Having a book released is almost like having a baby. Pop over and visit me at Routines for Writers today to find out more.
Some of you have asked me how the release is going. As far as I can tell, it’s going pretty well. The buzz seems good to me and I was at my local library branch this afternoon and saw my book had 13 requests already. They still have it on order currently, though.
Getting our books into bookstores and libraries is a big part of 21st century writers’ jobs. I’m not great on the phone, but love writing (i.e.—mail.) I’ve called some stores and will send postcards to others.
So very happy for you,Elizabeth. And I agree, it is like giving birth. Amazing experience.
13 requests from the library? I still don’t know how to get mine into the library at all.
Congratulations.
Karen
Thanks for sharing your experience here. I’d like to hear a little more about what you tell the books stores when you call them. Do you talk about the book or give a balanced presentation of the book and yourself as the author?
wb
Congratulations Elizabeth! Will you share some of your marketing efforts at the BBTCafe?
Bargain with the Devil
I’m glad to hear the promotion is going well. I’m also glad to hear that one can write as opposed to calling people in order to market their book. I know it’s inevitable and I’ll have to phone people and meet them face, but I’d much rather just write letters :)
~Jen
Thanks, Enid. I’ve been meaning to visit the Cafe lately (on Yahoo Groups, if others are interested.) It’ll help me to hear others’ promo ideas, too.
I’ve been wondering about this. Seems I’ve heard a lot about personal contact helping, but a person can only be so many places. I wonder if this is one of the places networks of other authors can help. A library can only get so many requests before they think ‘gee, maybe we ought to have that’.
I love the little interview :)Great Analogy. Glad to hear the book release is going well. I hope to one day get to experience it myself!
Yes, the book release is the birth. Then the book has to grow up and get a job (make sales) and hopefully mature into a career person with a fat 6 figure income, right? Lots of work to do. ;)
The Old Silly
Hey, E,
13 requests it very, very good. Proud of you!
Say, I followed the link here, and in your tweet, To Routine for Wrtiers and nothing shows after the host’s Intro, so…may wanna check into that.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Hey Elizabeth, I’m mid-way!! :)
Congratulations! I’ve heard my book is in a library in New Zealand but I have yet to get it into my local Florida library. Sigh. I could use some tips on doing this, hint, hint.
Hart–I think so. I’ve requested friends’ books at my library here, locally. It was a method that worked very well before the economy soured–now the libraries’ cutbacks are really making things tough.
Marybeth–Thanks so much!
Marvin–I wish… :)
Galen–Crud. Lemme check on it…thanks for the heads-up.
Carol–Thanks for popping by!
Karen–Thanks! At least there’s no 2 a.m. feedings (except…well, I WAS up at 2 a.m….)
Jane–New Zealand! Mercy. Honestly, I people asking about my book and I always refer them to the library. They had my first book on their shelves already. I saw my second book wasn’t on order. I logged in to the library website with my library card number. I requested they order the book. They wrote back and said they couldn’t find any reviews on the book (again, this is the bad economy talking….I never had this problem with the first book.) I wrote back and gave them the link to Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, mentioned that I was local and that the paper was running a blurb on me and I hoped they’d look at my reviews and order. I’m hoping the wait list to read it is some validation for me….the process was more of a pain than usual.
Warren–Thanks for coming by! I make my bookstore spiel very short. Frequently they request that I email them the info after I get a manager on the phone. I request a manager or CRM, tell them I’m a local author with a cozy mystery new release. I give them the book’s ISBN number to look up and while they look it up, I briefly share my good reviews. I ask them if they could order a couple of copies for their shelves. They’re usually happy to do so. I’ll have my calendar close in case they want to have me in for a signing, too.
Hi Jen–I like to order postcards that have my book cover covering one side. On the other, I have my book’s name, ISBN #, my name, the publisher’s name, a review snippet, and my email address. It doesn’t cost too much to mail a postcard and we can get address info for stores online.
13 requests! That’s awesome! Congrats, Elizabeth!
Congratulations on the release, Elizabeth, and on the great reviews. The library needs to get that book in there – 13 people waiting. They should get several copies!
Helen
Straight From Hel
Katie–Thanks!
Helen–Maybe those people will get frustrated by the wait and head over to the bookstore. :)
Galen–thanks for the heads up on the broken link (for Internet Explorer users). Turns out something weird happened with Internet Explorer VS Firefox browser. Should be all fixed now. (Sorry Elizabeth! I guess this would be the equivalent of dropping the cake at the baby shower !?!)
Shonna–Hey, it happens. :) Baby showers are notorious for unexpected hiccups.
You know, I’ve pretty much given up on Internet Explorer 8 now…had wayyy too many problems with it. Now I’m using Firefox all the way.
So much interest in this! I hope that means you’ll share more in future posts…