Linore Rose Burkard is the creator of "Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul." Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the era of Regency England (circa 1811 - 1820).
Ms. Burkard was raised in New York, where she graduated magna cum laude from the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. She lives with her husband and five children in a town full of antique stores and gift shops in southwestern Ohio. Her hobbies include working on four new Regency novels, family movie nights, swimming, and gardening.
One of the keynote speakers this past weekend at the FaithWriters conference was published author, Linore Rose Burkard. Linore's journey to publication is unique because she originally self-published her book and was "discovered" by a traditional publisher (Harvest House).
The main reason Harvest House found Linore was that Linore was easy to find. Yes, she'd written a great book but, more than that, she mastered the marketing of that book. Or, really, the marketing of herself as an author. Many authors cringe at the thought of self-promoting. Especially Christian authors who have been taught to never - ever - toot their own horn. But, hey. This is business. Advertising your excellence in electrical work or plumbing or sales wouldn't be a problem, would it? Then why should advertising your excellence as an author?
So Linore understood the idea of marketing. And because she did, she landed a contract.
While I would love to relay, word for word, everything Linore taught in her workshop, Book Marketing 101, I can't. What I will do is list below some of the best ways to get your name out there and market yourself and your book. Try to do as many things on the list as possible. Print it off and use it as a checklist. The more places you "are", the more people who will "see" you. Including agents, publishers, and (future) readers.
SOCIAL NETWORKS
Squidoo
ShoutLife
Targeted Online Groups (like Yahoo Groups)
PROMOTION
Blog - If you don't already have a blog, create one!
Blog Tour
Interviews (radio, web, print) - (PLUG for myself - if you have a book out and would like to be interviewed, I'd love to interview you - just shoot me a note!)
Link Exchanges
Articles (write free articles for Ezinearticles.com or other)
Press Releases
Review books for others
Joint Ventures
WEBSITE
Email Capture (give away a freebie for signing up for newsletter - an ebook you've written, etc)
Email Newsletter
Testimonials by others who have worked with you/read your work
Endorsements
Public Speaking
Bio Page / Media Room
Reader Resources (offer something for your readers that will benefit them)
Calendar (listing where you'll be or what you've got coming up)
MARKETING
Video book trailers
Ads (both paid and free)
Promotional items (bookmarks, etc)
Join Professional Organizations - ACFW, RWA, FaithWriters.com
Coaching other writers
Snail Mail Campaigning
Conferences - go to as many as possible (and that you can afford)
Classes / Seminars
Paid Reviews
Contests- Enter lots!
So there you have it! Linore has offered excellent advice on marketing yourself and your book. Of course, she expanded on each of these things, but you have the idea. Marketing may not necessarily appeal to you, but it IS necessary for your success. Linore is living proof!
Visit Linore online
4 comments:
Awesome advice! Sounds like you got a TON of excellent training at the conference. :D
Linore was my fav presenter there - so much info and the real life experience to back it up. She really opened my eyes to all of the things I must get to - oh yeah, and then actually WRITE the novel... LOL. Thanks Lynda - your blog is tops!
Thanks! :)
Awesome, Lynda...
thank you for posting this!!!
Gona print it out and tape it to my computer!!! ; )
hugs!!
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