Monday Moods-Confused

I think I've been in this mood several times since I started writing and publishing books. Confused must be a necessary part of this business.



THWWWW!

Marketing people are saying you must BRAND yourself if you want to sell books. Authors either embrace this idea or they give it  the old ➥➥➥➥➥➥









So what is a Brand and how do you get yourself one of those, just in case you decide it's a worthwhile strategy.



It's been said before, but it needs restating: BE YOURSELF. You're unique and there's nobody else who can be YOU. Here are some writers I think have been very successful at creating their brand. I visit them a lot because I want to read what they write and share the time in their special place. I have others, but these have been on my "must visit" list a long time.





Bish Denham

Carrie Butler 

Lisa Gail Green

Old Kitty

Kelly Pollark

Lynn Kelly

Fairday Morrow



CREATE A CATEGORY OF ONE. (For this term I must credit Lethia Owens.)



This category is very different than a category that lumps you under a file that includes a lot of other writers. I love how Ms. Owens shows the difference. If you say you're a YA or MG author, the person will file you under YA/MG along with all the other writers s/he likes in that category. If you say you're the writer who captures the pulse of adolescent confusion in your book XXXXX.  You get a special file that's all your own. I like that.



I'm still looking for more about marketing, so hope you'll pop back next Monday. I'll try to have a few more tips. Oh, and please add to whatever I've said. I'd love a good collection Marketing Strategies.Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09