I asked James a few questions about it and his other experiences.
Hi, James! Welcome to the blog. I'm so glad to have you here. So, what inspired you to write the author survey you recently published?
It's all about paying back. I have received so much help over the years in writing articles (starting in 1993) and books. I decided in 2012 to start a blog to help other authors. Recently, I have been helping several authors get started when they were having trouble finding readers or any niche for that matter.
I reached out to the 400+ authors that I have interviewed and asked them how they were handling the problem. Great ideas. So, I shared them with my blog followers.
I have done many studies with other authors (almost a hundred articles), all trying to help authors with the digital world of publishing.
What are some of the topics of these other studies?
Because of the interviews I’ve done with authors, I have a database full of knowledge that I share in my posts. My Author Spotlight interviews concentrate on publishing and marketing, not like the traditional ones that feature the stories, characters, and plots.
My other studies also include cover design, book launches, using links, rendering the eBook, and certain content issues. For a complete list of the studies, check out my website: JAMES MOUSHON - MYSTERY WRITER / BOOK INDUSTRY BLOGGER - https://jamesmoushonauthor.net/
So, would you say then that finding readers is one of the biggest problems authors face these days?
Finding readers is a big challenge. The indie authors are on their own. At first, the easy entry into publishing their novel was appealing. Authors that had been rejected by publishing outfits now have been given an opportunity. Unlike bookstore shelves, there is no limit to the number of eBooks for readers to find.
Then the problems started. Authors who are on their own are finding out this is a business, not just writing. Some say the eBook market is saturated, especially in certain genres. (300k new authors a year)
Some authors try to hide from the audience. No social media. No contact point like website forms or giving the reader their email address. Just set up a separate email account, aside from their personal account, and form a relationship. These readers will be first to buy your next book.
Another problem is the search engines that readers use to find your work is changing. They are changing from a display of information to an advertising platform.
For example, if you enter the exact name of the finding reader post mentioned above, you get a hijacked version of the post that Norton says is an unsafe site to open. After going through four pages of the search results, there is no mention of the post.
Well that's aggravating. How have you seen the industry change since you first got into it?
I started in the industry on the technical side in the early 1990s. I was involved in the conversion of paper to digital, like business forms and books. Back then Adobe’s PDF files were the standard and it looked like Microsoft’s Reader could take the lead. Then Amazon jumped into the industry and things changed forever.
I attended my first Book Expo in 2003. (still have the manual) Book festivals are still the best firsthand knowledge of how the industry is changing. I have attended the Tucson Festival of Books since 2013. Lots of great authors. Their presentations and offerings are changing each year.
With the bookstore's decline and the Amazon dominance of the marketing place, things have changed. The top publishers are even doing less marketing for the established authors.
There is more to the game now.
What would you say has been the most successful marketing strategy you have used?
Social media is my main marketing strategy. I have established several blogs and my website where I promote my books and short stories. My marketing effort is focused on trying to get readers to go back to the blogs.
Now one of the hot marketing tools is to get involved with other authors in the same genre and publish a collection of books. The use of eBooks allows them to publish at a much lower cost. Also, it exposes one of the author’s readers to the other author's novels.
What do see as the future of indie publishing and marketing?
It will become much more competitive than it is now. The authors will have to get into groups and build a relationship and a following.
I try regularly to publish a post on my blog, showcasing multiple authors and their latest books, and run it through social media. I get a lot of views on my blogs which gives the authors great exposure to readers in their genre. (1.3M views)
What is NEXT for you?
a. A study on How to Setup a Book Collection with Other Authors and now that helps in the future marketing.
b. I’m writing another Jonathon Stone Mystery Novel (WIP) – ‘Out of Time’
Thanks for the interview. This was very nice of you.
My Website: James Moushon – Mystery Writer / Industry Blogger
Helping Authors with Book Industry Blogs
Indie Author’s Corner
HBS Author’s Spotlight
HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle
Hi, James! Welcome to the blog. I'm so glad to have you here. So, what inspired you to write the author survey you recently published?
