Hello again, readers!
A few days ago, I wrote to let you all know I did not intend to ask for a campaign extension. Now I’m writing to let you all know someone out there believes in this project so hard, they worked their magic and convinced me to accept one anyway.
My initial intention was to put Devil’s Call in a drawer and move onto my next project. Not query agents or self-publish on Amazon or something, but just let it go. Let me tell you real quick why, on second thought, I’m glad I didn’t.
This year has been trying. As I mentioned in an update at the campaign’s commencement, this spring I experienced a severe, acute depressive episode that culminated in a suicide attempt, and I spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital as a result. I’m currently in outpatient treatment for alcohol dependence (39 days clean!) as well as generalized anxiety that worsened as a result of my not self-medicating anymore. Depression and alcoholism didn’t kill me, but they sure are eating up a lot of time that would have normally been allocated for promoting my ass off.
That said, waiting for the "right" time to pursue this project isn’t an option, as life doesn’t give two licks whether I’m ready or not. Both the manuscript and I are improving day by day, and I want this book to make it to Quill not for my own gratification, but because so many people have helped it get this far, and I really feel as if Devil Call is Inkshares’ book.
I can’t top that last gif, so I’m going to sign off with more heartfelt thanks and my standard "spread the word on Tweetface, it helps" message.
Y’all are the best,
J.
.jpg)
I approached these outlets in person with my book in hand as soon as it was printed and "orderable".
I came prepared with a short pitch on "why their customers will like the book." I told them it was orderable in their system at the standard industry discount.
If I got any positive reaction at all, I also pitched setting up a book signing at the same time. I never mentioned "crowdfunding" because at this point, it looks just like any book from an author who has a publisher. Talking about crowfunding after your book is out will only confuse people and take away from the central message you want to convey which is "I have a great book from a reputable publisher that your customers want because . . . "
I left a copy of the book with them along with my business card.
This approach worked out pretty well. I have made author appearances at three different Barnes & Noble locations so far and am working on booking more. I’m also in several local Indie stores.
Approaching store managers in person worked better for me than writing or emailing. They get way too much correspondence from self-published authors and don’t spend much time (if any) reading these correspondences because they aren’t interested. They don’t really want to deal directly with authors, mostly just with distributors, their salespeople and sometimes publishers.
Don’t go to bookstores or libraries on the weekend or near the end of a workday. Try and catch these managers when their location isn’t very busy. Around 10 am or 2 pm are good times. Don’t try and catch them just before or after lunch.
Even if you catch them when they have a little free time, they will evaluate your pitch in about 30 seconds and make up their mind very quickly whether they want to spend any more time than that on you or your book.
So be ready to impress them with your pitch right off the bat. "I have a great book from a reputable publisher - your customers want it because . . . . AND it is orderable in your system at the standard industry discount". Smile and hand them your book with your business card sticking out of it. Be ready to answer any questions they may have, but keep your answers short. Smile a lot. Tell the manager you like her shoes or something:-)