Monday, July 31, 2017

How Can Authors Help Authors With Book Publicity?



Authors seeking to promote their book, increase sales, and market their brand need all of the help they can get.  One of the first places authors should look for assistance is from other authors.  That’s right, authors should go to their competitors and expect to get help!

Why might you ask, would a writer help another writer?  Because they are really collaborators rather than competitors.  Friends not foes.  Authors can help others for free because they can get something in return.  They can also help them as part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of a very special and unique family.

All writers, at one time or another, were helped by other writers.  Pay it forward – help someone now and give back to those who helped you earlier in your career.  In return, the one you help now may end up helping the next generation.

So what can an author do for another?  Plenty.  Here are 12 ways authors can work together:

1.      Motivational Support
Emotional help, motivational support, and inspirational guidance can come from fellow writers who know how you feel and think.

2.      Introducing A Network Of Professionals
Need a lawyer, accountant, editor, literary agent, cover designer, or book publicist?  Ask another author.

3.      Discuss Writing Techniques
Learning from writers is the best way for writers to improve their craft.  Reading more books also helps.

4.      Share Research Tools Or Methods
Writers can share tricks of the trade when it comes to finding accurate, comprehensive research in a quick and inexpensive way.

5.      Recommend Writers Conferences
Authors know which writers conferences to attend – they can help authors determine what to attend.

6.      Blog or Post On Social Media About Them
This is huge – authors can write about authors, post on the books of others, and even interview authors on podcasts, blogs and social media platforms.

7.      Split Costs To Buy Databases, Mailing Lists, Or Special Promotions
Authors can be good business partners by helping you to defray the costs of buying things you can share in.

8.      Give Advice, Strategies, Tips On Book Marketing
Some authors know shortcuts to PR success.  They can help one another by exchanging ideas, information, or techniques.

9.      Share Mail Lists
Every author knows hundreds, or even thousands of people.  In addition to exchanging access to each other’s network of readers and connections, you each can buy and trade lists with each other.

10.  Alert Them On Clubs Or Organizations Worth Joining
Sharing leads on groups, organizations, or social media sites to join is an easy way for an author to help another.

11.  Let Them Know of Awards To Apply For
Authors can help you sift through the awards that clamor for you to apply to.

12.  Be A Sounding Board For Each Other
Authors need a place to vent and who better to whine to than others who understand your plight?

DON’T MISS THESE:
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16 nook marketing lessons learned at #Thrillerfest

Do most authors make any real money from their books?

Good book publicity is a marathon, not a sprint

Authors don’t need to panic when speaking to the media

Best Author PR Strategy: Cover The Basics

Can you sell at least 10 copies of your book every day for a year?

What Does It Really Take To Hit A Best-Seller List?

An author primer on how the news media works

10 Lessons For Authors-Turned-Bloggers

Can you market your book for five minutes a day?

Complete Author Book Marketing & PR Toolkit for 2017

Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2017©. Born and raised in Brooklyn, now resides in Westchester. Named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs 


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Sunday, July 30, 2017

Do We Really Need To F**king Curse?



The recent tirade filled with expletives by President Trump’s henchman, Anthony Scaramucci, against other Trump-appointed operatives, showed not only a White House in disarray but a remarkable low-point in public discourse.

When White House Communications Director Scaramucci mouthed off to a reporter during a New Yorker interview, he used incredibly disrespectful language to describe Chief of Staff Rance Priebis, labeling him a “fucking schizophrenic, a paranoiac” and said of presidential advisor Steve Barron, “I’m not trying to suck my own cock.”

Ladies and gentlemen, what’s going on here?  Instead of leadership exuding from the top, we have the opposite.  We have a bombastic, egotistical, maniacal, power-hungry, intellectually-absent, morally-bankrupt president endorsing such tactics and making it open season on respectful dialogue.

Such tactics are spreading and infiltrating other areas of our society.  We hear coarse language everywhere, from our television sets and movie theaters to our musical lyrics and tweets from celebrities.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not a prude with virgin ears.  There is a time and place for colorful language. But it’s never okay for high-ranking public servants to speak that way, so freely and out in the open, especially with the media.  These comments are then rebroadcast at 10 year olds who need to ask parents why that man said someone is a fucking idiot.

Book publishing is no better.  It’s chosen to take the low road when it comes to using curse words and blue language on its covers.

A hot book right now is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.  Another one is called Fuck Feelings.  Then you have Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, Bill the Bastard, Fucking Martin, Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say Fuck, Fucking Apostrophes, Fuck Off!, I Love to Fucking Color, The Way of Fuck It, An Encyclopedia of Assholes, Cunt Coloring Book, Car is the Fuck Up…well, you get the point.

