Author #7

September 2, 2014

MARSocial Special Interview: Question & Answers #9

Hello everyone! So, finally we received all answers from our participants from MARSocial author network. Are you excited to read the answers yet? Question #9 is “Who could/would help a writer to sell books?” by Jaro Berce.

Let’s check out the answers from all 11 author participants !

1) Coleman Weeks

Readers and other authors, for some the biggest challenge is themselves

2) Viv Drewa

Social media if you’re an Indie. Otherwise agents or publishers.

3) K. J. Rollinson

See the answers to question one. Of course, you can pay for advertising, and you can also pay reviewers and others, e.g. Twitter accounts to advertise your books for you.

4) Sam Reese

I’m not sure I understand this question exactly, but I think family, friends, and a publisher if you have one would do all of this. As for who could, I’d say anyone could. Like all things, selling books is about building relationships and a fan base.

5) Neil McGowan

Anyone with an interest in books! If you’ve read something that moves you, tell others; leave a review. Promo sites are okay but unless you pay for it, you don’t get massive exposure and even if you do, there is no guarantee that you will recoup your outlay. Also, the authors themselves can drive interest in their work by interacting with people via social media, being visible at local festivals and events, giving interviews etc.

6) Marion Lovato

Family and friend, if they’re supportive, could really help sell your books just by word of mouth.

7) Jaro Berce

My, my … the toughest question to which I do not have an answer. If I had, I’d be selling my books in tons.

8) Marie Lavender

Tough question.  I think writers automatically assume that being an author is easy.  When they first approach the idea of publishing, they think, “I will write books and someone else, the publisher most likely, will sell them.  Easy!”  No, it’s really not.  And it doesn’t work that way anymore.  The industry has changed.  The term of “author” is changing.  Now an author has to be part writer, part marketing genius.  Publishers now are looking for writers who can not only write, but market themselves, basically “sell” their own books.  New authors tend to get jaded by this fact.  And, I agree, it is exhausting.  So, if you’re lucky, you get with a large publisher that has a whole marketing team to help you.  But, in most cases, you don’t have that.  And, even if your publisher has some marketing tools in place, they won’t cover everything.  You have to learn to be more than just a writer.  You have to be an author.  You have to sell your product.  You.  And your books, of course.  

Who else helps a writer sell books?  Fellow authors usually help by endorsing books or talking about them in social media.  Word of mouth is the best tool, though, and the best source is from readers.  So, how do we go about getting that?  That goes back on the reader in some ways.  All I can suggest is this.  If you are an avid reader of a certain genre, do your favorite authors (even if they are indie authors) a favor by doing these two things:  1) Leave a review.  You have no idea how much that helps an author, especially a fledgling one, sell books.  Be honest about what you liked or didn’t like, but be fair.  What one person doesn’t like may actually be someone else’s cup of tea.  2)  Tell your friends and family about this author and the books you loved, and why.  Chances are someone will get curious and look them up.  Word of mouth is everything in this business.

9) LaRae Parry

Good question, Jaro. The best way to sell a book, hands down, is word of mouth. Readers who like your books will help sell them.

10) Theresa Moretimer

The media can help you sell books if you have a great press release. In my case, the persons involved in the prevention of domestic violence can help me due to the fact that write about it and I speak pubicly on the warning signs and what I personally went through.

11) Annie Edmonds

Well Jaro, I think anyone can help a writer sell their books. Readers do it all the time without knowing. One great review can sell books. Or telling a friend about a good book is helping the author sell books. 
 
Those two things are what I think every writer dreams about. Word of mouth and good reviews. And by the way as long as the reviewer is not attacking the writer their review can help that author sell books. 

The next question is “Who could/would help a writer to sell books?” by Jaro. Stay tuned with us for the next post !

Advertisement
August 13, 2014

MARSocial Special Interview: Author #7 Jaro Berce

In the course of his life Jaro Berce has lived, been educated and worked in many different places of culture – Europe, Africa, USA and China. He was entrepreneur, project manager, member of BoD and performed many more other long and short term tasks. Half of his life he dedicated to martial arts. All this diverse knowledge and passions he merged into a different approach to a leadership. By teaching and coaching he widely spreads his ideas.
June 15, 2014

May Author Interview: Author #7 Amanda Strong

Displaying The final Awakener Cover (2).jpg

Two of my greatest passions in life have always been writing or reading.  I’m pretty sure I spent of most of childhood either hiding in some random corner scribbling away in a notebook or pressing my nose into a book.  Writing has been a journey for me, one that has stretched me, and taught me so much about myself and others.

When I’m not writing, you can find me chasing my three rambunctious children around the house and spending time with my wonderful and supportive husband.  On some occasions you might still find me in my not-so-pink glasses, hiding in a corner to read or working out only to blow my diet by eating ice cream.

Amazon link:  http://www.amazon.com/Awakener-Watchers-Men-Amanda-Strong-ebook/dp/B00G4T1KBY

http://www.authoramandastrong.com/ 

May 17, 2014 Image

Larae Parry: April Author Interview Participant #7

LaRae’s Short Bio

I was born with a loose screw. No kidding, I was. It has gotten me into trouble and out of trouble, so I can’t complain about being a little daft.

I was also born with an umbilical urge to write, or to tell stories I made up on the spot. That got me into a lot of trouble, and out of trouble, so, I can’t complain. 🙂

In 1991, I became a VERY famous artist. (wink, wink). I drew, painted, and wrote painting instructions for a publisher. I had 13 painting books published-which is weird, because I never considered myself an artist. I was a faux artist, I guess.

In 2005, a simple medical procedure went terribly wrong and landed me in the ICU on life-support because of respiratory and multiple organ failure. Even though I beat the odds and survived, the doctor told me that my brain had crashed and and needed to be rebooted.

The good news was I had a brain. The bad news was it wasn’t working. I had to relearn how to stand, walk, go upstairs, comb my hair, etc. Forget about reading.

In 2010, I learned how to read and write again. I never did get my faux artistic skills back, but that’s okay. I didn’t have them to begin with. 😉

So now I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do . . . write. Tell stories, make-up stories and enjoy the little fantasy world I have always loved. My stories will take you on some crazy journeys if you’d like to go.

My Comedy/Romance/Paranormal, The Danish Pastry, is the result of my learning to read and write again therapy. I still struggle with reading, but being able to write is a lot easier . . . weird, huh? What can I say? I’m weird . . . in a good way though.

Author Website:

https://www.amazon.com/author/laraeparry
https://www.facebook.com/thecrazylady3
http://www.amazon.com/The-Danish-Pastry-LaRae-Parry/dp/1493646141