The Write Stuff with... Renny deGroot

Today it's my pleasure to welcome author Renny deGroot back to the blog to talk about Marketing, the Indie Author way.

“We are at the tipping point where the majority of writers will want to indie publish, not get a traditional publishing deal.”

Laurence O’Bryan    
Founder BooksGoSocial & The International Dublin Writers’ Festival, 20 July 2020

As an indie author, I’m responsible for the whole process of writing, publishing and promoting my book. I love the control I have over the end product but it is a lot of work.  You know what that’s like. The fun part is the writing. I get absorbed into the story and laugh and cry along with my characters. The editing is less fun. First a couple of rounds of self-edit, then working with a professional editor and then another round or two with a proof-reader. It’s fun again seeing what the cover artist comes up with and then – oh joy – it’s done and ‘out there’. Now what? How to get it into the hands of readers is the biggest challenge of all.

In today’s world, social media and digital marketing is such a key piece in the overall promotion plan. I’ve tried most of the current methods. I’ve written blog posts on my blog and as a guest for others (thank you Sharon for this opportunity!). I’ve tweeted and I’ve used the services of an agency that blasts out thousands of tweets. I’ve shamelessly (or perhaps in fact a little shamefully) used facebook and I’ve even opened an Instagram account, but how the daily blocking of dodgy fellows wanting to send me messages actually helps me is still a mystery.

The Write Stuff with... Renny deGroot

I’m delighted to be a guest on Shaz’s Book Blog today. Thank you to Sharon and Emma for the opportunity!

To Read or Not To Read

The topic of doing live readings is always one that generates plenty of emotion from authors. I’ve read interviews and blog posts about the subject and the only consensus seems to be on the related topic of Book Tours, where readings take place. The common thinking is that Book Tours aren’t of much value and the prevailing feeling seems to be one of surprise that publishers will even consider funding one anymore for any author who isn’t Stephen King.

As an Indie Author, I don’t have a publisher to fund one, so it isn’t likely that I’d even think of a road trip to perform readings, but that still leaves local venues. I’m in the midst of launching my third book, so I have considerable experience from the first two where I did pursue the requisite readings. I have arranged them in libraries, book stores, restaurants, a B&B, my home, and participated with other authors at book fairs. The last one was the only one that was worthwhile. The libraries were the worst, with the three attendees at one of them probably staff. The most comfortable was when I hosted an ‘Author At Home’ event because I had my favourite finger foods and plenty of wine available.