Ellie Lieberman's Blog: Dusty Shelves - Posts Tagged "barb-lieberman"
The Story Of the Book
Barbara Liebermanwrote, “The story of the book enhanced the story within it.” Never have I received a book the way John’s sister received Comedy Divine in To Miss The Stars, but I understand the sentiments behind the quote well.
I have blogged before about my grandmother’s copies of Anne of Green Gables. Though, the story behind these books haven’t faced quite the same adventure, they are special to me. The story may seem short and simple to anyone else. To me, it is just as important to the story itself. She passed on not only her love for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s work and the doll and other related items, but, something I treasure the most in her copies is her signature. Seeing her name and penmanship.
For me, books are always a great gift. Last Christmas, I received Perks of Being A Wallflower from my brother. The message on the inside made the gift and story even more meaningful for me. It was his copy, which was special in and of itself. However, what the book meant to him made it mean more to me.
This is very similar to The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which I’m currently reading. It came as a recommendation from my boyfriend and it’s his copy I’m borrowing. For as much as I’m enjoying the story itself, it becomes even more special because it’s his and he loves the book.
Books tend to be tied to people and memories for me. And as much as these elements and the stories the people I love bring to these books, the story of why an author wrote the book enhances it just as much. I have always loved learning about the story behind the story.
Evangeline Duran Fuentes, author of Cry on Hallow's Eve, is a storyteller through and through. For as much as I adore her books, I absolutely love how the stories came about. In the back of her book, she includes a little information about the urban legend her story is inspired by. Knowing she was told this story as a child by her father and this was her own twist on it, enhances it in a way only Barb Lieberman could put words to.
Now, in the age of technology, authors themselves are more accessible in ways they had never been before. We can receive this information more readily and I do think it makes a difference in our appreciation for the story.
I have blogged before about my grandmother’s copies of Anne of Green Gables. Though, the story behind these books haven’t faced quite the same adventure, they are special to me. The story may seem short and simple to anyone else. To me, it is just as important to the story itself. She passed on not only her love for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s work and the doll and other related items, but, something I treasure the most in her copies is her signature. Seeing her name and penmanship.
For me, books are always a great gift. Last Christmas, I received Perks of Being A Wallflower from my brother. The message on the inside made the gift and story even more meaningful for me. It was his copy, which was special in and of itself. However, what the book meant to him made it mean more to me.
This is very similar to The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which I’m currently reading. It came as a recommendation from my boyfriend and it’s his copy I’m borrowing. For as much as I’m enjoying the story itself, it becomes even more special because it’s his and he loves the book.
Books tend to be tied to people and memories for me. And as much as these elements and the stories the people I love bring to these books, the story of why an author wrote the book enhances it just as much. I have always loved learning about the story behind the story.
Evangeline Duran Fuentes, author of Cry on Hallow's Eve, is a storyteller through and through. For as much as I adore her books, I absolutely love how the stories came about. In the back of her book, she includes a little information about the urban legend her story is inspired by. Knowing she was told this story as a child by her father and this was her own twist on it, enhances it in a way only Barb Lieberman could put words to.
Now, in the age of technology, authors themselves are more accessible in ways they had never been before. We can receive this information more readily and I do think it makes a difference in our appreciation for the story.
Here There Be Dragons!
An opportunity arose to be part of an anthology. An anthology for dragons. My work would be featured along with so many talented authors such as Raven Williams, author of the Elven-Jumper, Kindra Sowder, author of Follow the Ashes, and Barbara Lieberman, author of Message on the Wind and more. What an honor! All I had to say was yes, I was interested.
I spoke a lot with Barbara Lieberman, who agreed to be part of it before I had. Her work doesn’t really focus on the realm of fantasy. It’s a challenge for her because it takes her out of her comfort zone in one sense. She’s a phenomenal author, so whatever story she comes up with is sure to be brilliant. One of the things she mentioned, though, was that she didn’t have an idea for the story until she agreed.
I hemmed and hawed over whether or not I should agree. There were so many fears and elements to raise my anxiety. For as much as it is an honor to be featured alongside authors you adore and respect, it is also terrifying. What if my quality of writing doesn’t match up? (How could it ever match up)?
