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Hello, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Author's Corner. I had a great time at the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville. I had the opportunity to meet several other interesting authors at the Dealers' Hall. Among the names of authors I spoke with were Ann Huston, Willie Tee and Linda Phillips. I'm looking forward to returning next year. I had many enjoyable discussions with some of the U of Va students as well as many of the local visitors.
My visit to Lynchburg for a signing at Barnes & Noble also was a pleasant experience. I'd like to thank Jane Kreger for having me back for the second year in a row and all of the ladies and gentlemen who purchased books or just stopped to chat. Lynchburg is a great area with great people. I hope to return there as well next year.
You'll notice on the home page that I'm offering Fractured Time at a discounted price through the "Buy Now" button as well as the trilogy (all 3 books) through a "Buy Now" button. This is a good way for me to offer autographed or personalized copies to readers around the world. I thought it would be a good idea to offer the first book at a reduced price as an introductory reward for beginning the trilogy. I think you'll want to read Twisted Fate and Dark Horizon if you've read Fractured Time. There wasn't any way to offer a discount for the set through the bookstores for purchasing the set so I thought I'd try this route. You don't have to have a PayPal account to purchase the book(s), just follow the directions.
This month has presented some challenges and some new opportunities as well. I've had a difficult time arranging for a return policy on my books between the bookstores and the publisher, iUniverse. I have other alternatives available to me but I'll have more on the issue next week. Meanwhile the books can be ordered through the stores, they just won't be stocked on the shelves. My publicity manager, Courtney (Muse Media) has been very busy preparing promotional material and press releases for Dark Horizon. I'll be reporting more on her accomplishments as they come. She's a dedicated professional who'll help increase my exposure to readers in many parts of the country at a variety of events.
Things are still active regarding the screenplay for Fractured Time, but it's a slow process. I've been fortunate to have as much success in contacting key people from several motion picture companies and garnering their interests. I recently read in an "Arts & Entertainment" section of the Philadelphia Inquirer where science fiction and fantasy have suddenly gained the attention of Hollywood as "Lord of the Rings" has demonstrated the public's love for imagination and dreams. Hopefully I'll catch the wave at the right time.
This month's writers' tip is about promoting and marketing your books particularly if you are self-published. Keep in mind you'll need to be creative to attract attention. First, a website is very important. It's a pricey investment to get started but it will pay for itself many times over. A good website could be the difference between succeeding and fading into oblivion.
Book markers are a great resource. They can be made from MS Word using brochure/flyer paper. I use Hewlett-Packard's 52 lb. matte paper. You can print ten per sheet and use a paper cutter to cut them into 2" X 6" markers. Candies make a great conversation piece. I have ad wraps on small chocolates with my name, Fractured Time and my website along with background from the Fractured Time cover. I purchased these through Gail's Creations at www.gailscreations.com. Flyers are also a valuable tool. They can be made on standard 8.5" x 11" paper, two to a sheet. Once again, a paper cutter comes in handy to cut the paper in half evenly. 8.5" X 5.5" is a convenient size and will hold plenty of text and a graphic or two.
Book signings are very important. Get to know the managers of bookstores and spread out into many different areas. When you do a signing, act interested in people who pass by your table. It doesn't hurt to greet them as well.
Another important resource is the internet. There are a number of websites who where you can promote your book free of charge. For instance, I use www.planetdoomportal.com for a description of the trilogy and a link to my website. They have quite an interesting group of science fiction, horror and fantasy authors. Other valuable websites are allreaders.com and sffworld.com. Book reviews are tough to come by since the literary world is so competitive. If your publisher can't help with this, try the editors of magazines carrying your genre.
Gaining support from the media is very difficult without a public relations firm. In most cases, media personnel just don't have the time to validate the authenticity of your information and to create an interesting article based on that information. If you are a new writer, it may be helpful to start with short stories and submit them to magazines. Once you've been accepted, you've started a valuable resume. This can help overcome some of the obstacles you'll have before you.
Thank you for joining me for another edition of Author's Corner.
- Michael D'Ambrosio
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