Self Promotion

One of the biggest challenges an author has to face is to advertise his or her writing.  It often goes against the grain and in my case this is certainly true.  Writing is a lonely art and means that the writer is more than likely shut away on their own with whatever tools they use (pen, paper, typewriter, PC) and don’t emerge with a final product until it is felt that the time is right to show it to someone.

Leonardo da Vinci has been quoted as saying that Art is never finished, only abandoned.  This is certainly true of my written work as it goes through draft after draft until I feel I can take it no further.  So by the time I have finished with a manuscript and my book is published I can hardly bare to look at it again let alone discuss its creation with others.

But those who especially enjoy reading fiction are likely to be fascinated by the creative process, particularly if they are engaged by a particular writer’s work and want to find out more.  So about a week ago when I was given the chance to discuss my writing in an online interview I jumped at the opportunity, because not only did it give me a chance to demonstrate the motivation behind my writing process but it also provided me with a great opening to promote my books

Keith Jahans

The full interview can be seen at:

http://www.thecrazymind.com/2017/05/peatmore-press-interview-with-funder.html

BOOKS ARE MY BAG

The London Book Fair has seen the trade launch of a new campaign to promote books and bookshops – BOOKS ARE MY BAG. www.booksaremybag.com.  The bags look to be cloth and recyclable and not plastic.

The BOOKS ARE MY BAG campaign launches to the public on September 14th 2013 and will run through to Christmas.  There are two elements: a PR Campaign and a Street Campaign

 Street Campaign

The trade launch of BOOKS ARE MY BAG at The London Book Fair got across just how massive the campaign will be.  Booksellers at the fair were placing their orders there and then, and the Book Sellers Association reports already that many independent booksellers are now ordering in good supplies to last the campaign period of 14th September to Christmas.  WH Smith, Waterstones, Blackwells and the large independent sector have signed up.

 PR Campaign

PR will centre on the passion well-known people share for books and bookshops, and a major element of the PR Campaign is a celebrity-led Photo Campaign featuring celebrities and authors.  These have all agreed to be photographed without imposing any fee.  As well as forming the centrepiece of the PR Campaign, all of the celebrity images – as well as those featuring members of the public in bookshops, on the street and in the workplace – will be available for booksellers and publishers to use.

 If you have a A-List UK or Irish celebrity on your books that you would like to be put forward for consideration to be photographed, please e-mail Caroline Hutton, the Campaign Co-ordinator on pidge@me.com

The Price of Self-Publishing

The Real Cost of Self-Publishing.  http://tinyurl.com/arnkyjn

A Self-Published Wonder

Another self published author finds success.  http://tinyurl.com/bmjnko4

Self published writers continue emerge as a new force in the digital age.

For the first time since its inception in 2005, self-publishers will exhibit their work at the Karachi International Book Fair, which is set to kick off from today.  http://tribune.com.pk/story/475205/self-publishers-will-rub-shoulders-with-bigwigs-at-the-karachi-international-book-fair

In this age of austerity mainstream publishers are reluctant to take on untried talent and are jettisoning authors who do not sell.  Therefore it is not surprising that writers are now publishing themselves in the same way that musicians have parted company with recording companies and are producing their own music.

Self publishers have become noticed as there are fewer big named authors out there creating books.  It is true that there are many bad self published scribblers but it will be the book market not the publisher which will now choose who will be a success and who will fail.

Mainstream Publisher Acknowledges Self Publishing

Self publishing is no longer frowned upon.  Readers do not mind who the publisher is.  All they care about is having a good read.  The most successful way to promote books is by word of mouth starting with the authors themselves and spreading via their friends and family to a wider public.

Advertising is expensive particularly in this austere age.  A large publishing company will always plump for a book written by a celebrity rather than a newcomer because they know it will sell.  However, the quality of writing is often poor and the reading public are being let down.

Writers become good writers because they have been plugging away for years honing their art without success because mainstream publishers are unwilling to take a risk on an unknown talent.  There are legions of stories of authors who receive rejection after rejection before getting that big break through.  There must be many great novels out there which never see the light of day.

Self publishing means that there is now no need for this to happen.  It is marvellous that a big publisher has at last realised this.  Simon and Schuster are leading the way.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-27/entertainment/sns-rt-us-books-simonschuster-selfpublishingbre8aq17e-20121127_1_simon-schuster-carolyn-reidy-author-solutions

Public Libraries

I remember the first book I ever read which did not contain pictures.  It was “The Dog Caruso And His Master” by R M Ballantyne and I got it from my primary school library.  I do not remember taking it home but read it in breaks from class.  Then I visited public libraries and I read avidly.

For a young boy with little pocket money growing up in the austere 1950s the public library was a godsend.  I visited regularly at first with my parents and then on my own.  I remember cycling to Downend Library near my home village of Mangotsfield near Bristol in the sixties.  I spent many a happy hour there.  There is nothing like searching the shelves for hidden treasures.

Public libraries have been hit badly by the current long recession.  Some have been forced to close through lack of funding so when I visited my Mother, who now lives in Downend, I called into the library to relive old times.  I was relieved to see that it was as busy as ever and I happily donated a copy of the first Peatmore Press book, “Cogrill’s Mill,” so it could sit happily on those cherished shelves.

Peatmore Press has also donated copies of its books to Woking Library, as it is based just outside the town, and for the time being all author public lending rights have been waved.  In these tough times is important that writers and publishers support these valuable institutions which for centuries were crucial for the preservation of the written word.