Book Marketing

Book promotion timing: Implement these 9 strategies as soon as you’ve finished the first draft

June 29, 2026

I’ve lost track of the number of authors I’ve heard from who waited until their e-book was available on Amazon or they had boxes of books stacked in a corner before they started thinking about…

Your Meta Ads Changed Today. Most Brands Have No Idea.

June 29, 2026

There's a version of today where you open your Meta Ads Manager, nothing looks wrong, and you keep spending. The campaigns are running. The numbers are moving. Everything looks fine. ‍ It's not. ‍ Meta retired…

Sell Your Book to Libraries

June 29, 2026

For many self-published authors and small publishers, getting their books into libraries can feel like an elusive goal. Public libraries are a lucrative market, but authors are often in the…

7 tried and true ways to light a fire under stalled book marketing

May 4, 2026

Reprinted with permission. Did you put a lot of time and emotional energy into your book launch? Did you pour your heart, soul, and dreams into announcing your book to…

What Would I Put in a Newsletter?

May 4, 2026

So you've decided to issue a newsletter, a useful promotional tool available to all writers with the coming of the internet. Now the question to be settled is what type…

How to Create Print Collateral That Actually Sells Your Book

April 1, 2026

At three months out from your launch, it’s time to design your print collateral—but not print it yet. That restraint matters. A strong review, endorsement, or award may still come…

You Want to Do a Newsletter?

March 2, 2026

by Mary Reed So you've decided to issue a newsletter, a useful promotional tool available to all writers with the coming of the internet. Now the question to be settled…

Are you launching a book this year or trying to revive sales?

January 11, 2026

What you need is a plan and a timeline. Those of you who know me realize I’m a pragmatist. I plan everything as far in advance as possible because DATES…

Why Podcasters Cringe When Authors Log On From The Kitchen Table

December 1, 2025

by Robert Riggs Publicists flood my inbox with pitches to feature their authors on my True Crime Reporter® podcast. Authors can reach 40,000+ listeners on my Webby Award-winning podcast and…

The Future of Book Marketing: Why eBook Promos Aren’t Dead, They’re Not Enough

October 29, 2025

by Adanna Moriarty Let’s be honest, the book marketing landscape has undergone significant changes. Ten years ago, you could run a free or $0.99 eBook promo, spike your sales rank,…

Unlocking Amazon’s A10 Algorithm: A Strategic Guide for Authors

September 1, 2025

by Kathleen Kaiser Recently, I spoke with two bestselling authors who were perplexed by their significant drop in Amazon sales in July. When I mentioned Amazon’s major changes to book…

From Pages to Podcasts: Why Audio Interviews Matter

August 1, 2025

by Desireé Duffy Once upon a time, getting your book out into the world meant driving across town to attend a bookstore signing where you might talk to five people—three…

What’s Changing at Amazon? How the A10 Algorithm Is Reshaping Book Visibility

July 1, 2025

by Adanna Moriarty Amazon quietly rolled out a significant algorithm update in May, replacing the long-standing A9 system with what’s now known as A10. If that means nothing to…

Book Marketing Tips and Trends: Why Book Reviews Matter—and How to Get Them

June 1, 2025

by Kathleen Kaiser Book reviews are one of the most powerful tools in an author’s marketing arsenal to boost visibility, credibility, and discoverability. For readers, they offer insights to…

My Day at the LA Times Festival of Books

May 6, 2025

By Roselyn Teukolsky My phone tells me it will rain this morning at 6 am on Saturday. The probability of rain in LA at the end of April is…

TIMES TWO! Surviving—and Enjoying!—a Double Book Launch

May 5, 2025

by Kathleen Marple Kalb (aka Nikki Knight) It’s something that doesn’t usually happen even to big-ticket bestselling authors, but it happened to me: two books coming out on the same…

Book Marketing Tips and Trends – Navigating Politics in Author Interviews

March 29, 2025

Navigating Political Questions in Author Interviews: Your Media Guide You’ve been looking forward to this media interview all week. You’re excited to talk to one of your favorite podcasters…

Marketing Tips and Trends—A New Monthly Column

March 1, 2025

Guest writer, Desiree Duffy You want to give your book launch every chance to succeed, right? You’ve written your book. It’s gone through several stages of editing. The interior is…

A Practical Guide to Ebook Campaigns: Reach More Readers, Sell More Books

February 1, 2025

by Adanna Moriarty In today’s crowded book market, where every title vies for attention, ebook campaigns have become essential for authors who want to stand out. These campaigns aren’t just…

Promoting Yourself in Four Easy Steps

February 1, 2025

by Linda Kay Hardie Like most writers I used to cringe and change the subject when anyone brought up book promotion. What do I know about it? How can I…

Timeline for Your Book Launch

January 1, 2025

by Kathleen Kaiser Are you launching a book this year? If yes, it's time to begin your marketing. You read this correctly: a full year out to make an impact…

How Libraries Choose Books, Can Yours Be One of Them?

