by Linda O. Johnston
Promotion. Writers need to do it, especially when they have a book coming out.
As I do. The fifth in my Shelter of Secrets series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, CANINE REFUGE, will be an April release. It’ll be the last in that series, which I’ve enjoyed writing. And I want to make sure the world knows about it.
And so I’m mentioning it here. And on my weekly blog for Killer Hobbies. Plus, I’m speaking today at the Union Oil Company Alumni Association lunch, and guess what I’ll be mentioning along with a lot more. In addition, I subscribe to a promotional organization called Writerspace, which also maintains my website. I do more promotions there, including sending out a newsletter—which I haven’t done for a while.
So, what do other writers do? Most published writers understand the importance of getting the word out when they have a new book coming out, whether it’s from a traditional publisher, as mine are, or if they self-publish, which is becoming much more popular these days.
My first career was in advertising and public relations many years ago, but things have changed. A lot of promo then could be in publications like newspapers and magazines, but there was no internet then. Now, it’s much easier to get word out all over the country, all over the world, by finding sources online and utilizing them.
But is it okay to bombard prospective readers with info about new books? Well, why not? It’s good to let them know about them, whether it’s via social media or otherwise. The more they know, the more likely they are to buy and read a new book. And they certainly don’t have to buy it if it’s not their kind of thing—if they prefer mysteries or regular romance to romantic suspense, for example.
So all you other writers out there, how do you promote your new releases? Do you promote them? And readers, whether writers or not, how do you prefer to learn about new releases?
The Writers in Residence 