Getting up & running as a new author
Two weeks since my first post and I’m still editing like crazy on Sons of Heaven & Hell (Hammer Falls:2) but what’s reeeeally shocked me is how much ELSE there is to do! When I first dropped my book on Amazon I held this sweet, shimmering idea that’d be that - I could promote it if I really wanted but it would be fine if I didn’t: Amazon would still recommend it to readers on the basis of relevant tags etc. Right?
Hahahahaha
I may be alone in having thought that at all but a word to anyone else who does… Nope. Not even remotely.
I’m (now) reliably informed Amazon doesn’t suggest it to any readers until your book has 50 reviews. So unless I learned how to do something about it, my poor book would just languish there, invisible and unread.
And then came the epiphany: I wanted people to read it!
I know, I know, it sounds like a rubbish epiphany - but I originally wrote the book to keep my anxiety at bay because I have health anxiety AND cancer AND there was a pandemic.
I just happened to then end up with a book.
And now, I repeat, I wanted to share it - I wanted people to get to know Jin and Nate and Sam and Marshall, Kit, Dali, Mara, Mei, Rowan, Keith, Phineas, all of them. I love them. I want others to see them!
Anyway soooo that’s meant that in between a literally INSANE amount of editing & redrafting, with deadlines approaching, I’ve been figuring out how to make ARCs, reaching out what feels like EVERYWHERE for reader-reviewers, learning how to do givevaway parties (did my first on Sat 8th October with the amazing MM Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Readers on Facebook, my second will be on Mon 17th October with the also amazing Small But Mighty MM Romance Group, also on Facebook), figuring out newsletters glitches, trying to write non-spammy promo posts then finding time to post them, digesting sooo maaany advice articles, making schedules, learning Twitter (badly I think lol), designing new ad graphics and trying to get a spambot review removed (success finally came yesterday!).
This morning I joined Instagram. Unlike what feels like the rest of the human race I have no idea how to use it effectively! If anyone else out there is in the same boat I recommend this article: https://kindlepreneur.com/instagram-for-writers-and-authors/ which is at least giving me steps!
I say none of this to complain! I LOVE writing and will do it whatever, since it keeps me sane and brings incredible joy to my heart. Plus one of the advantages to learning all the above is of course that I will then know how to do all the above! The newsletter will be running, I’ll know what I’m doing on Twitter and Instagram, I’ll have new graphics, a Facebook group page (see, I haven’t even got that far yet lol!), exciting character art to share, and more time to write the books I want to write and that hopefully others will want to read too!!
On which note, I’ll add the quick update that I’m currently planning a Christmas release for the novella Control (which will be free for people who sign up to my newsletter), have a provisional title for a post Book 3 spin-off (‘What Happens in Hell’), and am already thinking about a fab new book after Hammer Falls. More on that later!
I will also have a cover reveal at some point for Book 3 The Tree of Life.
Meantime if you’re into doing character art for the gang, please feel VERY free to post on my facebook page or email me - I always LOVE seeing what people create and want to support where I can!!
Love to all, Tal :)