November 1, 2024

by Shelly Toler Franz I think it’s every writer’s dream to see their book on a library shelf. As a public librarian who is friends with +/- a million authors,…

The “Throw Spaghetti at the Wall and Hope Something Sticks” Approach to Marketing

August 1, 2024

by Ellen Byron, reprinted with permission, originally published at the Chicks on the Case blog Through the years since my first mystery was published in 2015, I’ve developed a finely…

How To Define Your Book’s Target Audience In 6 Steps

July 1, 2024

by Jim Foley, reprinted with permission Defining and engaging your target market is crucial when it comes to promotion, and these six steps can help you build your reader personas.…

Connecting Through Book Clubs

July 1, 2024

by Korina Moss, first published on writerswhokill.blogspot.com, reprinted with permission Isn’t it funny that the solitary act of reading can offer so much connection? If you see someone on the…

Relationship Building the Key to Successful Marketing

June 1, 2024

by Diana Hurwitz Key points: Start early Find your tribe Engagement is key Give more than receive You’ve worked on your magnum opus for months, years, maybe a decade. You’ve…

Promoting Yourself in Three Easy Steps

June 1, 2024

by Linda Kay Hardie Like most writers, I used to cringe and change the subject when anyone brought up book promotion. What do I know about it? How can I…

Reviews matter, and then they don’t.

May 1, 2024

by Gabriel Valjan, first published on Criminal Minds blog, reprinted with permission. Question: I found out Publishers Weekly let go of some its reviewers and is reviewing fewer mysteries. PW is…

How To Write for the Christian Market

May 1, 2024

by W. Terry Whalin When I studied journalism at top-rated Indiana University, my colleagues thought my career change was “different.” Instead of becoming a reporter at the Chicago Tribune or…

Book marketing overwhelm: How to avoid being crushed

March 1, 2024

by Sandra Beckwith January 31, 2024 Reprinted with permission It's easy to see why so many authors suffer from book marketing overwhelm. There's so much to do! Here's how to…

Why You Should Pitch Your Book Before, During, and After You Write It

December 1, 2023

by Korina Moss After finishing my first cozy mystery manuscript I attended a library event with three established cozy authors. When they opened up for questions from the audience, I…

The Logistics of Touring Part IV–A Day in the Life

November 1, 2023

by Mark Parsons Click here if you missed Part III. There is the theory of and the planning of, but sooner or later you face the doing of. A typical…

The Logistics of Touring Part III – Promotion & Product

October 1, 2023

by Mark Parsons Click here if you missed Part II. “If you build it, they will come” doesn’t apply to in-store events. It’s more like “If you build it—and tell…

The Logistics of Touring aka Part II – Making it Happen

September 1, 2023

by Mark Parsons Click here if you missed Part I. Last time we discussed the overall steps in setting up a book tour. Let’s look at some of the important…

Stats You Should Know

September 1, 2023

by Penny Sansevieri Wordsrated.com recently completed an in-depth statistical report on the fiction book market. The big takeaway is that over 52.88% of all print book sales in the United…

The Logistics of Touring aka Part I – Planning the Tour

August 1, 2023

by Mark Parsons We’ve gone on three different book tours within the past year. First for my wife’s newest book, The Peach Rebellion, last May, then for my latest, The…

Ten Things to Put on Your Author Page

August 1, 2023

If you have previously published books, list them and show the covers. Readers might not remember a title but will recognize a cover. Put your next book or book cover…

What is BookTok and How to Harness It as an Author

June 1, 2023

by Penny Sansevieri Have you stumbled upon the shelves called “Recommended by BookTok” in your bookstores? If you have, you’re probably wondering what BookTok is and how you can be…

