Fantasy and Supernatural Novels by B.B. Walter

Promoting your writing can be harder than even writing it at times. So here are a couple of tips that I've picked up here and there that helped me get a better grasp on promotion.

* These tips may not work for everyone. Take what works for you and discard the rest.

1) Having your own website is a great tool for marketing. There are wonderful sites that offer website design assistance, as well as free websites if you are working on a restricted budget. My site here is a free site that also offers assistance for those uncertain about website construction and design (i.e. the HTML confused *s*). Truly, a well put together website allows a writer so much freedom when it comes to promotion that I can't stress it enough. Commons things I've found people always look for on a website:

Author Information (just a few lines about who you are makes you personal to another)

Story Information (whether or not you're published)

Story Synopsis and Excerpt (synopsis's check the attention, excerpts are added bonuses like prizes)

Book Cover (if available) or some picture the Reader can associate with your story

Other writer promotion (this just makes you a good person, and they will generally give you the same respect helping you promote)

Buying Information (if they can't get it right there from you, where they can get it)

Guest Book (people love to comment on nice websites, and it's nice for you to get to read them as well)

2) Business Cards! Cards are one of the best ways to get your name out there inexpensively. There are tons of online services that allow free business cards (you only pay for shipping) as long as you use one of their templates. A writer can also make their own cards (if you are the creative/computer friendly type). A writer can leave their business card just about every place imagineable. I mail mine with my bill payments, leave them with my tips when eating out, and even leave them at the gas pumps when pumping my gas (the card slot for the credit cards insures that the card will not blow away and people have to pick it up and look at it to use their card at the pump!). There are some definite things that you need to have on your business cards.

Author Name

Book Title

ISBN Number

Contact information (website, email, and/or phone number)

Price of the Book (this can be left off if price varies)

Ordering Information (can be left off if on your website)

A Photo (Book or Yourself, some writers have both!)

Synopsis and/or Catch Phrase (don't forget that there are 2 sides to use!)

Be Creative and Have Fun! Flyers, bookmarks, pens and pencils, and even candies handed out with your book information provided on a sticker on the candy wrapper can all be fun, easy ways to promote your book. Sign up to speak/do a reading at local functions (Rotary, Festivals, or any community events).

Promoting your book can be a lot of work, but it doesn't have to be if one thinks a little outside the box. And, as writers, we should all be able to do that!

Hey this can be even harder than writing the book at times. No one thinks that they are qualified at giving someone else's work a review, author's think that they have to pay to have "legitimate" book reviews done, but the truth of the matter is that there are several websites on-line that offer "legitimate" reviews and are free. (Some work by donation, but it's not a mandatory process.)  So I've complied a list that keeps ever expanding to include some of the sites that do perform book reviews for all your promotional needs. Viola!

GhostWriter Literary Reviews

Here is another great site for reviews. You have to provide your book (if you're a non-member), but other than that, they come well recommended.

 www.newbookreivews.org

(More to come!)

It can be really hard actually getting a book store to give a previously unknown writer the time of day. So, if you're like me, you have to get really creative to spark their interest; I mean, they don't know that you're the next J.K. Rowlings or Stephen King, do they?  Below are some tried and true (by me and others) tips and tricks on how to get that very important book signing event.

*Note: Some of these tips may not work for you, simply take what does and discard the rest.

Arrive in Person - It is much harder for a store owner/manager to say no if they have to look you in the eye than it is for them to say no over the phone. So, whenever possible, show up at the store in person to meet with the owner/manager. This shows them that you are a hard worker, and that they are important enough to you for you to take a little extra time to give to them.

(That being said) Arrive in Style - How would you feel if a person showed up in their most comfortable blue jeans and a tee-shirt to do business with you?  Success breeds success; and Clothes go a loooong way to immitating the appearance of sucess!  I've found that a business suit isn't always necessary but maintaining a business-professional to business-dressy appearance works the best. If you are a pierced/tattooed individual, great! - for being an artist - but it's not great for being a professional businessman/woman.  Take out the steel, cover up the ink, is often the best approach when dealing with a society that still has mixed feelings toward "alternative" looks.

