How to promote a book of fiction?

My sister-in-law just released a post-apocalyptic YA novel - much to the surprise of the family, most of us didn't know she was working on writing. It's not bad IMO, and it's got a 4.2 average on Goodreads so I'm not the only one who thinks so.

She has the same problem that a lot of new authors have - how to get noticed.  It's basically self-published - the publisher is just a print house as far as I can tell, so she's on her own. It's on Amazon (free with Kindle Unlimited!) but she's not sure what to do next. She asked me about my experience, but I write a very different kind of book for a very niche audience and with the backing of a big publisher. It's not hard to tell Miata people there's a new Miata book, especially when you work for a company that sells Miata parts.

Who's got suggestions? I'm thinking blogs or podcasts are probably a good option, but of course all of my contacts are car-related. 

Read the back catalogs of two sci-fi authors' blogs - Chuck Wendig and John Scalzi. Both of them talk a lot about how the publishing industry works, but chuck specifically talks about self publishing and a lot of newer paths into the business. I don't have the answers but those guys and their friends do, and they are big on sharing them. 

I've seen several authors get started through reddit's various communities.  r/HFY and r/writingprompts are a couple of them.  You sort of need to be a part of the community to get started like that though.

I've checked it out through Kindle Unlimited. Will make sure to leave a good review if it rates that!

I wish her luck but it's a giant ocean of fiction titles out there now that anyone with a pulse can upload a book and sell it.

I think the most important thing is to get reviews on Amazon. She may need to give away some copies to get reviews. This is not the same thing as offering the book for free. I tried that a few times and got nada but gave away a lot of copies to cheapskates.

Amazon is where it matters. I've offered my books on Smashwords and have yet to sell enough copies for all the fingers on one hand. It also seems that if you don't have multiple titles out there people are less inclined to take a chance on you. A lot of readers want a series or at least to stick with an author through several books.

I wrote three novels and they've all been well received by the folks that took the time to review them. I've barely sold enough copies to pay for the cover art on the first one. The fiction market is just horribly difficult to break into. I wrote a dopey little non-fiction book about rebuilding a motorcycle and it outsold all my fiction work in a few months' time. Makes it very hard to justify putting six months of effort into a fiction book six people will read. I wish I had a magic answer.

If it's a YA book, I'd suggest donating several small batches of books to a few schools and try to create a "gotta read this" thing on social media.

Speaking of fiction, what ever happened to Burt Levy? I bought and read every single thing he wrote through the second installment of the 200 mph Steamroller Series. I'm still waiting for the third book. 

He has done a very good job of promoting his books and the vintage car racing genre. Now he has stopped writing and nobody else is doing anything like him. Is this something there is a demand for that writers are missing the boat on?

Don't even get me started on George R.R. Martin creating the most popular fantasy series ever, then ending it by not ending it, with the most famous case of writers block ever.

It's definitely not easy.  A friend of mine from the local MINI group has written 5 books. Most have been well received and gotten good reviews. She has tried going to fairs and what not, but I don't think she has actually made any money off them. 

Woody said:

If it's a YA book, I'd suggest donating several small batches of books to a few schools and try to create a "gotta read this" thing on social media.

This. Schools, libraries, in a typical summer I'd say summer camps. 

Facebook groups of the topic and or target demographic would probably help too. Or moms groups.

In reply to Snowdoggie :

http://www.lastopenroad.com/

He'll get the trilogy done...................................eventually.

Pitch it to Oprah.  If it gets Book Club Selection status, she'll sell a million copies.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

One of the recommended books on Burt's site that I would like to read is The Stainless Steel Carrot. I have been wanting to read it for years but it is always sold out at the author's site and the current price on Amazon is $307. Why are these books so scarce? This is one I will probably never get to read.

Snowdoggie said:

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

One of the recommended books on Burt's site that I would like to read is The Stainless Steel Carrot. I have been wanting to read it for years but it is always sold out at the author's site and the current price on Amazon is $307. Why are these books so scarce? This is one I will probably never get to read.

Because it costs a lot of money to get a press rolling and very little to keep it rolling. So if stock has run out, there has to be a demonstrated demand to replenish it. Throw in a book that was not created digitally and there may be difficulties in finding the films or even having to lay it out again - which also means that print on demand isn't really an option without a significant investment. And let's not get into who currently owns the copyright on a 50 year old book. One of my books is out of print and was selling for silly money for a while there, and trying to reclaim copyright and get it into digital form so I could sell it myself was enough of a pain that I never bothered. That's a book that was published in 2006 (I think) and was just before ebooks really took hold. Hmm, maybe I did get the copyright back. I should check.

I have a collection of rare/out of print motorsports books. The value of some of them is a little frightening, but the information inside just isn't on the internet.

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. And especially thanks to Greg for giving it a shot. Greg, if you feel like getting into a conversation with the author I can put you in touch. It's 100% her work, she didn't even have an editor. And I have to say that I've been pretty darn impressed with the quality. I didn't know she had it in her - that whole half of the family is not academically driven even if they all have college degrees. Nobody else loves words like I do except for, apparently, Gina. I mean "Corey". So I'm rooting for her.