How to Develop a Marketing Strategy as an Author who Doesn’t Know Marketing

May 1, 2023

by Penny Sansevieri You’re a writer. Brainstorming and writing is what you do best. But what about when the writing is done (for now, at least)? There aren’t many authors…

Speaking at Friends of the Library

May 1, 2023

by Marilyn Levinson I'm in awe of mystery authors who post about their successful book-signing events on Facebook, stating their events at bookstores and other venues resulted in many book…

Publishing in 2023? The 6 Things You Need to Know

April 1, 2023

by Penny Sansevieri The book market is more competitive and more saturated than ever before. There is, quite literally, an endless funnel of fresh books hitting the shelves every day.…

Pitching Your Book: Drawing in More Readers and More Sales

March 1, 2023

by Penny Sansevieri Pitching a book is challenging. There are so many amazing authors writing about the same topic, and you need to make your book shine. You’ve labored over…

Local Authors and Assisted Living Book Clubs

March 1, 2023

by Mary Brook Book clubs are an important part of the life-enrichment program in assisted living communities. Research shows that reading helps residents retain their long-term memory, focus, and concentration.…

Everything You Need to Know About Author Conferences for Book Marketing Success

February 1, 2023

by Penny Sansevieri As an author, you should never stop learning. You want to always hone your craft, build your voice, learn the rules of grammar, and so much more.…

It’s Never Too Late to Create Your Year-Long Book Marketing Plan

December 31, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri Do you know how long an effective book marketing strategy should take place? One year, at least. The first thirty days after the release of your book…

Marketing and Book Sales: How Closely Are They Linked?

November 30, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri It’s true, planning for a book release feels stressful, yet exciting—so much so we often forget that an effective marketing plan for a book really needs to…

The Gift of Giving Pre-order Gift Certificates

November 30, 2022

by Ellen Byron Having two books on preorder is the definition of a high-class problem, but it's a problem, nonetheless. How do you convince people to part with their hard-earned…

Better Book Promotion on Amazon

September 30, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri Book promotion on Amazon is important, but it’s more important to do things right; otherwise you’re losing money and getting discouraged. Since Amazon opened up its ads…

Get the Most Out of Your Author Website with These Six Simple Book-Marketing Strategies

August 31, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri It’s simple: if you’re an author, you need a website—period. An author website is essential to your brand, and when used correctly, your overall success. But that…

6 Strategic Benefits to Self-Publishing an ebook

July 31, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri We get a lot of authors come to us looking for help with a new release, not realizing how strategic self-publishing an ebook can be. This happens…

The Complete Guide to Influencer Marketing for Authors

July 31, 2022

by Clayton Noblit reprinted with permission from Written Word Media, July 13 Influencer marketing plays a major role in the digital-marketing landscape. Influencers have hundreds of millions of followers across…

Why Self-Publishing Your Book is Lucrative if You’re Planning a Series

June 30, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri Self-publishing a book can sound complicated, and I won’t lie to you; it is more work upfront for authors. However, it can also be lucrative for many…

How to Market Your Book Without Social Media

June 30, 2022

by Carol Michel This article first appeared at janefriedman.com, reprinted with permission. I gave up social media in July 2020. I did what the computer scientist/author Cal Newport calls a…

Clever Ideas for Promoting a Book with Bonus Content

May 31, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri Have you considered using bonus content if you’ve been mulling over getting more creative with your ideas for promoting a book? Bonus content is one of the…

Five Secrets to Self-Publishing a Book and Generating More Sales

May 1, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri Let me start by saying that when it comes to self-publishing a book and getting readers to buy it, there is no fancy marketing that will convince…

Author Takeovers

May 1, 2022

by Marilyn Levinson aka Allison Brook reprinted with permission, first appeared in the Writers Who Kill blog. We authors know the importance of getting the word out about our latest…

Not All Book-Marketing Services are Created Equal: What to Look for in 2022

March 31, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri In as many years as I’ve been in the industry, one thing I know for sure: book-marketing services vary widely, and not all of them offer the…

Hashtags Made Easy

March 31, 2022

by Dave Chesson Hashtags are a great tool to increase discoverability on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. My problem is I never know which hashtags to use. It…

The Problem with Brainstorming

March 3, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri Unfortunately, I see many authors focusing on the wrong thing. I adore goal setting, and I’ve read tons of books on the topic, so this is sort…

5 Reasons to Collaborate When It Comes to Book Marketing

January 31, 2022

by Penny Sansevieri Are you thinking about hiring out services but don't know if it’s worth the investment? Well, I’m here to, I hope, ease your mind. There are lots…

Everything You Need to Know About Advanced Review Copies

December 31, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri When it comes to how to market a book, there’s a lot of industry jargon–like the term ARCs, or Advanced Review Copies. What’s even more confusing is…

How Much Should Authors Spend on Book Marketing?

