by C. Hope Clark
The signing at Crooked Creek Recreation Center went well. I sold 47 books, was offered a freelance assignment with a magazine, and received an invitation to a journalism association in the capital city.
People kept saying, “I’ve heard of you,” which never gets tiring to hear and continues to amaze me.
A couple of online readers who are also writers asked me how I was doing this—getting appearances and becoming known. Y’all, it’s nothing earth-shattering. The recipe is simply this:
- Ask to appear at book clubs, libraries, schools, service organizations, conferences, wherever, and sound professional when you make said requests. You will be rejected, but just keep trying.
- Have a solid, up-to-date website with a modern appearance. Nothing dated.
- Never think you don’t have to market. It’s a non-stop effort for as long as you expect to sell books. You are always the writer, wherever you go, wherever you are online.
- Show up looking polished and confident. Of course be prepared. In your day-to-day, always have cards in your purse or pocket. I’ve been surprised at how many times I’ve needed them.
- Make eye contact and smile to everyone. And be gracious.
- Keep an inventory of books and show up at appearances with a lot of them. Make it appear that you always sell lots of books.
- Show up with an assistant, if at all possible. You are the one responsible for small talk, signing, and being present as the author. The other person touches the payments. I never, never touch the money. In public, I am the author, not the salesperson.
Diligence is the key. And also, keep writing. It’s amazing how much more impressed people are at seeing ten books on a table instead of one or two. It seems like a long road, but you can get there. Besides, it’s what you love; what else are you going to do?
And…
Partnering with an Influencer
In my years with FundsforWriters, and as an author, I marvel at the trends and buzzwords. I recall when blogs were fresh and were everything. I remember when self-publishing became INDIE to soften the stigma. The list of terms and ideas were and are endless, and I always chuckle when I read posts about a writer’s unique spin on something I’d already read 25 times. It’s fun when we discover a fresh tool, thinking we’re on the cusp of something different, which we all know can make a huge difference in achieving success.
In the last few weeks I’ve noticed the increasing frequency of hearing the phrase “partner with an influencer.” Everyone uses the same words. It’s no longer rubbing elbows, brown-nosing, or riding the coattails of. The term now is influencer. The meaning is to latch hold of someone more successful than you.
As if that’s something new.
Once upon a time, every author wanted to be chosen for Oprah’s Book Club. Without a doubt, her magic touch catapulted authors to success. Today it’s Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club or Jenna Bush Hager’s Read with Jenna. My books are traditional mystery, so don’t expect to see them in any of those clubs. The genre doesn’t fit, so that isn’t an option for me.
There are mystery contests I can enter where the odds are ridiculously against me, like the Edgars. Or I can attempt a mention on top-shelf mystery blogs or attempt short stories in mystery magazines. However, I want to make a point I’ve always felt was understated about partnering with influencers.
Readers are my influencers. That old-fashioned, word-of-mouth way of spreading the word involves loving, impressing, and respecting readers. Just this week someone asked me what advice I would give to emerging writers. I responded:
- Respect your readers.
- Answer their queries.
- Sign their books with your heart.
While a famous influencer or two would be nice, I much more cherish readers, even if it means finding them one soul at a time. Influencers come and go, often forgetting who you are. Loyal readers hold their breath for the next book, and while doing so, tell others why.
C. Hope Clark, Editor, FundsforWriters November 29, 2019, reprinted with permission