Marketing Your Romance Novel

Whether you've been published through Bantam, PublishAmerica or published yourself, marketing is, and always will be, the hardest obstacle to conquer for a new author. I've learned this through my own experience with my book "MacGregor's Curse". I thought after the book was released it would be an instant success...silly me. Marketing has been a struggle and much more time consuming than I could have possibly imagined. For those starting out, I thought I'd share a few short-cuts that have helped pushed my book sales along.

Networking
Most of us belong to writing groups. This is absolutely one of the best ways to network. I've met people I never imagined I'd meet (including Mary Higgins Clark, Nora Roberts and John Grisham), through writing groups. I was able to ask them some questions, get a feel for how they struggled and what eventually set them on their way.

Networking locally is also crucial in establishing some sort of name for yourself. Check out the groups in your local town through the Better Business Bureau. Ask local book-stores about readings and "Local Author" day. (Most actually have that once a month). Talk to people at the grocery store line, have your children pass out bookmarks at school. Networking locally will help you tremendously and will give you that extra "push" you will need.

Internet Marketing
Probably the easiest way to sell yourself, but not always the cheapest. Many places on the internet will advertise your book for free (if you can find them). Again, this applies to networking. Most writing groups through Yahoo, AOL, etc...have some sort of Electronic Magazine or know someone that does. Request them to add your book to their site. I've yet to have someone say no.

Link your website to others. Look for authors just starting out, like yourself, and ask if they would like to link their website with yours. Add a Romantic Times banner to your website, and they will link your site to theirs.

Word of Mouth
Sounds simple right? It's not easy to sell yourself. I'd much rather market someone else, anyone else, than myself. Co-op with another new author. I have a friend that was just published, she markets me and I market her. It's much easier to rave about someone else. Now if I could just get myself to walk into a bookstore and request them to carry my book....

Those are my thoughts for the day...anyone else have any ideas?

Julie Palella
MacGregor's Curse
ISBN: 1413724582
www.juliepalella.com