(04-07-2024, 10:40 AM)Byrd Wrote: Holy mackerel! You've got a WONDERFUL publisher! Usually we have to do these things ourselves.Thank you for your very helpful comments. There are special factors involved in that my book field is theology (though PPP is actually history and theology in combination), and religion is no longer an area of "general interest" in the UK as compared with the U.S. so I can't see bookstore appeal to the local populations gettting me anywhere. I'm not part of the academic world and I don't have any pull with church authorities.
Some items from my experience (not sure what genre you're in. I'm published in the science fiction/fantasy category) :
* you need the agent BEFORE you sign the contract. However, it's not too late to get one and the fact that you've got a book with a publisher will help you land one faster. Have the agent review your contract and be sure you understand what rights you gave the publisher.
* Bookmarks are useful for handing out at events. They're mini sign boards that raise awareness of your books.
* Most authors have to arrange their own events - I've had a publisher arrange ONE (exactly) signing for me. Call up a local book store and ask if they'd like you to sign some books.
* It's helpful to join a professional organization for your literature type (they've got them for science fiction, for mystery, for romance and many more.) Those authors will give you good tips (and can recommend agents to hire or to avoid.) Sometimes you can arrange to do an event with a group of authors.
* If your literature category has conventions, it is VERY helpful to attend and to have (pay for) an authors table. You might not get many direct sales there but it does bring attention to you.
* If you attend conventions, then learn to do panels. That's the best advertising to a target market. Handing out bookmarks and coupons can bring some sales.
That's all I can think of at the moment. If you find this helpful and have other questions, don't hesitate to DM me or ask here.
This also restricts the availablity of conventions. When I published the first two books, someone on ATS waa advising me to go to the "big religious conventions", but of course I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic for the ones he had in mind. Here the most obvious opportunity is Keswick. I have indeed had thoughts about Keswick. I think I would have to book a room and/or work out some arrangement with the local bookstore for that week, perhaps inveigle the local church into providing people who could help set it up. I could wander around all week wearing my London Book Fair lanyard, and leave bookmarks in places where the cleaners won't feel obliged to remove them.