Then there’s the deadline. Not only do I not have any stories written about dragons, or anything outside of a vague possibility for a maybe-story, but I’d have to fit it into a specific deadline. I don’t work well with deadlines. Ask every teacher I’ve ever had. Or better yet ask my mother who bears the brunt of my “holy-I’m-going-to-fail-Batman” freak out. I tend to find deadlines of any sort constricting to my creativity. And then there’s the freak out of epic proportions because constricted creativity = writer’s block = nothing to turn in by the deadline.
Barb Lieberman, however, pushed me and told Raven Williams - Fantasy Author, who is the genius behind this anthology, that I was in fact interested and viola, I’m now aboard the dragon express. And I have to say, not only am I excited for this new adventure and challenge, but it turns out, like always, Barb Lieberman was right.
I was sitting in my doctor’s office, when a dragon flew into my head. I had some notebooks with me, but they were special notebooks designated for other stories, research, or other purposes (yes, I carry around a notebook of jokes, who doesn’t). I scrambled for the only thing on hand to type out notes, and as my mother put it, it was weird seeing me so engrossed in my phone. Funny what writing will do to you.
Suddenly, a vein was tapped. And the ideas and the story and the characters just started flowing. It is incredible. On top of this challenge, I have added writing at least a page a day through the month of August. So far, I am succeeding. Somehow, by taking these challenges and opportunities presented to me, I have a brand new story on my hands that is unfolding before my eyes.
Doors will open for you. The universe will drop hints. Opportunities will present themselves. And they will seem challenging. They may appear like mountain, an impossible feat. But challenge yourself to do it. Because you might just surprise yourself. And things like this are not ones you will want to pass up. Sometimes you need a push. So, if you’re reading this, consider it your push. Take the chance. Fly with the dragons!
I spoke a lot with Barbara Lieberman, who agreed to be part of it before I had. Her work doesn’t really focus on the realm of fantasy. It’s a challenge for her because it takes her out of her comfort zone in one sense. She’s a phenomenal author, so whatever story she comes up with is sure to be brilliant. One of the things she mentioned, though, was that she didn’t have an idea for the story until she agreed.
I hemmed and hawed over whether or not I should agree. There were so many fears and elements to raise my anxiety. For as much as it is an honor to be featured alongside authors you adore and respect, it is also terrifying. What if my quality of writing doesn’t match up? (How could it ever match up)?
Then there’s the deadline. Not only do I not have any stories written about dragons, or anything outside of a vague possibility for a maybe-story, but I’d have to fit it into a specific deadline. I don’t work well with deadlines. Ask every teacher I’ve ever had. Or better yet ask my mother who bears the brunt of my “holy-I’m-going-to-fail-Batman” freak out. I tend to find deadlines of any sort constricting to my creativity. And then there’s the freak out of epic proportions because constricted creativity = writer’s block = nothing to turn in by the deadline.
Barb Lieberman, however, pushed me and told Raven Williams - Fantasy Author, who is the genius behind this anthology, that I was in fact interested and viola, I’m now aboard the dragon express. And I have to say, not only am I excited for this new adventure and challenge, but it turns out, like always, Barb Lieberman was right.
I was sitting in my doctor’s office, when a dragon flew into my head. I had some notebooks with me, but they were special notebooks designated for other stories, research, or other purposes (yes, I carry around a notebook of jokes, who doesn’t). I scrambled for the only thing on hand to type out notes, and as my mother put it, it was weird seeing me so engrossed in my phone. Funny what writing will do to you.
Suddenly, a vein was tapped. And the ideas and the story and the characters just started flowing. It is incredible. On top of this challenge, I have added writing at least a page a day through the month of August. So far, I am succeeding. Somehow, by taking these challenges and opportunities presented to me, I have a brand new story on my hands that is unfolding before my eyes.
Doors will open for you. The universe will drop hints. Opportunities will present themselves. And they will seem challenging. They may appear like mountain, an impossible feat. But challenge yourself to do it. Because you might just surprise yourself. And things like this are not ones you will want to pass up. Sometimes you need a push. So, if you’re reading this, consider it your push. Take the chance. Fly with the dragons!
A Light in the Dark
Barbara Lieberman recently wrote a blog about perspective and framing our memories and moments, how we choose to remember it. As she puts it, “Framing my perspective my way allows me joy in the journey and happiness in spite of pain.”
This also ties to a favorite quote of mine by Howard Zinn: “The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now, as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” The same can be said for how we view the past. And, also what we choose to treasure.
