I’ve had the extreme pleasure of working with many different authors over fifteen years.
Fifteen years.
That timespan alone gives me pause. My oldest son was a baby when I first expressed a serious interest in writing books. I always loved communicating and was once labeled a “motor mouth.” Who would have known I’d commit to this industry and grow to enjoy helping others along the way?
During my years of growth (and I’m still learning!), I recall telling new authors who just became published, “And now the fun part begins!” I’ve always considered marketing and promoting books as fun work. You get to tell others about your awesome book, share samples, get interviewed, speak at events, etc. Well, although this is true, it cannot seem very easy to find the proper motivation to keep pressing forward, especially if you don’t have a lot of support with you.
And waited.
And waited.
I’ll never forget my first book signing. It was for my first contemporary Christian romance novel, “Awakened.” I was a brand new ambitious author. I wrote a press release, emailed local bookstores, and was hopeful that someone would allow me to share it with their community. One small bookstore owner did. I made a large poster, had several copies with me, and waited.
And no one came. Bookstore visitors stopped by, but no one visited the table. I had a few looks, but that was all.
Honestly, I wasn’t devastated. I was curious about what it would take for the community to trust and respect me as a writer, and I was interested in learning how to sell more copies.
It can be intimidating to take steps in a different direction, especially toward publicizing who we are and what we do. Today, I’d like to encourage you to enjoy the process. Here’s how you can do that:
1. Remain excited about YOUR book! This is something you’ve worked hard to create. Keep that excitement going strong. You’ve worked hard to write it. This is your baby.
2. There are readers out there who will love your book. You need to find them and let them know it’s here!
3. Have fun using social media marketing. Make fun videos that display your excitement. People will get excited about it if you are!
4. Enjoy the journey. Document every moment. You’ll be glad you did! Sometimes, a quick look backward is great motivation to help you move forward!
Kennisha Griffin is an author of eight inspirational books that are fiction and non-fiction, and has served the writing community for 15 years. She is the owner of Create and Blossom Studios, a book writing, publishing, and publicity firm that helps authors establish their new careers and share messages of hope. Kennisha, her husband and their seven children reside in Central Texas. Learn more about Create and Blossom Studios at www.createandblossomstudios.com.
