Comments on: Book promotion — What works for me

By: The (promotion) games people play … | Jennifer Estep

The (promotion) games people play … | Jennifer Estep — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:03:46 +0000

[...] ago, epic fantasy author Lisa Shearin wrote a couple of good posts about book promotion and what has and hasn’t worked for her. The posts really resonated with me, since I was in the middle of [...]

By: Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

Anne Elizabeth Baldwin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:26:03 +0000

One thing you didn’t mention is online excerpts. They often accompany interviews, but I’ve also seen them separately. As a book buyer, those excerpts are the next best thing to finding a copy I can actually look over before deciding. {Smile}

Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

By: Robert Collins

Robert Collins — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:27:22 +0000

I only go to SF cons within driving distance. Only fly if you have to go, or if someone else is paying.

At many SF cons you can ask to be a guest if you’ve been published. Some cons will even welcome self-published authors. As a guest you can get on panels, do readings, and promote that way. It’s a bit pricier, but you can sometimes buy a table in the vendor room at a con.

By: Kimber An

Kimber An — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:38:39 +0000

Lisa, yeah, gotta cover that cost too!

By: Lisa Shearin

Lisa Shearin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:08:02 +0000

I’ve only been to one convention — The Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Pittsburgh two years ago. It was great, I had a fabulous time, but it was expensive. Between the registration fee, hotel, airfare, etc. it ended up costing approx. $2,000.

By: Krista D. Ball

Krista D. Ball — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:03:25 +0000

Thanks Lisa.

One question – do you ever go to conventions? SFF conventions are small but devote where I live and authors come to them. Have you ever gone? What’s the experience like?

By: Robert Collins

Robert Collins — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:44:21 +0000

Thanks for answering my question. I’m looking forward to what you have to say tomorrow. I’m going to have to look over what you wrote and give it some thought. Some I’m already doing; some I think I need to have a little more cash to do. Again, thanks!

By: Lisa Shearin

Lisa Shearin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:39:02 +0000

KimberAn, I sell things a little over cost to help cover the quarterly CafePress “store rent.” It’s only $18.95 per quarter for a “Premium shop,” and it’s always nice if I can sell enough t-shirts to cover it.

By: Kimber An

Kimber An — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:34:05 +0000

Hey, how well is CafePress working for you?

I’m at the stage in which I’ve received three offers of publication, so I’m looking at these things more seriously now.

I was thinking a CafePress store is a wonderful thing because I’ve talked to several people about Linnea’s books because of the shirts she sent me.

I was thinking it was more about promotion than profit, so I was thinking of just selling stuff at cost.

By: Beth Caudill

Beth Caudill — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:11:40 +0000

Great information. Thanks. Can’t wait to see what you have listed in the next post.