In one of my many works in progress, the short story for the dragon anthology coming out in July 2016, the protagonist, a young and curious dragon, collects a variety of treasure while on an adventure where he seeks a place he belongs. However, the treasure he collects is not the usual gold and jewels expected to be found in a dragon’s horde.
His desire to pick up these objects is not the result of greed or jealousy. Instead, each item is a memento, represents a special moment, a special meaning, or a special person. It’s the light in the darkness, the happiness and the hope. As Barbara Lieberman said in her blog, “It’s not denying the awful. It’s seeing the gift in it.”
It’s why a bottle cap has more meaning than a diamond necklace. It can be seen as why one of the treasures is a scar, because they have lessons in and of themselves and can teach us, even if it’s only the complete opposite of what has actually occurred. And, it is also why some of the other characters treasure the dragon, as well.
What we choose to treasure, and ultimately remember, and how we choose to view it, is what makes it as valuable as it is. It’s like those old Mastercard commercials. My most prized possession, those priceless treasures, include family heirlooms and meaningful mementos from my childhood. My great grandmother’s china doll. My lovey, a stuffed tiger. The ring my mother gave me that marks my passage into womanhood I never take off with the exception of showers, swimming pools, and the ocean.
What are some of your treasures? How do you define treasure?
This also ties to a favorite quote of mine by Howard Zinn: “The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now, as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” The same can be said for how we view the past. And, also what we choose to treasure.
In one of my many works in progress, the short story for the dragon anthology coming out in July 2016, the protagonist, a young and curious dragon, collects a variety of treasure while on an adventure where he seeks a place he belongs. However, the treasure he collects is not the usual gold and jewels expected to be found in a dragon’s horde.
His desire to pick up these objects is not the result of greed or jealousy. Instead, each item is a memento, represents a special moment, a special meaning, or a special person. It’s the light in the darkness, the happiness and the hope. As Barbara Lieberman said in her blog, “It’s not denying the awful. It’s seeing the gift in it.”
It’s why a bottle cap has more meaning than a diamond necklace. It can be seen as why one of the treasures is a scar, because they have lessons in and of themselves and can teach us, even if it’s only the complete opposite of what has actually occurred. And, it is also why some of the other characters treasure the dragon, as well.
What we choose to treasure, and ultimately remember, and how we choose to view it, is what makes it as valuable as it is. It’s like those old Mastercard commercials. My most prized possession, those priceless treasures, include family heirlooms and meaningful mementos from my childhood. My great grandmother’s china doll. My lovey, a stuffed tiger. The ring my mother gave me that marks my passage into womanhood I never take off with the exception of showers, swimming pools, and the ocean.
What are some of your treasures? How do you define treasure?
How Much Can You Change About Your Characters
How much can you change about your characters and still stay true to them?
A common exercise suggested to writers is to take their character and drop them into a different setting. This exercise is said to give a writer a better understanding for their character. If you know your characters well enough outside their story, how they would react and what they would say and do to something completely different then what they would normally encounter, it will help you write them in the setting they belong. But, how much of their environment affects who the characters are?
What if you changed their back story? And, how much of their back story would change them? Take for instance, Barbara Lieberman’s Ellen Price from Message on the Wind. If you change her wealth, you still have Ellen Price. She would still stick her nose in other people’s business and run into situations without looking. Compare this to her male counterpart, Alexander McEwen. If you changed, for instance, his culture and heritage, the fact he’s Native American, you change a huge aspect of the character as a whole. Why? Because, this is such a huge part of who he is, how he sees the world and himself, and effects even the smaller details, such as how he wears his hair.
Or is it? This brings up the whole nature versus nurture debate. How much of the characteristics of your characters are innate, would never change and are simply part of who they are regardless. And how much is dependent on the world around them, including their families, upbringing, and etc.
In Society's Foundlings, how much would be different if one thing changed? If Math and Sampson’s mother was still in the picture? If Clem came from money? If Carver went to college or invited Math to live with him instead of Sampson? Some might argue very little, while others would suggest a lot.
And how much is open to interpretation? How much could be open to debate?
How much can you change about your characters and still stay true to them?
A common exercise suggested to writers is to take their character and drop them into a different setting. This exercise is said to give a writer a better understanding for their character. If you know your characters well enough outside their story, how they would react and what they would say and do to something completely different then what they would normally encounter, it will help you write them in the setting they belong. But, how much of their environment affects who the characters are?
