More than 1000 people entered a competition to win copies of The Blue Handbag over at Goodreads.After the competition ended, I started sending these people friend requests, letting them know about my quarterly newsletter (which always has free articles and a competition to win free books) and this blog.
Yesterday this is the reply I got from one of these Goodreads members:
"So did you choose me to be a friend so you could market more books or because you really are choosing friends?"
Urk.
I do worry about becoming annoying, like that fine specimen of a salesman in the photo. Sometimes I think that if my novels were 'good enough', they'd sell themselves - I'd just have to sit back and watch the money rolling in and become a wealthy woman of mystery. Sometimes I feel like stopping all my blogs and expanding my vegetable patch instead, or never mentioning in conversation again that I'm a writer.
However.
Books do not sell themselves. My publishers Snowbooks do a fine job of getting them into the shops, but there they compete with thousands of better known authors, and as I've said before it feels like every book I sell is something of a miracle.
So I'll keep blogging, and letting-people-know-about-my-books. Yes, because I would like to eventually make a living from my writing, but more importantly because I want to find people who will ENJOY my books, and equally importantly, I love to write. Books, blogs - it's all good. It's what I do. And if every so often I cross the line and become bloody annoying, well I'll just have to be annoying.
PS This particular Goodreads member, once I'd written an honest answer, apologised if she'd sounded harsh and said she was still interested in reading my books. All's well that ends well.
PPS BUY MY BOOKS! BUY MY BOOKS! Or I won't invite you to my birthday party! ; )
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A new interview is up at 100 Readers - meet Kath Glover and her lovely dog Wilma.
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15 comments:
I love being your marketing friend, Fiona.
It's an amazing experience to have a two-way relationship with an author -- much better than old hero worship.
And I think it adds value to your books, too.
I agree with Clare - it's lovely to feel like I'm reading a book by someone that I know...ish! ;)
I think the fact that you are so personable when it comes to talking about your work and getting it out there just makes me more intrigued and want to read your books even more.
Also, your books are fabulous so that seals the deal :D
So, get them out there, however you see fit. xx
And also -- out of 1,000, that's ONE complaint.
You can't please all of the people all of the time.
I love your blog and the delightful insight on attempting to have people 'see' your work. There are, unfortunately, some authors that are similiar to used-car-salesmen in their approach, and there are those that just want to let people know there's a book that might interest them.
There are snippy people everywhere, Fiona, including Goodreads... I wouldn't worry about it!
Personally I'm just quietly sulking because I don't live in the right country to enter your competitions ... or even attend your party. :(
There is a line, but I don't know as you crossed it. I mean, anyone who enters a contest to win one of your books already has voiced or expressed an interest in your work so your follow up could hardly be construed as anything but reacting to that interest.
I wouldn't worry about it over much.
Clare - shucks. green ink - shucks again ;)
Tamela - thanks. Yes, I've met those authors too!
Charles - thanks. She wasn't really being snippy, just honest - I appreciate a bit of honesty to keep me on my toes!
Rosemary - it'll be a virtual party so of course you're invited! And the competitions on my newsletters are always open to people around the world - even Australia...
Thanks Mark. I suppose the difficulty is that different people will draw the line at a different point in the sand, so crossing it becomes inevitable if I do anything to 'put myself out there'. I think I have to accept some criticism as part of the deal! And as Clare said, it's very few and far between.
Haven't read your books (shock! horror!) but I'm intrigued now. Yes, I too hate it when online comps are only for UK or USA residents! Australia really is the 'A*** end of the world as a past PM said!
L'Aussie - welcome to PW. And it isn't compulsory to have read my books ;) There are a fair few I haven't read too...
Yes, this is such a tricky one. But you're right -- we have to do these self-promotional things, as awkward and exhausting they might be. But it is a wonderful side affect of all this that you do get to know new people, in one way or another. Don't you think?
For the record - I am one of those people that have bought one of your books as a direct result of finding and enjoying your blog!
So no complaints here :)
Hi Fiona. I'm not a natural networker so setting up poetry blogs, submitting to A Handful of Stones and joining Facebook is a bit out of my natural comfort zone. Reading your Blogs and being part of A Handful of Stones has been a real help to my confidence as a 'mature' but returning poet. Of course I'm being self-serving but then again I have also been discriminating in choosing you as a fellow bogger and 'friend' because I like your poetry and what you are doing with the blogs. So it's of mutual benefit. I like to think that you or others may at least have glanced at the Blogs but I'm realistic. People are very led by personal tastes and there's so much out there. It reminds me of the Bill Withers song, covered by Grace Jones, 'Use Me' " Well I'm gonna spread the news, that if it feels this good being used, then keep on using me..."
So I've just accepted your 'friend' invitation.
Sue - can't agree more - I've met several truckloads of wonderful people through this networking lark and all kinds of happy collaborations have happened as a result, including getting some good new friends. And I love blogging, and I'd do it even if I didnt' have any books to sell!
Emma - very happy to hear so ;)
Greg - welcome to the wonderful world of mutually beneficial networking. You're right - there is a LOT of good stuff out there - all we can do is do what we do and enjoy it as much as we can.
I can see both sides of this. As far as you Fiona Robyn novelist is concerned I'm happy to have your mailings and promotions because I feel I connected with you first and foremost through blogs before book promotion came into it. However there are some people on Goodreads who request you as a friend when you have nothing else in common and they have thousands of friends and a naff looking self-published book to promote. Those I'm not so welcoming to!
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