It's all about paying back. I have received so much help over the years in writing articles (starting in 1993) and books. I decided in 2012 to start a blog to help other authors. Recently, I have been helping several authors get started when they were having trouble finding readers or any niche for that matter.
I reached out to the 400+ authors that I have interviewed and asked them how they were handling the problem. Great ideas. So, I shared them with my blog followers.
I have done many studies with other authors (almost a hundred articles), all trying to help authors with the digital world of publishing.
What are some of the topics of these other studies?
Because of the interviews I’ve done with authors, I have a database full of knowledge that I share in my posts. My Author Spotlight interviews concentrate on publishing and marketing, not like the traditional ones that feature the stories, characters, and plots.
My other studies also include cover design, book launches, using links, rendering the eBook, and certain content issues. For a complete list of the studies, check out my website: JAMES MOUSHON - MYSTERY WRITER / BOOK INDUSTRY BLOGGER - https://jamesmoushonauthor.net/
So, would you say then that finding readers is one of the biggest problems authors face these days?
Finding readers is a big challenge. The indie authors are on their own. At first, the easy entry into publishing their novel was appealing. Authors that had been rejected by publishing outfits now have been given an opportunity. Unlike bookstore shelves, there is no limit to the number of eBooks for readers to find.
Then the problems started. Authors who are on their own are finding out this is a business, not just writing. Some say the eBook market is saturated, especially in certain genres. (300k new authors a year)
Some authors try to hide from the audience. No social media. No contact point like website forms or giving the reader their email address. Just set up a separate email account, aside from their personal account, and form a relationship. These readers will be first to buy your next book.
Another problem is the search engines that readers use to find your work is changing. They are changing from a display of information to an advertising platform.
For example, if you enter the exact name of the finding reader post mentioned above, you get a hijacked version of the post that Norton says is an unsafe site to open. After going through four pages of the search results, there is no mention of the post.
Well that's aggravating. How have you seen the industry change since you first got into it?
I started in the industry on the technical side in the early 1990s. I was involved in the conversion of paper to digital, like business forms and books. Back then Adobe’s PDF files were the standard and it looked like Microsoft’s Reader could take the lead. Then Amazon jumped into the industry and things changed forever.
I attended my first Book Expo in 2003. (still have the manual) Book festivals are still the best firsthand knowledge of how the industry is changing. I have attended the Tucson Festival of Books since 2013. Lots of great authors. Their presentations and offerings are changing each year.
With the bookstore's decline and the Amazon dominance of the marketing place, things have changed. The top publishers are even doing less marketing for the established authors.
There is more to the game now.
What would you say has been the most successful marketing strategy you have used?
Social media is my main marketing strategy. I have established several blogs and my website where I promote my books and short stories. My marketing effort is focused on trying to get readers to go back to the blogs.
Now one of the hot marketing tools is to get involved with other authors in the same genre and publish a collection of books. The use of eBooks allows them to publish at a much lower cost. Also, it exposes one of the author’s readers to the other author's novels.
What keeps you doing what you're doing?
It is all about payback. I’m trying to help authors get exposure and learn from other authors who have gone through the process.
It is all about payback. I’m trying to help authors get exposure and learn from other authors who have gone through the process.
What do see as the future of indie publishing and marketing?
It will become much more competitive than it is now. The authors will have to get into groups and build a relationship and a following.
I try regularly to publish a post on my blog, showcasing multiple authors and their latest books, and run it through social media. I get a lot of views on my blogs which gives the authors great exposure to readers in their genre. (1.3M views)
What is NEXT for you?
a. A study on How to Setup a Book Collection with Other Authors and now that helps in the future marketing.
b. I’m writing another Jonathon Stone Mystery Novel (WIP) – ‘Out of Time’
Thanks for the interview. This was very nice of you.
My Website: James Moushon – Mystery Writer / Industry Blogger
Helping Authors with Book Industry Blogs
Indie Author’s Corner
HBS Author’s Spotlight
HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle
