Where Can Authors Sell Their Books?

 

 

The biggest, most popular, and common place for books to be sold are these 10:  

* Apple Books

* Kobo

* Barnes & Noble

* Books-a-Million

* Google Play

* Target

* Wal-Mart

* IndieBound.org

* BookShop.org

* Amazon  

Other sites to explore are: 

* Ebay

* AbeBooks

* ThriftBooks

* The Hudson Group

* The Strand

* Powell’s Books

* Tattered Cover Bookstore 

You also may be perfect for specialty locations such as: 

* Airport Bookstores

* Museum Gift Shops

* Christian Bookstores

* Book Fairs/ Conventions

* Major Public Events

* Street Fairs

* Mall Kiosks 

Links to buy your book MUST be available on your:

* site

* blog

* social media posts

* email signature

* press release

* business card 

Explore having your book being published in all possible formats and price points so that anyone can consume your book the way they prefer to and can afford, including:  

* Trade Paperback

* Hardcover

* E-Book

* Audiobook

* Mass Market Paperback  

Get your book out there and ensure its potential for success by broadening your distribution capability. The more places that have your book for sake, the better chance it will get discovered. 

 

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Can Authors Turn The Negative Into A Positive?

 

 

If you live long enough and try many things, you likely have experienced many or all of these:

* Lost substantial money
* Had your heart broken
* Failed a course
* Was snubbed for a promotion
* Didn’t get what you auditioned for
* Were publicly embarrassed
* Got beat up
* Farted/belched/vomited at the wrong time
* Forgot your wallet at home and the restaurant check came due
* Had something stolen
* Were pulled over by the police
* Said something that you wish you hadn’t
* Clothes got  torn apart or severely stained while in public

If you are a writer, you may have suffered one or more of these incidents:

* Getting rejected by a publisher
* Being ignored by a literary agent
* Seeing lots of red ink from your book’s editor
* Not hearing back from a news media outlet
* Getting a bad book review from a consumer
* Receiving unkind words from a professional book critic
* Getting booed as a speaker
* Not getting much in return on your book publicity campaign
* Seeing an ad campaign flop

What is one to do when confronting these setbacks, losses, or embarrassments? How do you handle disappointment, adversity, and rejection?

Many just accept this stuff, perhaps mourn themselves and have a pity party. They stop trying. Life has beaten them into submission. There is no resistance, no new strategy, no fresh ideas, no more attempts to try. They are simply done. They feel beaten down and accept defeat.

But some choose not to be denied, despite getting shunned, hearing “no”, or experiencing a shortfall. They operate in a different
mental environment. On their playground, a mulligan is the norm. Many take multiple shots at a second chance.

Why is there such a stark contrast in their reactions?

Some are wired to keep at it, doggedly persisting, filled with a confidence and belief in themselves that provides them hope. Failure is not an option. They each know they have written a great book and they choose to keep looking for how they can break through. They reckon, one has to keep participating even to get lucky.

For those who simply quit, nothing good will come.

If one has a natural disposition towards never giving up, he or she will win out where others lose without really trying. Such people are born with a gift that was likely nurtured at a young age or shaped by life’s events.

But is there something that others can learn to do so that they are not destined to fail but they may lack the gene that wills a rare few to overcome any challenge or obstacle?

So, just to summarize. A good 50-60 percent simply fail, either because they tried and gave up after a setback — or because they lacked courage and initiative to even try.

Then there are 10-15% who succeed because they are talented, lucky, determined, and connected. Life is simply on their side.

But then there might be another 25% who could be successful to some degree at least some of the time. This could be you, those who have to work a little harder, longer, and smarter, who have to block out negativity and checkered pasts, who bring to the table more heart and energy than raw talent or natural skill.

You can write a decent book, create a good platform, and generate modest sales. There is no advantage to giving up prematurely, not taking some risks, or embracing feelings of insecurity.

