Author Interviews at Tim Greaton Forum... discussion
Hello thread
Tim wrote: "I'd like to challenge everyone to share some unique marketing ideas, no matter how crazy. I'm going to start by saying I've been kicking around the possibility of starting a short story website whe..."I don't think a site for short stories is a bad idea, but I'm a novelist. The short story is a different medium. Like oil painting and watercolor, the technique is not the same. It's also a different audience. Many people are in both, but I'm not and I don't call the short pieces in Imagiscape short stories, because they're not. I've been told by the very best editors and professors, "Stick to novels."
I'll serialize a novel, then sell it in a collection, when it's done. Actually, we should serialize novels, with a five dollar donation to a charity, for access to all those terrific indie authors' stories. Let's see, who would like to give us a lot of publicity for donations? Hmmm? Christmas is just around the corner. It's a minimum donation thing, of course. Perhaps, we should do it with already published books, so at the end of the campaign, the donors know they can get the rest of any stories they're following, and the eager can get them now.
I'm tired of this piddly-shit marketing. Describe your reader, not just your book. And don't use the name of anyone not in the program. "The work of that author will appeal to most people who like mine." (I wonder who's writing about quantum physics.) Dump the genre limitations. "With elements of" proliferate. Find a distinct way to identify the writers for the serial readers.... No, I won't do it. This isn't something that only I can.
It could be a terrific opportunity for the little indie publishers to show their skill. I think most would give authors' permission to serialize a book, but whether it should be limited to self-published is the decision for another.
Norma wrote: "Kellianne wrote: "Hello, I am Kellianne Sweeney and I just self published my first novel "The One That Got Away" this past June. I am new to almost everything! I am here because I met Tim on twitte..."Norma, Great blog! I tweeted.
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Hi, Norma. I purchased, read, and applied much of what I learned from John Locke a couple of months ago. Here's what I can say. I did not get 5000 hits on my "perfect blog" in the first week. I did not sell thousands of books (even though I have many titles available) in the first few weeks. I have formed friendships with a lot of great people on Twitter, and appreciate all of them but it hasn't turned into a million sales.
In short, I don't think John's theory and methods will translate for most writers...and I say this only because I know of a dozen who have tried every step with only tiny, if any, notable sales differences.
I would love for all of us to sit down and unravel what we think might be the disconnect, why it worked for him and not others. Does it really come down to "he wrote better books for mass market" or is there something we all can do to reach the same success?
The husband is off hunting. I'm all alone. Do you know what that means? ME TIME! I'm going to spend the rest of my day reading! Woot! I'll try to check back in later. Have a great holiday, everyone.
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Sharon, I love that you're using your name here (but think all authors should use their full names so readers can find them easier after seeing them on any threads :-))
Unfortunately, Sharon, after you mentioned serializing books, you completely lost me when you mentioned being tired of "piddly" marketing and that we should "describe our reader." I'd love to understand what you're thinking because it sounds like you're definitely outside the box :-)
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Sounds like a productive use of time to me,Sandy. 'Hope you have a great day :-)
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It's great to see you found us, Kellianne. 'Hope we can all share lots of ideas that ultimately lead us to the promised land of larger audiences :-)
Tim wrote: "Norma wrote: "Folks, I'm not sure how you will take this, considering that John Locke is a well known author and sells an enormous amount of books each day. However, I did write a blog after readin..."Tim, I sat down the other day and wrote a profile of my reader. When I work more diligently at promoting my book, I am going to keep this profile in mind. It won't mean that I will stop corresponding with friends but, at the same, I realize all friends don't carry the same interests as me.
As such, I will begin to split my time between both groups because what's the point in marketing my books to friends/family members who have no interest in my subject?
If, however, I discover other ideas which would work, I will be sure to let the group know.
Norma Budden - thought I would employ your idea for posting my first and last name in the thread comments. :)
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Hi, Norma. I'm going to be fascinating to see how your marketing works out. Please keep us posted, and don't ever hesitate to send me an email at tim@greateastdevelopment.net if I can ever help.
