In an ever-changing literary scene, emerging writers' wisdom and ideas are more important than ever. This one-of-a-kind collection highlights the inventiveness of promising authors who have successfully negotiated the intricacies of book promotion. These authors offer their insights and skills on topics ranging from leveraging the power of social media to implementing effective email campaigns and staying on top of the latest digital advertising trends. This collection promises to be a helpful resource for all seeking success in the business of publishing, whether you're an aspiring writer looking to promote your work or a publisher in need of ebook writing services.

Completing a book takes a lot of effort. Selling it is even harder. While you know about the mechanics of writing, you may not be a book marketing expert — so how will you get the word out about your book?

Five prominent genre authors were questioned by the staff at BlueInk Review about their marketing efforts. They provided some of their best suggestions, which we have highlighted below. Continue reading for helpful tips on how to handle your shift from book author to book promotion.

Be a decent literary citizen, David Ebenbach

Eight books by David Ebenbach, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, have been published. His work has won numerous awards, including the Patricia Bibby Award, the Juniper Prize, and the Drue Heinz Literature Prize.

You need to be resilient, persistent, innovative, and enthusiastic, people. In Tachyon, I am fortunate to have a strong press behind me. You'll have to undertake a lot of the publicity-related work yourself if you don't have that kind of engine. And that entails using social media, blogging, giveaways, readings, and a whole host of other things that you haven't even considered.

Could you promote your book together with an independent bakery whose name is similar to your book's? Should you distribute candy whose packaging bears the name of your delightful romance book? Should you circulate the city wearing one of those sandwich boards proclaiming "The End Is Near" to advertise your post-apocalyptic novel? Should you post a chapter from your book every day on YouTube? Be as inventive and active as you can if you want to get the word out about the book.

However, there is something that needs to take place way before any of that promotional things if you genuinely want to see your work received warmly. Being a good literary citizen is important. Promote other people on social media, in book groups, and in e-newsletters; assist your writing pals and give them a boost when you can. The major benefit of being a good literary citizen is that it makes you feel good about yourself, but it also means that you'll develop friendships, good karma, and goodwill that will be very beneficial when your own book is published.

Swag is everything, according to Scott A. Johnson

Scott A. Johnson has been self-publishing and traditionally publishing horror books for the past 16 years.

I will go to a business (the same one that prints my business cards) and have a limited batch of postcards featuring the book cover put up when a new book is coming out. They are inexpensive, simple to use as bookmarks, and simple to abandon in public areas. I'll leave one on the table, for instance, when I go out to dinner.

The press kit is another item. Because I'm a huge proponent of swag, every press kit I send includes a list of items. The book itself comes first. The marketing packet, which includes the synopsis, target market, author profile, etc., is the second. Then I include something for the reviewer's amusement that somehow pertains to the book. For instance, I added a pull-back racer toy truck of a 1951 Chevy stepside that was mentioned in my best-selling book to date, Shy Grove: A Ghost Story.

I discovered a maker of enamel pins on Etsy for the re-release of the original three Stanley Cooper Chronicles novels, and I threw one of those in each press package. The truth is that going above and above for reviewers is a small act of kindness. Really, it can't hurt.

I also hold giveaways and contests. When Bitten was published, I gave away plastic vampire teeth along with the press kit, and the recipients of my giveaways also received them.

Reading is another activity I engage in. I can read to a group of one or a thousand people. You must feel at ease speaking in front of audiences and to groups.

Lindsay Merbaum: Vary your book marketing techniques

The Gold Persimmon, Lindsay Merbaum's first book, was released in October 2021 by Brooklyn-based female horror publisher Creature Publishing. It combines horror with literary fiction about metamorphosis, speculative fiction, and queer feminist literature.

Writing across genres is both a strength and a difficulty. I'm seeking for a variety of reviews and interviews from publications and blogs that appeal to various readerships. Meanwhile, I use alcoholic drinks as a lure. [Merbaum is a well-known mixologist who publishes some of her boozy concoctions on her Instagram account, pickyourpotions.]

