I am curious if anyone has any good ideas or marketing plans for grass roots and word of mouth marketing of fiction, in this case fantasy, novels. I find myself without any knowledge and even less support from my publishing house and was wondering if anyone could help with low cost effective ideas.
Thanks in advance.
Life is a Journey, Enjoy the Road... Michael J. Allen
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
You might want to try the writer's workshop. My only advice is to write an addictively fantastic book. You can't really "make" grassroots happen.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Also, check out Bookcrossing. It's a wonderful place, and does good things for authors' sales.
Posted by AmkaProblemka (Member # 6495) on :
If you can afford it, I would also go to as many science fiction/fantasy conventions as you can. Contact the organizing committees and get on the panels. As an unknown, this is probably the best way to get your name out. I've seen tables of books by the author's at the convention being sold. See if you can get this to happen. They may also have times for signings for different authors. Every convention is different, so you'll have to see what is possible and what is not.
I've also seen advertising banners for specific books on appropriate websites.
I told my husband that I would use most of my advance money (assuming there is any) for promotion of the book, and it would probably be most focused on convention attendance. Usually participants can get registration into the conventions for free AND they get into the Green Room. Have a couple of books with you just in case there is someone with power who could read it and help send the good word out.
Signings at bookstores is probably not a very good promotion tool for unknown authors. Only do this locally where all you'll lose is a couple of hours.
If your book is good, then word of mouth will spread. You can't make that happen except by writing a good book, but you can give it a bit of a nudge.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
Try a flood of pop-up advertising. Works every time.