The champagne has run dry. (For now). The phone has stopped ringing and the email barrage of congratulatory wishes has ended.
Now What?
I don't know. I've never been in this position.
The first thing I expect to happen with my book will be the editing process.
When this will take place is anybody's guess. Then I'll see something about cover design I guess, but who knows when.
Once that's done, I guess it goes off to the printer and then it will FINALLY be available!
The downside to all this excitement is that of course this entire process could take months.
I'm not the only author at the publishing house with a book to put out. Go figure.
So what's an anxious, extremely impatient writer to do in the meantime?
Ah. Well, I gather there's that little thing called Marketing...
This is where I suspect a lot of the fun, for me at least, ends.
I'm currently reading all about the ways I can market my book, when it's ready, but honestly, that process began a long time ago. Perhaps even the day I started this blog.
Every connection I make online, whether it be through blogging, Facebook, Twitter, is a potential reader or promoter. Scary to think about it in those terms.
But quite cool to know that I already have a bunch of people who will probably buy my book and hopefully say nice things about it, and they're not related to me.
And I'm not giving them kickbacks.
I may be a little premature in all this, but I don't think so. It's never to early to start talking about a book that's coming out. I've already created an Author Page on Facebook - that was a little weird, I admit. I'll talk about my book here on the blog, (don't get bored), and I'll do upcoming author interviews and the like, until it comes out. This is all very exciting for me, and a little overwhelming.
I don't have a publication date, but I will let you know as soon as I do.
What ideas do you have for marketing your book? If you've already been published, I'd love to hear what you did while you were waiting for the release, and how you promoted it afterward.
Any and all advice welcome!
5 comments:
I sure hope to one day be writing a similar post. Congratulations on your upcoming book!
I’m not a published author but I’d like to add that the books I’ve either won off of site, or accepted to review, have often lead me to an author I hadn’t read and then became a future purchaser of their books. A true fan. And If I really love their writing/book, I will tell others whenever possible in conversation, spreading the word.
I also believe it getting the word out through email, facebook, and even twitter. But that’s just me.
Wishing you the best of luck.
Kym
Cathy, I debated hiring a publicist, but decided to do it myself. Here's what I found. The only way a book signing helps sales is if you work tirelessly to get people to attend and buy your book. The only way a blog tour helps is if you work tirelessly doing interviews and convincing people to buy your books. The only way word of mouth works is if you work tirelessly to network and convince people to buy your books. See a pattern? And while you're marketing, you wish you could be writing. But while you're writing, you feel guilty because you're not marketing.
If you discover a secret that makes it easy, let me know. But isn't it a great problem to have? Congratulations.
Dear Cathy: I'm so happy for you! I'm not published yet, either, apart from articles, but I found Carmen Leal's book on marketing helpful. It's full of unique ideas. Another great person to contact is Elaine Miller--you can find her on Facebook. She has a cd out called, "Marketing your Ministry."
Blessings,
Jen
Congratulations! It's a new and challenging part of the journey! You're right that in your blog readers and your connections, you already have readers, cheerleaders and promoters, which comes about as having made those connections in a genuine way. Good luck with the next phase!
Uh, Richard, are you saying I should work tirelessly?? LOL. That's what I was afraid of. But yes, it's a good problem to have. I imagine I'll have some time to figure it all out, but the sooner the better.
Thanks for all the tips everyone!
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