This is not a recent phenomenon for book publishing, but it’s part of an ugly trend.  A few years ago, a children’s parody for adults, Go the Fuck to Sleep, was a hit sensation.  Over a decade ago you had these titles screaming at us:  Fuck the Navy; Fuck, Yes!; the F-Word; English as a Second Fucking Language; They Fuck You Up; The Greatest Fucking Moment in Sports; The Fuck-Up; and other lovely titles.

The F-word is in the dictionary and is used often by most people, so it can’t be ignored, demonized, or eliminated but do we have to listen to the White House rant insanely with such language?  It’s disrespectful to the F-word itself.

The bigger issue here, it would seem, is why is the White House disgracefully dysfunctional and needing the media to settle its in-house fights?  Why must the nation be soiled by their filthy, debasing arguments just so a man-baby can get what he wants?  We have an infant bully in the pulpit and he is bringing down the nation one tweet, press release, and interview at a time. He’ll be impeached without passing any legislation but he’ll leave a stench that will never be cleansed.

Trump may leave his legacy with the thing he’s most proud of – his name.  Whereas Trump used to mean real estate, casino, celebrity television or even boastful and wealthy, the name will take on the flavor of a verb.  To Trump will now mean to belittle, to curse, to lie, to humiliate.  His name is now synonymous with the undershirt we call a “wife-beater.” His image is one of a hot-air balloon, inflated by bluster, ego, and greed.

His name is also a substitute for the F-word and he’s saying to all of us, Trump You!

DON’T MISS THESE:
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Good book publicity is a marathon, not a sprint

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Best Author PR Strategy: Cover The Basics

Can you sell at least 10 copies of your book every day for a year?

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Can you market your book for five minutes a day?

Complete Author Book Marketing & PR Toolkit for 2017



Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2017©. Born and raised in Brooklyn, now resides in Westchester. Named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs 
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Saturday, July 29, 2017

Interview with author Yvette S.M. Debeau


 Finding Favor and the Secret of Rainbow Moor


1.      What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?
“Finding Favor and the Secret of Rainbow Moor” was inspired by two separate, but very personal experiences that occurred in my life. The first was a mysterious caller who frequently called me for over a two-year period. Very suddenly, for some unknown reason, the calls stopped. I never knew if something happened to him and never found out who he was.

The second was a visit to the place known as Rainbow Moor and the feelings I experienced while there. Rainbow Moor became the main setting and focus of this book. Putting them together I created this story that naturally grew and developed its own plot.

2.      What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader?
The book is about everyday people who live simple, ordinary, day to day lives, but whose lives, aroused by the unexpected paranormal, become the extraordinary.  It’s a beautiful story of love, pure and simple. There is happiness, but there is also hurt, disappointment and sadness just as in every-day life. Any adult of any age who has loved and lost will enjoy this book.

3.      What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book? What should remain with them long after putting it down?
I want my readers to be left craving for more and crying for a sequel. I want them to feel so connected with the characters that they feel each and every emotion as if they are part of the actual story. I want them to cry, laugh, be angry and empathize. Everyone has a reason for being here. All friendships in life are a privilege and an important part of life’s journey. Live like there is no tomorrow and “Dance in the Rain”.

4.      What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?
Ordinary people do extraordinary things. Never give up on your dream. To succeed you must believe in yourself. Be true to yourself. Write your story your way.

5.      What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
With the electronic age, I see a great number of people wanting to get their books electronically. It is less expensive and doesn’t take up space in their homes. However; there is nothing more intriguing than holding the actual book in hand, smelling the pages and feeling the smooth paper it is written on. It is a tangible gift that can be passed down to the next generation. My preference, is the real deal of an actual bound book.

I also see the Self-publishing book industry increasing, mainly due to the lower cost. Although I am truly a fan of Traditional Publishing methods, the cost found in that route is far greater.

6.      What great challenges did you have in writing your book?
The challenge was not in writing it, but in publishing and marketing. Knowing what will be covered in your publishing fee and understanding the different phases of publishing and marketing your book takes a great deal of research. The market is flooded with these companies and a novice will find it hard to know which direction to follow.

7.      If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?
Because it is that good! It is brilliant! This book leaves you craving more and it is hard to put down once you start reading. You will feel every raw emotion. It incorporates so many unusual and unexpected scenes that the reader is left in awe, flabbergasted and surprised to the extent they can’t stop reading. And the “end”? Totally unexpected.

Yvette S.M. Debeau's passion for writing started at a young age by winning numerous awards in writing contests. She was formerly the newsletter editor, publisher and writer for the Redwood Unit of the Back Country Horseman of California. While working for the Redwood Unit she was the recipient of nine consecutive journalism awards.. She currently resides in Carlotta, California and is the owner of three Arabian horses. For more info, please see: www.yvettesmdebeau.com

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Do most authors make any real money from their books?

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Can you sell at least 10 copies of your book every day for a year?

