Authors in today’s environment are finding that they have to be their own marketing and public relations department. Many could use some guidance with these skills. This book grew out of a workshop I have done for local writer’s groups.
Inside you will find:
* Tips on approaching blogs and reviewers
* What not to do
* Should you read your reviews?
* Keeping out of Amazon ‘jail’
* Approaches to getting reviews- some common, some off the beaten path
* Current Amazon review policies and what may be coming down the road
Having a game plan to garner reviews will certainly get better results than doing nothing. This book will help you find some avenues you may not have thought of, or didn’t know about.
Review Etiquette with Bloggers
You want to get this marketing stuff out of the way and get back to writing the next book. It is tempting to get an email list of book bloggers and blast to everyone you can. One email out to 30,000 bloggers and reporters and done in the time it takes to hit the send button.
I can tell you from being on the bloggers end opening the emails requesting a review, this is not an effective method. Bloggers consider their site unique and spend many hours on content, computer geekiness, and growing their traffic. It is their baby, just like your novel is a part of who you are.
Improve your response rate to your review requests by personalizing your emails to the writers of the blog. For a blogger, getting a pitch for an erotica novel, when their review policy clearly states they don’t cover that genre is the fastest way to put a bad taste in their mouth. Not only do you not get a review out of it, you come off as unprofessional. It’s easy to tell yourself you don’t need that blogger anyway if that’s the case. What if next year you decide to try your hand at contemporary romance? You have just shot that potential relationship opportunity.
First off, I want to thank Amy for having me at her blog. Stories are meant to be shared and she is lovely for letting me open up about myself to her readers.
If you asked any reader what their favorite book is, they would stammer, “I can’t pick just one!” I’m no different. But I do realize that on certain topics, some titles pop into my head as having an impact on me. Even though this is a blog about writing, I’m going off the beaten path here and giving you a broad section of my world and my bookshelves.
The Fannie Farmer Junior Cook Book, Wilma Lord Perkins
I got this book in early middle school. Remember the Scholastic program? I am 55 years old now. I have kept this book all those years. I remember making the popovers recipe and feeling like I was magic in the kitchen. The love of cooking hasn’t left me. I have about 3 rows of cookbooks now. As you can see, this book has been used often and is well-loved.
The Way: The Living Bible
I attended and graduated from Johnson Bible College after a year or two at regular universities. Yes, you actually study the Bible. There were classes on the specific books of the Bible and you turned in papers, and completed quizzes and tests. I had always used the New American Revised before I went to this school and it was also the version they recommended for classwork. After a semester or so, I found it difficult to sit down and do my personal devotions. I realized I had started seeing my Bible as a textbook mentally. The Way was a very casual, updated version. It was different enough that it gave me the nourishment I needed that reached my heart in addition to my mind.
Unlimited Power, Tony Robbins
Everyone needs a little pep talk now and again. This is one of my go-to books for getting and keeping a positive attitude. I’ve never attended any of his speaking engagements, but have seen snippets on TV and listened to an audio version once upon a time. He seems to be very energetic, charismatic and sincere. I get this out once every two or three years and read it over again.
Return to Love, Marianne Williamson
Seriously, there are passages in this book that will bring tears to your eyes. This book is based on A Course in Miracles. Even though it is a doctrine in its own way, I found nothing that challenged or conflicted with my own religious beliefs. Anytime I see this book on sale somewhere, I pick up an extra copy so that I can give it to a girlfriend. That’s how much I love this book. It’s another book I read again every couple of years, it touched my heart. Marianne reminds us how much we are loved! We’ve just forgotten.
The Automatic Millionaire, David Bach
I graduated, got married, got a job, had a baby, and got divorced. Early in my career I didn’t have a lot of money left over to save for my retirement. So when they handed me that piece of paper and asked how much I wanted to put in the work 401K, I needed to do some research. This book really got it across, don’t wait till you think there’s extra money. Do it now, no matter how small an amount. Take the company match. A small amount early when you are young can do that wonderful snowball thing. How I wished someone had given me this book when I had been sixteen instead of finding out about this when I was 25. I made my son read it when he was 15. I got a copy for my half-sister. I gave a copy to my nieces. I tell the young man that just started working at my day job. “If you score the company match, you’ve just doubled your money!” There’s a one-page chart in the book that dramatically shows the difference between starting young and waiting till you start seeing retirement on the horizon. I book mark that page and tell young folks, just read this ONE page.
Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman
This is one of my guilty pleasures. All of the books in this series are fun. They aren’t rocket science. Emily Pollifax is a retired woman that wants to do something more with her life. She goes to the CIA looking for a job. Through some crazy events, instead of a secretarial spot, ends up being sent on an agent assignment. It’s supposed to be a simple milk run. I think there is something satisfying about the theme that we shouldn’t be written off. We can pull a rabbit out of a hat when we need to. They are humorous, the formula is obvious, but the characters are well-written, brave and charming.
Trader Vic- Methods of a Wall Street Master, Victor Sperandeo
After the Automatic Millionaire, I began reading other books on investing. This book is more specific about reading stock charts and what is called technical analysis. Most folks that are into investing books site Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre as their classic. But I prefer Trader Vic with Edwards and Magee’s Technical Analysis of Stock Trends a close second. Both Trader Vic and Technical Analysis require a good cup of coffee, bright light and a desk & paper to take notes. But I found the math, theory and psychology of the stock market enthralling.
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From food for our bodies, to food for our soul, and skills to put food on the table- books provide information on all of these. I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about how books have helped me along in life. They can be teachers, mentors, friends, and comfort.
I’m working on a mystery novel The Case of the Sad Sons. I run the blog www.LilacReviews.com. I also participate in local writers’ groups. When I offered to speak at one of these groups about getting book reviews, the authors were enthusiastic. As I started my PowerPoint materials and handouts I soon realized it would cost a small fortune to print at Kinko’s. Thus, the book! I truly hope it helps authors with their career.
www.LilacReviews.com
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Thanks again for having me! I love the Progress Bars you have!