 For Authors: May 19, 2021 Issue [#10771] |
This week: Don't Give Your Book Away Edited by: Vivian  
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Many tips for authors to market their books exist. However, I want to cover just one at this time. In time, I’ll discuss other tips because even if our book is released by a publisher, we the authors must market our books.
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Marketing Tip: Don’t Give Your Book Away
Many people advise authors to post excerpts from their books on blogs, theirs and belonging to others, to promote an interest in that book. Some writers post excerpts before the book is released; some, after. At times, that action may boost an interest, but it doesn’t always. So what might create an audience that anxiously awaits the book, that wants to read the book, that will spread the news? Writing a short item that ties to the book and giving that away.
Yes, I said write something short that will create the interest in the book and give that item away. Ah, I see a puzzled look on your face. You want to know what I mean about a “short item.” Perhaps a short story, that includes minor characters from the book, can use a part of the theme or an incidence from the book from that character’s or characters’ point of view. If the story is well written and closely tied to the book, readers will want to know more and will be ready to read the book, but none of the book itself will be revealed. Make an eBook and offer for free, or post on blogs, or email to everyone on your contact list – giving everyone a free peek at the material that will tease them into wanting to read your book.
I have a historical novel set in the 18 century BC, during the reign of King Ahaz. The king and his followers sacrificed their children to the idol Moleck , burnt to death. To “preview” the book, I wrote a short story from the point of view of a minor character, a mother, who witnesses the roundup of children to be sacrificed, without their parents’ permission. The beginning of the short story follows:
Sacrifice
716 BC
Bethlehem
The sun’s heat pressed on Deborah as she wandered through the market. When she ran her fingers over her dry lips, her husband handed her the water skin.
“Here, drink. If you wish, we can leave, walk to Jacob’s house.”
After tipping the bag to drink, Deborah smiled. “No, Ruben, I just …” She glanced around, her eyes searching. “Do you feel the difference this market day from the others? I know we don’t come to town often, but usually market day has been louder, more joyous. Today, people seem quiet, pensive.”
Ruben shrugged. “Perhaps a bit, but the day is hot.” He took the water skin and slipped it into the bag he carried. “Also, since the soldiers who live here have been sent some distance away to settle some uprising, something, the townspeople may feel uncomfortable.”
“And, you are probably thinking I’m being silly.” Deborah smiled. “At least the children are as playful as ever.” She watched their daughter and grandson run around booths with two boys she didn’t know. “Jacob seems in a hurry.” She nodded toward the young man half-running toward them.
That's only the beginning, but would you want to read more? After reading about a crazed advisor to the king ordering soldiers to grab children, even infants from mothers’ arms, using violence, would you want to know more about the insanity? I made the story into an eBook and give it away. At events where I sign books, I have printed copies to hand people. Hopefully, the story will create the interest needed to seduce readers into wanting the book.
Oh, how will readers of the story know anything about the book? The end of the story has a blurb announcing the coming release of Burnt Offering and a link to order a copy if they don't want to order through Amazon or another online store.
A writer could write a prequel, a prolong to the book, or be creative and write something else that ties into the book and will create interest. Whatever the author decides should be offered for free, leaving the final book to be purchased. |
Writings from W.Com
Submitted by readers:
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Words from Our Readers
hbk16
Great newsletter about crime fiction indeed.So that not to be a detective story; a crime fiction contains adventure and may be romance too. It is a featured literature issue.
A good detective story will have adventure and may have some romance,too.
dogpack saving 4premium 
Regarding a question from a previous newsletter:
Hi,
I just published a book Career Menu with ingredients: Secrets from the Job Man geared to high school students, a reference book. Now that it's published I wonder how I can make it available to them? Any ideas?
Suggestions from dogpack saving 4premium
Making your book available to the public and school libraries, book clubs especially under the correct genres, advertising online and in print, making personal visite to bookstores, finding groups that are interested/focus on education and child welfare, and checking for other options on writing sites, writing magazines, and other writing and publishing resources.
Interesting characters, the right amount of conflict, mystery, and challenges work well in a lot of genres. Keeping the reader interested in the story and characters as well as other things is what is important, otherwise, the reader may put down the book and never finish reading.
Dr Perry Ride 
Thank you.
My crime fiction short story:-
STATIC
The Crazy Coffee Cafe (13+)
Mysterious murder short story
Quick-Quill 
This week 4/18-23 I joined a Writing Crime Week with different Crime writers. Yesterday they had a panel with 6 different Crime writers.
That sounds interesting.
Thank you for joining me again. I hope you will continue to read the For Authors newsletter. Please let me know what topic you would like for me to cover.
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