You may even be able to produce a great book, a strong platform, win awards, gain positive reviews, and become a bestselling author. Don’t rule any of this out.

You can succeed!

Choose to believe in yourself.

Dream beyond what you have accepted.

Seek out paid help to fill in the gaps.

Learn what you don’t know.

Create your own opportunities — don’t wait for them.

Lastly, reword how you say or hear things. Stop making excuses, apologizing for yourself, or feeling you deserve nothing.

You are somebody. You can succeed. Don’t invest in arguing otherwise.

 

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

What Color Is Your Book Marketing Parachute?

 

Are you familiar with a famous career book, What Color Is Your Parachute?  

Written over a half-century ago, it has helped millions of young people figure out what they want to be when they grow up — as well as help adults find their way when at a career crossroads. I feel, in that spirit, writers need a similar guidebook to help them define where they sit on the book marketing spectrum. 

To market your book well, you need to actually market your book (not just think you should be doing it) AND do it well. It may sound obvious, but for many authors, it is not.  

Authors usually lack a marketing plan or a vision for how to proceed. But even with a plan, they likely lack two or more of these things needed to execute well: 

1. Time

2. Skills

3. Money

4. Abilities

5. Connections

6. Knowledge

7. Opportunities

8. Clear Goals

9. Power of Persuasion

10. Confidence & Courage 

When authors finally recognize their book marketing shortcomings, they must then confront them and take action. 

If you realize you like to speak in front of crowds but are clueless on social media, you will need to get help. If you do well at getting book awards but fall short at getting news media attention, the shortfall needs to be addressed. You get the point. Find a way to fill in the gaps. 

So, step one: assess where you are with making a book marketing plan and identify what you like to do and are good at doing — and get help in the areas that you lack desire or ability to do.  

Once you have a clear understanding of what color your book marketing parachute is, you will be able to soar higher and have a safer landing.

 

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

Do Writers Feel Defeat in the New Year?

 

The New Year brings hope and renewal to the nation and the world. Resolutions are made by all, initiated by many, and eventually abandoned by the majority. But for plenty of millions of American writers, they skipped all of that and went straight to the playground of failure. Too many writers are defeated by their own hand, including their actions, beliefs, and thinking process.  

Yes, I am talking to you, dear author. You: 

* are tired of rejection.

* let fear eat you up.

* lack clear direction.

* excel at dreaming, but not in taking action.

* think you are better than others — but don’t take action to support that belief.

* demand respect without earning it.

* wait passively for a big break that never happens.

Writers must rise above these things. You must embrace your talent and creativity and look to soar beyond whatever limits you have placed on yourself. The new year is every day for you. Start fresh and distance yourself from bad habits, negative thinking, or insecure decision making. 

The best way to break away from unhealthy and unproductive patterns is to develop new ones. Less of the bad; more of the good. It is quite simple actually. Just stop doing what really has not worked for you and start doing something else.   

So, how do you get your act together?  

First, embrace your come-to-Jesus moment.  

Second, make a list of next steps and ID who or what can help you.  

Third, make a promise to yourself and a commitment to all that you hold dear that you will find a way to give it your all this year.  

Four, change how you schedule your time. Set priorities and realistically budget your time. Make sure there is time to write and market your books. Build around that foundation and unmovable commitment.  

Finally, I will share the advice I gave to my father-in-law. He had s stroke and got down on himself. I implored him to change his point of view and to see things in a positive light. I told him to repeat this mantra when he gets frustrated or down when things don’t always go how he would hope: “Stop being a little bitch.”  

Repeat it after me.   

Yes, you now can get on with what needs to be done.   

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Literary Calendar For Authors

 

 

There could be a calendar filled with thousands of entries if one wanted to note anniversaries of major author passings, famous writer birthdays, and honorary days that demarcate celebrations of writers, books, literacy, libraries, free speech, etc. 

 

Below are 123 dates to circle on your calendar.

 

Why are these dates useful to know?

