Earlier this month I had the privilege of being interviewed by three book bloggers, all of them members of the Book Bloggers’ Collaborative. During the two hour show I was asked what has been the best promotional tool for my novels. My answer was very simple – book bloggers.
As an author that has chosen the self-publishing route I was under no illusion that publicising my work and reaching out to readers would be tough. I published my first novel, Fezariu’s Epiphany, in May 2011 and with my second novel, A World Apart, released this month, I can look back over the last year and reflect on lessons learned and mistakes made. I can safely say book bloggers have played a big part in my writing so far.
A quick search of social networks and you will find a plethora of book bloggers out there. Not all of them will accept self-published work but many of them do. Some book bloggers are generalised in their book preferences but others are more specialised, such as romance. Do your homework. The majority of them have very useful review policies to help you establish whether your book may have a home with them or not. Oh, and once you’ve submitted a book for review don’t hound the blogger for a response. They’ll love you for not pressuring them. Remember, book bloggers get dozens of queries a day. Imagine reading that many books knowing a similar amount will be piling up the following day! Like publicists, book bloggers cannot guarantee to sell your books but they do help give you and your writing some useful exposure, a platform to promote yourself, but it shouldn’t all be one-way traffic of course.
Although I am an author, I also have a blog I run with my wife, Donna, and among the many features we have are guest posts for authors and book reviews. I see this as a way of giving something back in the indie community. Being an author and book blogger is rewarding in being able to see both perspectives and to ensure I behave in the best possible way when dealing with book bloggers. I wouldn’t want to be treated with impatience or a lack of respect, so I don’t treat book bloggers that way either.
If you’re a guest of a book blogger always remember they have allocated a slot for you which is a generous gesture. This is their blog and you are a guest. It’s important to behave respectfully and if you are a guest or having a book reviewed why not share the post across social media and give the blogger some extra traffic. After all, that’s what they are doing for you.
As well as sharing link to blogs that I guest or have books reviewed with, why not come back and visit, share further posts beyond your own and let the book blogger know you haven’t forgotten them and the chances are they won’t forget you either. Book bloggers are the lifeblood for indie authors and being good to them will ensure they are always good to you in future, especially when your latest book is released and you need bloggers for review or hosting opportunities. If you have your own blog, return the compliment. Interview book bloggers and allow them a rare chance in the spotlight. I’ve no doubt it will take many of them by surprise to be asked.
As a writer and book blogger I have enormous respect for both sides of the indie community. Book bloggers have made the early stages of my writing journey very rewarding and with my latest book I hope I can rely on them to offer me useful feedback and advice to enable me to develop even further as a writer. Indie authors must never forget that book bloggers are our friends, not our enemies. So, why not join the Book Blogger Appreciation Society? We might have strict rules here for the conduct of our members but you’ll see nothing but benefits. All hail to the book bloggers of the world. I raise my glass to them all.
About the author:
David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Hons in History and English, David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.
Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten. David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month travelling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.
Stalk..erm...Follow David on the web:
Blog
Website
David's Books
12-year-old Fezariu thought his mother died when he was little, but when his beloved stepfather dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and working at the most famous brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly rejects him it's more than he can bear, and he runs away to join a band of ruthless soldiers for hire. The Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who can pay them, no matter the justice of the cause.Goodreads, Amazon, IndieBound
Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge. From Goodreads.com
Demetrius makes his first mistake when he lets his best friend Halcyon marry Eleyna, the love of his life, without saying a word. On the day of the wedding, he walks away from the Elencheran town of Dove's Meadow and joins the army.
He makes his second mistake when the pirate Black Iris tricks him into letting dozens of men, women and children die in a fire. Demetrius is imprisoned in grief and disgrace.
But he can atone. The Black Iris is dead. The Ivory Rose has risen to the top of the pirates and is leading brutal raids on the coast. If Demetrius can capture and kill her, he'll win his pardon. From Goodreads.com
Goodreads, Amazon
Posts
This was a great piece! That Dave is a smart man.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna :)
DeleteI wouldn't say smart. I'm just privileged to have been supported by some amazing people on my writing journey ;)
Great post! We love David too :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Angela :)
DeleteHumbled to guest on such a great blog :)
Big thanks to Donna for letting me guest today :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always an honour to be asked to visit these amazing blogs but it was nice to turn the spotlight towards the book bloggers for a change :)
Great post Dave but special thanks to Donna for keeping you out of mischief for a couple of hours!
ReplyDelete