For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers
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KC,
If I'm reading you right, I think you're making a very important distinction that I'm still getting through my head about my own books. What you're passionate about is the message of your book, not just the book itself. I think when we can focus on the former, we can get out and speak and do interviews and participate in social media with true abandon, knowing that we're getting out the message whether we sell tons of books or not.
The way one of the Chicken Soup guys put it, to sell millions of books, he had to get over the stigma of marketing. He did that by realizing that he had a critical message of hope to share. He asked, "If you discovered a cure for cancer, would you feel bad about marketing it?" Of course not. As a result many people have said they resisted suicide because of a Chicken Soup book. Makes me glad Canfield and Hansen didn't neglect the marketing.
J. Steve Miller
President, Legacy Educational Resources
Author of Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It
"The money book for people who hate money books."
http://wisdomcreekpress.com/press_kits.html
Yes Steve, exactly. My book Bad Girl Gone Mom tells my personal story but the mission is to help those struggling with suicidal thoughts, specifically because of gender or sexual orientation or bullying because they are "bad girls".
I have sold about 40 printed books through my facebook friends in a few months. I have also had two girls reach out to me (one in Kenya and another in Austrailia) as a result of the book and my activity on an M.R.K.H. facebook page. Twitter has also helped me get the word out. If I wasn't using social media to share my message, I'm not sure that I would have sold book one.
I have high aspirations for the book to become a best seller, but I know that unless people know about it, it will never happen. The momentum will come when others start talking about the book. So far, everyone who has read it has said 'Wow' and I'm getting 5 star reviews consistently.
Patience isn't one of my strong suits, so I just keep pumping and have my fingers crossed that in a few months, it will "hit". In the mean time, I am getting immense gratification from those girls that are telling me I have helped them.
Here is an interview from Mary, a M.R.K.H. survivor.
When Mary contacted me, it made me feel like all the work I have done up until this point was just the start of where I want to take this. Opening up my heart and sharing my secrets has been cathartic; I feel a sense of power and strength that I never have before.
K.C.,
Great interview! Yes, I can see the passion you have concerning your message. With that passion, you'll always find ways to get it out there.
One suggestion: Don't worry if your sales and opportunities take time to develop. Used to be, authors had to make a huge push 3 months before publication and 3 months after. These days, with print on demand technology that even the big publishers are starting to use, we can take time to build platforms in different target areas. So, you might get a reading group to read your book and then you do question and answer with them. So you get testimonies from them and use them to get other reading groups.
Or, you find an organization that works with your target audience. You build a relationship. Eventually, they want you to represent their organization. Some of the things I've done take time, and most of the marketing venues that have worked for me don't really care when my book was published. They just care about it being relevant to their target audiences.
Many colleges offer a "Gender Studies" track. Many of them may want you to speak in a class.
So you're doing great! Your Facebook success shows that you've got a book with a lot of appeal. Keep up the great work!
J. Steve Miller
President, Legacy Educational Resources
Author of Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It
"The money book for people who hate money books."
http://wisdomcreekpress.com/press_kits.html
Steve,
Thank you so much for your suggestions and advice about focusing on my niche.
One of the best classes I took at the Post University was a class on Gender and Socialization issues. That is a great idea. I will have to contact them.
Best, K
Hi Steve,
I shocked myself jumping on an event in the newspaper; a tiny, just about seen ad. It was a retreat being run by two sisters who own "Sisters of Solace" in Westport, MA. It's about 1/2 hr ride from my home. They do counseling on mental an physical stress, massages, etc. a great website www.sistersofsolace1.net.At first I thought who from a message location would want me.
They were holding the event on my church grounds at their retreat center. Seeing they were into spiritual healing I emailed them with my long list of speaking engagements. I introduced my book A Healing Heart; A Spiritual Renewal and I sent a quote to speak. Felt I had nothing to lose.
I got an email about two weeks later saying they wanted me for my hour talk. and paying me. I'm scheduled for April 9th.
I just finished two events at the Brockton Resource Center in Brockton, MA. It's a recovery program where the courts order the substance abusers to attend. I talked an hour on "The Effect of Alcoholism on the Whole Family" at one morning 11-12pm and an evening 6-7pm. The talk is based on my other two alcoholic books losing my husband and daughter from this disease. I filled out their form and I'm on the books as a speaker. They are paying me for the two events. They have 3 other locations and may call on me. I can't sell books because the abusers don't have money but the center bought them for the patients to read. Hopefully, my name will get out into the court system.
After finishing my sequel Please, God, Not Two, I'm now working hard on my blog www.albertasequeira.wordpress.com. I got my royalty report from Infinity and sold 1 e-book ( sold one last month) and eight paperback books. I truly believe it's from the blog. Now I need to learn how to use Facebook and Twitter to get my info out there.
Hi Jeanne,
I don't have a vampire book but what a great idea to think of blood banks. It goes to show we can promote if we can think of using our imagination on selling our books.
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