Diversification

 (Photo credit: bernat...)
It's the same wherever you look. Diversification seems to be the saviour of retailers, manufacturers, publishers, and authors. In nature, whole species benefit from a tiny change in diet or colouration.

Doing something differently, using different tools, or coming at something from a different angle seems to do the trick to liven life up a little.

That's what I want right now - a bit of a difference to liven up my readership. This was the primary reason behind publication of my novella The Latin Cushion. Inventing a whole new character for a new series of detective mysteries based in Perth was a challenge, but I did it - and interest from my readers means I must continue!


Diversifying focus seems to refresh an author - and diversification of outlets also puts a fresh face on one's following. A brand new kind of reader seems to be discovering my fiction - and we all know that discoverability is the new buzz word in publishing.

Placing books in different places is also something that works. I find that Kobo is improving its search algorithms, extending its reach with Kobo Readers, and gaining ground in the UK... all good news for an author like me.

It just takes a few simple and inexpensive changes to make one's titles more noticeable, with surprising results.

If you are a reader, tell me what changes you intend to make in 2013.

If you are a writer: which changes have you found most useful?