What if you changed their back story? And, how much of their back story would change them? Take for instance, Barbara Lieberman’s Ellen Price from Message on the Wind. If you change her wealth, you still have Ellen Price. She would still stick her nose in other people’s business and run into situations without looking. Compare this to her male counterpart, Alexander McEwen. If you changed, for instance, his culture and heritage, the fact he’s Native American, you change a huge aspect of the character as a whole. Why? Because, this is such a huge part of who he is, how he sees the world and himself, and effects even the smaller details, such as how he wears his hair.
Or is it? This brings up the whole nature versus nurture debate. How much of the characteristics of your characters are innate, would never change and are simply part of who they are regardless. And how much is dependent on the world around them, including their families, upbringing, and etc.
In Society's Foundlings, how much would be different if one thing changed? If Math and Sampson’s mother was still in the picture? If Clem came from money? If Carver went to college or invited Math to live with him instead of Sampson? Some might argue very little, while others would suggest a lot.
And how much is open to interpretation? How much could be open to debate?
How much can you change about your characters and still stay true to them?
My Tagline: A Light in the Darkness...
I’ve been thinking about tag lines of late. Businesses tend to have tag lines, a sentence long catchy slogan, as do some authors. So far my favorite is Barbara Lieberman’s “Reimaging Happily Ever After.” And, it really does fit her work.
What fits my work? What would my tagline be?
Recently, a reader called my writing fearless. I mean, what a way to stroke my ego. Nothing gets my pen scratching and my fingers typing faster than praise like that. She called it fearless for “going there.” When people first pick up Society's Foundlings there is this assumption that because it’s about young men written by a young woman it would be a sweet story.
Truth is, sweet is not exactly my cup of tea when it comes to writing. It can be a little dark, a little sad, and in some parts bitter-sweet. However, as Dot Cannon, a local blogger from Noelophile (http://noelophile.com/) and Over Coffee (http://twomaverix.com/) pointed out, despite the dark nature and tough themes I discuss in my writing, the ultimate message is that of hope.
A Light in the Darkness…
Whether it’s Carver’s cigarette matches from Society's Foundlings or dragon’s fire from the upcoming Dragon Anthology.
There’s my tagline.
What fits my work? What would my tagline be?
Recently, a reader called my writing fearless. I mean, what a way to stroke my ego. Nothing gets my pen scratching and my fingers typing faster than praise like that. She called it fearless for “going there.” When people first pick up Society's Foundlings there is this assumption that because it’s about young men written by a young woman it would be a sweet story.
Truth is, sweet is not exactly my cup of tea when it comes to writing. It can be a little dark, a little sad, and in some parts bitter-sweet. However, as Dot Cannon, a local blogger from Noelophile (http://noelophile.com/) and Over Coffee (http://twomaverix.com/) pointed out, despite the dark nature and tough themes I discuss in my writing, the ultimate message is that of hope.
A Light in the Darkness…
Whether it’s Carver’s cigarette matches from Society's Foundlings or dragon’s fire from the upcoming Dragon Anthology.
There’s my tagline.
Historical Fiction: Walking in Someone Else's Moccasins
I haven’t written a historical fiction… yet. There’s one in mind, so maybe in the future. However, I do enjoy reading it. It combines two of my favorite loves; history and reading. Why not just nonfiction, then? Which, I do dabble in occasionally. I have enough nonfiction books to fill multiple shelves. But, there is something about the fictional aspect that is difficult to achieve in nonfiction.
In fiction, you either are in the place of the character or get to know them and walk beside them throughout the journey like a friend. You see the sights and smell the smells and experience the experiences as though you are there. It’s a time machine between two covers. Our own personal TARDIS.
In a way, the fictional aspect makes it more real. History is more than just names and dates. It’s even more than the individual events. It’s the stories. It’s what the people went through, emotionally, mentally, physically and all of the above. History is not meant to be experienced behind a desk, through a textbook that reads like the teacher from Ferris Bewler. It’s meant to be felt and understood the way you would your everyday life.
And, when it’s done really well and the tough topics that most stray from are handled with care and done justice, like in Barbara Lieberman’s Message on the Wind and following books in the series, it really makes you walk a mile in someone else’s moccasins.