By the way, by posting your name on threads, I meant using it as a User ID so that everything you do is visible and easy to connect to your books for potential readers. I'm the easiest guy in the world to find on any site because my user name is either Tim Greaton or TimGreaton, depending on whether or not the site allows the space :-)
I guess I had a "duh" moment, Tim. Actually, I'm in the same company as you because I use my name everywhere. I'll forever be Norma Budden, even if I do tend to fool around with the pronunciation of my surname - to make it sound a little more exotic. LOL
What about having a blog for "Teasers"? Each author could contribute an excerpt of maybe 700 words per book to give the reader a good taste of the flavor and action. You could actually call it "Teasers" and subtitle it "Do you want a taste?" I don't know if this has already been done or not...just a thought.
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I like it, Kellianne :-)
Kellianne wrote: "What about having a blog for "Teasers"? Each author could contribute an excerpt of maybe 700 words per book to give the reader a good taste of the flavor and action. You could actually call it "Tea..."Kellianne, your wish is my command! :)
Take a look: Teasers ~ Take A Peek.
Kellianne wrote: "What about having a blog for "Teasers"? Each author could contribute an excerpt of maybe 700 words per book to give the reader a good taste of the flavor and action. You could actually call it "Tea..."Hey Kelliane, I think that is a good idea. Like the back jacket cover of your book or maybe a memorable quote from some of your characters that will spark an interest.
Tim wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Tim wrote: "I'd like to challenge everyone to share some unique marketing ideas, no matter how crazy. I'm going to start by saying I've been kicking around the possibility of startin..."You said it yourself, Twitter, blogs, etc. are trying to hit something with buckshot with a short powder load. Locke's methods don't work as well because he wasn't in the same market we are. All you have to do is look at dates and numbers. To attract a lot of attention, you need to borrow some loud speakers and make sure there are lots of booths with many interesting things at the crafts fair, for a good cause. Say you've got about a hundred books being serialized, a new piece every week, until a week before Christmas, and an amount goal for something that will really help. Maybe we should assure the whole book will be finished. A lot of people will still buy the book to get it all early. More will buy other books by authors they like.
My books sell to people who say, "That's me!" when I describe my audience. Watch some advertising. The product is 'for you,' not 'people who.' By cross-suggesting other authors, we can guide people to other works they'll probably enjoy and make it easier to find them. People who say they write for themselves should look in a mirror to get a description of their audience.
I'm actually going to buy an additional title of John Locke's to see how his stories are written. It may give me a little insight into why people keep seeking his books, especially those in his Donovan Creed series.
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I heard that Saving Rachel is one of the most popular books in his series. Hey! Could that be part of it? Is it possible people like shorter books - something they can finish in one sitting without losing sleep??? Then again, what's your definition of short? :)
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I'm guessing the humor might factor in, as well. My book is 31, 505 words apparently. I'm not promoting "The Affair" so much right now because I have a cover designer working on it, to make it appeal to men and women. After that, it's my intention to start featuring it a little more, especially after I get the next book published. I'll have to start writing it by the weekend, for sure.
Hello! I just saw Tim's Timely Tweet about this group. I really need to learn better promotion, because my sales are not good.
Hi Robin - It's nice to meet you! Have a seat and join in.
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Tim wrote: "Hi, Robin. I don't know that any of us currently has the secret ingredient to bestselling sales, but there have been some great ideas discussed, and I'm sure there will be a lot more before we're t..."Frequently I find myself absolutely bogged down with all the threads and blogs etc that I follow.(Don't we all?) I'm happy to say though that this thread I have followed with an avid interest.There is so much excitement being generated, it's almost tangible. I don't always reply to the comments but I read each one with interest.
Tee
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I'm looking forward to everyone sharing their thoughts. I can tell you that I believe Amazon threads are very effective for reaching writer/readers. I'm not sure at this time what the most effective way to reach pure readers might be, however.
