Hello new authors!

[Susan]

It's great to meet you all! Remember, you can share and add friends as you wish. We want this to be a lively and effective group for everyone.
All my best, Susan.

[Cindy]

Thank you for the invite Susan! I am hoping to get my book exposed to some new readers.

[Susan]

Cindy wrote: "Thank you for the invite Susan! I am hoping to get my book exposed to some new readers."

That's why we're here!

[J.D.]

I don't mind helping others because I received a great deal of help when I first started on my journey.

[Susan]

J.D. wrote: "I don't mind helping others because I received a great deal of help when I first started on my journey."

Same here. I feel that it's part of what I should do as an author. :)

[Cindy]

I had a horrible publisher and had to take my rights back even though the book was doing well on Amazon. Took me a year to edit and finally republish this time self. So many people already read the first edition and even though this is new, new cover, new chapters. I am finding it hard to reach new people. Even having book at $0.99 hasn't helped.

[Cindy]

J.D. wrote: "I don't mind helping others because I received a great deal of help when I first started on my journey." That is so nice of you J.D.!

[Susan]

Cindy wrote: "I had a horrible publisher and had to take my rights back even though the book was doing well on Amazon. Took me a year to edit and finally republish this time self. So many people already read the..."

Grr. I had a bad publisher too. I am so sorry for you. But look, we can get the word out and hopefully better this time.

[Cindy]

Here is a link to a Facebook Group that we can all also post and help each other from. https://www.facebook.com/groups/14080...

[Charline]

Thank you for the group invitation, Susan!
I'm always happy to help promote other authors be it via blog tours, tweets, advice and/or book reviews as able. Feel free to message with any help needed!

[Cindy]

Emm wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I had a horrible publisher and had to take my rights back even though the book was doing well on Amazon. Took me a year to edit and finally republish this time self. So many people al..." Destiny (Forever & Always) and thank you so much Charline!

[Celeste]

Thank you for the invitation. I enjoy networking with other authors. We can all use help getting our books out to the world these days.

[Cindy]

Emm wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I had a horrible publisher and had to take my rights back even though the book was doing well on Amazon. Took me a year to edit and finally republish this time self. So many people al..."

Cindy wrote: "Emm wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I had a horrible publisher and had to take my rights back even though the book was doing well on Amazon. Took me a year to edit and finally republish this time self. So ma..." I mean Emm sorry Saw the name below it :)

[Dannye]

Thanks for the invite, Susan. Although I also write nonfiction, I am currently working on my fifth novel. Rather than beating around the bush, I'll just put it out there - I suck at marketing!
My work history has always been with very specific target markets - not the public. As a result, the marketing required for selling to the public feels more like a hit-and-miss operation. Anything that might help me open the door for my fiction writing would be welcome.

[Cindy]

Marketing is really hard and I have asked some of the top authors what works, some of their methods do, but mostly the best marketing comes from word of mouth and recommendations to others. One NYT best selling author told me she gives out 50+ copies of her books to get people talking about her book and get reviews on amazon. Most of us can't afford to do something like that. I have my book at $0.99 for the kindle and still struggling. Having to take my book down for a year really hurt as it was doing well and getting lots of reviews at the time. I do VA for a top author and have built her platform tremendously but it is a lot of hard work. Follow the link above and join the FB group. The more platforms we can converse the better we can all help each other.

[Cindy]

Yes it is on Goodreads and thank you Emm!

[Dannye]

Cindy wrote: "Follow the link above and join the FB group."

I just clicked on "Join Group" there. I don't get to Goodreads as much as I do Facebook. :-)

[Susan]

Dannye wrote: "Thanks for the invite, Susan. Although I also write nonfiction, I am currently working on my fifth novel. Rather than beating around the bush, I'll just put it out there - I suck at marketing!
My ..."

LOL. Well, you're welcome to suck here. Ha! :)

[Susan]

Cindy wrote: "Marketing is really hard and I have asked some of the top authors what works, some of their methods do, but mostly the best marketing comes from word of mouth and recommendations to others. One NYT..."

Are those 50 books eBooks or print?

[Cindy]

I am on Facebook most of the time as my job is running authors pages, plus I have my own so feel free to post questions there as well.

[Cindy]

Susan wrote: "Cindy wrote: "Marketing is really hard and I have asked some of the top authors what works, some of their methods do, but mostly the best marketing comes from word of mouth and recommendations to o..." She sends ARC's to her readers, some print approximately 25 rest Ebooks.