December 31, 2021

by Brian Feinblum An author recently asked me to give her an idea of how much she should spend on book publicity. Though I wanted to say “everything you have,”…

Three Must-Haves for Author Homepages

December 31, 2021

by Lynn Varon The homepage is a snapshot of your website that invites the visitor to explore further. Attention-seeking authors know a website has the widest reach of all promotional…

The Social-Media Mistake That Can Damage Your Author Platform

November 30, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri Your author platform relies heavily on a social-media presence. There, I said it. So if you hate social media, you’re going to have a harder time hitting…

Book Promotion Now and Then: Connections Matter

November 30, 2021

by Lorie Lewis Ham My first mystery novel, Murder in Four Part Harmony, came out in 2000. It was published by a small press—one of the first to do print…

Creative Ideas for a Successful Pre-Order Campaign

October 31, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri As you create your book-marketing plan, you may be thinking about doing a pre-order as a way of getting some early sales. But it takes more than…

15 Ways Authors Support Each Other on Social Media

October 31, 2021

by Leila HirschFeld Previously published at BookBub.com on October 7, 2021 reprinted with permission. Writing is a solitary job by nature, but for many authors it has felt especially isolating…

What Can a Website Editor Do for You?

October 1, 2021

by Lynn Varon, Writer Web We all know what copy editors do in the context of book publishing. What makes a website editor special? They have the skills to help…

How We Hit the USA Today Bestseller List with a Multi-Author Anthology

October 1, 2021

by Sierra Simone, Joanna Shupe, Eva Leigh, Nicola Davidson, and Adriana Herrera (reprinted with permission) We are a group of romance authors—Sierra Simone, Joanna Shupe, Eva Leigh, Nicola Davidson, and…

Goodreads Giveaways: An Indie Author Go-To

September 30, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri Many indie authors turn up their noses at incorporating giveaways and discounts into their book marketing because it seems counterintuitive to making money. But the number of…

Five Creative Blog Post Ideas for Savvy Author Marketing

August 31, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri You may be a savvy blogger, or maybe you’re still digging in your heels about starting a blog, but no matter where you fall on that spectrum,…

Shameless v. Apologetic

August 31, 2021

by Ellen Byron (and her alias, Maria DiRico) Originally published on The Chicks on the Case blog, August 9, 2021 The following statement may make people who know me snort…

Hit the Streets for Local Book Promotion That Really Works!

July 31, 2021

by Penny C. Sansevieri I’m a big proponent of online book promotion; not only does it work, it’s also necessary if you want to stay competitive and get your book…

Jingle Bell July: 5 Start-Now Strategies for Sure-Fire Holiday Book Sales

June 30, 2021

by Penny C. Sansevieri Have you started planning your holiday book sales yet? If you haven’t, you should, because Cyber Monday and Black Friday are right around the corner. While…

Five PR Tools Every Writer Should Know About

June 30, 2021

by Sandi Sonnenfeld Reprinted with permission from The Authors Guild and author. As the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and we start to resume our usual activities, now may be the…

You Can Never Have Too Many Book Reviews

May 31, 2021

by Penny C. Sansevieri Every once in a while, I’ll talk to an author who says, “I have enough book reviews,” so they don’t want my help in that area…

11 free things you can do to buzz your book

May 31, 2021

by Sandra Beckwith Posted on May 12, 2021. Reprinted with permission. After paying for editing, proofreading, and a snazzy cover design, self-published authors don’t always have a lot of money…

Indie Bookstores, Indie Books: A Match Made in Heaven

April 30, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri Raise your hand if you can’t wait until it’s safe to visit bookstores and libraries again! I am so looking forward to browsing the shelves, collecting a…

“Four stars! Must read!”

