Comments on: Hawking the Wares http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:50:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Cele http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225737 Cele Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:58:28 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225737 Promotion from a reader's standpoint. For years the publisher's publicity would draw me in and drop me like a rock. I fell hook, line, and sinker for the leaders, and then was sad when the book didn't live up to the hype. It didn't happen often, but often enough for me to quit paying attention. What works for me is blogs like this one. Not only has it turned me on to the great writers that are a part of this blog, but it has brought to me writers who are not on this panel. It is the community created, the give and take that works for me. I am jazzed when one of your books come out. When I see one on the rack in the store and notice someone looking for a book to buy I grab one, or four of the books from writers right here and recommend it/them to the browser (Fred Meyer's and BiMart should pay me commission.) Then I tell her about this blog or comment that they should see if the writers they like have blogs. One great thing about writing blogs (besides the community) is that these blogs attract other writers, it is a gold mind for readers. Promotion from a reader’s standpoint. For years the publisher’s publicity would draw me in and drop me like a rock. I fell hook, line, and sinker for the leaders, and then was sad when the book didn’t live up to the hype. It didn’t happen often, but often enough for me to quit paying attention.

What works for me is blogs like this one. Not only has it turned me on to the great writers that are a part of this blog, but it has brought to me writers who are not on this panel. It is the community created, the give and take that works for me. I am jazzed when one of your books come out. When I see one on the rack in the store and notice someone looking for a book to buy I grab one, or four of the books from writers right here and recommend it/them to the browser (Fred Meyer’s and BiMart should pay me commission.) Then I tell her about this blog or comment that they should see if the writers they like have blogs.

One great thing about writing blogs (besides the community) is that these blogs attract other writers, it is a gold mind for readers.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225736 Amanda Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:24:37 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225736 At the last National I got the coolest thing. For Jordan Dane's No One Heard Her Scream I got a personal security alarm. You pull out the pin and the thing is so noisy everyone in a three block radius is going to hear the thing. It goes on your keychain. At the last National I got the coolest thing. For Jordan Dane’s No One Heard Her Scream I got a personal security alarm. You pull out the pin and the thing is so noisy everyone in a three block radius is going to hear the thing. It goes on your keychain.

]]> By: Tez Miller http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225735 Tez Miller Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:00:53 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225735 Agreed, Roxanne - I have a pal who had a novel published by a small press. She's since split with the pub, but she posted a free novella on her website, and it's had more downloads than the print/eBook versions of her published novel. "Free" is truly the magic word ;-) I don't receive many promo items, unless I've won them in contest. Signed, personalised books are #1. Because they're personalised, they'll never be resold or given away, which means they'll stay on my shelf, which means I'll see it every day... ARCs are #2. See above. Just like the finished product, only with titles. Still entirely awesome. (Have about 100 pages left to read of <i>Eve of Darkness</i>; I'm a bit slow lately.) Cover flats are #3. I have a display folder of them, and sometimes I bring it out just to look at the pretty. Because I'm superficial, obviously ;-) Bookmarks are #4. I usually stick with one particularly bookmark until it's torn, goes missing, or I've acquired another I like better. But lately, my bookmark has been slipping out of its spot whilst the book has been in my tote bag. Maybe I need a bookmark that isn't glossy, has more texture... This is just as a reader's perspective, mind you; I'm by no means professional ;-) Have a lovely day! :-) Agreed, Roxanne – I have a pal who had a novel published by a small press. She’s since split with the pub, but she posted a free novella on her website, and it’s had more downloads than the print/eBook versions of her published novel. “Free” is truly the magic word ;-)

I don’t receive many promo items, unless I’ve won them in contest. Signed, personalised books are #1. Because they’re personalised, they’ll never be resold or given away, which means they’ll stay on my shelf, which means I’ll see it every day…

ARCs are #2. See above. Just like the finished product, only with titles. Still entirely awesome. (Have about 100 pages left to read of Eve of Darkness; I’m a bit slow lately.)

Cover flats are #3. I have a display folder of them, and sometimes I bring it out just to look at the pretty. Because I’m superficial, obviously ;-)

Bookmarks are #4. I usually stick with one particularly bookmark until it’s torn, goes missing, or I’ve acquired another I like better. But lately, my bookmark has been slipping out of its spot whilst the book has been in my tote bag. Maybe I need a bookmark that isn’t glossy, has more texture…

This is just as a reader’s perspective, mind you; I’m by no means professional ;-)

Have a lovely day! :-)

]]> By: Terry Odell http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225734 Terry Odell Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:14:41 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225734 Just got here after spending much time designing bookmarks and postcards and making new business cards. Such timing! My current release is published by a house that targets the library market. I'm learning a whole new approach to promotion. I like excerpt books. Those are about the only things I carry home from conferences -- although I eat any chocolate. Just got here after spending much time designing bookmarks and postcards and making new business cards. Such timing!