Thoughts, everyone?
Tim wrote: "I know that we're all glad you're here, Tee. I do believe you have put your thumb on a writer's greatest challenge: how do we juggle all the networking communications, and maybe even more important..."Why thank you kind sir .... *curtseys deeply* ....
I'm published by Night Publishing. An on-line publishing house for Indie authors, which has grown amazingly since it's inception a year ago. The editing manager spends a fair amount of time watching the market and the following came to light:
1. Crime and Romance seem to be the biggest sellers over the last year. My latest book Shasta Summer was released as Romantic Time Travel Fantasy (which it is)and proof positive, it is #1 on Goodreads The Best Time Travel Romance at the moment, about 3 weeks now I think. My first novel Eye of Erasmus was released as Time Travel and it didn't move very much at all until we started putting it about that it was a romantic time travel fantasy (which it is)
One of my colleagues wrote a crime novel *Dark Shadows* and it has been rubbing shoulders with R.J. Ellroy. It doesn't mean that nothing else is selling just that Romance and Crime seem to be a popular genre.
2. Kindle ..... My publisher offered my book on Kindle as a free download when it was first released and I had 240 downloads out of nowhere instantly. Ok no sales at that time but it got my name out there (the name of the game) and after a short while I became #8 on Amazon US and UK. So it can be done. Having said that, Amazon Kindle is a bit like our Stock Exchange, and it was merely done to test the strength of the market.
3.Promote yourself anywhere and everywhere until you are sick to the back teeth with it.You get 'a feel' when something may be right for you. Remember if you don't ask you won't get. I pushed my local newspaper and radio station until they gave me a mention (I was local interest and just to shut me up I think.)
I went into my local library and introduced myself and offered to give talks to writing groups 'Rags to Riches' in the literary world.If the library stocks my book and it's popular, they will but in more (Kerching!) The local college (library section) heard of me and I went in and did video link ups, chatting about my books for their four colleges scattered around the UK. The group of colleges are four of the biggest in the Country (Kerching with on-line sales - not many but many a 'mickle' makes a 'muckle' as they say in the North of England.
Just one bit of promo may be the magic key which unlocks the vault to stardom. I was lucky as I was head hunted by my publisher. Why shouldn't you also be the lucky one?
Good luck to us all and hope that helps.
Tee
Teresa wrote: "Tim wrote: "Hi, Robin. I don't know that any of us currently has the secret ingredient to bestselling sales, but there have been some great ideas discussed, and I'm sure there will be a lot more be..."I find the entire self-promoting/social networking part of writing the most difficult. I know it's necessary but it doesn't come naturally or easily for me. I just want to write...but that's no longer possible. So, juggling and balancing the time it takes to market along with actually doing your work is a constant struggle.
As for Tim's question about reaching readers, I've reached out to local libraries. They often hold author fairs, book fairs, etc. and promote to their community base. I've been invited to participate in these, providing hand-outs, bookmarks, postcards (even candy!), while selling copies of my book, and reaching local readers.
I've also made a point to contact as many independent bookstores across the country about my books. Some are interested and have carried copies. Some aren't. So it's a lot of work...but I've actually had some sales in these indie stores.
Tim wrote: "I know that we're all glad you're here, Tee. I do believe you have put your thumb on a writer's greatest challenge: how do we juggle all the networking communications, and maybe even more important..."Why thank you kind Sir *curtseys deeply*
Both of my books the Eye of Erasmus and Shasta Summer are published by Night Publishing and I was lucky enough to be head hunted. I tell you this because if it can happen to me .....yes it can happen to you.
My managing editor at Night Publishing keeps a constant eye on the trends of sales and over the past months the evidence suggests that Romance and Crime have best sales.
Proof positive, Shasta Summer was put out as a Romantic Fantasy and it has been #1 on Goodreads *The Best Time Travel Romance* for about 3 weeks. Eye of Erasmus has been featured as Time Travel Fantasy and it hasn't fared so well. Yet both books form a trilogy of Romance and Time Travelling Fantasy - 2 books in one in Shasta Summer.
