by Marilyn Levinson
Promotion. How most authors hate that word and all it implies. Your book is about to be published and a good percentage of how well it sells depends on how much and how well you promote it. We’re told to not wave a banner saying, “Buy my book! Buy my book!” Instead, engage readers, entice readers, dangle a lure in front of readers so they will buy your book. These days we authors have become quite skilled at promoting our books. It’s part of our job, and being creative people, we’ve learned to promote in creative ways.
Promotion often involves spending money. It’s said that you have to spend money to make money, but there’s no foolproof method of knowing what will bring in sales. A BookBub promotion that costs big bucks might be very successful one time, but not another. I don’t spend a lot of money on promotion. I’m hoping that word-of-mouth, great reviews, and the promotions that I do manage to do will spread the word about my books.
The one rule I follow regarding promotion states that authors should promote in ways they find comfortable. I enjoy chatting with readers on Facebook, having Facebook parties when I have a new book come out. I join friends’ parties as well, and I’m happy to offer a giveaway and have the opportunity to chat with readers about a writing-related topic.
I enjoy posting on the various Facebook cozy group pages when I’ve something to report about my books. And, much to my surprise, I enjoy putting out my newsletter every four to six weeks. For years I avoided doing a newsletter for fear I’d have nothing to say, but it turns out that there’s always something to report. From the feedback I receive, I’ve learned that many who receive my newsletter like finding out which books I’ve read and the TV shows and movies I watched.
I do a virtual blog tour when a new book comes out, and I’ve joined Writers Who Kill, where I blog once a month. I enjoy speaking, and while I don’t arrange too many speaking engagements, I do a book signing at my local Barnes & Noble when a new book comes out and speak locally when asked. I attend a few conferences a year, where I love getting together with my writer friends and readers and I take part in panels.
I learned to always keep business cards and bookmarks on hand because I never know when I’ll meet a potential new reader—in a doctor’s office, on an airplane, in a store. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who tell me they enjoy reading mysteries.
How do you promote your books, and which methods do you think are the most successful?
A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library mystery series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel last year. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series. Among her YAs and books for kids are Getting Back to Normal, (a nominee for six awards), and Rufus and Magic Run Amok, an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council “Children’s Choice.” Many of Marilyn’s books take place on Long Island, where she lives.