Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
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No One To Save Me
Problems with Marketing a Memoir
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It would be under memoir, most bookshops have a biography/memoir section, we wouldn't put this in the fiction.As for your readers, basically its word of mouth, that's why book clubs can be influential, many book clubs members are women who can relate, and then they tell others. If you send copies to perhaps a women's magazine with a wide readership, they could do a print book review. A lot of magazines have health and wellbeing sections and run articles reflecting deep issues about family violence etc. Also many authors get interviewed on radio, which allows you to talk more about the book and your experience writing it.
Very few readers look at ads and then decide about a book. A lot of publishers these days don't do a lot of publicity only for well-known authors who've sold lots, then they will send you on book tours and book everything for you. If you are self published try and get on community radio or get involved with the local independent book fairs and bookshops. Because you aren't on any publishers catalogues backlists, bookshops don't know who to go to when asked to supply your book. You would need to talk to the owners, who would stock your books on the shelves, but they need to sell or they will get returned. (Its a different kettle of fish for audio and e-books).
I know an author of a similar memoir of survival sent a lot of free copies of her books to women's refuges and prisons. Prisons are captive audiences for books! Think about girls schools too. Young women need to read about these things, not just fluff. A lot of young adult literature deals with angst and fears, and need more literature to deal with 'the worst that can happen'. That's why dystopia fiction is so popular amongst that age group.
Hope that helps a bit!
Thank you so much for your wonderful advice and for taking the time to write. It means a lot to me. I will definitely take all your ideas on board and try them out.
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Kind of a coincidence...right after i posted this I did a search for a book I am starting that has no book jacket so I had no idea what it was about. Found out it is a book about a young girl who is molested by a much older man. We'll see if I stick with it.
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If it's a tale of survival, I think there's an audience for that. I myself do not gravitate to true crime unless there's some kind of justice or redemption at the end, or maybe its just someone I want to find out more about. I have read a few abuse memoirs that have stayed with me, I remember reading one about a young girl who joined an infamous cult in my town and wrote about her years there, and only just now as an adult had the guts to speak out about it after leaving.
I read one about author Witi Ihimaera who was raped as a boy, and he only wrote about it years later.
One that wasn't a memoir that I didn't want to read when it came out but I read later was about quintuplets and what happened to them when the mum split and remarried, the children were abused but the mum was murdered by the stepdad in front of them.
I read all the Torey Hayden books who taught and worked with many children who had been abused. I think its just her way of writing and a sense that the children are getting a breakthrough under her watch and care that kept me reading. All those children are survivors.
Hi guys my memoir does detail the abuse but it’s more about survival and healing. I faced up to what happened to me and decided I was going to live! I wasn’t going to let him win. I really hope you give my book a read. It’s going to be on free promotion next Wednesday to Friday. Please give it a read and leave an honest review. Thank you for your comments. I really appreciate any feedback.
Thank you