by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan
My latest novel, The Father He Deserves, has just released.
Hooray! Yippee! Yay!
And now I will spend the next several weeks promoting my book, which will be on store shelves for only this month since it’s a category romance. Then it will be available online until the print run ends. While my publisher spends a lot of money in advertising and promoting the Love Inspired brand, it’s up to me to help promote my novel.
Some authors grumble about promoting their own books. After all, isn’t that part of the publisher’s job? With cuts in marketing budgets and staffing, publishers are relying on authors to share the responsibility of promoting their novels. With these changing times, authors are wearing more than just a writing hat. They need to don marketers’ hats as well.
No one is as passionate about your book as you. Let’s face it—you’ve known more about this story since that initial spark than anyone else. While your agent and editor may be excited for the story, you’re the one who has lived with these characters for the past three-twelve months…or maybe even longer. When someone asks about your book, you will have the right answer because you know all about it. Not only that, but you have the excitement that goes along with seeing it do well.
Along with being the most passionate about your work, you’re also the one who has the most to gain with wanting your book to be a success. More sales means larger royalty checks for you. If your book does well, then your editor and publisher are more apt to offer additional contracts.
Marketing isn’t only about selling your book. It’s also about building connections with your readers. When you invest in the time to get to know them, they’re more than willing to share about your book on their own through word of mouth. I’ve fallen in love with a number of authors’ books simply because a friend shared with me.
When my first book released ten years ago, I was so excited to hold my debut novel, and I wanted to share it with the world…or at least my family and circles of friends. But I knew my book needed a wider reach so I needed to come up with ways to spread the word beyond the private book launch party I hosted. Even as I continued to write more books, getting my books in front of readers became one facet of the publishing process. Now I’m in a cycle of editing one book, promoting the latest release, and brainstorming the next book I need to write. After all, it’s a part of my job.
Thankfully, we don’t have to go about marketing our books on our own. Each publisher has its own marketing team that will invest a certain amount of money into each author or into each line. Talk with your publishing team for email verification and see what they are willing to do to help share about your book. Brainstorm ideas with other authors. Share with your team what you’re willing to do to market your book. Not only does this show you’re invested in growing your career, but it also shows you want to partner with them to give your book the best exposure possible.
Marketing your book isn’t easy. But if you are willing to create a budget and invest the time, then you will be the best person to build excitement in readers so they will buy your book. Once readers get hooked on your writing, many will want to share about it. They will become your automatic buyers.
So while you’re brainstorming your next story idea, take time to consider ways you can promote your novel once it releases. Because your job doesn’t end once you submit that manuscript. It’s just beginning.
A determined dad. A wary mother.
Making amends is never easy…
Injured in a kayaking accident, champion Evan Holland returns home to train rescue dogs. But his unexpected partner is the woman he left behind, Natalie Bishop. And she has a secret: a son Evan never knew he had. Now Evan must prove he can be a real father. But earning Natalie’s trust back will take hope, forgiveness—and risking everything on forever…
Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Cynthia Ruchti of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, The Father He Deserves, releases in July 2021. She is the content manager for Novel Academy, powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for over thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys quality family time and being creative with words, photos, fibers, and papers. Learn more about her at lisajordanbooks.com.