More Questions Answered

Housekeeping


All giveaways from Jan and On The Bright Side launch will be shipped this week. I try and ship once a month.

Have you heard of The Reading Room? It is similar to Goodreads but with some additional benefits. They are hosting a Valentine's Day author chat next Tuesday, Feb 14th at 7PM EST. I will be there talking about indie pubbing, my book, and marketing. Mark your calendars and sign up for free to join. The brains behind starting The Reading Room will also be here this Thursday on Bookanista Day to tell you more about The Reading Room.


You can also win one of 5 $50 book vouchers by inviting 5 friends to join or by joing the live chat. I will also be giving away prizes during the chat.




More of your questions...


I would like to know more about book covers: hiring a graphic artist versus doing it yourself. 


I know tons of indie pubbers who get art online or have graphic designers photoshop for them. I personally want to stuff to be original and reflect what I'm trying to get across. 


Here are some viable options that depend on preference and budget:

1. Purchase art "as is" online and put your title on it without changing it. But you risk someone else using it. (under $100)
2. Find a graphic designer student or art student and see what they can do ($100-$300) 
3. Purchase art online and pay someone to do the design and cover art - but having them photoshop to add originality ($100 - 500$)
4. Pay for an original photo shoot and cover design ($500- 1000)

I used Vania @vlcphoto.net. Not only does she take great pictures but she also does amazing photoshopping, which is hard to find. You can find her at her web site or email her at Vania Stoyanova <vandsmedia@gmail.com>if you want more information.




How did you get such a huge following on your blog?


I started this blog in Jan 09 and got 100,000 hits within the 18 months. I don't necessarily think it was because of me but here is how I started blogging:
1) I commented on blogs and always answered comments. I try to still do that though I don't get to as many as I used to :(
2) I tried to help people by running agent contests and giving away ARCs I received from publishing houses.
3) I created a niche for myself around offering free marketing advice to writers and authors
4) I participated in comment contests and blog hops to meet new people and find new blogs.
5) I tried to blog at least 3 times a week.
6) I added my blog signature to my email.


I just try to be genuine and help others. That was my only "strategy" behind even starting.


Have you worked/or do you ever attempt to get your work into libraries/bookstores/large chains, etc? Is that possible, is it advantageous, or not even worth the effort? What is your opinion/experience?


I have not tried yet. I have been focusing on my ebook experiments. But I have just been accepted into Lightning Source who uses Ingram as a distributor. Most bookstores order through Ingram, Book depository overseas, and Overdrive for libraries. That is my next phase. Though seeing how my paperbacks sell (probably only about 10-15% of sales), it might only be worth it from a monetary perspective but it is a way for me to support indies and support the physical book. 


  
That's it for now. 


Feel free to leave more questions and I will continue to answer them. :)

Answers, Prizes, and Bookanista - Oh My

So I got a lot of questions yesterday.


Jan Status (Untraceable)

• I've sold approximately 3,600 books to date (from Nov 31st). 
• The highest sales are on Amazon. B&N second.
• ebooks account for most of that at 90%.
• Only about 200 paperback.

Winners for Q/A post
All prizes for launch day will be mailed out on Monday.


Karen Adkins, Mandy, Vera and Danielle. Email me at shelli@srjohannes.com to discuss your choice of prize.


1) a free ebook of On The Bright Side
2) a free ebook of Untraceable
3) a query critique
4) some other books/arcs I have laying around. You can choose.


Don't forget to stop by On The Bright Side tour still going on :) There are are some giveaway, prizes, marketing tips, writing tips, character interviews and more.


Answers to your questions


How do you manage your time with everything?  


Well I'm glad it LOOKS That way. Because I don't feel like I do. fake it 'til you make it that is my motto. So honestly? I try to schedule the time. 1 hour for interviews, 1 hour to write etc etc. I also have ADHD which comes in handy for multi tasking. I'm also a night owl so I get a lot done after 10 pm. Plus I am having so much fun it doesn't feel like work. But I am tired 
:)


How do you manage to get the word out so fast? (about your books)


Easy...Bloggers. I love bloggers and 100% support them. Always have, always will. I owe them a lot. I also have a lot of writers friends that offer wonderful support without me even asking. 


