Often, and especially if the story is very good, at the end of a book, Ms. Obie Joe has lots of questions about the plot and characters of a book. Absent a book club meeting, or even better, a direct line of questions for the author, the only way for a reader to find answers may be a discussion guide. Also known as a reading guide, or book club guide, these guides illuminate many aspects of the story.
The level of detail can vary:
• Questions designed to spark group conversation only, usually no more than 15-20. Wendell Berry and Andre Dubus are spectral experts at the construction of these type of Qs.
• Paragraphs of explanation, followed by questions. Mary Doria Russell, with her intriguing brand of fiction, spirituality exercises and outright science fiction, has beautiful discussion Q&As at the conclusion of many of her books.
• Character sketches and questions.
Many authors have their Discussion Guides written for them. But if you're an author with the opportunity to write your own, please do so. If it's not to be included in your book, post it on your web site, include it in your press kit, and send it out as a great enticement for a presentation before a book group or school.
It's just another way to draw in your audience. And keep them for your next book.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
TIP: Kill or Keep: what to do with a negative review on your Amazon page
Beyond the staving the staying sting of a one-star nasty-word, heartless review deposited on your Amazon page, what strategy should an author adopt about these reviews?
Some authors petition Amazon for removal for all sorts of reasons (none, of course related to the personal heartbreak). The author could point that the reviewer used inappropriate language (misspellings, defamatory, profane). Or, that the review gave away too much of the plot (to which Mr. Obie Joe says, have you SEEN the way Amazon usually summarizes the plot?). There's even the Reboot method, where an author deletes his page entirely, and starts fresh.
Mr. Obie Joe cautions authors to not worry the reviews. Instead, enjoy the attention, and that it will spur you on to encourage colleagues and friends to post their own more interesting and positive reviews.
Unless, of course, the review mentions yo'mamma.
Some authors petition Amazon for removal for all sorts of reasons (none, of course related to the personal heartbreak). The author could point that the reviewer used inappropriate language (misspellings, defamatory, profane). Or, that the review gave away too much of the plot (to which Mr. Obie Joe says, have you SEEN the way Amazon usually summarizes the plot?). There's even the Reboot method, where an author deletes his page entirely, and starts fresh.
Mr. Obie Joe cautions authors to not worry the reviews. Instead, enjoy the attention, and that it will spur you on to encourage colleagues and friends to post their own more interesting and positive reviews.
Unless, of course, the review mentions yo'mamma.
TIP: Check out this blog
Savvy book fans know that when it comes to book promotion and production, Mr. Obie Joe's motto is "Find Your Audience."
Part of that search for actual audience members is sussing out what your audience likes. Part of this sleuthing is simple: if you have a YA novel, your book trailer had better find its home on mySpace, your FaceBook page and of course, YouTube with killer search terms attached to it. If you're published a travelogue for the recently retired, for Lawd's sake, make sure you blog continues with frequent posts from life on the road.
Check out this author blog/site by new author, DeAnna Cameron (The Bell Dancer, Berkeley Books): www.deannacameron.com. Ms. Obie Joe discovered Ms. Cameron on M.J. Rose's blog (also a must read, daily, at www.mjroseblog.typepad.com/buzz_balls_hype), and loved her advice about finding which method works for you as author, and for your audience, and then sticking to it.
DeAnna starts off each interview of an author, with the line, "How'd You Find Your Audience?"
Indeed.
Part of that search for actual audience members is sussing out what your audience likes. Part of this sleuthing is simple: if you have a YA novel, your book trailer had better find its home on mySpace, your FaceBook page and of course, YouTube with killer search terms attached to it. If you're published a travelogue for the recently retired, for Lawd's sake, make sure you blog continues with frequent posts from life on the road.
Check out this author blog/site by new author, DeAnna Cameron (The Bell Dancer, Berkeley Books): www.deannacameron.com. Ms. Obie Joe discovered Ms. Cameron on M.J. Rose's blog (also a must read, daily, at www.mjroseblog.typepad.com/buzz_balls_hype), and loved her advice about finding which method works for you as author, and for your audience, and then sticking to it.
DeAnna starts off each interview of an author, with the line, "How'd You Find Your Audience?"
Indeed.
TIP: What's your widget?
Adding a widget to your site is an essential. Even though most of the widgets you see are ones standard to most blogs and sites, an author should consider constructing a personalized widget. A personalized widget can tout a football team, your kid's nickname; others can emphasize function, for example, tracking how fast you can type. Do a few web searches to find a widget already made, or how to make your own, and start the process.
Mr. Obie Joe's widget preference? The Saints' 2008-09 schedule, of course, and Ms. Obie Joe would be inclined to agree.