Media Kits - One of the most important things you should carry with you AT ALL TIMES! I have a whole list of what you should include in a media kit, so don't worry. The reason you should carry one is because you never know where or when you are going to meet someone to do business with. For example: I was grocery shopping in January, and I ran into a lady who owned a mom & pop book store in Bloomington. When I (very slyly, I'm sure) asked the cashier if she liked to read (so I could present her with a card about my book -- Try this, it works; I know!), the owner overheard and asked me for a card, too. I later set up a signing with her store and sold all the copies I brought with me, in a town where I only knew three people!!

Don't Be Cheap - Some bookstores are not willing to take the "leap" on an unknown author and risk purchasing a couple dozen copies of their books; plain and simple. They're a business, like any other, and you have to be willing to allay their "Worry Factor" towards profit.  You may HAVE TO provide your own book. Most of the time, you're able to purchase your book cheaper than they can, so this can actually be lucrative in the long run. Purchase 20 copies for $10 each, and sell them for $20 each. You double your investment, and the store is happy. I know it sounds scary to have to shell out money for your own book, but face-it you have to spend it to make it. Works the same as your business cards, posters, bookmarks, flyers, etc.. AND you get to write most of it off at the end of the year as promotional expenses. (Check with your accountant first.)

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW - Once you get the signing, make sure people actually KNOW about it! This should be a no-brainer, but, hey!, some people need to be told. Family, friends, co-workers are all busy with lives of their own; you will have to remind them, again and again and again, about your signing. Set up emailing lists to alert using "blasts", post it on every MySpace, website, forum group, blog, etc., you have to tell people. Say it often, say it frequently - That should do the trick with most people.

Family and Friends- Can be the biggest asset you as a writer can have. Utilize them! If a bookstore denies you a signing, have your friends and family members go to the store (not all at once) to inquire after the "latest book by B.B. Walter" etc.  When the store says they don't have it, but can get it, grumble a bit about how it would be nice if they actually "had" the book. If you friend or family member already has the book, then send them in anyway. People check all the time to see when their "favorite author" is going to be in the area at the bookstore. Have them go in and ask if they have any events scheduled with you. For example: I got one signing (they called me after rejecting me) because my friend walked in a said (Excuse me, B.B. Walter just came out with her new book, and I was wondering if you have any events scheduled with her soon? She is my favorite author and I want to get my book signed!" When they told her "no", she looked appropriated abjected and they assured her that it was possible for them to try to book B.B. Walter for an appearance, and she perked up saying, "I'll let all my friends who are fans know!"  Viola! I have an appearance at that very bookstore coming up!!

As I try, learn, and come up with more ideas, I will post them. I hope these tips and tricks help thus far. If you have any ideas, feel free to leave them on my guestbook and I'll get them onto these pages!!

So, you thought getting the actual book signing was hard; now how are you going to tell everyone that you are a famous author with a brand new book signing?! Advertising your own book signings can be very difficult. Below are a couple of ideas to help the beginner author when it comes to a somewhat dizzying task. Man, I wished I had know about these right away!

Bagstuffers- Great items you can create easily on your computer, print out, and give to the bookstore to put in their bags before the signing!

Send or call the local newspaper or television stations! There's no shame in promoting one's self. If you're uncomfortable doing that, have a friend or family member information the press!

Flyers- (Make sure this is legal in your town, first, however.) Whip up a few flyers with the time, place, and date of the signing. Put them in car windows at the local mall, the Wal-Mart, Target, or Super K parking lot, and post them on EVERY bulletin board you can find!

Internet Advertising- Not as hard as it sounds. There's a great, free site for authors needing to advertise. Here is the link to my page; you can sign up for one for yourself from my page:

MyBookTour.com page

(More to come as I learn them!)