 

As a writer, you should know your history and appreciate it. But these dates can also serve as some marketing help for you. 

 

Take an honorary event and use it to write a blog post, pen a byline article, or discuss in a podcast. Build a news media pitch around it. Craft a video around its significance. Post on social media about it. Seek to connect your message to honorary day in a way that allows you to promote your book.

 

The beauty about these dates is they are set in stone and purely predictable. You can plan your editorial calendar of content around these dates for the entire year.

 

January 

National Braille Literacy Month

 

1 — Copyright Law Day

2 — National Science Fiction Day

9 — Poetry at Work Day

9 — National Word Nerd Day

16 — Book Publishers Day

18 — Thesaurus Day

18 — Winnie the Pooh Day

 

February

Library Lovers' Month

African American Read-In Month

 

3 — Take Your Child to the Library

7 — World Read Aloud Day

9 -- Read in the Bathtub Day

14 — International Book Giving Day

14 — Library Lover's Day

25 —March 2 -- Black Children's Book Week

26 — Tell a Fairy Tale Day

 

March 

National Reading Month

Small Press Month

National March Into Literacy Month

 

1 -- International Hug a Librarian Day

2 — Read Across America Day

2 —Dr. Seuss Day

3-9 —Jewish Book Week

3-9 — Read an E-book Week

4 — National Grammar Day

14 - National Write Your Story Day

16 — Freedom of Information Day

17-23 - World Folktales and Fables Week

19 — International Read to Me Day

20 World Storytelling Day

20 Bibliomania Day

21 World Poetry Day

 

April 2024

 

National Poetry Month

National Literature Month

School Library Month

 

1 — Reading is Funny Day

2 —International Children's Book Day

2 - National Children's Picture Book Day

4 - National School Librarian Day

7-13 - National Library Wee

10 - National Encourage a Young Writer Day

12 — Drop Everything and Read (D,E.A.R.) Day

14 — National Donate a Book Day

16 —National Librarian Day 

18. Celebrate Teen Literature Day

23 - Shakespeare Day

23 - WWorld Book Night

24 — Congress approved the Library of Congress

27 - Independent Bookstore Da

28 -- Great Poetry Reading Day

 

May 2024

 

Get Caught Reading Month

National Share a Story Month

Latinos Book Month

 

1— Mother Goose Day

3 — World Press Freedom Day

9 - Make a Book Day

16 - National Biographer's Day

22 - Sherlock Holmes Day

 

June 2024

Audiobook Appreciation Month

Rainbow Book Month

 

23 - National Typewriter Day

 

July 2024

 

Read an Almanac Month

 

4 - Alice in Wonderland Day

30– Paperback Book Day

31 — Harry Potter Say

 

August 2024

 

Romance Awareness Month

 

2 - National Coloring Book Day

9 - Book Lover's Day 

14 - Love Your Bookshop Day

21 - National Poet's Day

31 - We Love Memoirs Day

 

September 2024

Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month

Library Card Sign Up Month

National Literacy Month

Read a New Book Month 

 

6 - Read a Book Day

7 - Buy a Book 

8 - International Literacy Day

18 - Read an E-book Day

22-28 - Banned Books Week

25 — National Comic Book Day

 

October 2024

Church Library Month

National Book Month

National Reading Group Month



5 —Bookshop Day

11 - Myth and Legends Day

13-19 - Teen Read Week

16 - Dictionary Day

20-26 - National Friends of Libraries Week

20 - National Day on Writing

 

November 2024

 

National Family Literacy Month

National Life Writing Month

National Memoir Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

Picture Book Month

 

1 - National Family Literacy Day in the U.S.

1 - National Author's Day

10-16 - National Young Readers Week

12 - Young Readers Day

15 - 1 Love to Write Day

24-30 - National Book Week

 

December 2024

 

Read a New Book Month (also September)

 

7 - Letter Writing Day

10 - Dewey Decimal System Day

21 - Crossword Puzzle Day

21 - National Short Story Day

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.