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Archive for the ‘Branding’ Category

Why Should Anyone Read This?

September 13, 2012

“The Writer’s Pen”

I usually try to resist tooting my own horn (and I usually fail miserably, but I do try).

As an indie writer it’s important to get the word out about your work, because there’s no large publishing conglomerate pushing information about your latest-and-greatest literary effort to the public.

No sexy ad campaign. No colorful billboards. No radio interviews or speaking engagements.

You have to get the word out all by yourself.

But, when you do that, where do you draw the line between marketing effort and general annoyance?

A Fine Line
I don’t want to slam “buy my books” all over the place (although there are less-than-subtle links to places to buy them all along the margin of the blog, and frequently here in the text). I hope to actually have folks read what I write here because it’s occasionally interesting.

So I will only mention once that my debut novel “Reichold Street” was chosen as the Gold Medal Winner (young adult genre) in the 2012 Readers Favorite Awards, and let it go at that. Although you really should take a look at it. You might like it. Here’s the book trailer.

‘Nuff said.

Here’s the “Reichold Street” trailer:

Tags:amazon kindle, barnes & noble books, book marketing, gold medal winner, indie writers
Posted in Award-Winning Fiction, Book Promotion, Book Trailer, Branding, Market Your Book, Self-Published | 5 Comments »

Print on Demand

July 8, 2012

Photo © Judith K. Hackstock

I know a lot of people who swore they would never buy an e-Book. “Why would I want to curl up with a computer to read? I like the feel of real books.”

Many of these same people now carry around their Kindle, or Nook, or i-Pad everywhere they go and, guess what? There are an awful lot of books downloaded on these devices.

Publisher’s Weekly announced that unit sales of print books fell 10.2% in the first six months of 2011. In a survey taken six months earlier, PW found that, among the major formats, e-Book sales across all categories had risen 38.9%.

Is this the demise of printed books?

Maybe. Maybe not.

I used to think print was here to stay. As a writer, and an avid reader, I really, really liked printed books. That was until I ran out of bookshelf space.

Last year alone, I donated 175 hardcover and paperback books to charity, because I no longer had any place to store them, and they were worth more as a donation than I could get for them anywhere else.

I bought a Kindle and was amazed – and delighted – at the 30 novels downloaded onto it for an extended absence from home. Simple and convenient, and astoundingly easy to use, it was a most convincing argument for the death of printed books.

Then I recently read a fascinating blog that told me about a new print-on-demand machine sold by On Demand Books that allows you, for about one cent per page, to print and bind a novel in the time it takes the barista at your favorite coffee house to make your double latte.

(more…)

Tags:amazon books, amazon kindle, barnes & noble books, demise of print, print-on-demand, ronald L. Herron, writer
Posted in Award-Winning Fiction, Awards, Book Promotion, Book Review, Branding, Market Your Book | Leave a Comment »

I’m Still an Indie Author

July 2, 2012

Miami International Book Fair

Did you know the Miami International Book Fair is one of the largest book events in the country?

The first Miami Book Fair International, founded by Miami Dade College and community partners, took place in 1984.

Since then it has been recognized as the nation’s finest literary festival. In 2001, the Fair became part of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College, a cultural and academic initiative that promotes the advancement and appreciation of literature throughout the year.

I didn’t know any of this yesterday. I discovered it about ten hours after discovering that my debut novel, Reichold Street, is a finalist in the 2012 Readers Favorite Awards.

It’s in the young adult genre, and the award ceremony honoring Readers Favorite Award finalists will be held during the Book Fair event next November.

I have to admit, I find it pretty heady stuff. Top five. Wow!

It isn’t clear that this will help sell any copies of the book, but I figure what the heck. What can it hurt?

At the very least I’ll get to bump elbows with other aspiring authors at the Award Ceremony, held on Saturday November 17, 2012, the second day of the street fair, at the Regency Hotel Miami.

I might even get a chance to pass out a few rack cards promoting all my books, including Tinker and Zebulon.

Even if nothing happens with my books, the weather should be nice and my grandkids aren’t that far away. You’ll get nothing but smiles from me about that.