How did you keep yourself on track while writing your book? 
I don't count words. I try to just do what I can. I do not need to put pressure on my writing. I have enough. I do the best I can with the time I have. Sometimes that is good, sometimes it's not. That's why I do not do Nanowrimo. It takes away from the fun of it and forces me to write which makes me not want to. I'm a rebel that way - even with myself :)


What do you consider the major selling points for going the indie route? How did you know this is the right direction for you?


Hm as with anything - there are good and bad things about self or indie pubbing. In a nutshell:

• Good - you have creative control over your vision and book, you can put book out to meet the market demand 
• Bad - you are running an entire business (see this post on all the roles a self pubber plays), it's exhausting, its hard to sell books due to stigma. (Avg sales for self publisher are 100 books over the lifetime of a self pubber. I've gotten lucky so far. But at 100 books at 99 cents - you have made 30$

My question is as a self published author have you found access to libraries and schools for your books?

That is my next phase. I publish my paperbacks through CreateSpace. But have just added Lightning Source. Lightning Source gets me into Ingram which is the main distributor to libraries and bookstores. That means you can order my book at any store starting Vday. Downside - You have to apply as a published so there is a ton of paperwork, you have to be a business, and it is not user friendly.

When did you start writing seriously? 

When my daughter was born in 2004. I was on 5 months of maternity leave and had an idea. Took me 5 years to get an agent and I was with her for 2 and on submission the whole time. We parted last May and I started this journey.

How you come up with all the guest posts!

If someone just nice enough to have me on their blog. I want to offer fresh material. I don't believe in regurgitating the same ole stuff. I usually come up with about 30 topics over marketing, writing, me, my books, my characters etc and let them pick. Some bloggers come up with great ones themselves! I write pretty much every one from scratch so it is new.

More questions next time :) You can still leave questions for me in this post or the question post

Check out these Bookanista posts today

• Christine Fonseca  interviews author Denise Grover Swank
• Jessi Kirby and Jen Hayley are wowed by WANDERLOVE
• Corrine Jackson is mesmerized by MAY B.
• Stasia Ward Kehoe  interviews DIES IRAE author Christine Fonseca
• Debra Driza is entranced by HEMLOCK
• Katy Upperman delves into THE DISENCHANTMENTS
• Nikki Katz  celebrates CINDER
• Tracy Banghart  marvels at JULIET IMMORTAL
• Jessica Love spotlights SHINE 

Comment with questions for prizes (Post launch prizes)

Hey guys!

First I want to say, I am so sorry I have neglected going to and commenting on your blogs the last couple of months. I have so missed it and vow to get back into it.

As you can imagine the last 2 months have been totally crazy. I must admit, I was in over my head. I have had a blast but I've been barely keeping my head above water and struggling to get stuff done.

Anyway, I am now back to my regularly scheduled blogs on marketing and indie pubbing.

So today, if you have any suggestions on upcoming topics or any questions on indie pubbing, marketing, my books, or for me in general - please leave them in the comments.

Or you can tell me what you are working on (you know agents stop by here so it's a good way to plug :)


Whoever leaves a question/comment will go into a drawing for your choice of 1 of these 4 prizes: 


1) a free book of On The Bright Side
2) a free book of Untraceable
3) a query critique
4) some other books/arcs I have laying around

This is my way of saying  thanks for not giving up on me and for all your support :)

My thoughts on book publicity!

Since it is Spring Break around the country, the normal Monday marketing interviews will start up again on Monday, April 12th.

I thought I would answer some of the questions I have gotten offline about book marketing and publicity. A few have asked about me and my "day job" of running my own marketing and publicity business.

What exactly do you do?

Besides write....I own my own marketing and publicity business (bilaninc.com) where I help companies market their business. I also help small businesses develop marketing materials and publicity campaigns.

Do you help authors with their marketing?

Yes. I've done just about every job in marketing, from planning to execution--author school visits, booking conferences, swag and promo pieces, curriculum/learner guides, bookstore tours, online marketing and book publicity campaigns.

