Author Interview – Connie Barrett : Part 2
Within the Indie Author Hub, you can learn about other authors, their thoughts and opinions, what makes them tick and how their writing process works for them.
All this week I will be releasing segments of an interview I conducted with fellow fantasy author, Connie Barrett. Have a look at her profile and books here.
Part 2 : Promoting her work
How do you promote yourself online? As I am a basic recluse, I was initially overwhelmed by social media. Eventually, I realized that I would only do it if it was fun. Interviews like this are fun, and I’m doing more of them. Facebook and Pinterest are also fun. I have a website that’s also fun, but I tend to ignore it more than is good for it or me. I have a quarterly newsletter that’s also fun.
How do you target you audience effectively? With my new book, aimed at cat lovers, I’ve joined a number of cat-related Facebook groups and other formats. I share a lot of their articles. My quarterly newsletter often summarizes articles from cat-related blogs and lists their URLs. People who aren’t interested in cats won’t read my books. However, based on what I see, there’s a large and thriving community (or communities) of cat lovers. Reaching that audience gives me plenty to do. In time, I will ask for book reviews from some of these sites, but I think a principle too many authors (and other entrepreneurs) forget is that of giving and sharing. I really like these sites/pages/blogs. I would like to help them grow, and I would like to reach their audiences because I believe I have a book that will entertain cat lovers.
What are your thoughts on promotion? A big part of promotion is foundational work involving learning from other authors: what techniques work for them, what paid promotion venues seem to be paying off. The world of promotion is a constantly shifting seascape, and information from others make the best navigational tools. And authors’ groups/forums are another good place to give, whether it’s information or congratulations or commiseration.
How do you deal with rejection or a bad review? This was my biggest fear: that I would be totally crushed and never write again. Before had my first bad review experience, I’d read many other authors’ accounts of their bad-review experiences. I certainly realized I wasn’t alone. When the bad-review experience came to me, I was much more able to put it into perspective. Ultimately, I don’t write so that people will like me. If they do, wonderful. If they don’t, they will find another author, and I will find other readers.
How do you keep yourself motivated? Writing is so much fun for me that motivation is easy. This year I took it up a step and decided that in my writing and in my life I am inspired, which for me adds passion to motivation.
How did you publish? I had a contract with a publishing house, but for various reasons, I legally cut myself loose and self-published. I use both KDP and Smashwords.
What do you think the future of publishing will be? I don’t know, but it’s bound to be interesting. Only one thing matters to me: that people read and think for themselves. I think the rise of indie publishing favors that wish.
In seven words of less, what’s your top tip for aspiring authors? Believe in yourself and write, write, write.