Kindle - Night Publishing offered free downloads of Shasta Summer as an exercise and out of nowhere I had 240 downloads instantly. Ok arguably no sales but it got my name out there (the name of the game.) Off the back of that I was suddenly #8 on Amazon US in Romantic Time Travel Fantasy. Kindle is a bit like the Stock Exchange, and of course it didn't last long, but how great to say you're #8 on Amazon Kindle.
Promotion - I've been promoting myself until I'm sick to the back teeth with it. I follow and 'belong' to so many sites but one of them may just hold that 'magic key to the vault of money.' This is why I'm so focused and also, lets look where it gets me.
For instance ....
1. I badgered my local newspaper and radio station until they finally gave me several articles/mentions - probably to get me off of their back, but now when I ring in to the programme they not only remember me, but also ask me how the book/sales etc are going and take an interest. Helping my promotion by mentioning that I've rung in and how the conversation went.
2. The local college campus (library section) got to hear of me and asked me if I would go in to do video link ups on their internal sites explaining my 'rise to fame' in the literary world. (To help their English/Literature Section). There are 4 colleges in the group spread about the UK and are the biggest in the country. A few sales were derived from this.(Kerching !!)
3. I went into the local main library complex where I live and introduced myself and offered to give talks on writing/publication/pit falls to avoid etc. Not only did they welcome me they set up a time frame there and then. This is planned for December 2011. If the talks are popular and there is interest they will stock my books for lending out. They will have to buy the books - More Kerching!! I did offer them an incentive of 2 books for their shelves though after the deal was done. *Speculate to accumulate* Also for each occasion that a book is lent out I get £0.2p (a couple of dimes I guess)but as they say in the North of England... *many small mickles makes a muckle*
Hopefully some of these ideas will begin to generate other thoughts, and before we know it that snowball will be a massive snowman or igloo to house many.
Tee
Veronica wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Tim wrote: "Hi, Robin. I don't know that any of us currently has the secret ingredient to bestselling sales, but there have been some great ideas discussed, and I'm sure there will b..."As I said unfortunately nothing comes easy ...sigh! ... but it's got to be done. I try to divide my time up. A couple of hours promoting and a couple writing. In truth I just want to write my heart out. So many ideas for stories and so little time. A writers lot I guess :-)
On 11 October 2011 15:13, Bryden Lloyd wrote:This is a powerful book, written by an exceptional author, which utilises the historical records of the future to tell of humanity’s decline into chaos as our planet is suddenly pummelled into extinction by both natural disaster and the alien forces that converge to harvest, and battle over, what can be salvaged from a dying civilisation. A gentle narrative tells of the death and destruction with superb elegance, skill and remarkable descriptive, which leaves the reader in little doubt as to what the darker side of us can truly be.
In the safety of a new, peaceful, idyllic world, the ‘story’ of the end of the Earth, is told in graphic excellence with a flowing storyline and beautifully written characters. The narrative is one of the best I have read, and the author leaves out none of our 'flaws' as she uses human weakness to bring the 'good guys' to the brink of self-destruction and, ultimately, their knees.
The story is told by an old woman, once a young teacher who is thrust into having to survive when the first of many ‘natural disasters’ intervenes in her predetermined path in life, and through the interviews of a reporter who witnessed those final days and now, many years on, is interviewing the ‘criminals’ who sought to conquer and survive at any cost. In contrast to the old woman, who tells her story in front of a willing and captive audience, the reporter finds himself facing the hatred and bigotry of 'Old Earth', as he seeks to recover the first-hand accounts from the now aged and dying prisoners and those who followed them, both willingly and through necessity.
The alien forces provide an unnerving backdrop of threat to the characters throughout, not just the ones you would like to see finished off, making this a nice twist to the normal sci-fi epic read that I would normally go for but the alien presence is far from the domineering element of the story, which is dominated by the human struggle against itself and the dying planet.
