OH READERS, WHERE ARE YOU?In planning a promotion tour for my upcoming book releases, I did quite a bit of research. I’ve searched far and wide for new readers.
Out of all the author promotion sites, blogs, Yahoo groups, and other such venues…I find one thing to be consistent. The majority of these places are frequented by other WRITERS!
Now, there’s certainly nothing wrong with promoting your books to other writers. Some of my best friends are writers and they’ve purchased many of my books in support of my career. But where are all the READERS?
I recently read a study that indicated that the online reading audience is really just a select percentage of folks and really very small percentage of the world’s population. But even so…it still has to consist of millions of people. I mean, before I was published, I looked up authors online and checked out their new releases and searched for opportunities to meet them or chat with them.
I’ve been quite a “fan girl” of many authors for years and I constantly searched for online chats, free book giveaways, and book tour details whenever they were involved.
However, now that I’m on the other side of that Internet fence, I can’t seem to tap into the same type of audience. So, again I ask, READERS…where are you?
Everyone will agree that the world of publishing is going digital in a hurry. With e-book sales through the roof these days, folks are online buying books more than ever. And they are NOT all authors!
Lately, whenever I do a blog appearance or a giveaway, I find the same group of people attending. Not that I’m complaining about that—I just wonder why it is rare to find a newbie present. I also own an author’s promotion blog and we do a giveaway multiple times during the month. When I post that winners list, the same people are winning box loads of prizes each time.
Doesn’t anyone else want free books, goodies, jewelry, or swag? It feels like a never ending game of hide-and-seek some days.
I know you are out there, gentle readers. But, please tell me…WHERE ARE YOU?
Leave a comment on your suggestion of where to find new readers and I’ll choose one winner at random for your choice of prizes! Speak up and WIN!
After growing up the laughing stock of the town drunk and humiliated by the hottest guy in school, Kennedy Wolfe planned on never stepping foot in Greece, New York again.
Now a highly decorated agent for the FBI, Kennedy learns of the abduction of her best friend from high school. The news comes just days after the invitation to her class reunion was received and tossed.
Despite her better judgment, she can’t resist the urge to take on a case that would show her classmates once and for all what she’s really made of.
Damon Divine is the unbeatable District Attorney and he’s dead set on finding those responsible for abducting his twin sister. But when the beautiful Agent Wolfe comes to town, he knows the kidnappers won’t be the only ones on her hit list.
After all, standing up a girl on senior prom night is not something she’s likely forgotten.
Now available from Evernight Publishing.
Click here to purchase and read an excerpt:
http://www.evernightpublishing.com/products/Double-Take-by-Kerri-Nelson.html
Check out my website here:
http://www.kerrinelson.com/
Check out my industry blog here:
http://www.thebookboost.blogspot.com/
Follow me on Twitter here:
http://www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter
Author Bio:
Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and three adorable children. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family.
Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Celtic Hearts Romance Writers and Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers. She is a multi-published author currently under contract for her sixteenth novel.
16 comments:
Kerri--
The readers are out there.
It depends on where you visit. I recently saw a thirty second TV commercial (local TV)for an author's self-pubbed book. Essentially, it was a trailer. It generated an article in the newspaper, and a couple of TV interviews, as well as a local bookstore appearance.
These combined to give her a boost.
Have you tried Love Romances Cafe? As a reader, I've discovered new writers there.
With a limited amount of time to read, I'll check out something I see advertised.
Just my thoughts.
I too wonder where the readers are...but then I think anyone reading my books are a good thing.
I found my local RWA chapter by being a fan girl and went to a library talk one of the NY Times Best Selling authors gave with a panel of other authors. I became fans of those authors and I'm still a big fan girl of that original author (yes, I do try not to drool on her at meetings) :)
And I also have to remember that while I may not get a lot of followers or comments, the numbers for lurkers on the blog are nice. So while us authors may speak to characters in our heads and other authors on line, maybe some of those reader fans are there...they're just afraid of the crazy author people. ;)
I always want free stuff, but I've stopped commenting on some blogs of authors I follow because I was winning a lot of free stuff that I would have been happy to buy. I thought letting some others, possibly readers, win free books and swag was better. And of course I'd buy the book to support the author.
Hi Kerri! *waving*
Here I am, another writer posting on a blog! LOL
But I wanted to share that I have found lots of fabulous readers over on goodreads. It's my favorite community full of people who loves books.
There are definitely writers there, but the vast majority are readers who are hungry to find another great book to read...
http://goodreads.com
Have fun!
Lisa :)
You know, I've wondered the same thing. Where are the readers? It even seems that it's the same group who posts on each others blog. Your story looks awesome! I need a kindle... ;)
Congratulations on your new release, Kerri. It looks fantastic. I think that most readers, because they enjoy stories so much, harbor a desire to write one----one day.
Gothic Romantic Suspense, a loop from KOD, is one in which there are some self-professed readers only.
I would LOVE to know that too, Kerri! I see the same thing at my blog. The same readers, and mostly authors.
Double take sounds great! Loved the Burb!! If you figure out where those readers are- DO TELL!!!
Best Wishes,
Andrea :O)
Kerri, one untapped pool of readers is our friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances who aren't writers. I finally realized that and am now starting to send these people notices of where I'm blogging. The first time I did it, I had two people comment who are huge book lovers! I also told my friends that if they wanted to be removed from my list, I wouldn't take offense.
But how many of us remember to include all these special people in our lives when we blog? There's potential there. Not all of these are people I see or talk to every day - several of them live across the country. And I would be thrilled for friends of mine to win a free copy of my book!
So think about it. How many people are in your email list that you haven't been notifying about contests/blog entries/new releases?
If you find them, please be sure to share with everyone. This is the question every author asks and I have yet to hear any readers yelling "over here".
I have the same questions you do, Kerri. :)
That's a good point, Christine!
I'm a reader, blogger and aspiring author.
I belong to several Yahoo groups and we are always recommending books to each other. And I have recently joined Goodreads. Still exploring the possibilities there.
Another good source would be conventions. I'm going to Lori Foster's event in June(I hope). I expect to meet a bunch of authors there that I love, but I also expect to meet a lot I haven't already read stuff by.
Also, I don't read reviews myself but I know a lot of people who do. If you can get your books reviewed at some of the more popular sites, it would definitely get more exposure for you.
Aha! Another writer popping in, Kerri!
Have a peek on Amazon. I've noticed that when I call up my book, there are related forums listed below. A good number of them are readers asking the community what new authors/books they can read in their chosen genre.
It seems to be acceptable to plug your own book in these circumstances if it's relevant.
I'm thrilled that Kerri's blog has generated so many comments. As a newbie, waiting for her first release in July, I wonder how I'll get the word out there. How do I get a woman in Idaho to read a story written by someone in Virginia. I blog, do facebook and twitter yet worry if I'll be able to sell beyond my circle of family and friends.
I think Amazon's forums and Goodreads are probably the best places to reach reades. I can't afford advertising, so free is it for me.
For books and authors I depend on my library. We get a lot of new authors that do library tours - it helps readers connect to writers. Especially if the author can get the library to do some special promotion. Here in Washington, the libraries pick a Washington author each year to promote through all the libraries. Some libraries have a lot of activities involving the book and some just promote the book. It's just one way to get it out to readers. Review blogs are another but I haven't really found that I pick up books that way.
I enjoyed reading the post AND the comments. Maybe it all starts with writers, and if enough writers talk about how great a book is, it trickles down to the readers. Or maybe the BIG 6 publishing houses are holding ALL the readers captive in a huge NYC basement and only let them read the books we see on the bestsellers list...which would be why they do so well.
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