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Kay_Cee
Guest
I’ve done only Rain from Heaven so far, and it’s up on Amazon.I’d love to see your new cover if you can show it
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K
Kay_Cee
Guest
Okay, folks. I did what you said.
After hours and hours of work, I got my first Christian novel, Rain from Heaven, into paperback.
I then advertised wherever I could, including on my Facebook account and in all the Facebook groups I belong to that would allow me to advertise.
Total number of copies sold: 2.
One of those copies was purchased by a friend.
I’ve now put my second novel, Nearer the Dawn, into paperback as well. I haven’t advertised yet–I didn’t want to overdo it by having this book come out too soon after the other one–but I’m wondering if it’s worth all the work and trouble I’ve gone to.
I’m wondering if I should even bother with my third book, Amaranth, or the new novel I have coming out next year, Cherish.
Is there some other way I can advertise these books that I’m missing? All my net profits go to charity, and I was hoping I could donate more than the mere pittance I’ve earned.
After hours and hours of work, I got my first Christian novel, Rain from Heaven, into paperback.
I then advertised wherever I could, including on my Facebook account and in all the Facebook groups I belong to that would allow me to advertise.
Total number of copies sold: 2.
One of those copies was purchased by a friend.
I’ve now put my second novel, Nearer the Dawn, into paperback as well. I haven’t advertised yet–I didn’t want to overdo it by having this book come out too soon after the other one–but I’m wondering if it’s worth all the work and trouble I’ve gone to.
I’m wondering if I should even bother with my third book, Amaranth, or the new novel I have coming out next year, Cherish.
Is there some other way I can advertise these books that I’m missing? All my net profits go to charity, and I was hoping I could donate more than the mere pittance I’ve earned.
D
dmar198
Guest
Get a booth at a local County Fair, bring along a few copies, and an order form. Do the same thing at a Catholic Parish Festival. Maybe a farmers market, or your local library?Okay, folks. I did what you said.
After hours and hours of work, I got my first Christian novel, Rain from Heaven, into paperback.
I then advertised wherever I could, including on my Facebook account and in all the Facebook groups I belong to that would allow me to advertise.
Total number of copies sold: 2.
One of those copies was purchased by a friend.
I’ve now put my second novel, Nearer the Dawn, into paperback as well. I haven’t advertised yet–I didn’t want to overdo it by having this book come out too soon after the other one–but I’m wondering if it’s worth all the work and trouble I’ve gone to.
I’m wondering if I should even bother with my third book, Amaranth, or the new novel I have coming out next year, Cherish.
Is there some other way I can advertise these books that I’m missing? All my net profits go to charity, and I was hoping I could donate more than the mere pittance I’ve earned.
K
Kay_Cee
Guest
Actually, they will be going on the shelf at my local library–all three branches.
That does help get my books out there, but it doesn’t help raise any money for charity.
I’m afraid my parish priest told me I can’t have my books associated with the parish unless they are approved by the diocese. That’s diocesan policy. And the diocese will not approve any fiction.
I am hoping that my library, which occasionally allows local authors to display their books, will also allow me that privilege. But that may not be for months.
Anybody else have any other suggestions?
This is the problem with self-published books… or really any book not written by James Patterson, Nora Roberts, J.K. Rowling, etc. The author has to really put a lot of effort into promoting the book. And if you’re like me (and many other authors), getting out there to do the book promotion is the least enjoyable part of being an author.
However, if you want readers, you have to go out and look for them. And sometimes you have to spend some money to make some money. Ads in parish bulletins or diocesan newspapers, book giveaways to reviewers, joining organizations that promote Catholic literature (such as Catholic Writers Guild, which has annual dues) are all ways to get your books known and possibly gain a readership and hopefully sales.
But you write because you love to write. That’s first and foremost. But in order to get your books known and read, you have to take them out into the world and let readers know that they exist. Yes, it’s hard and discouraging, even for those of us who have publishers with non-existent promo budgets, but it’s the only way to find your books’ audience.
However, if you want readers, you have to go out and look for them. And sometimes you have to spend some money to make some money. Ads in parish bulletins or diocesan newspapers, book giveaways to reviewers, joining organizations that promote Catholic literature (such as Catholic Writers Guild, which has annual dues) are all ways to get your books known and possibly gain a readership and hopefully sales.
But you write because you love to write. That’s first and foremost. But in order to get your books known and read, you have to take them out into the world and let readers know that they exist. Yes, it’s hard and discouraging, even for those of us who have publishers with non-existent promo budgets, but it’s the only way to find your books’ audience.
E
edwest2
Guest
Writing should be about enjoying to write or telling your story. That’s it. I’ve been in book publishing long enough to know what’s involved. Before the internet, you had to find a Literary Agent or a Publisher, and you still can. Or you could self-publish and spend money on advertising, and you still can.
Before the internet, bookstores had limited shelf space and, after a while, would have to clear that space for a new crop of titles from the same publishers. So, before the internet, the publishing world in the US was the size of the Great Lakes. Today, it’s the size of all the oceans combined.
A few suggestions (not guarantees):
amazon.com/Writers-Market-2017-Trusted-Published/dp/1440347735
amazon.com/Guide-Literary-Agents-2017-Published/dp/144034776X/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0E4ZKB9J144BAV8TV9K5
Before signing a contract, always get a copyright attorney to read it. I am not a lawyer.
Ed
Before the internet, bookstores had limited shelf space and, after a while, would have to clear that space for a new crop of titles from the same publishers. So, before the internet, the publishing world in the US was the size of the Great Lakes. Today, it’s the size of all the oceans combined.
A few suggestions (not guarantees):
amazon.com/Writers-Market-2017-Trusted-Published/dp/1440347735
amazon.com/Guide-Literary-Agents-2017-Published/dp/144034776X/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0E4ZKB9J144BAV8TV9K5
Before signing a contract, always get a copyright attorney to read it. I am not a lawyer.
Ed
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Kay_Cee
Guest
Thanks to all for the suggestions.
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