Jennifer Chapin
The Poet & The Angel
1. Describe your book in one sentence.
It is an elegy of love and redemption and tells the story of a little girl who sees the wounded spirit of a slain poet huddled near a fountain in Granada, Spain. She befriends him to give him his voice back.
2. How were you planning to promote and market your book before the COVID-19 crisis?
I had been approved by Indigo for a signing on April 18th in Victoria and had Tellwell create my promotional materials for that event. I also had a reading set up at the Vancouver Public Library on April 19th and an event set up with the Victoria Public Library in May, as part of the emerging local author program. All of these events have been cancelled. Fortunately, I had an interview with Citizen’s Forum on YouTube before we were all told to self-isolate so I gained some traction there. After many months of building online interest, the book was finally starting to take off; however, all of the events mentioned above are still available to me, when life resumes once more.
3. What are you doing now?
I’m still in the thinking stages of what to do next, but plan to set up my own YouTube channel to do readings and talks to post online, through my website and Facebook author page. I am also planning to set up a series of podcasts. Finally, I am building a community of authors around me whereby we read and review each other’s books and post them on Amazon by way of support.
4. Do you have any advice for authors?
My advice is to never give up. If there is an obstacle in the river, float around it as there are always creative solutions available. Also, form communities with like-minded artists to exchange ideas. View this time as an opportunity for growth. We are all in this together, globally. If this crisis has taught us anything, it is that we need each other.
Read how Charlene Doak-Gebauer, Markus Matthews and Monique Gliozzi are adapting their book marketing strategies in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Charlene E. Doak-Gebauer
The Internet: Are Children in Charge?: Theory of Digital Supervision
1. Describe your book in one sentence.
The Internet: Are Children in Charge is a user-friendly book about the author’s Theory of Digital Supervision to be applied for online child protection, and to be used by parents, grandparents, professional, and adult allies.
2. How were you planning to promote and market your book before the COVID-19 crisis?
I was planning on having TV interviews (and did), radio/podcast interviews (and did), advertising on social media (and did with 1,552,967 reaches), and sending newswires out (and did to Canada, the United States and Europe to date). The newswire responses included offers to produce and host a radio show and to be interviewed in San Diego, California with a reputable broadcaster, both of which cost money, so I declined.
3. What are you doing now?
At this time, I am planning on another news release and am having a show recorded tomorrow (March 27, 2020) for online viewing. At this time we are all experiencing a health crisis, but we cannot forget the safety of our children online, which is another health crisis. People participating are members of my Anti Internet Child Exploitation Team (AICET), discussing policing for online safety at this time, my Theory of Digital Supervision and what parents can do to protect children from having an escalated health crisis following the pandemic, and a speaker about hope – we can do this and get through it. The health crisis will be the consequences of children being too independent on a daily basis using digital devices and and the Internet. Predation? Yes: unknowns, knowns, and unfortunately, a sector that is growing greatly is peer victimization – children victimizing other children.
4. Do you have any advice for authors?
My advice is to keep marketing your book. If you truly believe in the value of what is in the book, market it through social media, newswires, possible podcasts, radio, and television broadcasts. This is my second book and I know a book will not sell without marketing diligently. It is a business like any other business. Writing the book was difficult and stressful, but finishing it is actually the easy part. Marketing and getting it sold is the huge challenge.
Persevere and keep doing it. As I said, believe in yourself and your work will show in your marketing.
Markus Matthews
A Personal Bounty, A Bounty of Evil and A Bounty With Strings
1. Describe your book in one sentence.
A Bounty with Strings is an urban fantasy novel in which a group of enhanced strangers must come together as a team to survive.
2. How were you planning to promote and market your book before the COVID crisis?
Besides Amazon and social media advertising, I was looking to attend conventions and do some local booking signings.
3. What are you doing now?
Now it’s just Amazon and social media advertising. I have reduced the price on the Kindle version of a Bounty with Strings from $5.99 CDN to $2.99 CDN to give people something fun to read during this crisis.
4. Do you have any advice for authors or is there anything else on your mind?
With the constant media coverage about the coronavirus, it is a pretty depressing time. I’m trying to stay optimistic. I’m hoping that with people being stuck at home, that there will be an uptick in book sales. I also believe that if everyone does their part, we’ll get through this crisis and come out stronger for it.
Monique Gliozzi
Foresight, Hunted, and Vestige
1. Describe your book in one sentence.
Vestige is a paranormal story of intrigue with many twists and turns – you don’t quite know what to expect next.
2. How were you planning to promote and market your book before the COVID crisis?
Here in Perth, Australia, we’ve got many restrictions in place. Those who are able to work from home are doing so. For me, as a psychiatrist and medical practitioner, that isn’t possible, so I am helping patients in crisis using FaceTime at my clinic. We may be deployed to work in the COVID clinic or the Emergency departments to assist our colleagues. As an author it’s easy to write at home from the safety of my study.
3.What are you doing now?
Fortunately, I had my book launch earlier in the year and am using my social media platforms to promote my book. Other things such as promotional interviews (Ric Bratton – This Week in America) have come in handy to increase awareness about Vestige.
4. Do you have any advice for authors ?
In this difficult time where social gatherings are banned, I would advise my fellow authors not to be discouraged but use blog sites in addition to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads to connect with their audience. Furthermore, it is worth self-publishing with a publishing house that has a marketing consultant to guide you and assist in setting up a marketing campaign. Get a video trailer of your novel made by a professional… it may cost but is worth the expense.
