Reader Appreciation

Posted by on Feb 13, 2015 in My Books | 11 comments

First, let me say…

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The Alchemist’s Flame has had a great release week! It jumped up as high as #5 on Amazon’s dark fantasy list, and into the 40s on the much more competitive paranormal & urban list. And this is all because of my awesome fans! I haven’t done any advertising, yet. (I’m adding excerpts to the other books and wanted to wait until that was done.)

To further illustrate the awesomeness of my fans, I even had a couple of folks tell me that they would wait until the book went off sale to buy it. What a sweet thought, but as I told them, I’m doing this for you. However, this did get me thinking about ways a person could help their favorite authors—if they’re so inclined.

As an independent author, one of the biggest obstacles I face is visibility. I don’t have a big publishing house backing me. I’m on my own—which for the most part is pretty darn cool, but I could use some help getting the word out. Here are a few ideas…

Tell a friend. Word of mouth is huge. Which has more credibility: a random email from a retailer or a friend’s praise of a new book she just read? Yeah, I thought so. And in today’s world of social media, we’re not limited to face-to-face conversations.

Leave a review. Social proof is a big deal. Think about the way people shop online. I always scope out the reviews when I’m thinking about purchasing an item I haven’t bought before. That’s especially true for a new author. An intriguing blurb and a good overall rating go a long way in reassuring me that I’m not about to waste my time or money. And a review doesn’t have to include plot summaries and in-depth analysis, a couple sentences about why the reader enjoyed the book is what interests me when reading reviews about new books. Actually, I prefer not to have the plot spoiled.

Interact. I’m back to social media on this one. By interact, I mean like or follow your favorite authors’ pages and/or profiles. Share, comment on, or just like relevant posts. An example of how this helps (beyond the obvious fact that your friends see it) can been seen in the way Facebook pages work. Did you know that each time I post on my FB page, only a small percentage of my followers see it in their feeds? That percentage goes up as more people interact with the post—or if I pay FB to promote my post. That’s right. By sharing my latest cover reveal or new release link, you’re sticking it to the man. 😛

So, there are a few examples of how you can help me get the word out. I hope you didn’t find this post too self-serving, but I thought I’d put the information out there for those who were interested. Meanwhile, go ahead and take advantage of any sales I might run. I want to show how much I appreciate you!

11 comments

  1. Rich
    April 5, 2015

    Read the Final Formula just today (picked it up off of BookBub). Very enjoyable to discover a writer I hadn’t read previously that has such talent. I look forward to reading the Alchemist’s Flame.

    • Becca
      April 6, 2015

      Thanks for the kind words, Rich! Glad you’re enjoying the story. 🙂

  2. Sue Mackenzie
    April 10, 2015

    I picked up The Final Formula from Bookbub, and having read it, rushed off to Amazon to buy the rest. Finished The Alchmist’s Flame this morning when I should have been getting ready for work. What a series! The characters (and their abilities) are totally believable and the I just couldn’t put the the books down. I’ve had to recharge my Kindle whilst still reading so I didn’t have to wait! Fantastic books and I’m so pleased there are going to be some more, even though I now have to wait for them to be written. Brilliant, thank you so much.

    • Becca
      April 10, 2015

      Thanks, Sue! Happy to hear you’ve enjoyed the story so far. (Sorry if I made you late for work. 😉 ) The original plan was five novels with a novella between each–so two more of each to come! If all goes well, FF3.5 should be out in May.

  3. Maria Cobos
    April 26, 2015

    I love your books! I am a big fan of fantasy novels and I have read my share throughout the years, but I am greatly impressed with yours! One of the best series I got my hands on so far. I am surprised to know that you are a beginner writer, you are so fast releasing your books and they are so skillful… Anyway, I am sure that one day you will be well-known. You deserve it.

    P.D: I apologize for any possible spelling mistakes, I am not a native speaker of English. Best wishes from Spain. Un saludo.

    • Becca
      April 26, 2015

      Hi Maria!

      Thanks so much! I’m glad you like the books. I must confess that I am not a beginner writer, but a cowardly one. I have been writing most of my life, but I only got brave enough to publish recently. 😉 And your English is excellent! I greatly admire people who can speak more than one language. I took some Spanish in high school, but the best I can do is ask where the restroom is.

  4. Marina
    May 1, 2015

    Hi Becca, I got The Final Formula on Bookbub and after reading it I got all the series on Amazon. I finished the Alchemist’s Flame yesterday. I absolutely loved every single one of the books so far and can’t wait for the next one! I just couldn’t put them down! The characters are very interesting with dialogue remarks so witty and funny making me laugh out loud. The story is fresh and exciting, and the action is a non-stop rollercoaster! At times my heart is hammering in my chest! A few moments in The Alchemist’s Flame also had me close to tears, I got so wrapped up in the characters’ moment. Excellent work Becca, you’re an amazing writer! I hope they make this into a movie, eventually – if they do, ensure they keep it true to the story. It would be awesome!

    • Becca
      May 1, 2015

      Thanks for giving my books a chance, Marina! I’m so pleased that you’ve enjoyed the story. Not so sure about a movie, but the next novella will be out soon. 😀

      • Marina
        May 5, 2015

        Fab, I look forward to it. The novellas have been great additions to the main story and James’ own story is amazing, I really enjoyed 1.5. It was scary! I couldn’t put it down so I read it in one go 🙂

  5. Danita
    May 9, 2015

    I discovered The Final Formula via BookBub (are you seeing a pattern here?), and was hooked IMMEDIATELY. When I finished FF, I rushed over to Barnes and Noble to see what other titles were available for Nook. I love your characters and feel a connection to them. I usually steer clear of anything with a lot of romance scenes (they make me feel like a peeping Tom), but there’s just enough heat between Addie and Rowan without going overboard. Addie is snarky…and I LOVE HER! More please!

    • Becca
      May 10, 2015

      Hey, Danita! Yes, BookBub is a great way to get the word out. Thanks for giving FF a try. As for the romantic elements… I enjoy romance in what I read (and write), but I prefer it as a subplot where it doesn’t dominate the story. So, what you saw in The Final Formula is what you can expect from me. Glad you liked it. 😀

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