I loved this book, and found it was impossible for me not to continue reading, as the story would keep pulling me back in a need to know more. I must recommend Story Time to all sci-fi lovers, as well as those looking for an Action/Adventure. Even if sci-fi is something you haven’t considered, you should read this. You won’t regret it!
I won't do this sort of thing too often...I was just so proud I wanted to share. Hope you all are having a great day! Nel
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Hey all, KK Sierra posted a nice blog about Reclaiming Ter Chadain, my first novel in the series. Check it out:http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%...
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C.S. wrote: "Hey all, KK Sierra posted a nice blog about Reclaiming Ter Chadain, my first novel in the series. Check it out:http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%......"
CS - That was beautiful. Congrats! I tweeted.
Thank you, Tim...and all of you other fine, furry friends! LOL! Nel
Linell wrote: "On 11 October 2011 15:13, Bryden Lloyd wrote:This is a powerful book, written by an exceptional author, which utilises the historical records of the future to tell of humanity’s decline into cha..."
Linell, Great review! Congrats. I liked and tagged the book and tweeted.
Thank you, Sandy! Without friends like you where would I be? Nel
Sandy wrote: "C.S. wrote: "Hey all, KK Sierra posted a nice blog about Reclaiming Ter Chadain, my first novel in the series. Check it out:http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%......"
Thanks Sandy for the tweet and the positive comment.
C.S. wrote: "Sandy wrote: "C.S. wrote: "Hey all, KK Sierra posted a nice blog about Reclaiming Ter Chadain, my first novel in the series. Check it out:http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%......"
Linell & C.S.,
You are both very welcome!
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Great news Tim...wish I could achieve those kind of sales. On the other hand you are always on the premium catalogue pages and I've been hearing Buzzzzz about your books forever. (well, since I was first published and started following the threads.) Congrats---you are an inspiration to us all.
Tim wrote: "Two months ago I received an Advance Reader's Edition of a book from Farrar Straus Giroux. The book has been available on the open market for over a month now, and I was shocked when I just checked..."Great to hear Tim, but being new at this, what is a "good" ranking from an unknown author with his first novel?
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I will say that Shirley and her son JC Allen are on the right track. "M.O.D." has consistently been hovering between 10K and 30K on the charts. That might not make them rich but the consistency is impressive and likely suggests that book will keep climbing the charts (I'm reading it now :-)
Yes, I know! M.O.D. is being featured in my book store right now, and although no one has purchased the book yet, it sure is getting alot of buzz. Anyone of you who would like to send books and promo material to me and my store please contact me at www.linelljeppsen.com, or nelj88@hotmail.com for additional information. That includes you, Tim!
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Nel, my brother is already planning to send you a number of books. He's waiting for me to finish my final edit review of "Zachary Pill, The Dragon at Station End" and then three titles will be on their way :-)
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CS, There really isn't any benchmark. I know first time authors who have been in the top 1000 within a few months. I, however, have been at this for a little over a year (e-books) and my best rating on Amazon so far has been 17,600. The truth be known, that number doesn't really even matter. What matters is are you selling enough books to meet your own goals? Every month I look to do better in sales than the month before...and so far I have. Of course, I'd be a lot happier if I was sitting on a #1 NY Times bestseller, but I figure that's going to be another few months :-)
I'm so happy that you are sending your fine books to the store...can't wait! Nel
Linell wrote: "I'm so happy that you are sending your fine books to the store...can't wait! Nel"Linell, I will be honored to send you what you need for my novel, Reclaiming Ter Chadain, if that is alright with you. You can let me know what you would like at csyelle@charter.net
Thanks,
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Welcome aboard, Kellianne. I also have a blog featuring books and it is only a couple of days old. Feel free to take a look. E-Books and Book Reviews.
There are some fantastic people in this thread; you are among very good company here and I only joined this group about a week ago, perhaps. :)