In fiction, you either are in the place of the character or get to know them and walk beside them throughout the journey like a friend. You see the sights and smell the smells and experience the experiences as though you are there. It’s a time machine between two covers. Our own personal TARDIS.
In a way, the fictional aspect makes it more real. History is more than just names and dates. It’s even more than the individual events. It’s the stories. It’s what the people went through, emotionally, mentally, physically and all of the above. History is not meant to be experienced behind a desk, through a textbook that reads like the teacher from Ferris Bewler. It’s meant to be felt and understood the way you would your everyday life.
And, when it’s done really well and the tough topics that most stray from are handled with care and done justice, like in Barbara Lieberman’s Message on the Wind and following books in the series, it really makes you walk a mile in someone else’s moccasins.
Hardest Part of Being An Author
Recently at Wondercon, someone asked what the hardest part of being an author was for me. It made me pause for a moment, because while there are some challenges, none really stuck out. As an indie author, the things I would find most challenging such as a deadlines are not a problem for me. As I have the ability to set my own and I detest the things because they tend to stunt my creativity, I simply fly by the seat of my pants. Books come when they come. Time is a constraint I only permit for my side job.
And, of course, as often happens with things such as wit and comeback, the answer hit me the moment they walked away. The hardest part of being an author is the promotion. I don’t require motivation to write, because if I didn’t write I’d cease to be and, quite frankly, that’s motivation enough. But, once you have the physical book in hand, once it’s up on Amazon, how does one start the process of getting it seen.
Someone once compared the world of publishing, being traditional and big houses or indie self and small presses, to a sea of books. Every day countless books are being published and it’s hard to break through the waves. Here’s what I’ve found thus far:
- Local events and craft shows:
Events give you the opportunity to speak to readers face to face and one-on-one. The benefits are the ability to become more personable in a way that modern day technology just can’t achieve. Who hasn’t heard the debate over ebook versus physical copies? There are many people who still appreciate, love, and prefer paperbacks. Plus, there is the excitement for them to meet an author and get it signed.
If you do craft shows, you also have the corner market on all those book-lovers. Recently, I helped out Barbara Lieberman at her Torrance Craftsman’s Guild and all the customers were shocked to discover her treasure trove of books. Another author, Evangeline Duran Fuentes, had the same experience. Even with other authors there is no competition because book lovers have the wonderful addiction. They’ll buy more than one. And with no two books being the same, it minimizes the competition even more.
Other benefits include minimum booth fees, great experiences, practice discussing your books, building a following, just to name a few.
- Book swag:
Book swag provides benefits in introducing people to your books and building interest. They may not pick up the book first, but be drawn to a necklace with a quote that speaks to them or a button because they like the image. Always include the information of the book, so they can find it and you for when they’re realize they can continue their love of that quote or find out more about that image.
It also allows the readers of the books to continue the story. If they loved your book, and your book swag relates back, it gives them the opportunity to bring the story to life. Barbara Lieberman has scented fabric “Mouse’s Apples” that are tied back to her The Treasure of Ravenwood. She sells seed packets of Arrowleaf Balsamwood that relates to her Message on the Wind and To Reap a Whirlwind.
- Collaborations:
I have recently joined not one, but two, anthologies. The beauty of the anthology is that it can feature a variety of authors from all different places. That means that while I’m promoting a work that includes their stories, they’re doing the same for me. I will be introduced to their following and their fan based.
The same goes for if you have an illustrator or cover artist or if you work with a local handmade business to help make some book swag. The same can be said for holding your own signings, release parties, or other events in local bookstore for instance. Collaborations are a great source of cross-promotions.
- Joining the 21st Century:
Just as in-person events are important and hold many benefits, so does the world of technology. With social media and other forms of technology, you are able to reach wider audiences, both out of state and out of country. It is a great place to build communities, such as Indie Authors and Book Blogs on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Indie-Author...). This will allow you to build necessary connections that could get you more seen or more help, whether you’re looking for an editor, illustrator, formator, PA, etc. With a wide variety of social media sites to choose from, you also have the opportunity to pick one or more that fit you or are more geared toward what you’re trying to promote.
That being said, they have to be updated. Yes, it can be time consuming, but with certain sites there’s the instant updates, such as Instagram, or posts that can be scheduled, such as Facebook or twitter. There are ways around that such as hiring a PA to assist in scheduling posts or programs like hootsuit that can schedule posts across Social Media.
