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Black History Month Author Roundtable
8.
AOTW: Is there anything that has worked particularly well for you in promoting one of your books?
Jenoyne Adams: Yes, a positive attitude. It may sound trite or regular, but a positive attitude and perseverance can get you through almost anything. Promoting a book is work.
Nalo Hopkinson: Yes; e-mail. It's cheap, it's fast, it's easy. When I hit "send," I can let hundreds of people at a time know that I have a new book out.
Harriette Cole: I always hire an independent publicist who works alongside the publisher's publicist. This way there are two people working on my behalf. It's tough to get media coverage, so all the help you can bring to the table the better off you are. I also call all the media people I have met over the years and personally ask if they would be interested in covering my book.
Olympia Vernon: Prayer.
Nikki Giovanni: I think it's so important to get out and read. I love book tours. You get to meet your readers; you get to see the country.
Stephanie Perry Moore: I love doing slumber parties with my teen readers. We have a blast reading the books all night. The one on one interaction is a huge success.
Victor LaValle: Word of mouth is the greatest promotional tool. Once people get talking, it seems to spread. The worst part about this is that it's out of your hands so all you can do is write the best book possible and hope that it connects with smart readers (and there are a lot of them in the world, don't believe all the pessimism out in the writing world).
Benilde Little: Reaching out to book clubs, friends of friends with personal written invitations to readings at bookstores, and book parties.
Ray Shannon: Nine books in, I'm still in the process of figuring out what works, and what doesn't. I can say only that word of mouth, and the enthusiastic endorsement of independent booksellers, would seem to be the most efficient keys to selling a book.
Stanice Anderson: Yes, the Internet. Aggressively marketing my email series, "Food for the Spirit and Power Moments With God," along with my web site at www.stanice.com yielded me an ever-growing international readership, agent and subsequent publisher.
Interactive book talks and signings. I don't just sit at a table and wait for people to come to me. If there is a lull, I am walking around the store, books in hand and talking with potential readers, letting them hold and browse my book while they are in line buying someone else's book. In many instances, once they browse through my book and read the dust jacket, they purchase my book in addition to or instead of the book(s) they originally picked up.
I consider my signings as a part of my ministry. I've consoled, encouraged, and prayed (with permission) for attendees. Look out, if the bookstore is in a mall, I am very proactive distributing free first chapters and talking with people.
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