AUTHOR INTERVIEWS BY CAROLYN WARD
Carolyn Ward
SUSETTE WILLIAMS INTERVIEW
FROM CAROLYN WARD:
I am a ‘newbie’ to Indie Publishing, known more familiarly as self-publishing. My debut book is, The Realm of the Unseen. Needless to say, I was very proud and deliriously happy with my debut moment. But I quickly realized there is more to self-publishing than just electronically releasing your book. And I had not a clue what that ‘more’ was.
That is, until recently, when I had the pleasure to meet Susette Williams and in just one conversation, I knew, this lady is someone that I must share with others who are also traveling this indie book publishing journey.
I had a myriad of questions rolling around in my head about ‘the business’. Yet, I asked only one of her and off the top of her head, she expounded on every question I had been prepared to ask. I decided then and there, I must do an interview.
Susette Williams, Author
Before we delve into, I want to encourage you that at first it will seem overwhelming, but don’t hold yourself to inordinate self-demands. Do a little at a time, outline, and stay focused on your projected goal for your book. Let your imagination soar with a vision of your many fans reading the product of all your efforts. (End of My Opening) ---
And to help you along the way, here is Susette Williams.
Carolyn Ward: Susette, thank you for stopping by. Can you tell us the logistics behind KDP compared to major marketing challenges?
Susette Williams: Thank you for having me, Carolyn. Not everyone cares for the KDP Select program from Amazon. Often, it is because they do not understand it, or how to utilize it. One thing Indie Authors need to understand is that marketing is just as important as writing if you want to succeed. After all, how much of a difference would it make to write a book if you can’t find anyone to read it?
Carolyn Ward: What are Promotions and how do you go about doing a Promotion?
Susette Williams: If you sign up in the KDP Select program, Amazon will allow you 5 days (for every 90 days in the program) to promote your book for free. Some authors first instincts are to question, “Why do I want to give my book away?” The answer is simple. Most authors do not have thousands of dollars to spend marketing a book.
Here is what a free book promotion does for the author:
It generates interest, a buzz, about your book. People love free stuff and are always looking for a bargain. Your friends, family, and others are more apt to share about something that is free than something that will cost other people money. (Sorry, it is a fact of life.)
The free book promotion will help you get higher up in Amazon Sales Rank after the promotion.
Because your book has more copies out there from the free book promo, Amazon will begin recommending your book to others for you. (Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought)
Amazon will also begin sending emails out to customers with recommendations and your book has a better chance of being included among their recommendations.
The KDP Select program allows you to promote your book and get a lot of exposure quickly. To prepare for mine, I make sure that I have a minimum of three reviews on the book that I wish to promote. Then I fill out forms at least a week ahead of time for the free book promotion sites. The day before the promotion begins I schedule tweets concerning the promotion. I also post messages about my free book promotion on numerous Facebook sites, specific places for free or bargain books.
I spend an average of 8-16 hours marketing for EVERY free book promotion that I do.
Carolyn Ward: What are some Promotion sites you have used and the overall success rate you had?
Susette Williams: There are too many sites to list. I fill out forms on close to four dozen free book promotion websites. Here are two of the sites that list numerous places to promote your book:
1. http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/promo-sites.html
2. http://davidmcgowanauthor.com/2012/08/25/the-definitive-guide-to-kdp-select-free-giveaways/
Carolyn Ward: What is your favorite self-marketing idea?
Susette Williams: Wow, not sure that I could answer that question. I will say that my goal is to have numerous series released so that I can promote the first book of a different series every month. That should hopefully help to generate a balanced amount of income coming in monthly. That is probably the hardest part. You never know how much money you will be making until the month ends, and you will not be paid royalties until two months after the sales month closes out with Amazon. That is still better than the time frame traditional publishers pay!
Carolyn Ward: With all that you are doing to promote your book, assist others with their work, and maintaining a healthy blog, how do you stay disciplined?
Susette Williams: I really do need to become better disciplined. And unfortunately, I never really got a blog going like I had hoped. I debated on how much exposure a blog would really give me and decided that most blogs do not have enough following to turn followers into customers. Not to mention the things I would want to blog about would not necessarily garner me the type of readers that would be interested in my stories.
Always think about what you are doing, the effect it will have, and is it worth your time or effort in doing it?
Carolyn Ward: What advice do you have for burgeoning self-publishers?
Susette Williams: If you don’t have a critique partner or belong to a critique group, either hire an editor and/or invest in editing software. Grammar, punctuation, etc. is probably the biggest complaint readers make concerning self-published books.
Also, research. A lot of people will have advice to give you. Before you take their advice, check out their books online and see how they are selling. You want to take advice from the people who are successfully marketing their books. Don’t be afraid to try something different if what you’re doing doesn’t work.
Carolyn Ward: Thanks for all your great advice, Susette! Where can people go to find out more information about your books and author presentations?
Susette Williams:
Maid for Murder: Deadly Business http://ow.ly/hJKp2
Accidental Meeting http://ow.ly/fR7ft
Falling in Love (Seasons of the Heart) http://ow.ly/fR717
Winter Chill (Seasons of the Heart) http://ow.ly/fR75F
The Quakers of New Garden (New Garden’s Conversion) http://ow.ly/fR7bB
Books for Children:
The ‘In’ Crowd (Life With Stef) http://ow.ly/fGsul
On My Own (Life With Stef) http://ow.ly/fR7GG
Author Website: www.susettewilliams.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Susette-Williams/182094681851446?ref=ts&fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusetteWilliams
I am a ‘newbie’ to Indie Publishing, known more familiarly as self-publishing. My debut book is, The Realm of the Unseen. Needless to say, I was very proud and deliriously happy with my debut moment. But I quickly realized there is more to self-publishing than just electronically releasing your book. And I had not a clue what that ‘more’ was.
