South Flatland Fiction

Having self-published a number of books, I'd like to share what I've learned; the pitfalls and rewards.

I know you have heard this before. Be ABSOLUTELY sure your book is extremely well edited before printing! Never try to edit your book on the screen. It doesn't work. We see things differently on paper. REMEMBER, once you say, "Print it." you are "stuck" with it!

Next, it is extremely important to know with whom you are dealing. NEVER publish with a vanity publisher, who say they will stock your books and present them for sale for you. That is definitely a loser. If you are going to self-publish, you will have to do the selling and promotion yourself. That is what this article is about. I'll not be able to go into self-publishing in depth here, but you can log onto my website at booksbybill.com and go to the writing tips page for more thorough information on the best way to go about having your book edited and printed.

I guess the best way to reveal some of the best ways to sell and promote your book would to be to use one of my own books as an example. I had my 300-page book of short stories, CAN'T YOU HEAR THE WHISTLE BLOWING? printed in a nice 5 ½ X 8 paperback. The cover price was $10.95, some $4 to $5 below the market price for similar books. You have to give yourself an edge.

The first thing I did was send a press release to every newspaper in the State of Texas, describing the book, including information on where to order the book and that I was available for speaking engagements to writing clubs.

I placed ads in several community newspapers, offering the book at a discount. Of the five hundred copies of the first printing, I sold sixty-two copies @ $9.00 plus $2.00 S&H. Not too bad for a total ad cost of $16.

Then, I sat and looked at the four hundred, thirty-eight books and decided to try something radical. I went to every convenience store I could find on the north side of San Antonio and placed five signed copies on consignment in seventeen stores. I offered the store 30%. In three weeks, I sold almost four hundred books, made a profit of nearly $1,000 and quickly ordered another 500 books. I used my original investment, which I had recouped, to pay for the books and had over a thousand dollars in my pocket.

Then, I sold a few at local independent bookstores at book signings, giving the stores 40%. But, I thought if convenience stores…? Where else? The Mailbox Etc, stores are privately owned franchises and can buy what they want. My next target! It worked at a 30% payout to the stores.

When I had sold nearly a thousand books and reordered a thousand, I sweet-talked my way onto five radio talk shows, read a short story from the book and offered listeners free shipping and handling. Five times, I got a chance to give them the "where to order" address. Local talk show hosts love to promote such things. Their own ego makes them want to be the first to present an author to their listeners.

In San Antonio, we have several million out of town visitors every year. When I printed my book, CRY VENGEANCE! I had printed right on the cover, "Take home a book by one of San Antonio's Premiere Authors." Nearly every "tourist trap" downtown took the books on consignment and sold me out. The folks coming here for conventions and such need something enjoyable to read in their hotel rooms, right? I talked half the hotels in town into taking my books on consignment.

Okay, these are a few ways to promote your book and sell it. Remember, the most important part of spending money to self-publish is promoting yourself as a writer. If people read one book by an author that they enjoy, they will likely buy the next book by that author. Go to booksbybill.com and click on writing tips for more info. If you are not on the internet, write me for a copy of the info. Also, look at the titles on my site. If you see a story you would like to read, email me the title and I will send it to you FREE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: KWA member, Bill MacWithey, has a BA from Northwestern University, an MA Communication Arts degree from Southern Methodist University, and has held a career in the US Army. He describes himself as a "general all around good guy who loves writing, helping others learn to write well, and growing the nicest roses in town."

Bill has authored numerous books which can be purchased at his website, at Barnes and Nobel, Xlibris, and most local bookstores.