Need Help with Book Promotion

Did you try Women & Children First bookstore in Andersonville on Clark St?
I have had success presenting at a couple Chicago Public Libraries by offering informational talks. Perhaps you could offer a talk on How to write & publish your own book? Sharon Gums, a librarian at the Roden branch on Northwest Highway is open to interesting speakers. Also try Coffee houses. Good Luck!

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Hi E.,

Congratulations on your book! That's quite an accomplishment!! I self-published a book in 2006 and last year. The key is to get it out there no matter what. What is your book about? Think of all the non-book stores that might be interested in your book. My book was about tea in Chicago, I so sent letters to all the teashops in the area and offered to send them a review copy. I also wrote a press release (you can find a template on the internet) and sent it to TimeOut Chicago, the Trib, Sun-Times, Reader, and to some blogs that deal with food. I got an interview in TimeOut and mention on a blog, but the others never replied. I also sent a copy to Janet Davies at ABC Channel 7 and her producer called me. You should also target the local television stations. Independent bookstores are much easier to deal with than the chains. The chains use distributors and won't even talk to the author. Some indies that have been good to work with are The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square (they also have local author nights, so you might be able to get a reading in there), Women and Children First in Andersonville, the Book Stall in Winnetka, and Barbara's Books (although they took a long time to pay me). You can also have a book launch party to spread the word. A friend of mine offered to have one for me. I invited people I knew and they invited people they knew. It was a good way to start off selling books. Local coffee shops like Cosi, the Bourgeois Pig in Lincoln Park, and others often showcase local artists's work. You might contact them about doing a book signing party. It doesn't have to be at a book store to start off. In fact, I've never done a book store signing, but have done one at Argo tea, a tea shop in Bucktown, and at a gift shop out in the northwest suburbs. Do you have a website? Although I self-published my book, I created a website. It was expensive, but now there are much cheaper and easier ways to develop websites. You can even just do a blog, which is free. I belong to Chicago Women in Publishing, a great networking group. You could take out an ad in their newsletter. I think membership is $75 a year. You might get some helpful advice from them about marketing and publicity. I remember after I had published the first edition of my tea book, I was excited it was printed and in my hands, but I lost sleep over how to market and sell it. But 8 months later, I had only a few copies left out of the 1000 I printed. So, explore all options, no matter how non-traditional they may be. If you want to chat more about this, my e-mail address is ____@____.com luck!!!

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A friend just wrote a book and published it through iUniverse too. He held book signings at friends/family homes and had his friends spread the word about the book signing. He was on facebook and had spread the word there as well. His book was a motivational book, so some of his friends who were teachers etc spread the word to others at conferences. His book is doing pretty well now.

Good luck and congratulations.

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Hi E. -
Have you tried a bookstore in Palatine called Top Shelf? I have seen local writer's books in there for sale before.

Also, I have a friend who is a published author, and she has done online book tours at book sites (not book sellers, but other writers or groups). These might be ideas for you.
Good luck! Blessings,
M.

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What is the book about?

Speak with your local library. I know that mine has been promoting local authors lately.
: )