Six LDS Writers and A Frog

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Spreading the Good Word

by Sariah S. Wilson

I read a few writer/editor/agent/bookseller blogs on a daily basis. Publicity has been an ongoing theme lately.

There seems to be a general consensus that publicity must be done. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, not one person has any idea of what works and what doesn't. The publishers themselves are often at a loss to explain why a Dan Brown or J.K. Rowling happens. Trust me, if they could figure out how to bottle that particular type of phenomenon, they'd do it in a New York minute.

Authors that I know print up bookmarks, postcards, give away fun little knickknacks at signings, take out ads in magazines and newspapers, send out press releases to everyone they can think of, etc. And those are just things the author does. Hopefully, the publisher will also be kicking in and doing all they can to publicize the book.

And sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes (as HelenKay Dimon pointed out on her blog) you can have a situation like one the author Shannon McKenna finds herself in. Shannon lives in Italy. She doesn't do publicity or promotional stuff. She doesn't go to conferences. She doesn't update her website. And yet she's consistently on best seller lists. Obviously she writes well. But there are lots of NYT best selling authors who write poorly. And even more authors who write exceptionally well but don't sell many books. How can anyone explain such an anomaly?

Because for every Shannon McKenna I'd bet there's an untold number of authors who will never make those best seller lists regardless of what they do or don't do publicity-wise.

What we do know works is word of mouth. Most readers cite it as the number one reason for buying new authors. Unfortunately, buzz and word of mouth can't be manufactured.

So what is it that makes you give a new author a chance? How do you find what books you read? Is it from reading reviews? If so, what kinds of reviews (i.e., magazine, newspaper, online, Amazon, etc.)? From browsing in a bookstore? Recommendations from friends or family members or bookstore employees? Because the book has a pretty cover? Because it's on best seller lists?

What was it that made you find that new author in the first place?


9 Comments:

At 7/29/2006 11:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have bought books in the past because of a recommendation from a friend, store worker, etc. I have also bought them because I was sent an ad/ brochure that convinced me the book was wonderful. I browse through book stores and pick them up, if they look good as I flip through, I buy them. If I like an author I will generally buy more of that author's books. I am guilty of this even when I don't like the other books as much as the first I've read. I keep hoping they'll be that good again. One thing I have had several authors do, which not everyone can, is send me a free book. If I read it and like it I will definately be buying more from that author as well as recommending it to others. Some have done this for me because a page was missing, pages were upside down, or they just wanted me to read it and recommend it to others. Actually, I wish more authors would do this! :-) I have lent out more books than the library and convinced several people to read authors I consider wonderful, so word of mouth is probably the best way, just also the most difficult.

 
At 7/31/2006 1:25 PM, Blogger Tristi Pinkston said...

I rely on the library to help me find new authors. I'm always on the lookout for new LDS books, so when I see one come in, I'll snatch it up regardless if I've heard of the author. Then, if I like them, I'm more likely to read more by them.

 
At 7/31/2006 1:28 PM, Blogger Tristi Pinkston said...

Ah, senility setting in! I forgot to say something in response to anonymous. As an author, I love it when I'm able to send out free books. Unfortunately, unless the books are for reviews, etc, authors do have to pay for the copies they give away.

 
At 8/24/2006 3:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I recently went to a luncheon held by a publisher for three of their authors. It was held at a restaurant and I chose to be at one of the tables that one of the authors sat at. I got to know her and a little about her family and we were able to ask her questions and so forth. It was so much fun. At the end the other authors came over and said "hello" one of these that I didn't know well gave me a list of her books that she has written. She was so friendly. It was a fantastic luncheon. We all paid for our own lunch, and I would do it again in a heart beat. I met Jennie Hansen, Michele Ashman Bell and Betsy Brannon Green. I will definately be getting the books of the authors that I hadn't read before.

 
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At 12/30/2009 9:37 PM, Blogger RobisonWells said...

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