My current release is published by a house that targets the library market. I’m learning a whole new approach to promotion.

I like excerpt books. Those are about the only things I carry home from conferences — although I eat any chocolate.

]]> By: Roxanne St. Claire http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225733 Roxanne St. Claire Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:20:48 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225733 Great blog, Sylvia. You are an amazing promoter and I have not doubt *all* your writing names will be known by booksellers and readers. Before becoming a full time writer, I spent MANY years as a PR and advertising executive. As much as one would think that would come in handy when it came time to self-promote, it actually paralyzed me because I knew from experience that it takes a MAJOR amount of money to make an impact on any one audience. So, from the beginning, I've chosen both one audience and one major promo per book. The thing is, you can't reach everyone. So the best thing to do is focus on a group, i.e. booksellers and librarians or reader groups or the major distributors, and devise one good tactic to reach them with the "brand" you're trying to sell. For example, I had excerpt booklets made of a few of my books and sent them in addition to bookmarks to bookstores all over the country for them to give away to romance readers. Best promotion ever? The one I'm still running - a free download of one of my novellas. People like free stuff!! Great blog, Sylvia. You are an amazing promoter and I have not doubt *all* your writing names will be known by booksellers and readers. Before becoming a full time writer, I spent MANY years as a PR and advertising executive. As much as one would think that would come in handy when it came time to self-promote, it actually paralyzed me because I knew from experience that it takes a MAJOR amount of money to make an impact on any one audience. So, from the beginning, I’ve chosen both one audience and one major promo per book.

The thing is, you can’t reach everyone. So the best thing to do is focus on a group, i.e. booksellers and librarians or reader groups or the major distributors, and devise one good tactic to reach them with the “brand” you’re trying to sell.

For example, I had excerpt booklets made of a few of my books and sent them in addition to bookmarks to bookstores all over the country for them to give away to romance readers.

Best promotion ever? The one I’m still running – a free download of one of my novellas. People like free stuff!!

]]> By: Sasha White http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225732 Sasha White Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:09:41 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225732 My favorite way to promote is in person. Unfortualtely, It's easy to say if you're good at/comfortable with public speaking to arrange readings and such, but not as easy to do for some of us. I, personally Love public speaking. I love to give reading, talking books and craft, but I live in Northern Alberta. The bookstores up here are not liek int he US. Not where I live anyway. They don't want readings, and they don't have bookclubs and such to speak to. There is no local writing chapters here. I go to confrences, and I manage to get a workshop or two in, with some dear friends, yet for whatever reason, when I try to get in touch with captains of my genre to take part intheri workshops , they never reply. It's very clique..sort of like high school once again. LOL Doing it all online is what I do mostly simply becasue I have no choice. I don;t prefer it, I prefer in person. but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. As for what I se that makes me buy? Excerpts. or when I meet someone who I find personable. LOl I buy their book, even if I never read it. My favorite way to promote is in person. Unfortualtely, It’s easy to say if you’re good at/comfortable with public speaking to arrange readings and such, but not as easy to do for some of us.

I, personally Love public speaking. I love to give reading, talking books and craft, but I live in Northern Alberta. The bookstores up here are not liek int he US. Not where I live anyway. They don’t want readings, and they don’t have bookclubs and such to speak to. There is no local writing chapters here.

I go to confrences, and I manage to get a workshop or two in, with some dear friends, yet for whatever reason, when I try to get in touch with captains of my genre to take part intheri workshops , they never reply. It’s very clique..sort of like high school once again. LOL

Doing it all online is what I do mostly simply becasue I have no choice. I don;t prefer it, I prefer in person. but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

As for what I se that makes me buy? Excerpts. or when I meet someone who I find personable. LOl I buy their book, even if I never read it.

