This post on my Facebook profile resonated with authors: it received 33 comments, 30 shares, and a ton of Likes.
When I started writing my first novel, I never gave a moment’s thought to promotion. I was naive enough to believe that after I got a publishing contract, the publisher would do all sorts of promotion, while I’d visit bookstores and go to events they’d set up. Sure, I’d need a website, and probably a Facebook page, but I wouldn’t have to be the one “selling” my book. “They” would do that.
Contract signed, and The Hanged Man’s Noose out, reality came crashing in pretty quickly. These days, authors are expected to do the bulk of their own advertising and promotion—and set up their own events and bookstore visits. I expect there are exceptions if you’re Gillian Flynn or Stephen King, but for those of us not breathing rarified air, it’s in the trenches we go.
I call this part of the job Shameless Self Promotion, and it is, without question, my least favorite part of being an author. I wasn’t raised to be boastful, I’m a terrible salesperson, and going to an outdoor market or bookstore is typically a very long day of standing and trying to encourage strangers to give my book(s) a chance—or at least make eye contact with me and take a free bookmark.
In short, it’s not so easy to be shameless.
One of the main reasons I started New Release Mondays was to provide other authors some free promotion without too much of the shameless BUY MY BOOK stuff we all have to do. And it’s worked out well, because not only have I introduced my followers to new writers, I’ve made connections with those same writers, many who have hosted me on their blogs. I call this Authors Helping Authors, and it’s one of my favorite parts of being an author (the writing is the best part).
And now we come to the Shameless Self Promotion part of this post: with a bit of a twist. You see, I’ve created this Canva photo, and if you click on it, you’ll see that it’s downloadable. I’m hoping my followers will help me with the whole BUY MY BOOK stuff by sharing it on their social media channels, whatever they might be. If you do share on Facebook or Twitter, please tag me: my Facebook name @JudySheluk (personal page) or @JudyPenzSheluk (author page) and my Twitter handle is @JudyPenzSheluk so I can thank you for your support and encouragement.
Click on the photo to open in a new window & download.
Past & Present: A Marketville Mystery #2 is currently available for pre-order in trade paperback at all the usual suspects, including Chapters.indigo and Barnes & Noble, and on Kindle for the introductory price of $2.99 (reg. $5.99).Â
Congrats Judy. I’ve shared on Twitter and my Literary group on FB. You should join us there. 🙂 P.S. your ‘like’ button isn’t working on your blog.
Thanks for sharing! What’s your literary group? Re LIKE button — it’s not just my website, it’s some sort of wordpress thing. I’m finding that lately I can’t LIKE posts if I’m not logged in to my wordpress.com account (which I never am, as this is wordpress.org). The workaround is to use an email address that isn’t associated with wordpress.com — and who is going to do that? It’s a newish issue — started about 6 weeks ago. Annoying.
I TOTALLY flunks marketing.
Thanks for reading, Marilyn!
Judy, don’t feel shameless about promoting yourself. You should be proud. Not only because of the books you’ve written and published but because of your fortitude in getting them out there. <3
Thanks for that perspective, Carol. It’s one I hadn’t thought of before.
It was a great post to read, encouraging me as I often feel lost and forgotten, but now I have been reminded that it is up to me to promote my work, I thank you for that, I have tweeted it and will stay in touch.
Thank you Maria! It can be so daunting, all this promotional stuff — by nature, most writers are introverts and we’re not salespeople. I shall look for your tweet and follow you.
Very forthright, Judy. Thanks for showing us that it can still be done with grace. It’s so difficult for most of us. I posted this on my Facebook page–but, unfortunately, I don’t know how to tag people! So, that part’s missing. Good luck on your new book!
With grace, thank you, Pam, I wasn’t sure and thank you for sharing
Tweeted and google+ too. Can’t wait for you to blog with me. Hugs, VB
Thanks so much, Vicki! I’m excited to be on Handbags, Books, Whatever too! Appreciate your support.
That is one of the most honest graceful ‘advertising’ posts I have seen. I’m impressed, it is so gracious. Agreed – self-promotion is author hell. Posted and promoted.
Thank you so much Janice. Yes, absolutely the worst part of the gig. I really wondered how this post would go over — I knew I was taking a chance, but the response has been very reassuring.
I loved this post-Judy! I shared and I can’t wait until 11/23/18 to be on your New Release Monday post! I appreciate you hosting me and sharing this story!
Thank you Jodi. I was on the fence about posting it — but then I closed my eyes and pressed publish!
I agree with Lucinda (and I saw this post on her page). I have a page for guest authors. If you have a post you’d like to share with readers, I’d be glad to have you as a guest on my site: http://www.ronesaaveela.com.
Thank you so much, Rebecca! I will email you to sort out the details. I really appreciate your support.
Shared, tweeted and followed. Would you be a guest on my blog please?
Thank you so much, Lucinda. I’d love to guest on your blog and will send you an email to sort out the details. I really appreciate your support.