A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Reaching Readers

 


It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.

Today's topic is reaching readers. Perhaps you have a book in hand. Perhaps you are still working on your book. It does not matter. You need readers. It is never too early, and it is never too late to build your reader base (and thereby your mailing list).

Here are some thoughts on the topic:

Look at your local community (grow your inter/national readership like spreading ripples in a pond):
  • Do some readings or give some seminars on the topic of your book at your local library.
  • Is there a local cafe where authors and readers gather? Gather with them.
  • Are there writing groups that meet periodically to help each other? Join them! Share your readers.
  • Is there a local publisher that provides author development opportunities? Take advantage of that. Meet fellow authors; share readers and access to each other's readers.

Beyond your community, network.

  • Join regional and national author associations. Finding readers is something they concentrate on.
  • If you find some authors you click with because of their work but do not know them, go ahead, track them down, and become acquainted. It may work out to nothing other than hello and goodbye, but sometimes a pretty good friendship will develop -- and you can share marketing successes and access to each other's readers.
  • Go to writing conferences. You will meet publishers, other authors, people who provide support services to authors, book purchasers, and readers.

Connect to potential readers via social media. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Websites

  • Blogs

  • Instagram

  • TikTok and BookTok

  • Podcasts

  • Face Book

  • LinkedIn

  • Mastodon

  • Twitter

  • Others -- find the one that works for you.

And, of course, there are the reader-oriented groups that are a must!

  • Goodreads; post your book and be actively involved.
  • Library Thing -- mixed results for getting reviews, but good for getting followers and fans.
  • Amazon - author page; make one, keep it up to date.

Bottom line: Be creative. Seek out readers in the usual and unusual places.

Lesson for today's Tuesday talk: Readers are important. Taking advantage of the regular "places" for finding readers is just a start; use networking to branch out. 




 Read more posts about publishing HERE.





The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

                             

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