Four months have passed since the debut of Shadows of Kings. Not only was this the first look at the Dragon Rising series, but my debut as an author. So, the rookie took his swing…sometimes trying to get the base hit, and on occasion – swinging for the fences. There have been both quantitative and qualitative victories – the latter dealing more with the overall experience itself than anything else. But one thing is certain, the journey has been priceless.
The last article I shared dealt with the love of writing and the discipline involved when taking on this endeavor. This time, I wish to share some of my experiences – all of which deal with reaching out. Most are positive, but to keep it real, I have to include the bad. Â
Bloggers
This group is priceless. As a debut author, they were and remain my launch pad. I can’t say enough about bloggers. There are too many to names and what they offer for writers is wondrous variety. Some offer spotlights, others do reviews, and some offer both. What you get is exposure from their loyal readers at an inexpensive cost. (Cost is generally associated with blog tour coordinators, but otherwise, it’s free.) And at times, there is wonderful feedback in the commentary sections of their sites. The downside…some sites receive little to no traffic, but once again…the price is generally free.
Live Interviews
My experience with interviews has been solely on Blog Talk and other internet recordings. I have to say… this is a fantastic medium to get the word out. When I did my first interview, it was a thrill to hear someone else mention Shadows of Kings. I never fall short of mentioning my book to others, but when someone else addresses your book and asks questions about the content, you are filled with an affirmation that your work is out there and ALIVE! I have no downside or bad experiences when it comes to this medium. Regardless of the number of listeners, talking about your book in an interview is another way to build experience for public speaking – the next medium on the list.
Public speaking – Signings/Speeches
This is a powerful medium. Thus far, I have had the pleasure of two signings and one keynote speech. There is nothing as gratifying as reaching out to people in a public forum. Hearing what people have to say about Shadows of Kings and answering their inquiries, humanizes the writing process, which is generally a solitary endeavor until release. Though the occasions for public forums are not as numerous as internet visits, I cannot deny the impact. People see you and you see them. It’s personal and priceless.
Social Media
Twitter: I have found that Twitter is resourceful for finding and/or creating a community of authors. Now for the hard love: At the time of writing this article, I had 1007 followers. Out of that bucket, I have developed wonderful relationships with 5% of them. The rest of the 95% neither equated to sales nor friendships. In short…wasteful associations that need to learn the rule of reciprocity. Â
Facebook: To express how I feel about Facebook I’m going to simply defer to J.R.R Tolkien:
“I know half of you as much as I like, and like half of you more than you deserve†– Bilbo Baggins (Fellowship of the Ring)
I could go on and on about the various social sites, but it’s time to move along.
So…from a debut author to all existing and aspiring authors - Thanks so much…and keep writing.
Oceans of Love,
Jack Whitsel
Author of Shadows of Kings - Book 1 of the Dragon Rising Series
https://www.amazon.com/author/jackwhitsel
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Comments: 5
If you're still up for interviews let me know and I'll feature you on my site where the interview stays..check it out first http://barsetshirediaries.wordpress.com and message me if you wamt to go ahead. I'm on mikproju@talktalk.net .
Best of luck, David
I couldn't agree more with your views about Facebook. It's at least a source where you truly find out who your friends really are.
I'll check out the ASMSG group. I'm always open to reaching out to people, so I would be delighted to contribute to your site. I'll drop you a note.
Take care,
Jack
When it come to bloggers, take baby steps. First, query bloggers via google that you feel will be a good match for your book. Remember, some won't be a perfect fit, but it's a good way to gain some exposure while conditioning yourself for self-promotion. Keep in mind, promotion is time consuming and can bleed the time you normally dedicate to writing - be mindful of the balance. Even though I'm a published author, I still have to dedicate considerable time for promotion. Unless you're published by the BIG SIX (the largest publishing Houses) your publisher's funds for promotion is limited and the weight of exposure falls upon you. Pace yourself and all will be well.
I just released my first novel as an ebook and am looking for the best ways to promote it. The research I've done matches your experience, which is great news for me. I know now that I'm headed in the right direction. With my book only on it's third day since release, I have been relying on facebook for most of my downloads, either by friends or friends of friends. My plan is to branch out to book bloggers in the near future. Thank you for the tips! I wish you and the Dragon Rising Series much success!