That is, until recently, when I had the pleasure to meet Susette Williams and in just one conversation, I knew, this lady is someone that I must share with others who are also traveling this indie book publishing journey.
I had a myriad of questions rolling around in my head about ‘the business’. Yet, I asked only one of her and off the top of her head, she expounded on every question I had been prepared to ask. I decided then and there, I must do an interview.
Susette Williams, Author
Before we delve into, I want to encourage you that at first it will seem overwhelming, but don’t hold yourself to inordinate self-demands. Do a little at a time, outline, and stay focused on your projected goal for your book. Let your imagination soar with a vision of your many fans reading the product of all your efforts. (End of My Opening) ---
And to help you along the way, here is Susette Williams.
Carolyn Ward: Susette, thank you for stopping by. Can you tell us the logistics behind KDP compared to major marketing challenges?
Susette Williams: Thank you for having me, Carolyn. Not everyone cares for the KDP Select program from Amazon. Often, it is because they do not understand it, or how to utilize it. One thing Indie Authors need to understand is that marketing is just as important as writing if you want to succeed. After all, how much of a difference would it make to write a book if you can’t find anyone to read it?
Carolyn Ward: What are Promotions and how do you go about doing a Promotion?
Susette Williams: If you sign up in the KDP Select program, Amazon will allow you 5 days (for every 90 days in the program) to promote your book for free. Some authors first instincts are to question, “Why do I want to give my book away?” The answer is simple. Most authors do not have thousands of dollars to spend marketing a book.
Here is what a free book promotion does for the author:
It generates interest, a buzz, about your book. People love free stuff and are always looking for a bargain. Your friends, family, and others are more apt to share about something that is free than something that will cost other people money. (Sorry, it is a fact of life.)
The free book promotion will help you get higher up in Amazon Sales Rank after the promotion.
Because your book has more copies out there from the free book promo, Amazon will begin recommending your book to others for you. (Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought)
Amazon will also begin sending emails out to customers with recommendations and your book has a better chance of being included among their recommendations.
The KDP Select program allows you to promote your book and get a lot of exposure quickly. To prepare for mine, I make sure that I have a minimum of three reviews on the book that I wish to promote. Then I fill out forms at least a week ahead of time for the free book promotion sites. The day before the promotion begins I schedule tweets concerning the promotion. I also post messages about my free book promotion on numerous Facebook sites, specific places for free or bargain books.
I spend an average of 8-16 hours marketing for EVERY free book promotion that I do.
Carolyn Ward: What are some Promotion sites you have used and the overall success rate you had?
Susette Williams: There are too many sites to list. I fill out forms on close to four dozen free book promotion websites. Here are two of the sites that list numerous places to promote your book:
1. http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/promo-sites.html
2. http://davidmcgowanauthor.com/2012/08/25/the-definitive-guide-to-kdp-select-free-giveaways/
Carolyn Ward: What is your favorite self-marketing idea?
Susette Williams: Wow, not sure that I could answer that question. I will say that my goal is to have numerous series released so that I can promote the first book of a different series every month. That should hopefully help to generate a balanced amount of income coming in monthly. That is probably the hardest part. You never know how much money you will be making until the month ends, and you will not be paid royalties until two months after the sales month closes out with Amazon. That is still better than the time frame traditional publishers pay!
Carolyn Ward: With all that you are doing to promote your book, assist others with their work, and maintaining a healthy blog, how do you stay disciplined?
Susette Williams: I really do need to become better disciplined. And unfortunately, I never really got a blog going like I had hoped. I debated on how much exposure a blog would really give me and decided that most blogs do not have enough following to turn followers into customers. Not to mention the things I would want to blog about would not necessarily garner me the type of readers that would be interested in my stories.
Always think about what you are doing, the effect it will have, and is it worth your time or effort in doing it?
Carolyn Ward: What advice do you have for burgeoning self-publishers?
Susette Williams: If you don’t have a critique partner or belong to a critique group, either hire an editor and/or invest in editing software. Grammar, punctuation, etc. is probably the biggest complaint readers make concerning self-published books.
Also, research. A lot of people will have advice to give you. Before you take their advice, check out their books online and see how they are selling. You want to take advice from the people who are successfully marketing their books. Don’t be afraid to try something different if what you’re doing doesn’t work.
Carolyn Ward: Thanks for all your great advice, Susette! Where can people go to find out more information about your books and author presentations?
Susette Williams:
Maid for Murder: Deadly Business http://ow.ly/hJKp2
Accidental Meeting http://ow.ly/fR7ft
Falling in Love (Seasons of the Heart) http://ow.ly/fR717
Winter Chill (Seasons of the Heart) http://ow.ly/fR75F
The Quakers of New Garden (New Garden’s Conversion) http://ow.ly/fR7bB
Books for Children:
The ‘In’ Crowd (Life With Stef) http://ow.ly/fGsul
On My Own (Life With Stef) http://ow.ly/fR7GG
Author Website: www.susettewilliams.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Susette-Williams/182094681851446?ref=ts&fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusetteWilliams
