It
It is impossible to get to Do It if you cannot agree that there is a problem. Then take responsibility for solving the problem. You must also come up with a solution to the problem. Yet, once you establish those elements, it is not guaranteed that the “Do it” part of the equation will happen or continue to happen. It is easy to slip back into old habits or ways of doing things. Creating systems to help remind one another to continue operating with The Oz Principle is key to keep moving forward.
The suggested way to do so using The Oz Principle is to look at actions and behaviors that “separate success from failure”. “Above The Line” represents the area of “accountability and success”. “Below The Line” represents the area of “self-victimization and failure.”
Using those terms allows everyone to support and monitor themselves and the organization in the path to improvement and growth.
Those were the big takeaways from the book. The rest of the book is made up of hundreds of examples of companies and people. Many of whom the authors had coached or worked with. Discussing how they get stuck below the line and use the principles to bring themselves above the line to have massive success.
The Downside of The Oz Principle
And that is one of the problems I have with both the book, and the principles expressed in the book. The authors used Enron as an example repeatedly. And yet, I think their problem was not that they didn’t see the problem, own the problem, solve the problem, and do it. As a matter of fact, the biggest problem was that they did exactly that to an unethical degree.
The examples of people reaching success are always tied to people doing whatever it takes to achieve the goals and needs of the company. One example was of a company that was shipping a new product. They were so invested in success that there was a party as the trucker who was contracted to deliver the product was leaving. He was so swept up in their excitement at completing on time that he went above and beyond when his truck broke down and he ran into issues with the delivery. He did not want to be the reason that they did not achieve what they had hoped.
It is awesome that the trucker went above and beyond. I do fully agree that there are times when going above and beyond is needed. However, one must be cautious not to get so caught up in the optimizing process that setting unrealistic expectations becomes the norm. Going above and beyond every day is the norm. That is a quick path to burnout and turnover.
This is a concern that can be addressed using the “see it, own it, solve it, do it” approach. Yet, I know the press and exhilaration of doing more than just a job. Of getting caught up in the delight of “building something”. The pain of not realizing until I was already burned out that burnout had hit.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I struggled reading The Oz Principle because I have always been one to look at things and ask:
1. What went well?
2. What didn’t go well?
3. What can I do to make things go better next time?
I am very much in control of my life. I hate when I feel like I am not. Reading the Oz Principle made me realize that a lot of people do not have that empowerment. I cannot fathom how trapped that must make people feel.
If you often feel like you have no control over your life. If you find yourself caught in a pattern where everything that happens is somehow because of someone else. When you find yourself constantly just reacting to what life throws at you. You may very well find a deep benefit in adopting my questions or practicing the Oz Principle.
However, a small warning. Be careful that you do not over-practice these principles to the point that you constantly blame yourself. I have found myself caught in that trap. You can look at what went wrong, ask yourself what you could’ve done better, and then hold that for your future. But dwelling on it for too long turns into a form of self-masochism. Once you’ve done that analysis let it go.
As an example, I was part of a start-up a few years ago. Things fell apart. I beat myself up for too long about it failing. The reality is that there were 25 other people involved. It was not all on my shoulders to make it succeed. When I finally stopped beating myself up for it, I took from it expectations of what worked and what didn’t. When I was invited to be part of another start-up, I was able to look at what worked and what didn’t from the previous start-up. Then I could determine how invested I wanted to be with this start-up and plan an exit strategy that did not leave me so deep in the start-up that my own dreams went to the wayside. I set clear boundaries so that I wouldn’t become so invested that if it failed, I was a failure.
All that to say, while I appreciate the Oz Principle, as with anything there must be a balance in life. Find your balance and empower yourself, without making yourself accountable for everything that happens in the world. Set realistic expectations of yourself and others.
Any good writer knows that getting better is, as with all things, just a matter of practice. Much of writing is just sitting down and trying to get your words out, which can easily become a monotonous task if you feel your writing routine has stalled.
Many authors end up going on huge writing retreats where they stay in the middle of the woods and get some inspiration from their new surroundings. That said, not everyone has the resources (be it money or time) to go on a retreat. Thankfully, switching up your routine can work wonders when it comes to revving up your creative juices once more.
Limit Yourself to a Specific Time
For writers who are juggling other responsibilities, try setting out a specific window of time to just sit down and focus on your craft. Rather than sticking to the same time right from the beginning, try writing at different times of the day to see how your thought patterns change. You might find that you write better during the morning on some days, but on others you work better at night.
Carry a Notebook Around
You should be doing this already, but it’s never too late to start. Since ideas strike at the most unpredictable times, make sure you’re prepared by carrying a notebook with you. The Strategist highlights portability as a key factor when it comes to choosing a good notebook, citing the likes of Muji and Midori as good bets for those who just want something to keep in their bag and use as needed.
Try a New Environment
In the past, most writers had a choice between working at home (a procrastination nightmare) or at a coffee shop (a distraction nightmare). The good news is that there is now an in-between that is perfectly suited for the budding writer – co-working spaces. Business Insider reports that co-working spaces are gaining traction across the US with Salt Lake City voted one of the best cities for remote work, with other cities like Miami and Denver also being very popular. A key reason for this growth is how these spaces are able to attract different types of workers. Miami-based co-working space Industrious explains how these spaces are ideal for both solopreneurs (like authors) and enterprise-level businesses. And the increasing popularity of co-working spaces for authors was examined by The Writing Cooperative, who interviewed several writers on what it was like to work in such a space. The main benefit was that co-working spaces provided a place for them to work away from home, which reduced the amount of procrastination they did, with one writer saying that having other people around made her feel more accountable for her writing. If you are struggling to keep a regular writing routine at home, a co-working space would be a good alternative. Plus once you’re in the space you have access to unlimited coffee.
Track your Progress
It’s been psychologically proven that setting small goals for yourself can help you complete a task, as it’s easier to tackle what seems like several smaller projects. Author Leigh Stein swears by her spreadsheet method, where she opens up a spreadsheet file to track when and how much she writes. This allows you to see just how much you can accomplish over a period of time. If you end up keeping a spreadsheet for yourself, just imagine how good you’ll feel once you see all the entries pile up.
If you need more help, tracking your progress through 90 day goals is another way to keep the momentum going. Hopefully the above tips will help you have your novel well on the way to completion.
Angela Flores is a freelance copywriter with dreams of publishing her own novella. In her spare time, she enjoys trying her hand out at pottery or journaling to keep a record of her daily adventures.
I am a big proponent of providing author promotional support. I know how important it is, as I am also an author. My main online persona is geared specifically toward readers, through my blog, An Angell’s Life of Bookish Goodness, where I offer tons of opportunities to help authors get additional exposure. There are quite a few ways that you can get in front of my audience of nearly 26,000 followers across all channels.
Free Services
Please keep in mind that everything listed under free services is first-come, first-serve, or when I feel like it. I do as much as I want/ feel inspired to do. For example, every paperback sent to me will have a book unboxing on Youtube. Beyond that, it is up to me when/ if I feel inspired to do a bookstagram post (or three. I’ve had some books that I totally fan-girled over and really inspired a lot of creative posts.) If I feel so inspired, I will also share those images on other platforms.
I have had author interviews and character spotlights pile up as much as six months (especially after big author events.) I refuse to post more than one blog post a day. That’s just madness.
I have books (e-book moreso than paperbacks because guilt and I LOVE paperbacks) that have been in my TBR pile for 3 years and some that have been on my TBR Goodreads list for far longer.
But when I share your content, it is likely it will get shared more than once across most of my platforms. As long as the post is evergreen content (not time-sensitive) then I will be happy to add it to my content cycle. I am still re-sharing good content from five years ago. True, it only typically happens once a year, but it does happen. With all that in mind, here are the free options available to you.
DIY author Interview
Please fill out the google form and follow all directions. If you do not add your tags properly, I will not chase you down to plug it in and it is less likely that I will share your content repeatedly. Also, please give me images. I like using my fun software tools to create great graphics, but I’m done doing that for free. I will create one image for your post and that is the header that goes with it. That is it. If you have an author interview and you do not provide me a headshot you will have a black box. Those who do not follow directions will be less likely to get their content re-shared over and over.
My Readers LOVE Character Spotlights
For the character spotlight, you select a character from your book that you would like to spotlight and then a format that works best for that spotlight. For example, One author writes thrillers and did a media interview with her cop character.
One author writes sci-fi and did a stats spotlight for his character who is a genetically modified human.
Email me to submit a character Spotlight. Please attach the images, your bio, and social media links. If it is time-specific, please let me know. I will do my best to accommodate, but I cannot guarantee that it will be met. If you want to ensure that it is posted during a blog tour then please see the paid options below.
Guest Posts
A lot of great resources for marketing your book come in the form of guest posts on other blogs and book magazines. They are a handy tool for building up your reputation and getting free publicity. The struggle for many authors is learning how to do guest posts. We are so used to writing books, that the idea of writing a quick guest post for someone else’s blog is a bit of a struggle. Even after you make the effort to master that skill (and so few authors pursue this route on my blog, it makes me so sad because guest posts are a GREAT way to get in front of other audiences!) then they struggle getting in because they don’t have a backlog of relevant articles to show that they have the skill.
Well, here you go. Build that reputation. The first step is to know the audience of that blog by scanning through other popular posts and getting the sense of who the blog is targeting. Pick a topic and theme that suits that blog and allows you to highlight your own skills.
I am pretty open to ideas and will make this easy for you by providing you the information about my audience: 80% + of my readership are just readers. Marketing, promotion, editing posts don’t interest them. But if your book covers a particular topic and there was a fun bit of research that didn’t make it into the book, a guest post on that would be cool. I have had authors do guest posts on world building because they have a fun/ interesting slant.
Some easy guest posts are your top ten favorite authors/ ten books you recommend/ or music that inspires your writing. (I have a lot of music aficionados in my readership!)
I have combined my Angell’s 4 Authors blog with the An Angell’s Life blog as life is too busy to maintain the two separately. The content is separated by category so that readers don’t get the author’s content if they don’t want it. If you want to write a post geared towards authors, you are welcome to do so.
For those posts, I am really looking for experts who are willing to write an in-depth post to teach other authors something useful. This can be on marketing, writing, networking, promotion, finding an agent, whatever topic you feel you are an expert in. If it has already been covered, I typically won’t accept another post unless it does a better job of covering the content or takes a different approach to the subject matter.
Email me to suggest a topic, or submit an article for consideration. If you have specific images you would like included, please attach and include appropriate citation if you do not own the image. (EX: Pixabay Free Download) Do not forget your bio, an author picture, and social media links.
Other Ways I Help Promote Authors
I have built my whole online presence around the persona of another rabid book fan sharing my bookish joys. If you friend me and invite me to a Facebook event, I will invite followers, if you follow me on Twitter, I will probably share your book stuff (especially if it is interesting/ engaging and if you share my stuff first.) I’m a Booktuber and Bookstgrammer. Much of this gets looped around to the other sites, which makes it easy to provide a decent amount of author promotional support.
I know how important reviews are for authors. I also know how hard they are to get. There are days that I think “I’m done with all the writing and marketing and running around like a madwoman trying to meet everyone’s needs (AKA being a wife and mom) I just want to READ!” Alas, I cannot become a full-time reader.
However, I do schedule reading time every day. When that “I’m done” attitude hits, I am known to devour a book in one sitting. All my reviews (good and bad, you’ve been warned!) get posted on my blog, Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub and if you have other sites you would also like it added to such as Smashwords, B & N, Kobo, etc. just let me know and I will do my best to add it there as well. (I strongly recommend that if you want a review on these places, you should follow me there as well.) Know that I am constantly talking about books. When someone on Bookstagram asks “What was a book that inspired you” I mention 3-5. If someone on Goodreads asks for a recommendation of great XYZ books, I am recommending 3-5 and telling why I think they should. If you follow me on these platforms, I can tag you when this happens. It makes it easier for them to link back to you and your book. If we don’t then there is a good chance that someone with a similar book name will get that sale, unless you have mad SEO skills. But why risk that on something as simple as giving me a follow?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuXh65mHSYu/
Now, I would suggest that before you message me with a review request, you take a moment and look at the book reviews I have done. I will read every book sent to me (eventually) and I tend to be a harsh critic.
I almost never give 5-star reviews, but I can’t think of a single time I’ve given a 1-star review either. Most books get 3 stars and really good books get 4. I occasionally give out 2-star reviews if the grammar is really bad or the story is riddled with plot holes, but it has to be more than just “I don’t like this”.
I give DNF (Did Not Finish) reviews. These will typically fall under the 3-star category unless the previous 2-star issues are there. Generally, I will try to give it at least 100 pages or 10% of the book (whichever happens first) before DNFing. I used to struggle through books because I have a compulsion to finish things, but in 2019 I made a resolution that life is too short to waste my relaxing time on books I do not like.
Still think you want a review? I have a couple of different options for you to consider.
Send Me Your Book Links
Send me the link to your book on Goodreads and Smashwords (or Amazon, I suppose) I will add it to my TBR and will eventually buy a copy and post a review. (If you take a look at my TBR on Goodreads, it is pretty big.) I like to support Indie authors with a sale but I’m not made of money and the husband keeps me on a strict budget because he knows as much as I joke, I really cannot live off books.
Send Me Your E-book
Feel free to send me your ebook in Mobi to Hangell531@kindle.com or in epub to hangell531@gmail.com. Please be sure to let me know via email that you are sending the book and if you have a deadline request (For example, it is a pre-release and you’re doing a tour.) I cannot promise that I will get it in before there, but I can’t if I don’t know about it can I?
So, what do I like to read? I am pretty much all over the map, to be honest! I will read anything except hardcore erotica. My always-in-the-mood-fors are any speculative fiction, especially fantasy and Sci-fi. I have to be in the right mood for romance, historical, and non-fiction (typically preferring books about business, marketing, sales, and occasionally self-improvement.) If you have a religious or philosophical book then I suggest that you ask yourself how hard you want someone who is very fact and science-based reviewing. I don’t really get behind woowy stuff unless there is some real science addressed to back it up. Please bear in mind that if you are sharing your experience of something and not trying to convince others to believe as you do, I am a much less harsh critic. But if your book gets preachy, I am likely to get sciency. I can’t seem to help myself.
When you submit your book, please understand that if it is an ARC, I will do my best to complete my review before the release date but I need at least 6 weeks to complete a review and that is only if a) I’m not in the middle of a book I’m enjoying and don’t want to drop for yours and b) yours catches my fancy enough to do so. The rest of the books I receive are read according to my fancy because in that way you will get a better review.
Send Me Your Paperback
You can send me a paperback and I will do an Unboxing video and review, possibly posting the review on Youtube, post a “reveal” on Facebook Live, post a couple of pictures of the book on Instagram. I am still working on clever ways to use social media this way to promote other authors.
Please keep in mind that any and all of the above book-related promotion can and probably will get used periodically in Booktube Booktags and on bookstagramchallenges (especially if I have a paperback.)
Happy to Help You Network
Another key element to author promotional support is networking. I strongly recommend that you join our Facebook group Author Anon I am tied into the book community, so if you have a blog hop, book tour, panel idea, Facebook Takeover, or some other event and you would like to get the word out to authors, let me know. I will be happy to share your information around with my connections. If I feel that it is a good fit for my readers, I will also include an announcement in my weekly bookish e-newsletters.
Last, but certainly not least, if you have another way that you would like my help, let me know. Whether it be a Thunderclap, additional marketing services, or just need someone to bounce ideas off of, I am here to help.
All of these services are free, but if you found them helpful and would like to provide payment you can either join my Patreon or provide a one-time tip in the Tip Jar through PayPal.
Paid Promotional Services
I fully believe that no one should pay for a review. Please bear in mind that the following services are not based around “a paid review”. They are based on specific promotional content provided around a specific time-frame. You do not get approval over said content when it is a review however, you do get to use said content as you see fit. All content will be heavily promoted using well-planned SEO and hashtags and you will be tagged in the social media posts as appropriate.
Paperback Book Promo- Unboxing, Video Review, 3 Bookstagram images, and content posted across social media 30 times over the course of 1 year. (If the initial engagement is for a specific time frame like a new release/ book sales then 12 of the posts will be done during that time. The rest will have the original post remove the promo information and then be re-shared as evergreen content.) after the year is up, the content will continue to be shared across my social media just as the free posts are done.
A Timed Post Promo (author interview, character spotlight, guest post, sales announcement set for a specific week), 2 unique images besides the header which will be used for re-sharing and re-sized appropriately for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, Pinterest, and each size provided to you for your own use ( 10 images total) Content posted across social media 30 times over the course of 1 year. After the year is up, the content will continue to be shared across my social media just as the free posts are done.
Book Review Video- A 15-30 second clip that will be added to Youtube, my blog post, and provided to you to also use on your content as you see fit. See samples here. This one cannot be time-sensitive as I can only make 5 a month. They are great for running promo ads though.
Book Trailer – 15-30 seconds that you will need to write the outline for so I can tweak (please, not your synopsis.) The trailer will be added to my Youtube channel, my website as a post, and provided to you to use as you see fit. See Samples Here. This one cannot be time-sensitive as I can only make 5 a month. They are great for running promo ads though.
Marketing/ Publicity Services- I can do the grunt work for you in submitting for book reviews, creating content, writing/ editing copy, evaluating your ad campaigns, developing bookstore lists, and a ton of other P.A. type services.
30 Social Media Posts/ Evergreen Promo Package- You can submit 1 piece of content for me to share over the course of the year on my social media channels. I will create 2 unique images inspired by the content which will be used for re-sharing and re-sized appropriately for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, Pinterest, and each size provided to you for your own use ( 10 images total). You will be tagged in each share. This is on a case by case basis with site and content approval.
Now let’s talk about the broad scope of how to get started. Before you can do an e-newsletter list, you need to decide a few things: What you want to accomplish with your newsletter, what you should include in your newsletter, and how often you should send out your newsletter.
What Do You Want to Accomplish?
“SALES!!!” Yeah, I know you do, but put yourself in your readers’ spot for a moment. Would YOU want to get an e-newsletter that was nothing but “Buy my book, buy my book, buy my book?”
That’s a big nope, right?
What we need to determine is how we are going to approach connecting with our reader and moving them from preference into purchase, loyalty, and advocacy, right?
This is where you need to decide what your Worldview as an author is, and pitch that to your readers.
There are several different approaches to take with this. I have a monthly e-newsletter that’s all about An Angell’s Life of bookish goodness. It shares my top blog posts of author interviews, book reviews, booktubing, bookstagramming and other bookish adventures. I am looking to appeal to readers as a reader. This works for me.
Another author, Andy Peloquin, has chosen a solid niche to write in (dark fantasy) and all his stories happen in the same world. He is targeting readers who will fall in love with that world. He sends out a monthly e-newsletter with short stories in his world, as well as notices on when the next book will release, if there are any promos, other dark fantasy authors he’s reading and a variety of other things. But he always has that short story to offer his readers. I LOVE it!
Author Alex J. Cavanaugh does the “Ninja Newsletter” and it is geared around his pop-culture obsessions. There are tons of pop-culture bits, and he spotlights bloggers from the Insecure Writers Group, providing a wide range of interesting articles about everything from movie critique to book releases, to writing about writing. Plus, it pulls at the heartstrings of anyone who’d “Rather be a Ninja” (ME!)
Make sure that your worldview is a true extension of both you, and your writing. You don’t want to be constantly changing expectations for your readers. You will lose a lot of them.
So figure out your worldview and that will determine your next step:
What Should You Include In Your Newsletter?
This should be all about building that worldview you’ve decided to cultivate. If you are cultivating the world view that erotica is awesome, then only focus on sharing erotica content.
If you are building the worldview that indies are awesome, then only share indie work.
If you are building the worldview that we need strong female characters, only share books about strong female characters.
If your worldview is that you are an accessible writer, then share personal stories, short samples, and what you’re doing besides writing.
How often should you send your newsletter?
It’s tempting to just leave this on a whim but don’t. There’s nothing worse than telling someone they will get something, and not following through. We feel cheated, or worse, annoyed when three months down the road we open our email to discover an email from some weird person we don’t remember subscribing to, telling us that their book is on sale. No. Thank. You. Unsubscribe.
The worldview you’ve chosen will determine, in part, how often you email. In my case, because I’m sharing lots of bookish goodness, not just my own, I can email weekly and it isn’t too annoying for my readers. But my personal schedule doesn’t permit it so I took it back to once a month. If Andy emailed me weekly, I might get annoyed. Andy emails once a month. But he’s publishing three or more books a year, so that’s not super overwhelming, and he always offers those cool little short stories, so it’s something I look forward to.
I have other authors who email me once a month and I don’t read it most of the time. Why? Because I don’t really care about their new crafting project, I’m not interested in knitting, I don’t want to hear about their book signing in Alberta. That’s me, I’m probably not their best audience, but they will find their niche audience and those people will like those things!
