Official Release Day for Ivory Tower!

Well, after months of planning, promoting, pushing the book to friends, influences, and media, the day has finally arrived: my novel is officially born into the world! It’s exciting but also a bit troubling: Why happens now? Will people buy it? Will they like it? I don’t know and will just have to see. IContinue reading “Official Release Day for Ivory Tower!”

Authors – don’t forget local press coverage!

In the world of social media and the coveted NYT book review, I urge you not to forget about promoting your book through local media. Not only do Americans get a majority of their news from local sources–TV, newspapers, magazines–but research shows that they trust those sources more than they do national outlets. Not onlyContinue reading “Authors – don’t forget local press coverage!”

Ivory Tower is a Publisher’s Weekly “Editor’s Pick”!

Jenkins has made an impressive start as a novelist. Publisher’s Weekly I’m so excited that I have to share this good news with everyone: my novel, Ivory Tower, has been reviewed and received the coveted editor’s pick star from Publisher’s Weekly! According to the PW website, the star signifies “an unbiased indication of truly outstandingContinue reading “Ivory Tower is a Publisher’s Weekly “Editor’s Pick”!”

When Author Becomes Shipping Department…

As I mentioned in a previous blog about advanced copies, one of the best ways for independent authors to realize the highest profit margin on books is to sell them yourself, either hand-to-hand or through your website. If you do decide to make the plunge into web sales, which often requires an upgraded business packageContinue reading “When Author Becomes Shipping Department…”

Author’s Marketing Journey, pt. 7 – Advance Copies

I just got boxes full of author copies in advance of my novel’s official February 1, 2020 release date, and the question you (and I) may be asking is, what am I going to do with all of them? The answer is ‘a lot of things,’ because advance copies can be crucial to an authorsContinue reading “Author’s Marketing Journey, pt. 7 – Advance Copies”

Advance copies are here!

It’s such a cliche–the photo of author’s copies when the box arrives–but I can’t help it. It’s such a great feeling! Thanks to Nick at Atmosphere Press, these copies of my novel look great and are ready to go. Now, I’ve got to move them. Aye, there’s the rub, the thick black lining to anContinue reading “Advance copies are here!”

The “Blurb” – A Writer’s Marketing Journey, pt 6

Everyone knows the ‘blurb,’ aka the quote usually on the back cover of a book that tells readers what’s go great about this particular book and why they should read it. But not every wrier may know how important and useful blurbs are. What is a ‘blurb’? In short, the blurb is a short paragraphContinue reading “The “Blurb” – A Writer’s Marketing Journey, pt 6″

Proof and Publication Date

I think we’ve finally figured out all the problems with the proof copy of Ivory Tower, but considering all of the issues I’ve had and time I’ve spent on it, I’ve decided to push the release date of the book back to Feb 1. That will give me time to get hard and electronic copiesContinue reading “Proof and Publication Date”

Problems with the new proof

If I could put a frown emoji here, I would. (Not really, ha ha.) But I must admit that it’s frustrating to receive a new proof of my novel and still find problems in it. Let me just say here that I am confident that my publisher, Nick, will fix it and make sure thingsContinue reading “Problems with the new proof”

An Author’s Marketing Journey, pt 4

I’m learning that marketing and promoting your own book is a long haul or, if you prefer a sports analogy, a four-quarter game. Although it is tempting to skip “Marketing Monday,” or whatever time you’ve set aside to do this PR work, perseverance is more than half the fight. For Its Own Sake One ofContinue reading “An Author’s Marketing Journey, pt 4”