Online Author events, such as Virtual FantasyCon on Facebook, is always a fun and wonderful way to meet other authors, see what they’re doing, and get your book in front of the eyes of readers.
Whether or not you are going to route of big publishing houses or you’re a self-published indie author, promotion is on you. It is a big challenge and it can be daunting as well as discouraging at time, but when you stick with it, it makes all the difference. What are some ways you would like to see book promoted or what are the methods you use as an author?
And, of course, as often happens with things such as wit and comeback, the answer hit me the moment they walked away. The hardest part of being an author is the promotion. I don’t require motivation to write, because if I didn’t write I’d cease to be and, quite frankly, that’s motivation enough. But, once you have the physical book in hand, once it’s up on Amazon, how does one start the process of getting it seen.
Someone once compared the world of publishing, being traditional and big houses or indie self and small presses, to a sea of books. Every day countless books are being published and it’s hard to break through the waves. Here’s what I’ve found thus far:
- Local events and craft shows:
Events give you the opportunity to speak to readers face to face and one-on-one. The benefits are the ability to become more personable in a way that modern day technology just can’t achieve. Who hasn’t heard the debate over ebook versus physical copies? There are many people who still appreciate, love, and prefer paperbacks. Plus, there is the excitement for them to meet an author and get it signed.
If you do craft shows, you also have the corner market on all those book-lovers. Recently, I helped out Barbara Lieberman at her Torrance Craftsman’s Guild and all the customers were shocked to discover her treasure trove of books. Another author, Evangeline Duran Fuentes, had the same experience. Even with other authors there is no competition because book lovers have the wonderful addiction. They’ll buy more than one. And with no two books being the same, it minimizes the competition even more.
Other benefits include minimum booth fees, great experiences, practice discussing your books, building a following, just to name a few.
- Book swag:
Book swag provides benefits in introducing people to your books and building interest. They may not pick up the book first, but be drawn to a necklace with a quote that speaks to them or a button because they like the image. Always include the information of the book, so they can find it and you for when they’re realize they can continue their love of that quote or find out more about that image.
It also allows the readers of the books to continue the story. If they loved your book, and your book swag relates back, it gives them the opportunity to bring the story to life. Barbara Lieberman has scented fabric “Mouse’s Apples” that are tied back to her The Treasure of Ravenwood. She sells seed packets of Arrowleaf Balsamwood that relates to her Message on the Wind and To Reap a Whirlwind.
- Collaborations:
I have recently joined not one, but two, anthologies. The beauty of the anthology is that it can feature a variety of authors from all different places. That means that while I’m promoting a work that includes their stories, they’re doing the same for me. I will be introduced to their following and their fan based.
The same goes for if you have an illustrator or cover artist or if you work with a local handmade business to help make some book swag. The same can be said for holding your own signings, release parties, or other events in local bookstore for instance. Collaborations are a great source of cross-promotions.
- Joining the 21st Century:
Just as in-person events are important and hold many benefits, so does the world of technology. With social media and other forms of technology, you are able to reach wider audiences, both out of state and out of country. It is a great place to build communities, such as Indie Authors and Book Blogs on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Indie-Author...). This will allow you to build necessary connections that could get you more seen or more help, whether you’re looking for an editor, illustrator, formator, PA, etc. With a wide variety of social media sites to choose from, you also have the opportunity to pick one or more that fit you or are more geared toward what you’re trying to promote.
That being said, they have to be updated. Yes, it can be time consuming, but with certain sites there’s the instant updates, such as Instagram, or posts that can be scheduled, such as Facebook or twitter. There are ways around that such as hiring a PA to assist in scheduling posts or programs like hootsuit that can schedule posts across Social Media.
Online Author events, such as Virtual FantasyCon on Facebook, is always a fun and wonderful way to meet other authors, see what they’re doing, and get your book in front of the eyes of readers.
Whether or not you are going to route of big publishing houses or you’re a self-published indie author, promotion is on you. It is a big challenge and it can be daunting as well as discouraging at time, but when you stick with it, it makes all the difference. What are some ways you would like to see book promoted or what are the methods you use as an author?
Marketing in the Indie World
So, I was watching a youtube video by Hank Green about why NerdCon Stories wasn't doing so well. In it, he began talking about marketing and the event from a business perspective and with the way my brain works, through a labyrinth of tangents that probably would not make much sense to anybody else, it got me thinking about marketing for indie books in particular.
