Marketing Novels

I write both fiction and non-fiction, and I've become very creative in finding ways to promotion fiction, here are a few:

1. Book launch-I rented a local art museum, in coordination with our local Christian bookstore, and I invited friends, churches, reading groups, etc. I had appetizers, a reading, and a signing. Over 220 people showed up, and the event was picked up by the local media.

2. Blog Tours and Reaching out to MOPS groups - With every fiction book, I sponsor a blog tour. I ask my publishing house to provide books and I send them bloggers who are willing to to have me visit their blog on a certain date. I provide information about me, my books, and ask the blogger to provide a review. (Remember, each blog as their own circle of influence.) I
also send books to MOPS groups as give-aways. I ask the publicity director of these groups to review the novel in their newsletter.

3. Poster publicity-Via my online newsletter, I offered posters for first 50 people who contacted me, if they promised to hang the posters in a public place. Then, if the reader sent me a photo of themselves with the poster, I sent two free books. I got lots of great response from bookstores and church bookstores/libraries.

4. Radio Interviews-I provide interview questions for my publishing house's publicity department to send out to the media. During my interviews, I tell some of the story of the novel (a hook), but I also focus on the men and women I've interviewed and the true stories that inspire my novels. Here are some examples:

Tell me about "Dawn of a Thousand Nights":

You say the novel is inspired by true events. How did you find this story?

What message would you like your readers to gain from your novels?

You also interviewed numerous WWII veterans for this novel. Can you tell me
about this experience?

5. Librarians Convention-In the past few years, my publisher arranged for me to sign books at two librarian conventions. Librarians have a budget, books to buy, and historical fiction is big. They loved meeting me and learning about my books. I loved them!

6. Website- I have had video trailers created for my novels, and I write discussion questions for reading groups. These are available on my website. I post excerpts from my novels, photos of the men I've interviewed, etc. I also have a separate website for some of the true stories behind my novels (www.triciagoyer.com/fiction). I also blog daily, and I often talk about my
fiction.

7. Sending gifts - I've sent gift boxes for my novels to reading groups. I've mailed point-of-purchase counter mats (that highlight my novels) to Christian bookstores. Everyone loves a gift!

8. Speaking -I speak at women's retreats, book clubs, writers' conferences, etc. Once they know me and hear about my novels, they love picking them up.

As you can tell, promoting for me has been thinking outside the box. It's connecting with people in ways that interest them and talking in "story" whether it's the story of me as a writer or researcher--or the sharing the stories of those I interviewed. My goal is to get my novels noticed. Then hopefully purchased. Then read ... and loved. Then readers will come back for more.