Patricia Harrelson

Self-promotion, in particular promoting the book I wrote, is not something I do eagerly, even though I recognize that if I don’t promote my book, it’s not likely to be purchased or read. Consequently, I have a box of 50 books sitting in a closet and sales of my book on Amazon is dismal.  I think about book promotion often, if not daily at least weekly. I read about marketing and promotion on websites and on Facebook posts by authors, but so far that reading has not provided the shove to make me proactive. Recently a few local authors who are also reluctant and/or clueless about promotion, decided to get together to share promotion ideas. That meeting is scheduled for tonight.

There was a problem, however. I didn’t have anything to share because I haven’t done much. As the time approached for the meeting, I decided I had to hustle up an idea to share, so when my book group met this past Wednesday, I swallowed hard and impulsively asked them to consider my book, “Between Two Women” as an upcoming read. 

The impulse didn’t come totally out of the blue. I’d actually been thinking about it for a year. I’d read about authors speaking with book clubs and it seemed like something that would be fun.  I wanted to know how readers responded to my book and these women were my friends–they were smart, avid readers. Surely, they would provide a lively discussion of the work. But something held me back from asking–something probably rooted in long-ago training not use the “I” pronoun.

Fortunately, their response was heart warming “Yes!” which of course made me feel foolish for waiting so long to ask.

Tonight I’m going to talk to other authors and suggest they too ask to do author chats at book clubs, and I’m going to share my plan of action to ask additional book clubs to consider my book, which begins with ask readers of this post to invite me.

If you are a member of book club, please consider my book. Send me an email via the contact page. I can speak with you in person or via phone or Skype. I’d love to hear from you.