6 MONTHS LATER…
Thrills, joy, every feeling an Author imagines…at the publication of Tigers Love Bubble Baths & Obsession Perfume (who knew!) In my case, ten years of hoping and imagining. What did I expect? I have to acknowledge it was all a learning curve from the moment I signed my contract, through editing and more editing, the cover and background information. They ain't kidding when they say you have to market your book a year before it's published. Yikes! a year before I was busy telling everyone and celebrating and editing with the most fabulous editor, honest and tough, sometimes too honest and tough, but the knowledge I gained from my Creative Editor, Lynn Moon, is priceless. She is also a fabulous Author in her own right. Yes, always love your many editors. They truly want the best for you. I can't say this enough.
And with that said, it's six months after publication and my initial Book Launch. I'm still on that learning curve, the Marketing one, the Social Media one, where I had to jump in head first into a world I desperately ran from in the past. With thousands of new books published every year the question begs, What are the best ways to stand out from the crowd and get more eyeballs on my cozy mystery romance with a spiritual twist, Tigers Love Bubble Baths & Obsession Perfume (who knew!)
There is a formula: Create an Author Website with links to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. Create a Book Trailer. Have an Amazon Author page, a Goodreads Author Profile, get Reviews. Give away a chapter preview as well as free books on 'Giveaways'. Create an email list (I'm still working on that.) Reach out to Bloggers. Go on a Virtual Blog Tour. Get Author Interviews. And on and on. It truly takes a village! Help and more help!
Are you getting the jist here? Exposure, exposure, exposure! You can dream book signings and I've done many but I've learned you need a following and that takes a while which is okay for a debuting author. You are your own best Marketer. Don't give up.
With that said, in concluding this blog piece my world rocked and I am so grateful and humbled. I just received an email from the worldwide prestigious Royal Dragonfly Book Award Contest. Tigers Love Bubble Baths & Obsession Perfume (who knew!) has been awarded excellence in literature in two categories. I garnered Honorable Mentions in Mystery as well as New Author: Fiction.
I wouldn't change a thing! Until next time.
My Best to you always,
Mary K. Savarese
