JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Joanna Penn, author of How To Market A Book
“How To Market A Book” is all about book marketing for authors, written by a bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction with over 80,000 books sold. There are some short-term tactics for those who want to kick up immediate sales.
The focus of “How To Market A Book” is more about instilling values and marketing principles that will help your long-term career as a writer by building your author platform, creating relationships and attracting readers who want your next book.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write “How To Market A Book”?
Joanna Penn: When I self-published my first book in 2008, I sold very few copies and realized it was because no one even knew who I was. I started to learn about internet marketing, blogging, pod-casting, social media, etc. as well as traditional marketing. I went on to have Amazon bestsellers by putting that all into action.
I also left my 6 figure day job as a business consultant in 2011 to become a full-time author, speaker and entrepreneur because of these marketing skills. I wanted to put down everything I knew into a book, because every day I get emails from authors whose books just aren’t selling at all.
JP: What sets “How To Market A Book” apart from other books in the same genre?
JP: I am a fiction author as well as writing non-fiction. Most marketing books are not written by fiction authors. It’s also changing the perception of marketing to be more about generosity, authenticity and social karma, not about scammy tactics.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to “How To Market A Book” getting out to the public?
JP: Everything I talk about in the book are the keys to my success! My blog, my podcast and Twitter primarily – which has led to relationships that have led to more opportunities …
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish “How To Market A Book”?
JP: I schedule my time like a crazy person, months in advance, including hours for writing and then for the marketing side. I also do a timesheet so 50% of my time is always creation.
I write in Scrivener, finish the first draft, print it, then scribble all over that, then do another draft – repeat until satisfied, then use a pro editor and beta readers, then rewrite, then use a proof-reader, then publish.
Each book is variable. “How to Market a Book” took about 4 months, but my last novel, “Desecration” took 14 months. Fiction is much harder to write!
JP: What’s next for Joanna Penn?
JP: My next fiction is “Delirium”, a mystery thriller, sequel to “Desecration”. My next non-fiction book will be on public speaking for authors and introverts.
http://facebook.com/TheCreativePenn
http://twitter.com/thecreativepenn
http://plus.google.com/u/0/+JoannaPenn/posts
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Veritable information from a book marketing guru. Take it from an author that sell thousands of copies of her books per day! Hopefully, authors reading this interview will get some great mileage from the wisdom she provides.