As the old year wanes, the time has come to evaluate my book sales and learn from the data, hopefully to improve sales in 2017. Many charts and graphs are available to authors through the auspices of various retailers and distributors. In part, because these businesses must keep the data for their own purposes, in … Continue reading Crunching The Numbers
E-book
Help Your Favorite Author (and yourself)
There is a growing symbiotic relationship between authors and readers. Like horse and carriage, you can't have one without the other. Of course, a relationship has always existed, but until recently it was always somewhat removed, stand-offish, like the maiden aunt who visits you once a year. Over the centuries, readers have had to read … Continue reading Help Your Favorite Author (and yourself)
The Sky Is Falling
Several respected bloggers have begun to back away from self publishing books. They have crunched numbers, which most recently suggest an increase in the percentage of traditionally published books along with a decrease in self published Ebooks this past year. There is a rise in hybrid publishers (authors who do both) and an increase in … Continue reading The Sky Is Falling
Why An Audio Book?
The hot topic in my writing circles lately is audio books. I sense a fascination among my fellow authors. Several have made them, many want to make them. And why not? Audio books are enjoying an enormous surge in popularity, having more than doubled sales in the last several years. For the author, it's never … Continue reading Why An Audio Book?
Writing A Review Is Easy
Of course, everybody knows how to write a book review. We all wrote them in grade school. All those summer reading reports due at the opening of school. The formal review styles we were taught in English classes. No wonder we pause when asked to write one. Who's got the time? Times have changed. Book reviews … Continue reading Writing A Review Is Easy
Does Social Media Help Market Your Book?
In an interview for Indie Recon, the worldwide virtual conference for independent publishers and authors, Mark Coker of Smashword suggested four approaches for the self publishing author in today’s market. His first advice was to "write a good, no, a great book". I discussed that thought in my April 17 Post, “Five Best Marketing Approaches … Continue reading Does Social Media Help Market Your Book?
Five Best Marketing Approaches for Self-Published Writers
IndieRecon (an independent publishing on-line conference) recently presented an interview with Mark Coker of Smashword. The topic, among other things; new marketing approaches for self publishing authors. He had five central thoughts: 1. Write a good, no, a great book 2. Forget Social Media - it won’t help 3. Write a lot of great … Continue reading Five Best Marketing Approaches for Self-Published Writers
It’s Time to Thank My Reviewers
With the Holiday Season there comes an urge to give thanks. In the Rolodex of my brain I can flip through many names of those who reach out regularly to help make my life and those of others better. As an author, I am particularly beholden to my reviewers. For readers, this is a brave … Continue reading It’s Time to Thank My Reviewers
On Line? Or In Person?
I have found that the world can be broken down into two kinds of people; those who are comfortable socializing in person and those who are more inclined to do so on-line. When it comes to marketing books, this is an important distinction. Even if you are able to devote full-time to book marketing, it … Continue reading On Line? Or In Person?
Free for a Fee
Yes, from Google and others of the same ilk comes the sales concept of "free". Give away meaningful things in a forthright manner and people will remember; you will store up their good will, excite their curiosity, and eventually, there will be a payday. It works. Everything about the publication and marketing of my novel … Continue reading Free for a Fee
R Lawson Gamble 