You Can Boost Your Book Sales
Author: Sandra T. Wales, Ed.D.
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: July 2005

You’ve sweated through writing, revisions, galleys, and finally your first baby is on the shelf. The cover is great, the reviews good, but now what? Unless you’re a famous romance writer, the truth is that more than likely your publisher won’t do much to help sell your book.

The road to success is more than a quality product by a talented writer— the author needs to let the public know her book is available. The shelf life of a novel can be as short as thirty days. The competition is enormous, but do not despair. There is hope and help for authors despite the difficulties in making your name a household word. After all, most authors start out as unknowns. (I don’t count celebrities who happen to pen a tome.)

Marilyn Ross, book marketing consultant and author of Jump Start Your Book Sales (www.SelfPublishingResources.com), recommends every novelist become an advocate for her own book. “No one cares as much as you do; turn that passion in PR results and book sales. Doing mini seminars on writing at libraries can be effective— and they usually let you sell your book at full retail price. Also milk the Internet,” she counsels. “Get reviews on literary sites, create a Q&A to offer, volunteer to do a chat, encourage other web sites to link to you. This takes time but little money and can start a productive ‘buzz’ about your book.”

Ms. Ross goes on to explain that “the reason book signings often fail is simple: They are just signings. Nothing is happening. There is no energy. No draw. No way to attract people.” She suggests that for fiction authors a series of readings would be a way to generate an interest in your book.

It may be difficult for those authors who don’t like to perform. However, I agree with Ms. Ross -- this is a natural way for the fiction author to develop a fan base. The romance author needs to choose a scene carefully. A steamy love scene read aloud to a group in a library or a bookstore can embarrass the audience. It’s better to read a scene in which the heroine and the hero are in conflict. If you can use different voices for your characters, all the better. If you aren’t comfortable in the acting role, perhaps a readers theatre would be easier. Have a friend read one of the parts or have two friends read the scene. You can introduce the scene (be brief) and do a follow up talk about how difficult it was to write or some interesting tidbit. Audiences love to know the inside scoop.

I write historical novels so I have lots of interesting facts. For example, the lotus blossoms that were popular in ancient Egyptian fertility rites and often put in wine turned out to have a chemical compound almost identical to a popular little blue pill that starts with a V. That piece of information gets attention.

If you write inspirational romance, don’t forget church groups. Often they need entertainment for a program. You may want to donate a percentage of your book sales to the church. Often that incentive gives people a reason to buy your book. Remind any group that you would be glad to sign a special greeting such as happy birthday or congratulations. This gives people the idea that your signed book makes a unique gift.

Libraries are always interested in authors, especially local authors. You could be a local author in the town where you went to college, where you live now, where you lived previously. Be generous when you’re talking about being local. I plan to give a talk to a library and a small college where my Grandmother Garwood was born and grew up. There is an interest in my books because of her.

Some individuals have literary clubs in which they read a book a month, then get together to discuss the novel. It is fun to talk with these people after they’ve read your book because they ask the most interesting questions. Plan to read a passage to the group and explain why you wrote it that way. You could explain point of view, some author secret, or whatever you think they would like. Again, you’re building your fan base a little at a time, but it is fun.

Whenever possible, coordinate your signing or presentation with the media. Do you have a hook that would interest them? Does the person who wants you to speak know anyone at the local radio or television stations or the newspapers?

Have a media kit ready complete with a bio, photo, an excerpt from your book, and a short article about your book as well as a longer one. Write it as if someone interviewed you. It should have quotes by you. Yes, you have to write it yourself. Polish it. Hone it. Make it sing. Several times I’ve seen articles about my books in local newspapers that were almost word for word from the media kit article. After all, who knows your book better than you? The reporters are busy, busy, busy. You can make their life easier and get noticed. That’s the idea, isn’t it? To get one’s name out there? Over and over and over.

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Sandra T. Wales writes The Warrior Queen Series as Haley Elizabeth Garwood and is currently working on her first historical romance. She is a member of the Music City Romance Writers in Nashville, TN. Her web site is www.HaleyElizabethGarwood.com.

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