Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library discussion
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I'm not in the industry, myself, so I don't know what the official promotion steps typically are. However, as a reader, there are a few things that typically cause me to chose a book:
a) I like the cover. I know, you're not supposed to pick books by their covers, but I typically do - at least when I'm in a bookstore, browsing the shelves. The cover art has to appeal, the info on the back has to catch my attention ... I've probably missed out on lots of great books simply because the covers didn't call out to me.
b) A recommendation by a trusted friend. Not the critics, or any random person, but someone who I know has tastes similar to my own and has read it. Sometimes, if I'm already on the fence about a book I'll try it if another author I've enjoyed recommends it.
c) I'm familiar with the author, having enjoyed other books written by the same. (I know, this one really isn't going to help you out since we're talking about your first novel ... but if I like your first book, I'm definitely going to look for more from you in the future!)

Thanks for trying to be creative, I've seen way too many authors taking over discussion threads with boring self-promo BS. That being said, get the word out there! I assume that since you are are SF writer, that you also love to read SF. So, add your opinions and suggestions to discussion topics, and feel free to throw your book in there as well. I know that if I saw you recommend some great SF books, then I'd give you more cred.
On that same note, update your profile! Whenever I see a Goodreads author, I LOVE to see what they have on their shelves, and I'll even do a COMPARE BOOKS to see if I like their style. I noticed that your personal GR site is different than your official GR site, which you should definitely add to: http://www.goodreads.com/author/confi...
You can also keep an eye on who has marked your book as 'read' or 'to read.' send them an email thanking them for reading your book, and humbly ask if they share their thoughts with friends. And have YOUR friends share their thoughts as well.
Lastly, it helps when writing about your book to make a direct link like this Charyli, Where Love Never Fails
I hope some of these ideas help. If it means anything, I've put your book on my to-read shelf! Good luck!

Positive word of mouth from reviewers, friends, or even other authors whose tastes I share. This is where self-publishing puts you at a disadvantage. There is a certain stigma attached to books that haven't gone through the profesional selection and editing processes.
At this point, the only online reviewer I know of who reviews self-published sci-fi and fantasy is Dark Wolf. You might want to ask him if you can send him a copy of your book.

1) A recommendation from someone whose tastes are similar to mine
2) A good review from another author whose works I like
3) A truly original aspect to the writing -- for example, Garth Nix's use of bells for his necromancer, or any of Ted Chiang's short stories with their odd takes on seemingly commonplace things.
3) I pick it up, read the first page or two and a random page in the middle, and writing pulls me in. Not necessarily what's going on (though that helps), but the prose itself needs to be cliche-free, technically at least competent if not downright elegant, good strong vocabulary. My husband and I have had many a good debate on whether we would rather read a good story done by a mediocre writer, or a ho-hum story by a terrific writer. Pretty much every time we vote for the latter. The former can suck you in because you want to know what happens next, but it's like slogging through mud to get there and you feel kind of yukky when you're done :)
(BTW, none of the links to your book work...)

2) Books my husband hands me and tells me to read. He's the big reader...
3) Friends' recommendations.
4) Sometimes if I hear about it on TV, radio, or internet ... when the subject matter catches my fancy -- like gothic fantasy, vampires, celtic themes, etc...

I would like to know what your book is about.
I like what A.L. Travis did above, no pushing, just a place I can check it out and that's what I'm going to do right now.
If you don't want to self-promote here, then please, by all means, send me a PM. If it's something I'm interested in, I'll buy it.

Bill B.

An author on GR recently sent me a gift certificate to Amazon if I would agree to buy his book & another, by a different author. He'll get a good review - or none, rather than a bad review. If I like the book, I'll likely buy the next two in the trilogy & I'll spread the word. He made the offer to the first 10 people. I hope it works out for him.

It's Shaihen Heritage Book 1 Cloak of Magic by SA Rule. Book 2 Staff of Power will be published in January 2009.
Book 3 is work in progress.
If you want to take up this offer, email sa.rule@btinternet.com
More about the book and the world on http://www.shehaios.co.uk
Sue

Is it an e-book or paperback?
I'm only asking because I do not get the computer time I need to read online.

To confirm, Cloak of Magic is a paperback ISBN No. 0 7552 1030 1 published by Authors OnLine Ltd. Bright Pen imprint.
I've just updated the website with news of Book 2 Staff of Power.
Sue
http://www.shehaios.co.uk

The other reasons are able to be seen below:
a) That book is written by my favourite writer or by the author I've already known his name. It's not fair for the new writers, I've to admit. But I can't help it.
b) It is recommended by my book-lover friends or brilliant and kind mentors. It's the best way to know the authors or the works I've never heard. You would usually find 'good' books whenever you follow those suggestions.
c) It is best-known as a classic in its field.
d) It is published with a pretty, or not bad, cover. Not a wise thing. I don't advice to do.
e) It is promoted in a newspaper or gets a critical by critics. It helps you to choose, but not much.
f) This is the last reason. If having nothing in mind, I will do these. Random some. Pick up one. Read the first page and the cover. Find what it is talking about. If it's 'interesting' enough, I will buy.

