Now that the dust has settled from my book
launch for “Murder at the Expo: Miss Sadie Brown & the Death of Dr. Wolf,”
I’d like to serious look at the results.
At last year's book launch for
“Deserter, Rebel, Renegade,” 20 people showed up and I sold 20 books. The room
was free (apartment meeting room). The cost of the champagne, lemonade, finger
food desserts, & door prizes to encourage people to sign up for a mailing
list came to a little over $150.00. I sold my books at $10 (a marked down, one-time
deal). However, the author copies cost me $4.50 each (printing, tax &
shipping from Amazon). So I lost money, but not horrendously so. I had not done
any prior promotion other than word of mouth.
This year for "Murder at the Expo" I did considerable promotion prior
to the launch: worked to increase my mailing list; a press release in a local paper; donation of free author copies to
local historical groups and charitable organizations holding fundraising auctions; promotional posts on local area Facebook websites; and
emailed
notices to my now much larger mailing list. I purchased the same goodies for
the party and 22 people showed, and I sold 22 books. However, this time two
ladies came specifically to ask me to talk to their book club and a university woman’s group. Both groups will be purchasing my books after my talks.
A
number of people on my mailing list were unable to attend but purchased my
book on Amazon.
So
I have to say that book launch parties are worth the time and money spent. It
doesn’t happen overnight, but if you are willing to put in the promotional work, it brings results. Ads on
Facebook and Amazon were set up immediately after the party.
Note
about reviewers: Still trying to find book reviewers with
followers/readers who enjoy semi-cozy murder mysteries set in 1910’s America
with a female protagonist. If you know of a reviewer with a good-sized following
that likes that genre, leave a comment or contact me at
paustinheaton@gmail.com.
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See you next month.
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Other
places to find me:
My
Historical Murder Mystery Novel (1st in a series) on
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/169609738X