As some know, my mother, Barbara Lieberman, or Barb Freaking Lieberman as she's better known in our Indie circle, and I have recently started a publishing company, Pipe and Thimble (http://www.pipeandthimble.com/) and will be opening an indie-only bookstore as well! Marketing was already essential to us, being indie authors ourselves, but it now becomes even more so as we go forth with these new ventures.
Indie books present a unique challenge. I equate it to the handmade businesses we've run in the past, my mom's Seeds of Inspiration, and my Acorn Tops (http://acorntops.weebly.com/). Seeds of Inspiration sold not-your-everyday aromatherapy and scented products. Acorn Tops sells a variety of handmade fairy products such as fairy doors or Raggle Taggle Fairy Dolls. These are unique products that not everybody recognizes instantly or knows.
There's an advantage to this. It's one-of-a-kind. You have the corner market. But, there's also a disadvantage. It's different, so there's always a bit of hesitancy. There also requires a lot of education. How do you use it? Why that one in particular compared to the mass produced counterparts I instantly recognize? What is it even?
If we apply this to books, specifically Indie books, we're essentially answering the same questions. Instead of competition with the mass-produced, you're up against recognizable names and age old classics.
One of the reasons I've been given for independent bookstores to not carry truly indie books is because of name recognition. One bookstore in particular cited an experience where a reader gravitated to a lesser known book written by the author of The Lovely Bones, rather than a novel written by a self-published author. This reader never read a book from either author, but because she recognized the name, she was more interested in the work by Alice Sebold. This makes sense when you think about human nature. We tend to gravitate to what we know.
So, how as indie authors can we make something more recognizable, or at least these not so recognizable works into something people would feel more comfortable gravitating towards? You relate. You relate it back to the reader, hit something they recognize or that's at least common in our culture.
A prime example is Barbara Lieberman's Why Does the Moon Follow Me?. She compares her children's book to Goodnight Moon. Who doesn't know that rhyming bedtime story classic? On top of that, she describes this story as a lullaby in a book, which not only furthers the whole "rhyming bedtime story" marketing, but once again also gives you an age range and reading level.
Another great example is Squirrel Bait by Chip Davis. The book has been equated to a B-horror movie. Describing it this way allows for someone to make a connection and have an idea of what awaits them behind the first cover.
Evangeline Duran Fuentes does something similar with Cry on Hallow's Eve. She not only likens it to R. L. Stine's Goosebumps, which again allows a connection to be made, but also explains it's her twist on the folklore of La Llorona. Why is that so important to marketing? Anyone who knows Mexican culture and folklore knows La Llorona. The moment she says "La Llorona" many readers instantly gravitate toward the book because they or someone they know has grown up with the tale. If they haven't, she goes into explanation, but by including "folklore" readers can already make connections to the folklore they know of their culture or other culture.
You find a way to relate something unrecognizable. You educate.
Not only do you need to educate on what the book is about, but also the world of Indie and Self-Publishing. Unfortunately, there is still this negative stereotype and stigma surrounding the word "indie," especially in the world of publishing. Why is indie important? Why did you decide to go with self-publishing? Mentioning "indie" can be a huge turn off, so turn it into something positive.
Barbara Lieberman published The Unchained Spirit through a small press, Pipe and Thimble, because she enjoys the freedom that come with being an indie author and she wanted the book to be her words, unchanged and unedited. It was personal and it needed to remain that personal and that raw. And, the cover was just as essential to the book itself. The book is not about what sells and doesn't sell, it's simply a soul-changing story that needs to be told.
One of the biggest challenges, I think, is trying to market and sell your book. It's a business. It doesn't end the moment you put the pencil down or it's up on Amazon. It needs to be treated like a business, if you want to sell books, especially if your name is not "Jane Austen" or "John Green" or you don't have a publishing house like "Harper-Collins" or "Penguin." The reality of it is, we are little fish in a big ocean, trying to get someone to sink their lines into our stories and our words.
The best advice is to see what the other fishes are doing. How are they getting their readers hooked? What tricks do they have up their fins? Take what you like, leave what you don't and if something isn't working, try something else. Your best bet, though, is to relate it back to your audience, be it genre, comparison to other works, etc.
The best part about books and stories is that it is part of human nature. And someone someday soon will pick up your book because on some level it speaks to them. And, it was the right book at the right time.
