Top 5 Things Emerging Authors Can Do to Sell More Books

As is the struggle for every author, you must find your audience. Last week we discussed “The Right Followers,” and this week we’re going to talk about how to find the right readers.

Although it’s never easy to find your readers, they’re out there. And with the internet and social networks, it’s easier than ever to find them without spending thousands on promotion and touring.

The best way to grow a readership is to start with a tight niche. Sometimes this niche is not clearly definable. For example, our Rowan of the Wood series is YA fantasy. Most certainly a niche, but not a very tight one. On the other hand Avalon Revisited by O. M. Grey (nom de plume) is a Steampunk Paranormal Romance. Okay. Paranormal Romance, not a very tight niche. Steampunk is still quite tight. I don’t doubt that Avalon Revisited consistently sells 10 to 1 more Kindle copies than Rowan of the Wood because of this tight niche. Additionally, although ParaRomance isn’t terribly tight, those readers are voracious.

 

Give A Little Respect

As I travel from convention to convention, participating on panels and meeting a variety of authors, I’ve come across some rather unfortunate behavior and attitudes. Unfortunate because it is unnecessary, but it is extant nonetheless.

Most fantasy conventions have many authors in attendance. Some of them are in artist alley or the dealer room selling and signing their own books. Some of them are brought in by the con to be a part of programming (panels, readings, autograph sessions, etc.). Some of them do both, sell books and participate in programming. Authors range from those who published their books through a vanity/subsidy press, self-published authors, those with small presses, and those who are published with one of the New York Big Boys.

Most authors I meet are wonderful. They are kind and gracious, intelligent and respectful. I learn much from my fellow authors just by participating on panels with them. It’s a fun way to network and trade knowledge.

I’ve been on panels with Cherie Priest, Jody Lynn Nye, and Tim Powers. I’ve been part of a writing critique group with Skyler White and Stephen Brust. Each of them treated me as a colleague. After all, we are all working authors continuously trying to improve our craft, navigate the changing publishing industry, and market our books. All of these authors have been friendly, helpful, and respectful.

However, there are a few who haven’t been.

 

Totally Square

A few weeks ago at a fantasy convention, a colleague turned me on to SQUARE. And it is the coolest. thing. ever.

Ethan and I have been on the road promoting and selling our books for over three years now. In doing so, we had to get a merchant account, because without one you’re unable to take credit cards. If you can’t take credit cards, you lose out on sales. We signed up for a merchant account through Total Merchant Services, and they’ve been rather good to us overall. But it is normally very, very expensive to have a merchant account. Prohibitively so unless you’re using it close to full time. There is a monthly fee. There is a wireless fee, which is a necessity to be able to take credit cards at events and on-the-go. There is a minimum amount you must charge in percentages every month or they charge you anyway. There is a 3 (!) year contract, and if you don’t cancel your contract within a specific amount of time before it expires, it automatically renews. To get out of a contract is several hundred dollars.

Not good. Especially since we’re now doing fewer shows than when we started.

Enter Square…my life saver.

 

Expect Superman: Working the SFF Cons

You’ve just gotten your first speculative fiction work published, and now you need to get it out there to potential readers. Whether you are self-published, published by an independent press, or published in New York, marketing your book is up to you. Since you are a writer of speculative fiction (SciFi/Fantasy, or SFF), you have an excellent option to get your book directly into the hands of your niche market: SFF Conventions.

Fantasy conventions occur nearly every weekend somewhere in the USA, so it all depends how far you want to travel and how much you want to spend marketing your book. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve participated in many SFF Conventions (Cons), art shows, Celtic Festivals, and Renaissance Faires to promote my fantasy novels and my Steampunk romance novel.