Alex emails quarterly. It’s a huge newsletter, and sometimes it takes me a week before I get to it, but it’s worth it and I know I will enjoy spending most of a day hopping through all the fun articles and getting my pop-culture geek on.
The key is to establish your frequency and follow through. You want your loyal fans to know that you will send an email on the 15th, or the first and second Thursdays of the month, or during the four seasons, and be looking forward to that newsletter.
Next time I will discuss the mechanics of How to Do your E-newsletter, some options of programs to use, and automation. Fun stuff! Do you have any questions, or want to bounce your ideas off me? Drop them in the comments below. I’m always happy to help!
Hello Lovelies, I am excited to introduce you to a wonderful woman who writes in the romance/ erotica genre. Meet my kith, Rebekah Jonesy! Rebekah Jonesy is a work from home wife. A voracious reader, she decided it was time she made her own contributions. She has been writing for most of her life but only started publishing in 2014. Her books are contemporary romance with a variety of kinks thrown in. Understanding that human sexuality is as complex as the people are, she strives to show the reality of love as her characters work to find their happily ever after. Outside of the literary world, she is a mad scientist cook, gardener, Jill of all trades, and military spouse.
Hello Rebekah-kith, welcome to An Angell’s Life, finally! What is the current book you are promoting?
Hello, my lovely Angell-kith. I’m here today to talk about my most recently published book. It’s the second in a trilogy about a lovely, Southern gentleman named Stuart. He also happens to be super rich, an alpha male, a sadist Dominant, and a Boy Scout. The title of the book is Unacceptable. I choose this title because in this book Leslie, the main female character, struggles to learn what it means to be a dominant and what it means to be a submissive. She only has a vague, warped idea of what that means from reading dirty novels like mine. At the same time she’s trying to figure out how to date again as a newly single mom, and what it means to have a boyfriend for the first time since college. Stuart is also trying to figure out how to date a single mom, while running his businesses, and abiding by Leslie’s sense of public decorum. Both of them have to figure out what’s acceptable and what’s unacceptable, in public and in private.
Love it! Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
In this book my favorite character is Leslie. She’s trying so hard to do what’s right for everyone. And she’s studying and trying and keeps getting in her own way. But she’s aware enough to call herself out for her bad behavior too. And the whole time she’s worried about her daughter and willing to sacrifice everything to keep her daughter happy.
I love good mamas! What is your next project?
I am actually working on a few right now. I am finishing up the third book to this trilogy, which will also give a look at some characters from past books. And I am starting a new series about one of the kinkier, less inhibited characters. I’ve also coauthored another book which is in the final editing/rewrite stages and will come out soon. And then there’s the movies I am script editing. One is done and looking for funding, the other I will finish editing next week. And I just picked up a writing gig with OWS as well. So I’m all over the place for the next month or so.
Ha, ha, I totally feel you on that. Where do you come up with your stories?
Amusingly enough, from my previous stories. I wrote my first book about Mandy and Kurt. There were a lot of secondary characters in those books. And each of those characters spoke to me, wanting to have their own happily ever afters. So Bran/Brandy got her story. Then Laura/Candy got hers. So on and so on, spreading out from there over time. Then finally Stuart was in a secure enough spot/job that he could start thinking about settling down too, so it was time for his Once Upon a Time.
What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?
Everyone has their own story. But more than that, they have several stories. Life isn’t just one story. And happily ever after has to be worked for, even after you find your love. Because your story doesn’t end there, and it impacts other’s stories as well.
The smartest thing I’ve ever heard about romance, ever! What is your favorite word?
Dork. It’s the giant, hidden dick that most people never think about or even know it’s in their vocabulary. Ha, ha, of course that’s your favorite word! Thank you for joining us, Rebekah-kith (Those of you who know Rebekah-kith and I might have noticed the new thing we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks… Adding Kith to each other’s names. This is how geeky things can get when you have two of the geekiest geek-girls hanging out at obscene hours of the night. We decide to bring back Kith, as in “kith and kin” So, wanna be as geeky as us? Join the Geek Street squad and earn your “Kith” status! We’re word nerds, embrace it!) You can follow Rebekah Jonesy on Twitter, Facebook, or her blog Heart Strong. Seriously, her blog is awesome! I love it sooo much!
Until next time,
Keep Reading!
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