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Hi from newbie C.T. Griffith, author of "The Gilded Shackle" series

evermancer

Acolyte
Hi everyone! I'm a newbie to the site and excited to be a part of this group. What a fantastic forum! I can't wait to check it all out and get to know people.

I'm two books into a fantasy series that could keep me busy writing 2-4 books a year for the rest of my life. Been developing the world for the better part of 30 years as a setting to run D&D games in, and published the first book on Amazon in November of 2015. The reviews are really good - people who read it are loving it! But, like most independent authors, I'm trying hard to get the word out. I struggle with a chronic illness, too, and like to have some accountability to keep writing.

If there's anything I can do to encourage other writers, I'm game. I don't know everything - I still feel like a beginner in all this, but I like helping other people get off the bubble and get moving on their dreams.

On a related note... Oh boy do I need a help with some map stuff! Anyone out there good with math and maps?
 
Hey Evermancer! I'm just in the process of rolling out my first book, so I'd love to pick your brain over how you marketed yourself. I'm very new to the idea of having to put myself out there, so hearing from someone who has been through it would really help. Other than that, I have no experience with maps, but I'm great at math. Hopefully I'll be able to help you out.
 

CupofJoe

Myth Weaver
Hail and well met evermancer
Good to have you here.
Don't be shy and help yourself to the buffet...
 

evermancer

Acolyte
marketing and other unspeakable evils...

Hey Evermancer! I'm just in the process of rolling out my first book, so I'd love to pick your brain over how you marketed yourself. I'm very new to the idea of having to put myself out there, so hearing from someone who has been through it would really help. Other than that, I have no experience with maps, but I'm great at math. Hopefully I'll be able to help you out.

It's funny... although I come from a marketing background, there's nothing I hate more than marketing for my books. This could explain my "slow start"... what I consider "slow" although other authors are saying I'm doing fine.

First of all, years before launch, I started collecting emails of everyone who said they wanted to be a test reader or expressed interest in the project. These are the start of my mailing list/beta readers. I built an author website (which I've since abandoned) and just put up a new one that I'm still tweaking. I made a Facebook page, and subscribed to lots of relevant groups and made some contacts. I've hired a publicist, too. (cheap! can give you some contacts)

I don't know where you are in the process but probably the BEST things I did was hire an editor (and PAY them!) and use that mailing list as beta readers. The beta readers helped me tweak the beginning of the story in a way that kept people interested, invested and kept them reading.

Tell me more about your situation! Is your book totally done? What's your niche? Inquiring minds want to know!
 
Thanks for the information! My book is completely written, and though my beta list is short, I have had great feedback on it. I do have an editor who is midway through her process now. Otherwise, the book is complete and 95% ready to launch. Basically waiting for the editor to finish with revisions, and the cover art. My niche is high fantasy realism.
I had a lot of people join my fan page on Facebook, so I was thinking of running a "share this page" incentive that will get the first 10 people access to the prologue and first chapter, with the intent of getting feedback from them. Think that will work as incentive?
 

evermancer

Acolyte
Thanks for the information! My book is completely written, and though my beta list is short, I have had great feedback on it. I do have an editor who is midway through her process now. Otherwise, the book is complete and 95% ready to launch. Basically waiting for the editor to finish with revisions, and the cover art. My niche is high fantasy realism.
I had a lot of people join my fan page on Facebook, so I was thinking of running a "share this page" incentive that will get the first 10 people access to the prologue and first chapter, with the intent of getting feedback from them. Think that will work as incentive?

For what it's worth, I gave away my entire first book to the test audience. This was my choice, because the feedback from the test audience was far more valuable to me than the potential book sales I'd get from selling them the whole book. I was glad I did it this way, because they DID have things to day that just the prologue and chapter 1 wouldn't have covered.

Also, my test audience was about 80 people, more or less, not 10. Of those 80, I estimate less than half of them did anything with it at all. Probably only 20% even finished the book and only about 15 of them gave usable feedback. You'll need the biggest sample you can get for feedback. People just don't follow through, and that's just how it is. Don't take it as a reflection of the quality of your work or anything... people are just busy and aren't as emotionally invested in your project as you are. Don't worry about it.

Also, for the record, I have my first book priced at only 99 cents for the Kindle copy. I just want to get'em hooked.

So, that's my take on things... your mileage may vary. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
 
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