| What can I say about this book
that hundreds of other authors haven’t? As a writer
and self-publisher, the onus has always been on me to promote
my own books; a task I’ve always found extremely difficult
and laborious. I’m a writer and photographer, not
a sales and marketing expert. I hate feeling like I’m
talking to someone just to sell them something, or boast
about my fantastic book. I always imagine them thinking,
“Of course you would say it’s good, you wrote
it!” And like most writers, I want to write, not be
a salesman.
But Carolyn Howard Johnson has shown me a whole new way
to not only promote, but make it fun and tie it in with
the thing you are passionate about: writing!
The Frugal Book Promoter shows us how you need to brand
yourself as an author, and publicise yourself as much
as your work. You don’t have to boast about your
work, just simply let people know it’s there. If
your book is good, others will boast about it for you.
Exposure is the word Carolyn uses often. She teaches us
that the trick is to simply brand yourself as an author
and let people know who you are, and what you write. Carolyn
shows us a prolific amount of ways to do this, from writing
articles for free to blogging, joining discussions groups,
writing book reviews and so much more. It’s so simple,
and in most cases completely free. I often hated the thought
of writing articles for free, but the book emphasises
that although you may write for free, the tagline at the
end could well result in book sales, so effectively you
are likely to get paid indirectly. Think about it, these
publications wouldn’t have paid you anyway, and
you would have to pay for advertising, so effectively
you are working for your advertising. And of course you
are writing, which is what a writer wants to be doing.
This is just one example of the priceless advice offered
in the Frugal Book Promoter. This book is an absolute
treasure chest of useful information, and not only inspires
you to get up off your backside and start promoting, but
is also packed full of useful websites for you to get
started. I’ve committed the ultimate sin with this
book by folding over numerous page corners (something
I never do with a book) to bookmark all the useful reference
points. The websites listed here, often lead on to other
useful sites.
I’d always dreamed of the day when I would snag
a major publisher so they could do all the promotion for
me, but the Frugal Book Promoter has taught me that even
with a major publisher, the onus will still be on me to
promote my books; after all, ultimately the author cares
more about the book than the publisher. So now I plan
to forget about that and march best foot forward into
a new world of endless promotional opportunities that
this book brings.
If you are an author then this is one book you cannot
afford to be without. Written with Carolyn’s free-flowing
and easy prose, the Frugal Book Promoter stands out head
first above the rest and is the sort of book that you
will always want to refer back to.
I don’t know how I ever survived without it.
For more information on Carolyn and her other books visit
her website:
http://www.carolynhoward-johnson.com
Reviewed by Ian Middleton: Travel Writer & Photographer
Ian is the author and photographer of four books, his
latest being a travel guide to Ireland’s ancient
myths and legends, Mysterious World: Ireland. Learn more
about Ian and his work at
http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk
Click
here to visit my review blog for all book reviews |