Whatever genre of literature you prefer, you can enjoy the drinks and mocktails created in its honor. "Booktails" have developed into my hobby/side business, and they really do attract a wide range of readers to the yard. Inspired by the tenor and topics of the book, I came up with a collection of six cocktail recipes (and corresponding mocktails). Another popular one is Sex in Mirrors. One of them is called The Fog.

For anyone who would prefer a paper edition or missed the opportunity to pre-order before the book's publication, I'll shortly be selling print copies via my website in addition to the digital copies that come with all pre-orders.

In addition, I want to organize events on IGTV or Zoom with other authors. I might even invite some musicians to the gathering.

Elly Bangs: Tell stories worth talking about

Elly Bangs has published Unity, a post-apocalyptic thriller, as her first book.

Although I'm still quite new to this, I believe that the most important marketing advice is to be as productive as you reasonably can be. It does take a long time to achieve it. Although it isn't appropriate for all writing styles or lifestyles, when you consistently release new material, you maintain your reputation.

Publishing flash fiction and short stories in professional magazines enables many new readers to experience your style without making a significant initial commitment of time or attention. This helps you develop a readership that will eagerly anticipate your next project, maintain interest in your earlier works, and hopefully spread the word. If I can, I aim to get a few of my short tales published each year. It takes a lot of effort and is frequently rejected, but it keeps me sane as I toil away at novels.

Regarding promotion, I believe the less natural it is, the thinner its impact is likely to be. Everyone is already sitting on a to-be-read pile that is a mile tall, and our minds are jaded towards anything that appears to be an advertisement. The most we can possibly hope to achieve is to present stories that are worth talking about, and when people do talk, to encourage them and elevate their voices. Reward them with your own by treating their attention as a valuable resource that they have chosen to share with you.

Brian James Gage: Instagram in 60 Days

The Sleepwalker and The Sommelier, two volumes from Brian James Gage's Nosferatu Conspiracy series, combine horror, occult fantasy, apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history.

I abhor social media. But I also get the idea of unavoidable calamities. I began serializing The Sleepwalker on Instagram in early 2020 after having virtually little social media presence up to that point.

It began slowly with a daily post of about 200 words and an illustrative photo that I would include from something I had (badly) Photoshopped. Additionally, I was interested in making sure the hashtags were optimized to draw in potential viewers.

After that, I swore under oath that I would post every day for 60 days without fail, regardless of the response. And about the 40-day point, I realized that nothing was happening. Then, all of a sudden, people began sharing it, and there was an increase in daily followers, comments, and likes.

So I switched from photographs to animated, parallax photos after a friend taught me how to use Adobe After Effects. Then it attracted much greater interest.

I then began creating really amateurish video promos that were virtually on Ed Wood's level in terms of their B-film hilarity out of my love and curiosity for cinema. But attention increased with each new development. By the time The Sleepwalker was published, I had grown from having no social media presence to having about 6,500 organic followers across all channels, which isn't incredibly spectacular but is still better than nothing.

With The Sommelier, I believe there is now a potential audience of about 11,000 people throughout the channels I've been developing. You'll succeed if you work on it day by day, little by little.

I tried to concentrate more on TikTok this time around because I've had the most difficulty building any momentum on Twitter and Facebook. Although the initial results are promising, the success is yet uncertain. On the Nosferatu Conspiracy page, we have received tens of thousands of views and almost 5,000 followers since the page's debut. Pre-orders are also rather high, although I'm not sure I can definitively attribute it to the TikTok page. At the very least, it's not painful.

Conclusion

The insights given by young writers reflect the ever-changing dynamics of the publishing industry and serve as motivation for those aspiring to success. The importance of remaining current with ebook marketing services cannot be stressed as we enter the digital age. This collection of fresh ideas reinforces the timeless power of narrative while also emphasizing the adaptation and resourcefulness required to flourish in the ever-changing world of publishing. It demonstrates the ongoing vitality of literature as well as the unwavering dedication of those who defend it.