Contacting Public Libraries to Buy Aldric and Anneliese

I spent the last several days mailing material to more than fifty-five libraries across the U.S. asking them to consider buying copies of Aldric and Anneliese for their library's book collection. The mailing was a cover letter, a two-page "Excerpts from Reviews Received" with excerpts from eight reviews received to date, and a press release for Aldric and Anneliese. Each letter required a 61-cent stamp, which the Post office actually sells.

I mailed materials to fourteen Louisiana public library systems, covering all the major cities in the state. I emphasized that I was a Louisiana author with them. Then I mailed letters to selected cities in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, emphasizing my being a regional author. Finally, I mailed materials to a variety of libraries in major cities across the country. I chose the ten most prosperous cities according to a Google search, along with random cities by size.

It was a lot of mind-numbing busy work to get this accomplished. And, I'll probably not get any favorable results. But, if you don't at least try to market your book, then you know you'll get no sales. You gotta keep plugging away with marketing!

Cheers!

Harry

Working my fanny off to market Aldric and Anneliese

Greetings ~

Ever since getting home from our trip to Orlando, FL and Macon, GA last Tuesday, I've spent the week trying to get a buzz going for Aldric and Anneliese. I got a notice placed in the Shreveport Times mentioning the book, and it ran while we were away. This last week I have mailed first-class review copies of Aldric and Anneliese to nine paid reviews sites, including the outrageously overpriced Kirkus "Indie" program, to three other free book review sites, and to four individual reviewers who agreed to review it. In addition, I have emailed thirty-two book review sites/blogs requesting a review for Aldric and Anneliese. So far, I have received back one 'yes' and two 'maybes'. Many of these sites tell you up front that they won't answer should they decide not to review your book; they are overwhelmed with review requests. It is getting harder and harder to get your book reviewed! I even offered to give anyone a copy of the book if they would write an Amazon review after reading it. I posted that here and also at my Writing.com blog and to the Bragging Rights group on Yahoo. From the three postings, I got three takers. I guess I have done about all I know to do to solicit reviews for Aldric and Anneliese. Now it is wait and see what happens.

I also purchased a Spotlight Cover ad to run for four months on MyShelf.com, beginning in April. I also donated copies of Aldric and Anneliese to the public libraries in Shreveport and in the surrounding towns of Ruston, Minden, and Homer.

Now I need to try to line up some book signing events locally. I will be at the North Texas Book Festival at Denton, Texas on April 16th at the 4RV Publishing tables.

Anyone who has a suggestion for marketing Aldric and Anneliese that I haven't tried yet, please let me hear from you.

Cheers!

Harry