Comments on: What’s a writer to do?

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:04:06 +0000

Ray,
Wow! Great marketing plan. Thank you for sharing it. I agree that Facebook and other social networking sites are a great resourse. I hope you’ll keep us posted on your sucess. I wish you the best of luck. Can’t wait to read it!:)

By: prue batten

prue batten — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:20:07 +0000

Wow! I am so impressed with your diligence and foresight. My first two novels, The Stumpwork Robe and its sequel The Last Stitch, have been published by an independent press, YouWriteOn.com in the UK, but marketing/advertising has been the author’s task. I had to set up a significant marketing-plan and it was nothing as varied as yours. And yet books have sold, ostensibly because of the weight of communication in things like Facebook and Twitter. So I agree with Danielle, you absolutely must have a leg in the door there, not just a profile page for you but one also for your book.

In addition, the print and electronic media have their place. I have been interviewed for radio and for the newspapers and saw sales in the bookshops of my home town increase after this. In fact one prestigeous shop had the highest first-time new release sales since they opened the store a few years ago. And I am shortly to have an I/V in a global embroidery mag (my fantasy is about a master embroiderer).

There are always competition angles and giveaways on relevant sites as well.

If you are interested, I would be glad to review for you, but as I am not mainstream published, it may not be what you require. Best of luck on what will be the ride of your life.

By: Ray Rhamey

Ray Rhamey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:47:56 +0000

Thanks, Jessica, you’ll hear from me when it’s coming out.

By: Jessica Scott

Jessica Scott — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:12:11 +0000

As a cat lover and the owner of a cat who probably sees herself as Patch’s arch nemisis, I can’t wait to read this book. So, I’ve got a blog that gets a little shy of 2K hits per week and if there’s anything I can do to help pitch and promote, let me know.
This book sounds like a blast! Good luck!

By: June

June — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:26:43 +0000

Oh my goodness! As soon as I saw the title a bell went off. You submitted to the St. Martin’s Press contest for older young adults didn’t you?! Of the submissions, yours was one of about three out of 130 at that time, that I thought had real potential! I got excited when I saw the cover of your potential book. I soon as I read your submission, for St Martin’s, I was cracking up laughing and I don’t usually look for humorous books. I have two cats so the story immediately resonated with me. I wish I was published already so I could blurb you, but I could mention you on my blog. I look forward to “Kitty Cats” publication. All the best!
June
June´s last blog ..Backspace Agent-Author Conference: Opening Pages

By: Wendy Palmer

Wendy Palmer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:32:52 +0000

This is brilliant, you’ve thought of some great angles.

Good work, too, on thinking of the audiobook path upfront – I too am releasing my current fantasy ebook as a podcast, but because I’m just using my computer’s microphone, the quality is not IMO good enough to sell as an audiobook (though decent for a podcast). Lesson learnt for next time round (too much of a time investment to re-record; better to make the money investment upfront…)

By: catie james

catie james — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:15:26 +0000

Don’t have any advice to add, just wanted to say I’ll definitely be purchasing my own copy of THE VAMPIRE KITTY CHRONICLES once it’s released. :)
catie james´s last blog ..nanowrimo 09: day fourteen – i never promised you updates*

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:11:58 +0000

This looks like a really good plan. Hope it works well! The only other thing I could think of to get the word out there would be to set up Twitter, Myspace and Facebook pages for Patch, and to use Cafepress.com to create merchandise.

By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:39:08 +0000

I look forward to meeting this cat, Ray. Best of luck!

By: Ray Rhamey

Ray Rhamey — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:56:44 +0000

The copyeditor is a friend who might do it for free, but I do pay him a not-too-serious amount just to keep it professional.

Don’t know the e-book price yet, I’ll be researching that on Smashwords. What would you be willing to pay?

By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:35:46 +0000

I’m getting a tee-shirt too. I think that type of merchandising is genius.

By: Arthaey

Arthaey — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:27:54 +0000

What price will you sell the ebook version? I’d seriously consider buying a copy if I could read it on my iPhone.

By: Holly

Holly — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:33:58 +0000

Jordan’s right. A good editor is much more expensive unless it’s a friend or relative who’s giving you a big discount. Good luck! I hope you post again when the book is available. I’m looking forward to reading it.

By: Jordan Summers

Jordan Summers — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:07:42 +0000

You have a great plan, but you may want to up the expense of the copy-editor. A good one costs a LOT more than that. Good luck!
Jordan Summers´s last blog ..Computer Decisions and Follow Ups

By: Kristan

Kristan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:47 +0000

WOW your efforts are impressive! I’d love to hear an update in a few weeks or months and see how they worked out for you. Thanks for sharing, ’cause I’m sure a lot of us may be considering steps like these in the future.
Kristan´s last blog ..Frustration vs. discouragement