Monday, May 18, 2020

Promoting Books in a New World


Promoting Books in a New World by Debra H. Goldstein

Today, I turned in the fourth book in the Sarah Blair mystery series. Four Cuts Too Many begins the day after the third book, Three Treats Too Many. Although I hope readers have become familiar with Sarah from reading One Taste Too Many and Two Bites Too Many, there’s no way they’ve read Three Treats Too Many because it isn’t scheduled to be released until August. Four Cuts won’t be published until some time in 2021.  For a writer, having a contract for a series is wonderful, but today it can be confusing.

Publishers have calendars designating when a specific book will be released. Normally, writers understand the date of publication, that ARCS (advanced reader copies) will go out four months in advance, and that prior to then there will be copyedits, revisions, artwork, and proofing of galleys. There will also be the need to write blogs, arrange for a launch, do interviews, and schedule signings, lectures, and whatever other promotion one can think of. While doing all of this, authors write the next book.

Balancing all of this is predictable craziness. Or, at least it has been.

Nobody knows what to expect today—or tomorrow.

Will launches be virtual? Will store visits now be streamed? Will book club appearances be on Zoom? Will publishers stick to their calendars or will release dates be postponed?  Will publishers modify their sales expectations? For that matter, will the publishers and stores that writers count on still be there?

As an author, I can continue writing, but I have no idea what will work for promotion in our new norm. The reality is publishers probably won’t consider the disruption in promotional opportunities, but will look at the bottom line. If books don’t sell, publishers won’t continue series.

I don’t know the best way to promote books in today’s world. Do you have any ideas?

BTW, Three Treats Too Many is available for pre-order at https://www.amazon.com/Three-Treats-Sarah-Blair-Mystery/dp/1496719492

9 comments:

  1. congratulations on your next book! Joseph Beth in Cincinnati is publicizing new releases and has curbside service. Not sure about author events.

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  2. Thank you. That's nice to know - not familiar with that store..but I hope a lot of stores think to promote new writers,as well as their more famous ones.

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  3. Since I write more for my own satisfaction than for sales (although that would be nice!) I don't stress over the obvious challenges today's environment presents for marketing.

    Can you get your publisher to cooperate with some on-line sites? My biggest marketing success was when Bookbub agreed to carry one of my books. It was expensive, but I made it back, and for one brief shining moment my book was on the Amazon top hundred list.

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  4. I think I'd ask Keenan Powell that question, Debra. She evidently had an amazing launch online using streaming with other authors. And that may start a new trend. Those of you who have books being released within a few weeks of each other may want to garner strength in numbers. It's fun watching an author discussion and the repartee between authors--so much like being at a conference.

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  5. My guess is the longer this goes on, the more we will learn about the virus. Same with book sales. Everyone will be looking for ways to improvise as we watch what’s happening. I’m afraid independent book stores are going to go under because readers are buying online. I think anything you or your publisher can do to connect with libraries or book clubs may be helpful. My two cents.

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  6. Kudos for carrying on! I have no promo answers, except that I'm keeping everything online for the foreseeable future. I've done FB parties and they have always been fun, and exhausting.

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  7. Congratulations on 3 and 4. I feel your pain about promotion.

    Covid-19 has created a brave new world of marketing for authors. Where before we went in person, now we go online. It's exciting, and it opens so many more doors. With Zoom we can appear in San Francisco and in Miami on the same day. When (if) things return to normal we'll have new methods to add to the tried and true and will reach greater numbers of readers.

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  8. Debra,

    Congratulations on your new book, and I wish I had a terrific answer for you.

    Margaret Hamilton made me miss Joseph Beth. I used to live near the store in Lexington, KY and it's fabulous. I used to take company there even if they don't read much because the store is amazing. Maybe you can reach out to them.

    Good luck with marketing and promotion. Maybe we can figure out this new normal together.

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  9. Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm going to try to put some of them together -- also glad to be a guest blogger, etc. When book 2 came out, the publisher did a Book Bub for #1 adn it did well. Not quite sure of their plans now.

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