Greetings from the quarantine. While most of my blog posts have been about the writing craft, I’ve decided to focus on how the book industry is faring with COVID-19. It’s not looking good right now for publishers, booksellers or authors. International book expos and conferences have been canceled, while many bookstores have laid-off their workers and closed without any idea of when they’ll open again. Authors who had planned book appearances —  a way to promote their new books and … Read More »

The Halloween candy is long gone from stores and the shelves are already sporting goods in reds, greens, and blues. Many people complain about how early this type of merchandise appears. Why is it out already? Because people buy it. Holiday sales make up a whopping 20% of annual sales for retailers. You can cash in on the biggest spending season of the year with a few simple strategies to get shoppers to notice and buy your books. Start Promoting … Read More »

Why do you write? It’s a legit question, and the answer is no reflection on the writer’s ability or dedication. Some people write to create a family history – a legacy for future generations. Others write for their own pleasure. It’s a hobby, not a business. And then there are those who write to get the worlds they build into the minds of readers and, hopefully, make some money doing it. It’s a business, not a hobby. For those in … Read More »

A writer aiming to self-publish her first book treated me to coffee recently to “pick my brain” about the marketing plan I used to promote my self-published book. I wasn’t sure how much I could help her. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each book, depending on its genre and target audience, requires its own personal marketing plan—like a custom-tailored suit. My book, I reminded her, is a memoir. Hers is a cookbook! But for the pleasure of her company—and free … Read More »

Since Oprah started her book club years back, the growth of book clubs has exploded. Some five million Americans gather regularly in face-to-face book clubs. Among American women who read one book or more a month, an astonishing 56% belong to book clubs. Tens of millions more join discussions in online book clubs, and the number grows daily. Online clubs now offer exact focuses. Dieselpunk science fiction, paranormal romance, gardening, you name it, it’s out there. A few years ago, … Read More »

You wrote a great book. Unfortunately, a few million other authors also think they wrote a great book, and they’ve put it on Amazon, too. How do you get people to notice your book in the vast digital crowd? 1. Five ways to improve the product: Reviews are dandy, unless an honest reviewer has to say the book is poorly edited, insufficiently proofread, has holes in the plot, or just doesn’t make sense. Join a critique group. Other eyes will … Read More »