Good Morning, Hope everyone is good. My name is Terrence G. Williams (pen name) and I've been recommended to join this forum by my publishers, [Link deleted by moderator] to promote my book, [Link deleted by moderator] which is coming out on December 6th. But I'm also here to learn about what the best on here do as I really am keen to make a career out of my writing. The one such problem I have is marketing. The reason I say that is because I refuse to join social network sites like Twitter/X, Bluesky, Facebook etc to market my books on principle due to the toxicity of these sites. I am however on WhatsApp so if anyone knows any literary groups on there, please let me know. I am keen to learn on how everyone works on here as I still think of myself as an amateur who wants to turn professional. For now, I do want to take this opportunity to promote my book which is the first in a series that I am writing and committed to doing. Here is a video advert on YouTube for everyone to watch. The ebook version will be coming out on the same day just in case anyone is asking. [Link deleted by moderator] If anyone has any questions, suggestions, advice, criticism etc, I am available on this site. Many Thanks T.G. Williams
Hi TG welcome to WF Isn't Austin Mc a vanity publisher/hybrid https://writerbeware.blog/2019/07/12/seven-prolific-vanity-publishers-austin-macauley-publishers-pegasus-elliot-mackenzie-olympia-publishers-morgan-james-publishing-page-publishing-christian-faith-publishing-newman-springs-publish/ and https://writerbeware.blog/2016/12/21/questions-for-vanity-publisher-austin-macauley-yield-few-answers/
Hello, @T.G. Williams. All new members are welcome. However, you shouldn't really be promoting your book here. For one thing, we're all writers, and not necessarily your audience - you wouldn't join a beer making forum to promote your beer, you'd promote it on a beer drinkers' forum! I'm a little distressed to hear the Austin Macauley are recommending this forum, considering their reputation and given that they *are*, as @PiP mentioned, a vanity publisher. For clarity, a vanity publisher is one where you pay the publisher to do something, not the other way around. Please don't be surprised if your post or links are removed - all forums (regardless of the subject of interest) usually do not allow advertising. Feel free to, and please do participate in the forum - we help each other as writers, to improve in all aspects, such as writing, plot, character development etc., and give feedback and critique, again, to help people improve.
Thanks for the replies, I appreciate all your concerns about Austin Macauley being a vanity publisher. I was concerned about this myself but they have done more for me than my last publisher of my first book who did nothing for me but still took money from me. At least with Austin Macauley, I knew where I stood with them. Whether that was because of me making sure that things were done the way I wanted them to, I'm not sure. What I can say is that they have kept to their side of the contract I voluntarily signed. I hope this relieves your concerns. I also appreciate that this is not the website to develop an audience. However, that's not to say that I shouldn't find an audience and I am hoping that fellow writers can help on how I can develop an audience without the need to use social media, if such a thing exists. I hope the moderators will forgive me for advertising my book but will only give me a slap on the wrist rather than a total ban.
We try to be friendly and welcoming rather than stern and censorious; I have edited out the links, but would like to join the others in welcoming you - Welcome! I am sure you have a lot to offer the forum, and I hope you get a lot out of it! It's a fun and informative place.
No slap needed. Links have been deleted. It's still a crap vanity publisher that needs no further mention, as it shouldn't be recommended by anyone, so let's not be doing anymore of that.
I should think we can help with ideas about building an audience, but unfortunately, social media really the best avenue to achieving that. I don't mean for you to go there instead of being on this forum, because we can help discuss what the most effective ways to use SM for an author is, but in today's world, you can't really avoid it, as it has such a wide exposure that it's the quickest and cost effective way to do it. I can understand wanting to avoid social media! Other marketing strategies, such as paid advertising, are expensive and not particularly cost-effective. Did you approach a traditional publisher for your novel as well?
I did go down the agent/traditional publisher route. However, I got rejected on every agent/publisher hence why I went with my current publishers. I did think about the self-publishing route but didn't because: 1 - It is very congested 2 - Marketing issues
Hello and welcome Terrence, the best way to get the most out of this site is by participating. Looking forward to seeing you in the forums!
TG, I did take a look at your book on Amazon earlier, but I couldn't see your author page. Do you have one? (Sorry, I can't seem to access Amazon at the moment so I can't double-check)
I don't have one at the moment on Amazon but I do have a profile on the publishers site where it details where I am from. As discovered, I can't link it on here but I'm sure you know where to find it.
