It’s no secret that reviews are vital to an author’s success. They provide the much-needed social proof for readers that other people have read the book and reveal a little about what they thought of it. Consider your own buying behaviour: how likely are you to buy a book that either has no reviews on [...]
Over the years, I've done a lot of waiting around for opportunities to come my way. Some I've jumped on, some I've dithered too long over, others have passed me by completely. But, you can't always sit back and wait for opportunity to come knocking. Because it very rarely does. And, if you find yourself [...]
Your author platform is your presence in the world, both online and in real life. It's everywhere people can find out about you, and your books. Your platform is your website, your social media profiles, your mailing list, your blog, your books on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes etc. It's your presence at signings, readings, conventions. It's [...]
The idea of an elevator pitch is that it is a super-condensed description of your book; short enough that you could deliver it in the time it takes to ride in an elevator (or 'lift', here in the UK). Elevator pitches are useful for when you meet agents, publishers, or editors. They're also handy when [...]
So many of us writers are introverts, happier hiding in our fictional worlds than navigating the real one. And a live event like a convention, while it may be something we dream of going to, is sometimes too daunting a prospect. If you are thinking about attending your first event, or want to get more [...]
Many writers are wary of marketing their book; worried about annoying people, or coming across as rude. Others are confused by the process, and don’t know where to start. There are even writers who refuse to do any marketing, because they believe it to be evil in all of its forms. I’ve been each of [...]