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Complete Author Book Marketing & PR Toolkit for 2017



Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2017©. Born and raised in Brooklyn, now resides in Westchester. Named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs 
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Friday, July 28, 2017

What Are Authors Willing To Do To Get Publicity?



Books are featured in our news and social media on a regular basis.  Read about the next celebrity tell-all, the latest best-seller, or a book tied into a lawsuit, scandal, or political race.  Maybe the book is controversial or perhaps it libels and defames someone.  Perhaps the book is being banned, protested, or contested as a hoax. What will it take for your book to get media exposure if it lacks all of those things?

My first question is:  Are you sure you don’t have any of the above going for you?  Maybe there’s a way to link to one of those catchy story lines.  Could you stir up your own controversy that generates curiosity and interest?

Ok, so if you lack a scandal, legal dealings, or a big-name connection, you become like most authors.  So what do some of them do to stick out and garner media coverage?  

 They tap into a message, an idea, a philosophy, or a theory that has built-in interest. They find a way to talk about something that people are already familiar with and have strong feelings about.

Create a checklist.  Does your book, in any way, touch upon the powerful forces of:

·        Crime/Murder
·        Politics/Corruption
·        Sex/Erotica
·        Space
·        Family/Parenting
·        Life/Death
·        Celebrities/Rich/Pro Athletics
·        Religion/Morality
·        Love/Hate
·        Media
·        War/Terrorism
·        Culture
·        Exotic Locations
·        Future Technology/Science/Medicine
·        History

Of course there are other push-button topics that can help you earn attention and depending on how you present a subject or choose to comment on it, you’ll end up with tens of millions of people who potentially could have an interest in your book.  There’s a lot of mystery to life, things we don’t fully understand or yet have an awareness of.  When writers can tap into our curiosity, fear, or desire, we are ripe for the taking.  

 The same goes for history, psychology, lust, and greed.  We are driven by our fantasies, our fates determined by our perceptions.  Tap into what people think, feel, or have experienced.  Get in touch with what drives the human spirit and exploit it with your bold statements, accusations, questions, or claims.

If you can’t find much to publicize about you or your book then you probably should rethink who is going to buy the book and what will move them to be interested.  There must be a hook that you can latch onto. 

 Ask yourself these questions:

·        Is there a trend that my book connects to?
·        Do I make bold predictions?
·        Am I reimagining or reexamining history?
·        Do I speak to something in the current news cycle?
·        Is there an event, holiday, anniversary, or honorary day to tie my writing into?
·        Is my book similar to one on the best-seller list?
·        Do I use certain tricks to get my message across – a unique character, odd setting, play on language, or fresh writing style?
·        Does my personal or professional background make for an interesting story, even if it’s totally unrelated to my book?
·        Do I have visuals that may get attention?
·        Can I make a crazy allegation with merit?

What would a writer be willing to do to get attention?  Would an author be willing to commit a crime, sleep with someone or compromise a value just to generate publicity? Should they do such things if they are willing to do so?

I would never advocate doing anything illegal or unethical, but writers that want to go the extra mile to make a name for themselves should do so with caution and reason.  Fame is valuable, but one’s freedom, fortune, and character must not be exchanged for it.

I wonder if any authors raped, killed, or did horrific things just so they would be better informed to write about them and craft a genuine thriller?  I always wonder how many novelists experienced something that inspired their books.  I find it hard to believe that some of the best writers did not in fact they commit some of the crimes they write about. Somewhere out there is a novel based on fact, a confession waiting for the police to expose.

Perhaps some novelists, so obsessed with the work they’ve penned, want to try the real thing, the way horny people eventually move on from being satiated by a fantasy and decide to act on their deepest desires and assault someone sexually. What if authors react to their own writings, inspiring their very own crime spree?

Does blogging about this mean I killed someone – or inspire me to attack another? I would like to think not, but out of millions of books, isn’t it possible, even likely, that a criminal-turned-writer or writer-turned-criminal is amongst us?

If you’re not up to going to jail, find a good angle to exploit for publicity. There has to be something you can highlight that will get the attention of others. If all else fails, write a different book.

DON’T MISS THESE:
Do you really need a book publicist?

How do authors get on TV?

Where do authors go for book PR help?

How can you keep up with book publishing news?

What actually works in book publicity?

16 nook marketing lessons learned at #Thrillerfest

Do most authors make any real money from their books?

Good book publicity is a marathon, not a sprint

Authors don’t need to panic when speaking to the media

Best Author PR Strategy: Cover The Basics

Can you sell at least 10 copies of your book every day for a year?

What Does It Really Take To Hit A Best-Seller List?

An author primer on how the news media works

10 Lessons For Authors-Turned-Bloggers

Can you market your book for five minutes a day?

Complete Author Book Marketing & PR Toolkit for 2017


Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2017©. Born and raised in Brooklyn, now resides in Westchester. Named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs 
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