McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Writer Promotion

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Paige:
I was wondering how much promotion type stuff Jim had to and/ or does for his books?

In the romance genre authors are promotion slap happy. Bookmarks, pens, magnets, postcards, promotional mailing lists/ newsletters, magazine ads, websites, Amazon author pages, sticking bookmarks in utility bill payments, blogs, book signings, speaking engagements, press kits, chats, conducting workshops, posting on tons of email loops and forums... It’s endless and quite frankly overwhelming.
Is it the same full-court-press for other genres too? Does any of that stuff really make a difference or is it just swimming up stream?

Thoughts?

~Paige 

Shannon:
I try not to speak on Jim's behalf too much since I know people would rather hear it from Himself, but he's so busy right now I thought I'd cover this one.

Jim doesn't do a bunch of promotion for his work.  He usually has some kind of give-away for people and of course, there's the fabulous website Fred designed.  He goes to conventions and talks to people online, but other than that, there's not really too much.  He's a strong believer that if you write a good book and put your energy into that, eventually word of mouth will do the promotion for you.  Seems to be working pretty well for him.  :)

Paige:
Hi, Shannon!!  ;D
I'm just as happy to hear from you as Jim. The information was what I was after.

I didn't really picture Jim as the postcard and bookmark kinda author. I personally have never bought a book because of some promotional item. I found Jim through word of mouth, just like I found Kelly Armstrong, Kim Harrision, LKH, Anne Rice, etc... In fact I've never seen a promotional item from any of those authors except for the occasional ad, which I only noticed after I started reading them.

You're a new romance author...are you feeling the pressure to go promotion crazy? The market feels so much more flooded with romance than the other genres, maybe that's why it's different for us.
I do like the...write it well and they will read...mentality. I'm just not sure I have enough of that kind of steely mentality. ~L~
Thanks for the info!!
~Paige

Mickey Finn:
I've bought exactly one book because of that kind of promotion...because, honestly, after you meet Selina Rosen, it's kinda impossible not to be curious about her prose.

Shannon:

--- Quote from: Paige on June 16, 2006, 01:10:12 PM ---
You're a new romance author...are you feeling the pressure to go promotion crazy?
--- End quote ---

I'm going to get some bookmarks printed up as long as I like the cover art, but I'm probably not going to be big on the promo-stuff either.  I know that a lot of romance authors do work hard on self-promotion and if that makes them happy, then that's great, but I don't think it's for me.  I could always change my mind because it's my right as a woman, but that's how I feel about it right now.

Feel free to ask me about this again when the first book comes out in Feb.  I might see things differently then.  ;D

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