In October, 2010, after more than a year of waiting, and after almost five years of perfecting my craft, Little Creek Books released my first title: In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes. 
The book had been rejected by some of the best agents in the business, and passed over by large publishing companies. Their reason: “the book wouldn’t sell outside of the south.” Little Creek Books, believed in the story enough to take a risk; for that I am grateful.
Without an agent, or a publicist, I took this book and converted it into a “must-read” within the local community. I have been blessed with readers throughout Georgia, my homestate of North Carolina, and my home-away-from home, Tennessee. As we all know, it takes a large reading audience to successfully sell any book.
I don’t have a marketing background. In fact, that’s probably why I have been so successful. I didn’t do what someone told me I should in order to sell my book. Instead, I followed my heart. I approached booksellers and readers and said: “I’ve written this book about a special man. I’d like you to give me a chance.”
Not only did they give my book a chance, these readers and booksellers got behind the book and pushed it with strength only a true book-lover could. It was the reader, not the agent or the publicist that expanded my market outside of my target audience. It was readers that bought ten copies at a time and gifted the book to loved ones. When a reader in Australia contacted me, I couldn’t help but smile.
If you’re almost ready to launch a book, please know that relationships are the key to successfully selling your book.
During my travels, while speaking to bookclubs, I’ve also been taking note of what worked for me…a newbie, a writer without an agent, living in a town filled with Best-selling Authors. Do you reliaze the improbability of me being able to sell books in the midst of such competition? Still, with hard-work, dedication, and lots of prayer, I now stand on the platform with them. You can also, if you work hard and focus at effectively marketing your title.
Some lucky person will win this book !
And now I bring you: Stress-free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. For years, authors and booksellers have said, “someone needs to teach writers how to market their book.”
I want to do that for you.
Thank you to Make Your Mark Publishing for publishing this book. Stress-free Marketing is already in the top 100 Kindle books. It is also available in paperback through independent booksellers, and online distributors.
Last night, while trick-or-treating with my family, someone asked, “aren’t you the one who wrote that great book about Farmer Billy.”
It is during those time that I pause, give thanks and am grateful for everyone who believed in me.
Remember: Subscribe to my blog, or post a comment and be registered to receive a FREE copy of Stress-free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. The publisher will award a free copy in December. As always, I’d love to hear from you.
Best,
Renea