As some know, my mother, Barbara Lieberman, or Barb Freaking Lieberman as she's better known in our Indie circle, and I have recently started a publishing company, Pipe and Thimble (http://www.pipeandthimble.com/) and will be opening an indie-only bookstore as well! Marketing was already essential to us, being indie authors ourselves, but it now becomes even more so as we go forth with these new ventures.
Indie books present a unique challenge. I equate it to the handmade businesses we've run in the past, my mom's Seeds of Inspiration, and my Acorn Tops (http://acorntops.weebly.com/). Seeds of Inspiration sold not-your-everyday aromatherapy and scented products. Acorn Tops sells a variety of handmade fairy products such as fairy doors or Raggle Taggle Fairy Dolls. These are unique products that not everybody recognizes instantly or knows.
There's an advantage to this. It's one-of-a-kind. You have the corner market. But, there's also a disadvantage. It's different, so there's always a bit of hesitancy. There also requires a lot of education. How do you use it? Why that one in particular compared to the mass produced counterparts I instantly recognize? What is it even?
If we apply this to books, specifically Indie books, we're essentially answering the same questions. Instead of competition with the mass-produced, you're up against recognizable names and age old classics.
One of the reasons I've been given for independent bookstores to not carry truly indie books is because of name recognition. One bookstore in particular cited an experience where a reader gravitated to a lesser known book written by the author of The Lovely Bones, rather than a novel written by a self-published author. This reader never read a book from either author, but because she recognized the name, she was more interested in the work by Alice Sebold. This makes sense when you think about human nature. We tend to gravitate to what we know.
So, how as indie authors can we make something more recognizable, or at least these not so recognizable works into something people would feel more comfortable gravitating towards? You relate. You relate it back to the reader, hit something they recognize or that's at least common in our culture.
A prime example is Barbara Lieberman's Why Does the Moon Follow Me?. She compares her children's book to Goodnight Moon. Who doesn't know that rhyming bedtime story classic? On top of that, she describes this story as a lullaby in a book, which not only furthers the whole "rhyming bedtime story" marketing, but once again also gives you an age range and reading level.
Another great example is Squirrel Bait by Chip Davis. The book has been equated to a B-horror movie. Describing it this way allows for someone to make a connection and have an idea of what awaits them behind the first cover.
Evangeline Duran Fuentes does something similar with Cry on Hallow's Eve. She not only likens it to R. L. Stine's Goosebumps, which again allows a connection to be made, but also explains it's her twist on the folklore of La Llorona. Why is that so important to marketing? Anyone who knows Mexican culture and folklore knows La Llorona. The moment she says "La Llorona" many readers instantly gravitate toward the book because they or someone they know has grown up with the tale. If they haven't, she goes into explanation, but by including "folklore" readers can already make connections to the folklore they know of their culture or other culture.
You find a way to relate something unrecognizable. You educate.
Not only do you need to educate on what the book is about, but also the world of Indie and Self-Publishing. Unfortunately, there is still this negative stereotype and stigma surrounding the word "indie," especially in the world of publishing. Why is indie important? Why did you decide to go with self-publishing? Mentioning "indie" can be a huge turn off, so turn it into something positive.
Barbara Lieberman published The Unchained Spirit through a small press, Pipe and Thimble, because she enjoys the freedom that come with being an indie author and she wanted the book to be her words, unchanged and unedited. It was personal and it needed to remain that personal and that raw. And, the cover was just as essential to the book itself. The book is not about what sells and doesn't sell, it's simply a soul-changing story that needs to be told.
One of the biggest challenges, I think, is trying to market and sell your book. It's a business. It doesn't end the moment you put the pencil down or it's up on Amazon. It needs to be treated like a business, if you want to sell books, especially if your name is not "Jane Austen" or "John Green" or you don't have a publishing house like "Harper-Collins" or "Penguin." The reality of it is, we are little fish in a big ocean, trying to get someone to sink their lines into our stories and our words.
The best advice is to see what the other fishes are doing. How are they getting their readers hooked? What tricks do they have up their fins? Take what you like, leave what you don't and if something isn't working, try something else. Your best bet, though, is to relate it back to your audience, be it genre, comparison to other works, etc.
The best part about books and stories is that it is part of human nature. And someone someday soon will pick up your book because on some level it speaks to them. And, it was the right book at the right time.