Because I love to read and write children's books, my favorite is working with children's authors in their marketing or book publicity needs. So much so, that I give 30% off my standard prices to SCBWI members and 20% off to other authors. I can do any of the following:

• Designing and creating swag packages, such as bookmarkers, postcards, posters, bookplates, stickers
• Planning and executing online publicity campaigns, including blog tours
• Creating a marketing strategy/plan for authors/book releases
• Identifying niche outlets for publicity and marketing
• Creating supplemental materials, such as discussion guides, curriculum guides, and event kits
• Coordinating book release parties, bookstore signings, and tours
• Writing press releases and pitch letters, bios and background materials
• Customized backgrounds for twitter, blogs, and web sites
• Manuscript and query critiques

If you need any help on deciding if you need help with marketing or book publicity, you can email me at sjohannes@bilaninc.com to schedule a free 30 minute consultation!

What should authors look for when hiring marketing or publicity professionals?

There are so many people doing marketing these days especially with the amount of layoffs.

• Know what you want and what you are getting.
• Always ask for references and samples of their work.
• Get written quotes and compare.
  
• Be sure to read the fine print.
• Do your research.
• The publicity potential of your book.
• Good communication.
• Reasonable prices.

What things are best done by a publicist? By an author?

This really depends on the person. There are some people who want to hire a book publicist to handle everything because they can't be bothered. There are others who only want certain things done.

If you want a publicist - prioritize your needs and your budget. Use a publicist for things you can't do yourself. For example, I find most authors need:

• Professional consulting to get ideas on how to best market your book
• Someone to get them started by creating a marketing and book publicity plan
  
• Custom designed materials such as web sites, business cards, online templates and swag packages
  
• Creating formal and professional media kits
• Organizing book tours/speaking appearances

Does every author need a publicist?

It all depends on how good you are at marketing yourself. I usually like to see what a publisher is doing for an author FIRST before I take on a project. Sometimes it may not be the best expense if the publisher is already doing a lot for the author.

How can an author prepare to work with a publicist?

First, you need to know exactly your goal? What do you need the most help with? How much to you want to spend? What can you do on your own?

Once you know your goals, know what your publisher is going to do and then really evaluate whether you need outside help.

If you do, it is critical for your publicist to work with the house's publicity department to ensure a seamless plan.

Is book publicity expensive?

Like anything, book publicity can get expensive.

However, every author should know their strengths and what they may need help with. It does not all have to be done at once and authors should ask about smaller projects that they can afford.

It does not have to be all or none!

What is one piece of advice that you want people to take away?

Start now! It is better to start your marketing and publicity campaign at least 6 months PRIOR to your publication date. I can do more for you if you are early. If you come to me 6 months after your book has released, you have lost critical time.

Hope that helps you guys understand book publicity more.

What other questions do you have?

Marketing To Teen - Teen Panel (Part 2)

Here is part 2 of our Teen Panel Q&A.

Click here to read Part 1

========================

What fantasy authors do you read and enjoy?

(Austyn) Rick Riorden, Cornelia Funke, Erin Hunter

(Morgan) Oh gosh..there are so many! Hmm..a few? Holly Black,Suzanne Collins, Libba Bray, Michelle Zink,& Lisa Mantchev!

(Viviane) (Not listed in any order) Neil Gaiman, Libba Bray, Tamora Pierce, Kristin Cashore, Michelle Zink, and others I can't Quite think of at the moment :)

(Anon) Any really. I jump around a lot.

(Yan) Stephanie Meyer--as much as the YA blogger community is divided when regarding this author I love her work, both YA and adult. Cassandra Clare--took a while to get into her series, but loved it in the end. Lisa McMann--simple writing but still thought provoking. Richelle Mead, Kristin Cashore, Maria V. Snyder, Alexandra Bracken (a '10 debut author that I plan to stalk for new releases already!), R.J. Anderson, Diana Peterfreund, Kelley Armstrong, Jackson Pearce, Alyxandra Harvey, Gail Carriger (an adult steampunk writer but she has the most captivating narration). Oh gosh this is such a huge answer; I'm going to stop right here before I fill an entire page up with authors.

(Chelsea) It isn't YA, but I really like the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. I really like fantasy books that build an entirely new world for you, and I think that series accomplishes that. For YA, I really, really enjoyed The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima. In it, she mixed history with fantasy, which could be hit or miss, but it ended up being a very engaging read. I'm really excited to read the sequel! I'm always looking for new high-fantasy books. I consider paranormal and fantasy to be very different (while some readers group them together), and it's a lot harder to find good YA fantasy.

(Tirzah) Tamora Pierce is my number-one, all time favorite fantasy author. I started reading her books when I was young, and I've read every single one of them. They are, in my opinion, the epitome of YA fantasy. I also enjoy Shannon Hale's fantasy books, and both of Kristin Cashore's books have really impressed me. Maria V. Snyder's Study series has great YA/Adult crossover appeal. I am also a major sucker for fairy tale retellings, so I love Simon Pulse's Once Upon a Time... series. Those are written primarily by Cameron Dokey, Debbie Viguie, and Nancy Holder.

(Khy) Does Scott Westerfeld count as fantasy? He's closeish? And I lovelovelove Richelle Mead and Vampire Academy. The series is AMAZING and Rose, the main character, is super awesome. Or do you mean like, high fantasy stuff? Because that I don't like as much, unless it's written by JK Rowling.


How do you find out about new authors?

(Austyn) Browsing the library.

(Morgan) Luckily, my best friend is an avid reader, such as myself. Sometimes I get lucky in a bookstore with a really good find, but most of the time, my friend guides me to amazing new authors!

(Viviane) Mainly through browsing the bookstore or if I hear anything through the grapevine about new books

(Anon) Book club, browsing the web, and blogs from other authors. Recommendations from readers also help a lot.

(Yan) Word of mouth, debut author LiveJournal communities, blogging communities, publishers (i.e. catalogs/recommendations/surprise review books).

(Chelsea) Mostly from sites like The Tenners or the Class of 2k10. And from debut author challenges, like the one Kristi from The Story Siren is hosting. If new debut authors reach out to online blogs, etc, it's very easy to find them. They just have to be approachable. If I've talked to a new author, I'll always want to buy their book when it comes out!

(Tirzah) Mainly through Twitter! Occasionally some will email me, or drop me a comment on my website (which I love!), but I hear about a lot of them through other authors on Twitter, retweets, and sometimes on Publisher's Weekly announcements.

(Khy) From other people's blogs, twitter, stuff like that. The Internet in general.


What attracts you to a new author/book?

(Austyn) The cover and the title art, actually, have a lot to do it for me. If that got be hooked and looks like something I might like, I read the summary on the back/inside cover and decide if I want to read it.

(Morgan) Honestly, so many things are important to my interest. A) Do I know the author? B) Is the book's cover appealing? Sometimes, I'll admit, there are GREAT stories that aren't portrayed in their covers, but still.. C) Who's reviewed it, what do they normally like, and what did they think? D) Are there any vampires/werewolves/weird and odd relationships in it? ( If so, it goes back on the shelf.)

(Viviane) Covers, firstly, then title, then summary. I mean, covers are what you first see. I always keep an open mind though, so even if the cover's not great, I keep in mind the title. Lastly, the summary. If it's intriguing enough, I'll give it a go.

(Anon) The summary on the back of the book plays a huge part- if it makes sense, is exciting, and still allows me to ponder a bit on the actual contents of the book, I'm willing to give it a try. My choices for what I read aren't dominated by the cover on the book, but it definitely plays a part in getting me to pick the book up and read the back

(Yan) Cover and summary mostly. Sometimes their personality plays a part as well. If they're friendly, easy to talk to, understanding of the blogging community it just appeals better to me that I feel their book might appeal to me as well.

(Chelsea) Like in the above question, when an author is approachable, I'm more likely to buy their book. Whether it's through blog tours or Twitter or email, I'm always happy to hear about and from a new writer. If they reach out to readers, readers will reach out to them.

(Tirzah) Well, on a very shallow level, usually a cover is the first thing I see, and if it's a good one, I'm hooked. More often than not though, it will be the title, or blurb I find on other websites. However, if the synopsis is well written, that usually sells me on a book. Author buzz also works as well--if I see more than two or three authors talking about a book on Twitter, then I really sit up, pay attention, and get the book!

(Khy) An intriguing premise is always the best, but I have been known to see a pretty cover first and then hunt for more info on the book. (:

Our Panel will be back again in April! Feel free to leave additional questions!

Last chance to ask our Teen Panel questions?

(Yes I know I said I was going to unplug but I'm back for just a second! I swear! :)

As some of you know - a teen panel is standing by to answer any and all of our questions regarding the books they read? What covers do they love and why? where do they hear about books? Etc.

This is your last chance to find out what you want to know from teens about the books they choose to read and why?

Leave me your questions in the comments!

Next month, our "Teen Panel" will give us the Scoop!