You don't want to shove your book down everyone's throats; but people tend to buy books by authors they know and like. If they don't know you how do you ever establish a toehold?
You just want a few people to read it and then the word will spread. That few has to be quite a few before you get "critical mass" and start a ball rolling. How do you find them?
I'm only identifying the questions - and why self-published writers tend to "shove their book down everyone's throats". I wish I knew some answers.
Nothing sells itself, no matter how good it is. I want people to read my book because I think they'll enjoy it. But I have no-one else to shout about it for me except the people who have read it and DID enjoy it. And you don't know them.
I feel the publishing industry lets down both readers and writers badly by its inertia in building a structure for both encouraging and promoting good, original new writing.
If you want to send me a review copy of your book in return for a review, I'll send you one of mine. Maybe we can push each other's books down people's throats....!!
Best of luck anyway,
Sue


How I find authors....
1) Recommendations from friends
2) Good reviews
3) Sites like Good Reads
I always read the "blurb" and if possible try to read a sample chapter before I buy. I'm rarely swayed by a cover - though I have NOT bought because of a bad cover I don't think a good cover ever got me to read.


To Quote SUE: "I feel the publishing industry lets down both readers and writers badly by its inertia in building a structure for both encouraging and promoting good, original new writing."
This is absolutely true and self-defeating on the part of the publisher. A new author doesn't have much choice but to self-promote until they are a well known name.
I don't feel that anyone has 'shoved' their books down my throat. They've told me about them and if it's to my liking, I will read them.
Case in point: Sue offered me her Cloak of Magic which I read and fell in love with. Now Sue has a new fan who is sure to buy the next two books in this series and possibly other novels she may write in the future.
If she never made the offer I would never have found her novel on my own.
And more importantly, I am telling my fantasy-reading friends about it and sending it one in particular. A win-win situation for all.
One of the reasons I enjoy this site is the fact that I am finding new authors that I would never have found otherwise.


I've seen commercials for James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts on TV, do THEY really need that advertising? I don't think so. I read Dean Koontz and James Patterson and I know long before the book is even published that it's coming out from the LAST book of their's I just read. And by word of mouth from others who read them.


It makes sense to market a well-established best-selling author to non-readers (like many of those who watch TV), because (1) readers are much more likely to find out about new books on their own - as we're doing here - and (2) if the non-reader enjoys that first book, there are already lots more out there to be purchased!

If the new authors' books don't sell, then the publishing company doesn't make money.

Publishers have a limited budget; they receive the best return on their advertising investment when they attract new readers to established authors.

It makes me sad because there are so many books I'll never hear about.

It makes me sad because there are so many books I'll never hear about.
That's why I created Author Guy, to bring the books my publisher, Echelon Press, makes into public venues and make people more aware of them. And sell as many as I can, of course. I'm not in any bookstores, so I made my own. Echelon has quite a few titles in the fantasy vein (fantasy, paranormal, afterlife, ghostly/psychic mysteries, etc.) that you might like.


I'm not in the industry, myself, so I don't know what the official promotion steps typically are. However, as a reader, there are a few things that typically cause me to c..."
Allison, if you like a great book cover, check this site out: http://www.constellationchronicles.com

I really enjoy tooling around on Goodreads and seeing what others have on their shelves, comparing books, and looking at author pages. (I spend waaaaaay too much time online that way, that I could be spending reading = )
I think authors who actively participate AS READERS have a much better chance of getting positive attention from GR site users.
I have to admit that some of these authors that insert their book promo stuff into threads where it isn't applicable annoys me enough that I won't be touching those books. Now, if you were participating in a thread, and had a sig line in all your posts with a quick blurb/website about your book (like one line or so), then I'd be checking it out.
A good example of this is Robin, who is the wife of a GR author and she judiciously promotes his book, while participating as a reader in quite a few discussions.
Especially irritating are authors who don't seem to know what the topic of the thread is and just plug their book regardless, creating a jarring bump (or halt) in the thread.
Good luck with your book!

http://www.cardshark.com/content/view...
my first science fiction novel came out. i don't want to shove it down everyone's throats, so i won't. as a reader, i read books suggested to me by my friends, rarely by promotions in windows or magazines.
so, how should i promote my novel? i really just want a few people to read it, and then i believe the word will spread.
so my question is, what pushes you to read a novel? i must reach the readers, ya know?