Ahhh, got it, yes, it makes sense. It’s a good strategy for series writers. Part of my confusion came from your use of “pen name,” too. That phrase usually refers to a pseudonym.

Thanks for taking the time to clarify. It helps!

Sandy

Thanks Sandra! And you’re right, it doesn’t mean just because you say Book 1, you can deliver on subsequent books. What I meant about demonstrating that there are more books to come by setting preorders for them, is that if you have your covers and blurbs done for at least the next few books in the series, well ahead of when you’ll actually publish them, and you can choose comfortable release dates far into the future, you can put those up and show that there will be more books in the series to come, rather than having a reader find your first and even possibly your second book and wondering if there will be any more, (if there’s nothing there to show it) and having that reader possibly clicking away to a more established series from another author. I think it just provides a little more ‘promise’ from an author who’s still establishing himself/herself to have put up preorders with covers and blurbs. It shows they’ve thought this out and have a plan and are putting it into action. That’s what I meant by a ‘new pen name’ (a new author or an author starting to write in a new genre, etc.). Does that make sense?

You’re welcome, John. I hope it’s helpful.

Sandy

Thank you for your insight and common sense approach to book marketing.

Amen, sister!

Sandy

I hope they’re helpful, Sayed.

Sandy

Thanks for making me smile, Alicia! You bring a lot of wisdom and maturity to this process. It’s so hard to find the time, isn’t it? That’s my biggest challenge.

I have to think that it’s pretty hard for authors without any business or marketing background to figure out what they should be doing on the marketing side. It’s like me tackling the shower grout, ya know? Not my thing! That’s why I think that sometimes my role is to help them figure out what they SHOULDN’T do as well as what they SHOULD (especially when there’s so much NOISE around certain tactics).

As for others winning the race, I’ve learned to do the best I can with what I have, and it sounds like you do the same. And those others who are flying past me? Perhaps they’ve made sacrifices I’m not willing to make. It’s all about knowing yourself, isn’t it?

Thanks for stopping by…please come back!

Sandy

There is only so much energy in an author’s life, and spending it wisely is important. When the author has even less than most people, it is crucial.

First, for me, the energy has to go to finishing the next book in the trilogy – there is absolutely no point in advertising the first book more when there is nowhere for the reader to turn to get the next part of the story yet.

It’s hard to believe that after six years, I’m writing as fast as I can (Book 1 took fifteen), but I work with what I have, not with what I wish I had. I like the results – or I would have quit long ago – but it does get discouraging and frustrating, especially as I see other authors ‘win the race.’