[Susan]

Cindy wrote: "I am on Facebook most of the time as my job is running authors pages, plus I have my own so feel free to post questions there as well."

Maybe we should be sharing posts so that we're getting the most bang out of the buck? I think we can do that automatically too? Definitely author pages can do auto-posts to Goodreads. I wonder if groups can too?

[Dannye]

LOL, Susan

[Susan]

Dannye wrote: "LOL, Susan"

I'm just thinking, is all! LOL.

[Cindy]

Susan wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I am on Facebook most of the time as my job is running authors pages, plus I have my own so feel free to post questions there as well."

Maybe we should be sharing posts so that we're..." Once we get everyone on FB maybe we can create a page as well so that it links to goodreads? just a thought so that we can rotate posts making sure everyones books get posted about, this also helps people not seeing repeat posts, as for me I feel sometimes that friends get annoyed seeing me post same things.

[Dannye]

Susan wrote: "Are those 50 books eBooks or print? "

I haven't found that giving away books is useful. Back in 2011 when I ran Breakthrough Bookstore, I gave away the first two novels I had written to six contest winners. Six months later, I finally emailed them to see if they had ever read the books. They hadn't. Most did after that, and the reviews were great, but I'm not sure they would ever have read them if I hadn't jogged their memories.

We gave away 200 copies of our nonfiction audio book which was a Bronze Award Winner in the 2004 Book of the Year Awards from ForeWord Magazine. There was absolutely no return from those give-aways. Before we officially published, most of the 200 (which were requested by the individuals) showed up unopened on third-party sellers sites. That rather tainted my feelings, I have to admit.

[Cindy]

Dannye wrote: "Susan wrote: "Are those 50 books eBooks or print? "

I haven't found that giving away books is useful. Back in 2011 when I ran Breakthrough Bookstore, I gave away the first two novels I had written..." Yes that is hard! I usually find that having a FB party did my book good justice. Got a lot of sales and reviews. I do these things for a living and have worked hard to build a following, but that publisher issue ruined a lot I had built.

[Susan]

Dannye wrote: "Susan wrote: "Are those 50 books eBooks or print? "

I haven't found that giving away books is useful. Back in 2011 when I ran Breakthrough Bookstore, I gave away the first two novels I had written..."

That's too bad. I sort of figured as much. I once retained a "read free for review" service and got several reviews from that. That seemed to be of some value. It wasn't all that expensive either as I recall. Maybe $30? Sort of cheap, right?

[Dannye]

Susan wrote: "Dannye wrote: "LOL, Susan"

I'm just thinking, is all! LOL."

I was actually responding to your comment about my being able to suck here! :-)

[Ann]

Cindy wrote: "Here is a link to a Facebook Group that we can all also post and help each other from. https://www.facebook.com/groups/14080..."

Joined, thanks. My novel is out today, lots of activity, but I'm taking a breath and settling in for the long haul. I find exchanging experiences with other authors is so valuable.

[Cindy]

Ann wrote: "Cindy wrote: "Here is a link to a Facebook Group that we can all also post and help each other from. https://www.facebook.com/groups/14080..."

Joined, thanks. My novel is out today, lots o..." Congratulations on your book! I agree exchanging experiences is extremely valuable to help us little fish in a big deep ocean!

[Aliya]

So happy to find this group! I am a (very) new author, with my first book (Sweet Vengeance) having been out all of 10 days now! I'm looking forward to learning from everyone here, especially about marketing, and hoping that I will have something to contribute as well!

[Cindy]

Aliya wrote: "So happy to find this group! I am a (very) new author, with my first book (Sweet Vengeance) having been out all of 10 days now! I'm looking forward to learning from everyone here, especially about ..." Welcome Aliya! Congratulations on your new release! There is a link in this thread for the FB group to join as well. Happy to help!

[Susan]

Cindy wrote: "Aliya wrote: "So happy to find this group! I am a (very) new author, with my first book (Sweet Vengeance) having been out all of 10 days now! I'm looking forward to learning from everyone here, esp..."

Great to know you! We'll be a very active and fun group.

[J.D.]

Marketing your book is so hard. I concentrated on visiting libraries around my central Illinois location and found they are very receptive to local authors. I use a spread sheet to keep track of who the librarian is, when contacted and library hours.
I offer to do a class for writers or a talk about writing and tell them I'll waive my speaking fee if I can sell books at these events. And frankly I don't have a speaking fee for libraries but it makes them happy to not have to pay. I have made more money from that than having books in a bookstore. (Print books)
Also I contact various organizations and offer to do a free talk if I can sell my books afterward. Most of them are very receptive as it's hard to find 12 speakers for their monthly meetings. Been well worth the effort.

[Aliya]

J.D. wrote: "Marketing your book is so hard. I concentrated on visiting libraries around my central Illinois location and found they are very receptive to local authors. I use a spread sheet to keep track of wh..."

I wondered about libraries! Thanks for that information. I will definitely look into it and see what can be worked out. :)

[Boyko]

Hi, nice to meet you all, you may find my books here and on Amazon, where currently Life after Life is free!
Best,
Boyko.
http://www.amazon.com/Boyko-Ovcharov/...

[Debra]

How timely that I found this group the week my 7th novel came out. Any help shouting out about it would be greatly appreciated. Here's the info :
A desperate teen. A faulty time machine. A rising body count.

Laken Mitchell has been bullied one time too many, but using a time machine to make her tormenters disappear means putting her own future—and her past—at perilous risk. THE GIRL IN THE TIME MACHINE is science fiction at its complex best. If you’re looking for a new twist to time travel, a heroine who dodges parallel universes, and a story that makes you think, then you’ll love this dark and mysterious tale.

Click the link to buy THE GIRL IN THE TIME MACHINE now and enter a world that will challenge your concept of time.
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Time-Machi... and Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Time-Machi...

[Susan]

Sounds like fun. Want to be a guest author on my blog? Send me a note at susan@susanwingate.com

[Susan]

Emm wrote: "Is there any advice anyone has for gaining an audience for well... a rather niche poetry book? I know poetry has such a hard knock life nowadays, especially odd poetry.
It's not finished yet, but ..."

Again, Emm, if you have something for fiction, awesome. Poetry is a little bear all its own. Lots of discussion could be given on it but, again, this is a fiction group.

[Karl]

Really pleased to meet everyone. There are some new faces here (new to me anyway). My only caution is that a group entitled Authors Helping Authors may draw unnecessary attention from the trolls

[Elena]

Hi everyone, nice to be here. Excited to engage with all of you. My first novel comes out in April and I'm not a PR person by nature (who is, right?) so having other authors to connect with is terrific. I can use all the advice I can get. Thank you Susan!

[Cindy]

Since the message was sent before some of you joined, we also have a FB group to join if you like. FB can be a little easier to converse and follow each other, share etc.. https://www.facebook.com/groups/14080...

[J.J.]

Hi everyone, I have just arrived here thanks to an invitation from Susan. My name is JJ Toner. I have 5 self-published novels on Amazon. Three of them are WW2 spy thrillers (in a series). They sell reasonably well - nothing JK Rowling or EL James, you understand, but enough to keep me writing. I'm writing a new WW2 spy story right now, and have little time for social media, but I'd like to help other authors if I can.

I think it would be helpful if the authors here gave us their names (not just first names) and maybe one Amazon link so that we could all take a look...

Here's a link to the first of my WW2 thrillers: http://smarturl.it/orchestra

JJ Toner

[Cindy]

Hi Everyone and great idea J.J.! My name is Cindy Springsteen. I have published 3 children's books, two are still online, but the other I am redoing and self-publishing before the end of this year if time allows. If you read above I had a terrible publishing experience, took back my rights and am now self-publishing. I just re-released my true based novel a couple weeks ago called Destiny (Forever & Always). You can find it here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B...

[John]

I just joined. Anxious to see what is in store

[Aliya]

Thanks for the suggestion, JJ! My name is Aliya DalRae, and as I mentioned above, I published my first paranormal romance novel about a week and a half ago. My links are below, and I look forward to checking out what everyone else is doing.

The Amazon link is: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1523691425/

You can also find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AliyaDalRae

[D.w.]

Hi everyone, good to meet you all. My name's David Wilson and I write historical crime novels set during the English Civil War under the name DW Bradbridge. I have three full length novels out and am currently researching the fourth. Looking forward to interacting with you all.

[J.D.]

Great idea JJ. I'm J. D. Webb and glad to be here. I write family friendly mysteries and the first chapter of my four books can be read on my website. (I like to say Webbsite) www jdwebb.com. I go by my middle name - Dave.

[Geraldine]

Hi everyone. Just joined. Nice to 'meet' you all!