A general comment on Book Expo America which I’m inserting in each of these related posts: Even though it’s a publishers’ conference, it’s a great chance for authors like me to learn about the world we are part of, meet lots of people including reviewers, and listen to the top people in the business of promoting book talk about what they do, and what might help us. I’m glad I went. I’m going to do a series of highlights about the workshops I attended so other writers can get the benefit of those sessions too. Wish you’d been there.
Highlights:
- Audiobooks are still growing a lot in sales while other forms are falling off
- Narrators are a very big deal
- Author interviews at the end of a reading increase appeal
- Libraries promote multi-access simultaneous use, and are a great way to build a following
- Learn how to work with promoters to libraries
- The alternating audio and read experience is growing
- Advertising helps a lot; much selling is done through social media
- Go where people are already listening to other spoken word content
- Promote yourself to relevant podcast producers who want guests: learn about the show first, and do a 90 second pitch
- Call the programming director for radio stations and do the 90 second pitch based on their interests.
Resources:
- http://www.readinggroupguides.com the online community of reading groups
- http://bookriot.com/listen/ provides a list of podcasts
- www.blogtalkradio.com/wordsmitten – does About the Book
- https://soundcloud.com – lists categories of podcasts.
Moderator: Anne Kostick, Partner, Foxpath. Panelists listed at https://www.bookexpoamerica.com/en/BEA-Conferences/BEA-Education-Program/Sessions/#