Mr. Obie Joe's widget preference? The Saints' 2008-09 schedule, of course, and Ms. Obie Joe would be inclined to agree.
Monday, June 23, 2008
TIP: Call your library
One of the best ways to juice your Amazon ranking (beyond writing a good book?) is to solicit your friends, family, work colleagues, and perhaps neighbors to place an order the first week of a book's release. Or, soon after a huge media appearance.
Don't forget to solicit friends and families for placing orders that won't cost them a dime. When a library orders a book, they tend to order many copies. For a recent title in poetry promoted by Obie Joe, we hit the jackpot with each library order, usually averaging 20+ books.
Ask your friends and family to call their local library to place a hold on the book. If told the book is not in stock, ask to have the book ordered. It may take a few calls before the library orders the books, but eventually a library will.
Don't forget to solicit friends and families for placing orders that won't cost them a dime. When a library orders a book, they tend to order many copies. For a recent title in poetry promoted by Obie Joe, we hit the jackpot with each library order, usually averaging 20+ books.
Ask your friends and family to call their local library to place a hold on the book. If told the book is not in stock, ask to have the book ordered. It may take a few calls before the library orders the books, but eventually a library will.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
TIP: Put ya domains on auto renewal
If you own the domain name of your web site (this advice does not apply to blogs), make sure to put the annual renewal on automatic. Whether it's godaddy.com, register.com or whomever, the company should offer an auto-renewal function. Take it. Not all domain hosts will notify you of an expiration date.
Many of us in book promotion have stories of authors whose domain name lapsed. And either they did not get an expiration notice, or they did not remember to renew, but the sad day came when they learned someone else now had their domain name, either by auction or smart picking up.
Many of us in book promotion have stories of authors whose domain name lapsed. And either they did not get an expiration notice, or they did not remember to renew, but the sad day came when they learned someone else now had their domain name, either by auction or smart picking up.
TIP for the day: stop by and say hi
One of our large goals for this log was to post more tips on book promotion.
Here's a tip for Mr. Obie Joe: stop being so slovenly on the posts.
A tip for everyone else:
Optimally, your site's blogroll contains links to your favorite sites. Treat these sites like your favs, and give them a little bit of love every now and then. Meaning, make sure to visit these sites and leave a comment. If you more time, take a bit of something you learned from this site, and post a snippet on your site.
The advantages? Your friends will feel loved, and with some active blogs, your post will boost your Google position.
Here's a tip for Mr. Obie Joe: stop being so slovenly on the posts.
A tip for everyone else:
Optimally, your site's blogroll contains links to your favorite sites. Treat these sites like your favs, and give them a little bit of love every now and then. Meaning, make sure to visit these sites and leave a comment. If you more time, take a bit of something you learned from this site, and post a snippet on your site.
The advantages? Your friends will feel loved, and with some active blogs, your post will boost your Google position.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Why bother?
The author and the publisher is king(s), respectively, so their word is go when it comes to book promotion.
That said, like any other service provider, Mr. Obie Joe finds the situation a bit vexing when an author or publisher takes a direction not of sense to the goal of finding an audience for a book.
A lot has been hyped about online promotion. Get a MySpace page. Throw thousands of dollars for a web site. Do a blog tour. Put on podcasts. The focus is always on the wrong thing: a successful book promotion is less about the tools, and more about the actual CONTENT. Sorry to shout, but Mr. Obie Joe must remind authors and publishers to choose their online tools carefully. Few of us are as charismatic as Chip Kidd (sigh), or as funny and prolific as Haven Kimmel in their book trailers, websites, blogs and podcasts.
Make the commitment stick when you choose your tool for online promotion. Don't scramble all over. Pick one or two tools, and show up regularly. The bookmarks Mr. and Ms. Obie Joe bookmark are ones with regular posts; that's all, and that's enough.
That said, like any other service provider, Mr. Obie Joe finds the situation a bit vexing when an author or publisher takes a direction not of sense to the goal of finding an audience for a book.
A lot has been hyped about online promotion. Get a MySpace page. Throw thousands of dollars for a web site. Do a blog tour. Put on podcasts. The focus is always on the wrong thing: a successful book promotion is less about the tools, and more about the actual CONTENT. Sorry to shout, but Mr. Obie Joe must remind authors and publishers to choose their online tools carefully. Few of us are as charismatic as Chip Kidd (sigh), or as funny and prolific as Haven Kimmel in their book trailers, websites, blogs and podcasts.
Make the commitment stick when you choose your tool for online promotion. Don't scramble all over. Pick one or two tools, and show up regularly. The bookmarks Mr. and Ms. Obie Joe bookmark are ones with regular posts; that's all, and that's enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)