I'll suggest the library giveaway, I know that's worked well for Cory Doctorow.  I'll also point her to Scalzi and Wendig. If she feels like narrating it, she could try putting it on Podiobooks.com because I know I've discovered a few authors that way. But that's a lot of work.

She's also got Book 2 in draft form and the final book of the trilogy is mapped out, so it won't be too long before there's a complete arc available and that might hopefully draw a few more people in.

If anyone has suggestions for specific blogs/FB groups/mommy bloggers/whatever that might be interested in taking a look, I'd appreciate them. I know who I'd suggest if she'd built a cool car, but I'm not much help in the YA realm :)

Anyone got Oprah's number?

My mom is about to release her second book.  Its all about self promotion.  She does a ton of book signings and fairs, and you for sure need a webpage, facebook, etc., and stay active.  Post bits of the book daily to create interest, and send copies or book tear sheets to anyone and everyone that reviews books.  If she has a publisher, they will do promotion also and or help with yours.  To be succesful, you have to promote it, and its a lot of work, probably more than the writing.  There is no subsitute for this.  

I know.

I'm asking for specific advice on HOW to promote it. Who do you suggest for the free copies? What blogs are the influential ones that she should target?

Web page, facebook, author profile on Amazon, even a video trailer - check. As noted, she doesn't really have a publisher.

Hi Keith, I will ask for specifics on where she has sent hers.  

Keith Tanner said:

Snowdoggie said:

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

One of the recommended books on Burt's site that I would like to read is The Stainless Steel Carrot. I have been wanting to read it for years but it is always sold out at the author's site and the current price on Amazon is $307. Why are these books so scarce? This is one I will probably never get to read.

Because it costs a lot of money to get a press rolling and very little to keep it rolling. So if stock has run out, there has to be a demonstrated demand to replenish it. Throw in a book that was not created digitally and there may be difficulties in finding the films or even having to lay it out again - which also means that print on demand isn't really an option without a significant investment. And let's not get into who currently owns the copyright on a 50 year old book. One of my books is out of print and was selling for silly money for a while there, and trying to reclaim copyright and get it into digital form so I could sell it myself was enough of a pain that I never bothered. That's a book that was published in 2006 (I think) and was just before ebooks really took hold. Hmm, maybe I did get the copyright back. I should check.

I have a collection of rare/out of print motorsports books. The value of some of them is a little frightening, but the information inside just isn't on the internet.

 

I have to take another look at what is on my shelf. I have an original copy of the Brock Yates Biography of Enzo Ferrari. You don't see those anywhere. I did see that the Stainless Steel Carrot was re-published in a second edition in 2012. There seem to be a few still on e-bay. 

Gina thanks everyone for the suggestions, BTW. 

One other thing I forgot, send a press release to all local papers and news channels, as well as national news channels that accept such submissions.  Back when I was a photographer a submission led to a spot on the local news, which ended up on Good Morning America.  You never know what these can lead to or who will see them.  My mom has had a couple of newspaper and magazine write ups as well.  Oh, and enter every book contest she can find.  It may not win an award but more people will read it.  

If she's willing to do some public speaking, she could try a two pronged approach with local schools:
1. Donate books to their library
2. Speak to classes about creative writing as a "local published author." Maybe focus on writing books in the digital age and how publishing is changing?

The press release is a good tip. Thanks.

For as far as she is, she could try calling Scribe Media. 

Tucker Max started the company a few years ago as a way to help people that aren't necessarily writers get their books written, published, and promoted. Being that she already is so far along, they might be able to help with marketing. 

Keith Tanner said:

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. And especially thanks to Greg for giving it a shot. Greg, if you feel like getting into a conversation with the author I can put you in touch. It's 100% her work, she didn't even have an editor. And I have to say that I've been pretty darn impressed with the quality. I didn't know she had it in her - that whole half of the family is not academically driven even if they all have college degrees. Nobody else loves words like I do except for, apparently, Gina. I mean "Corey". So I'm rooting for her.

I got turned on to some series (like the Trianna Moore Space Janitor one which is YA targeted as well, but enjoyable for most SciFi fans) through FaceBook ads. 

I just finished the 8 "books" of the Dragon Assassin series (also Kindle Unlimited, and not sure if I checked that one out from Kindle ads or Facebook) and found them generally satisfying. Some neat twists & turns, which makes any story worthwhile. 

Targeting people in FaceBook ads is likely not the best - unless that's grabbing cookies / targeting info from people who have Kindle Unlimited and are searching for other books. But it snagged me (about to turn 50)

Even though the latest Jim Butcher book just hit my Kindle, your sister's is next in line. Starting it tonight or tomorrow. 

I have sent myself the Amazon Link so I can get a paperback copy to have, so long as shipping to Canada is available.