K.S.
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
First, I want to say that Royce and Hadrian are some of the most fun characters I’ve read. Can’t wait to read more. Me and some friends have been publishing our books as a team. We have good feedback so far, but are struggling to find readers. Do you have any advice for us? What were some of the challenges when you first started and how did you overcome them? Anything you share will be much appreciated.
Michael J. Sullivan
Hey K.S. thanks so much. I'm glad you enjoy the adventures of Royce and Hadrian, and congratulations on your own publishing. I just took a look at your goodreads page. And I do have some advice.
1. It's really, really hard to get traction with only one book released. Three is a magic number so I would ask you to concentrate on releasing more books and get to three as soon as you can. Don't worry too much about promoting book one because even if you get people to read it (and they like it) they'll want something else to read and you don't have anything. So advice #1 is to spend 90% - 95% of your time writing books #2 and #3 and once you get three books you can think about worrying about promotion.
2. So what do you do with that 5% - 10%? You should focus on getting reviews. Right now you have only 3 reviews on goodreads and none on Amazon. Again, it makes no sense to drive people to your books until you have some "third-party" validation that it is worth them checking out. What will happen is if you spend time getting them to your pages, they'll leave because they don't want to "risk" the read without anyone else weighing in first.
Now how to get reviewers? We'll don't go to your friends and family - you want INDEPENDENT reviews. Since you are already on goodreads, I suggest that you look for a book that is similar to yours, and find some people who have read that book and liked it. Then, strike up a conversation with them. Let them know you are a new author and you want to offer them a complimentary copy in the hopes of an HONEST review. If they do post a review on goodreads, ask them nicely if they would copy/paste it to Amazon.
Once you get 12 or so reviews on Amazon and about 25+ reviews here on goodreads, come back and ask me for next steps - as that should keep you busy for now ;-)
I wish you great success!
1. It's really, really hard to get traction with only one book released. Three is a magic number so I would ask you to concentrate on releasing more books and get to three as soon as you can. Don't worry too much about promoting book one because even if you get people to read it (and they like it) they'll want something else to read and you don't have anything. So advice #1 is to spend 90% - 95% of your time writing books #2 and #3 and once you get three books you can think about worrying about promotion.
2. So what do you do with that 5% - 10%? You should focus on getting reviews. Right now you have only 3 reviews on goodreads and none on Amazon. Again, it makes no sense to drive people to your books until you have some "third-party" validation that it is worth them checking out. What will happen is if you spend time getting them to your pages, they'll leave because they don't want to "risk" the read without anyone else weighing in first.
Now how to get reviewers? We'll don't go to your friends and family - you want INDEPENDENT reviews. Since you are already on goodreads, I suggest that you look for a book that is similar to yours, and find some people who have read that book and liked it. Then, strike up a conversation with them. Let them know you are a new author and you want to offer them a complimentary copy in the hopes of an HONEST review. If they do post a review on goodreads, ask them nicely if they would copy/paste it to Amazon.
Once you get 12 or so reviews on Amazon and about 25+ reviews here on goodreads, come back and ask me for next steps - as that should keep you busy for now ;-)
I wish you great success!
More Answered Questions
Hx
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
When is the audiobook for Rhune coming out? Surely there will be an audiobook?? Audible doesn't have any mention of Rhune, it's not possible to pre-order it. That must mean that it's not even being currently recorded. How long will it take? I don't want to be the last on the planet to experience Rhune, after everybody else has read it and talked about it for ages.
A Goodreads user
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi, Michael I would like to know what happen to your Rhune (The First Empire #1) will it Be publish?
Christian
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi Michael, Not so much a question as high praise following really.. i immensely enjoyed the latest installment of Royce and Hadrian! - I'd also like to urge you, if you at some point have the time and inclination, to write more Royce and Hadrian stories. I am confident that we are MANY who would love additional tales of their adventures!(?) - Death of Dulgath was exceptional!
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