A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Can you sell older books? Yes!
It is Tuesday. 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.
This week's conversation addresses the fate of older books. Is it possible to bring them back into the world of active books? Sure - and, it depends. Some of our oldest books are among our best sellers. However, other older book simply fall by the wayside, and that does not have to be. After all the effort put into writing it and, assumedly, marketing it when the book first came out, it is a shame when older books are allowed to languish in the boneyard. Here are some CPR strategies authors have used.
Do something, anything.
If you forget your book, it is likely others will, too, and new folks will not find out about it. So, whatever tickles your fancy, do – talk, write, share.
- Write an article; mention your book.
- Write a column for a local newspaper; become the local guru on books or on the subject matter of your book.
- Give local interviews; it can be about your book but with an older book will most likely be about a current topic related to your book—and, of course, you get to mention your book as establishing your authority.
- Conduct a webinar about the topic of your book; you can do it yourself, but if you are without a mailing list or access to one, you might see if a local or national organization that does webinars would like to include you or sponsor you; do not overlook your local library for hosting a webinar or an in-person event.
- Even a photo in the “out and about” section of a small-town newspaper where your book is mentioned or just casually held in your hand can bring reminders.
- And there is always the county fair!
Move your book off the backlist.
If your book is backlisted, chances are it is no longer available through Amazon. In fact, once it is out of distribution, none of the online book sellers will have it. This is important because the vast majority of books are sold online and through private events/organization and not via brick-and-mortar bookstores. Talk to your publisher and see if you can pay the small fee to keep the book on Amazon.
Create a reason to advertise.
This could be an award (there are legacy award competitions), a book trailer, or something you make like your own youtube presentation.
Relaunch your book.
Take some of the steps you took with your book launch on a modified scale and keeping in mind that it is not a launch, but a relaunch. Perhaps you could include something special, like a booklet that updates something in your book that you sell along with the book (or provide gratis)—or some nicely produced photographs. Include bookmarks that advertise your book; hand them out even to the people not buying your book; they are always a hit and they remind people about your book. You could give leftover bookmarks for handing out to your library, coffee shop, or pizza hangout. (You could also do a book giveaway at any of those local places as well.)
Gather together some local author friends and hold an event.
Perhaps you could together do a writing clinic, or present readings, or….(use your unlimited imagination).
Find the closest book club.
Or make your own book club. Readers might want to take on your book for their next reading project.
Write another book on a similar topic.
Make the older book the first in the series--everyone wants to read the first book. (Writing another book on any topic helps with selling older books, but series are more powerful than a group of books related only by the author.)
Bottom line: Whatever you do, shout it out -- on social media, in person, however you can. Don't lose the (second) moment!
See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.
Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore. Also available as an e-book and an audiobook.
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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Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.
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