April 30, 2021

by Clea Simon All of us who write dream of the rave review, the headline that celebrates our talent, and the link for readers eager to buy. But with my…

Sell More Books with These Critical Cover Rules

March 31, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri Almost every author who reaches out to me wants to sell more books, so if you identify as such, you’re not alone. Surprisingly, the number-one hurdle to…

Factor Others into Your Book-Promotion Success

February 28, 2021

by Penny Sansevieri To many authors, book promotion is a necessary evil. When I put my author hat on, I totally get this. Why can’t you just spend all day…

Five Reasons Being an Indie Author Makes You a Small Business

January 31, 2021

by Penny C. Sansevieri Being an indie author means more than just fulfilling your dream of publishing the novel that’s been rattling around in your head for years! Deciding to…

Rewarding Reader Engagement in 2021 and Beyond

December 31, 2020

by Penny C. Sansevieri Marketing a book is hard work, and your efforts can seem fruitless if you don’t get positive feedback in the form of reader engagement. Engagement should…

Book Ready to Launch? Read This First

December 2, 2020

by Mollie Hunt When my friend Sandy Murphy messaged me in the middle of the online book launch for my new cozy, Cat Conundrum, asking me if I’d write an…

Seven Steps to Sensational Book Marketing on Amazon

December 2, 2020

by Penny C. Sansevieri When we look at how to market a book, we know this for sure: Amazon is a great place to list your book, but it requires…

And the Winner Is…. Using Book Awards to Sell More Books

October 31, 2020

by Penny C. Sansevieri You’ve seen those shiny seals adorning the covers of some of your favorite books, and you’ve certainly taken note when you’ve come across the words, “Winner…

Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 20 Great Examples

October 31, 2020

by Diana Urban Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting.…

Building Followers in the Time of the Plague

October 1, 2020

by Connie Berry One of the first pieces of marketing advice new authors receive is to build a mailing list of followers. Brilliant! After all, these are your fans, your…

Marketing During a Pandemic is NOT Easy

October 1, 2020

by Marci Kladnik I’m new to this self-publishing thing—less than a year—and can only share what I learned during the struggle to market my books during this crazy time. I'm…

From Graphics to Video (Insert Screams)

October 1, 2020

by Ellen Byron As you’ve probably heard ad infinitum, it’s not enough to write a book these days; you have to do the lion’s share of marketing it too. I’ve…

Goals! Use Your Author Website to Achieve Them

October 1, 2020

by Penny C. Sansevieri Many authors struggle with their website, and I understand the challenges. That said, the effect a website can have on your book sales cannot be ignored.…

How to Get Noticed on Twitter as an Indie Author

August 31, 2020

by Penny Sansevieri Indie authors ask me all the time how to get noticed on Twitter because, just like LinkedIn and Facebook, when an author connects with the right people,…

Connecting in the Time of COVID

August 31, 2020

by Susan RoAne These are complicated, confounding times that have altered our reality, and yet we still need to connect, to converse, to maintain and build our networks and strengthen…

Is PR a necessary evil?

August 31, 2020

by Leslie Budewitz “PR is part of the business of writing today. It does take time away from the fiction we want to be doing, but it's one of those…

FANtastic: How Being a Fan Can Help You Sell More Books

July 31, 2020

by Penny Sansevieri If you’ve ever said something like: “I’m not sure if what I’m doing is right,” or “None of this seems to be working,” then maybe you haven’t…

How to Market Your Book to Independent Bookstores

June 30, 2020

by Penny C. Sansevieri The greatest ally for an independent author is their local bookseller. While we’re currently all stuck indoors at the moment due to the spread of COVID-19,…

Monthly Observances for July

June 29, 2020

by Penny Sansevieri The Month of July is... Dog Days of Summer National Blueberry Month National Anti-Boredom Month Unlucky Month for Weddings National Cell Phone Courtesy Month National Hot Dog…

Twenty Factors That Tip the Scales in Your Favor to Get Booked on a Podcast

June 3, 2020

by Jackie Lapin, Radio/Podcast Virtual Book Tour Expert Today podcasts are the hottest form of media for leaders, authors, and experts who wish to connect with audiences eager for information,…

A Second Chance at Success

June 3, 2020

When Revising and Re-Releasing is the Answer by Penny Sansevieri In a perfect world, book marketing would be flawless right out of the gate when a book is released. In…

Newsletters: To Have or Not to Have?

June 2, 2020

by Marilyn Levinson For the longest time, every book-promoting guru I listened to insisted an author needed a newsletter. A newsletter was essential. It was the best way to communicate…

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