]]> By: Debbie http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225731 Debbie Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:18:06 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225731 I've seen candy, bookmarks, door hangers, bath salts, excerpt booklets, pens, pads of paper, etc. Everyone loves to eat the candy but, I'm not sure that they make the author association. Sometimes people walk into the goody rooms just looking for chocolate. I can't say that any of these things have ever brought about a book purchase from me. I do keep the pens and pads, and because I use them, they build name recognition for me. But excerpts on a web site, blog and friend recommendations, and feeling like I know the author, will often get me to pick up a book by an author I haven't tried before. I’ve seen candy, bookmarks, door hangers, bath salts, excerpt booklets, pens, pads of paper, etc. Everyone loves to eat the candy but, I’m not sure that they make the author association. Sometimes people walk into the goody rooms just looking for chocolate. I can’t say that any of these things have ever brought about a book purchase from me. I do keep the pens and pads, and because I use them, they build name recognition for me. But excerpts on a web site, blog and friend recommendations, and feeling like I know the author, will often get me to pick up a book by an author I haven’t tried before.

]]> By: Stella Price http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225730 Stella Price Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:05:30 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225730 I love the promotional side of it. As a small press author, its really the only way we (my sister and I) are going to get recognition. So Im a big fan of the promotional game, and I have met so many cool people and readers because of it. Our best promotional item? Anything that has our catch phrase "I do it Demonstyle" on it. We have everything from Small magnets to t shirts to bumper stickers, and lemme tell you, people love the stickers. Granted the promotional thing has been a slow process, what with the limited distribution our publishers have, but its steadily growing for us. What else works for us? Pens, key chains, book cards and brochures. And I agree SJ, the expense is through the roof, and I'm always finding more ways to make it cheaper for us. Thankfully I have had great luck in that. Online promotions have just started to get working for us, and we have been around for a little over three years. I have completely stopped doing loop chats, but the guest blogging and the interviews as well as free reads (listed on our website and ARe) have helped too. So whats the best promo I have seen from an author? Playing cards with her book's series emblem on it. That's awesome and such a great idea, though hella pricey. I'm always looking for new ideas though, and have found that readers like stuff, and the more stuff you can tie into your books (We have done candles, jewelry, bath salts and symbols) the more they wanna know about your work, and you. Great post BTW! this is my first time here but it wont be my last. I love the promotional side of it. As a small press author, its really the only way we (my sister and I) are going to get recognition.

So Im a big fan of the promotional game, and I have met so many cool people and readers because of it.

Our best promotional item? Anything that has our catch phrase “I do it Demonstyle” on it. We have everything from Small magnets to t shirts to bumper stickers, and lemme tell you, people love the stickers.

Granted the promotional thing has been a slow process, what with the limited distribution our publishers have, but its steadily growing for us. What else works for us? Pens, key chains, book cards and brochures.

And I agree SJ, the expense is through the roof, and I’m always finding more ways to make it cheaper for us. Thankfully I have had great luck in that.

Online promotions have just started to get working for us, and we have been around for a little over three years. I have completely stopped doing loop chats, but the guest blogging and the interviews as well as free reads (listed on our website and ARe) have helped too.

So whats the best promo I have seen from an author? Playing cards with her book’s series emblem on it. That’s awesome and such a great idea, though hella pricey.

I’m always looking for new ideas though, and have found that readers like stuff, and the more stuff you can tie into your books (We have done candles, jewelry, bath salts and symbols) the more they wanna know about your work, and you.

Great post BTW! this is my first time here but it wont be my last.

]]> By: Jen Lyon http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225729 Jen Lyon Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:54:01 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225729 Sylvia, it's a mystery what really works! You've done a really good job promoting yourself whereas my efforts have been so/so. I have seen some weird promotion, but usually I think it's the author working to build name recognition over trying to sell a single book. Some of it is pretty out there though! Sylvia, it’s a mystery what really works! You’ve done a really good job promoting yourself whereas my efforts have been so/so.

I have seen some weird promotion, but usually I think it’s the author working to build name recognition over trying to sell a single book. Some of it is pretty out there though!

]]> By: Karin Tabke http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/01/12/hawking-the-wares/#comment-225728 Karin Tabke Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:19:10 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1566#comment-225728 The black hole of promotions. I've pretty much done it all, except buy the cover of RT. I have no clue what worked, but I do know one thing that works, and it's my favorite part of promoing and frankly the only part of promo I want to do, and that's doing exactly what I'm doing right now: Talking in the cybersphere. I love blogging and well, talking. I talk too much but I like people and to talk to them, so that's what I do. And the arc thing. arc's are good. The black hole of promotions. I’ve pretty much done it all, except buy the cover of RT. I have no clue what worked, but I do know one thing that works, and it’s my favorite part of promoing and frankly the only part of promo I want to do, and that’s doing exactly what I’m doing right now: Talking in the cybersphere. I love blogging and well, talking. I talk too much but I like people and to talk to them, so that’s what I do. And the arc thing. arc’s are good.

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