The Victoria Advocate, A Different Perspective
My second novel, Lovin’ On You, is officially out in the world. And my second book launch is a wrap. It was a month-long marathon of social media posts, weekly videos, and encouraging readers to post reviews. Let me say it here — if you enjoy a book, the best way you can tell an author thank you is to post a review.
Without the reviews, a book won’t receive the traction for other marketing opportunities. Avid readers look to reviews to help them select the books they read. For instance, if a reviewer says a book ends poorly, that’s usually a deal-breaker for me. I don’t write or care for negative reviews and read them with one eye shut, but every reader has things they consider a red flag.
Leaving a review is the same as spreading the news by word of mouth. However, people get lazy about writing reviews because they don’t know where to start. Here’s a clue: If you like a book, think about why you like it. Is it the way the author does characters, or do you like the twists and wiggles along the way? Figure out what you like, then apply it to the book you read. Look at other reviews. It’s not plagiarism to borrow a general idea and add it to your review. That’s how I learned to expand the list of things I enjoy about books and writing.
A review doesn’t have to be long, nor should it be a summary of the story. There are no awards for the best or the worst reviews. Write from your heart and it will be enough.
Once the launch team portion is complete, there are still tasks left to wind down a good book release. Social media promotion still needs to happen, although that can be done with fewer posts. Book signings continue along with author chats. It’s important not to let the buzz that’s created with the launch fizzle and die.
As part of my book launch, I did a book-signing at Citizen’s HealthPlex. Since this series is set in a large gym complex, Victoria members feel a kinship with the setting. The response was wonderful.
Every serious writer, meaning you’re in it for the long haul and want to make money at it, needs a dedicated website. The biggest reason for a website is so readers have a place to find an author. Since I’m not techy, I paid for help to get my website up and running. Authors also need to write a monthly newsletter to gain and keep followers.
Agents and publishers pay little attention to authors who’ve written a book or books but have no website or visible following. Remember: a publisher’s job is to sell books and that’s how they decide who gets contracts. Your following matters just as much as your level of writing.
My heart’s desire was to be traditionally published. God granted that dream when Scrivenings Press offered me a contract. It’s a small press that accepts manuscripts without an agent. Once again, agents want to make money. The good ones are motivated by the prospect of working with authors, but another question looms. How many books does this author have in her? Obviously, at my age, it wasn’t the same number of books as my writer friends in their forties.
At first, I found all this disheartening. Many would-be authors are discouraged and opt for a more lucrative career. But I just couldn’t quit. I’d invested too much time, money, and brain-power into learning the craft and the industry. Even so, I’m content with my choices. Using the gift God gave me fulfills me like nothing else. Sometimes, I wish I’d gotten to it sooner, but in retrospect, it happened at just the right time.
My cup runneth over.