BookTrib for Book Promotion Podcast - Show Notes

This Podcast/Substack newsletter is all about book marketing methods and ideas! I search high and low for affordable yet effective book promotion opportunities and one resource that I have discovered is BookTrib. Book Trib is somewhat like BookBub in that it has a database of book readers (over 75,000 unique monthly visitors) so their audience is an author’s target market already - ie. book readers/book buyers. BookTrib differs from BookBub in that they offer a bit more in the way of book promotion than simply a “Featured Deal.” They offer a la carte book promotion opportunities.

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A la Carte Book Promotion Options

In this podcast episode, BookTrib’s editorial director, Jim Alkon explains some of the book promotion offerings as well as the site’s overall goals and how it works. Over 18 years experience has made BookTrib a go-to for authors time and again for book promotion.

Jim and I chat about two specific book promotion opportunities:

* Book Review w/ Social Media Upgrade

* Press Release Creation and distribution to over 8,000 news agencies

Remember that book promotion is part of your overall book marketing plan - the list of book promotion tasks you create BEFORE the book publishes and that you execute before, during, and after publication of your book. You can pick and choose where to spend your budgeted promotion dollars. A BookTrib program may be a possibility for your book marketing plan.

Book Marketing Plan: the list of book promotion tasks you create BEFORE the book publishes and that you execute before, during, and after publication of your book.

I am not an affiliate of BookTrib but I am a customer and purchased the Book Review w/ Social Media Upgrade for my audiobook that released 11.22.22, It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers. I will let you know after the promotion hits in Jan-Feb how effective it is.

As with any book promotion opportunities that we cover - do your homework. Check out the site and read the reviews from other authors who have purchased the services.

SPECIAL OFFER: You can contact Jim Alkon directly if you would like to discuss book promotion options with BookTrib at [email protected]. If you mention that you heard about BookTrib from Claudine Wolk’s Substack Podcast he will extend 5% off to you on your purchase.

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Let me know what you think and if you DO decide to try BookTrib, please share your experience. Thank you for listening and if you know an author or aspiring author who could use this information on book promotion ideas please share the Substack link with them.

Kelly Simmons has published seven suspense fiction novels so far.  She just released material through a new platform - the serial fiction podcast.  In Part One of this podcast interview, we chat about her new serial podcast, Open the Window. In this Part Two of the interview, I ask Kelly about her publishing journey on the road to seven published novels, how she found an agent and her advice for aspiring authors to find an agent. Hint: tried and true tips still win the day to secure agent representation.  Join us for this fun and informative interview.

You can find Kelly and read about her books and the new serial podcast, titled Open The Window at KellySimmonsBooks.com. You can also reach out at her K E L L Y 🖌 S I M M O N S (@kellyasimmons) • Instagram photos and videos.Have YOU considered a voice actor career or side gig but you are not sure about the industry or if your voice has what it takes? The workshop course offered by Voice Coaches might help you decide. Voice Coaches: Use the promo code "WOLK" to get half off  their introductory workshop to determine if voice acting is the career for you.  Voicecoaches.com.

What Is a Serial Podcast w/ Author, Kelly Simmons

The topic of this podcast interview is: Serial Podcast. Recording a serial podcast may be add to your author platform or could be a new career idea for you. Kelly Simmons, successful author of seven novels, just released brand new material as a serial fiction podcast titled, “Open the Window” and it is fabulous, I listened to it and would describe it as a suspense thriller. Kelly wrote it and recorded it.

This audio interview is part one of a two part interview with Kelly where we focus on Kelly’s new serial podcast, Open the Window: the mechanics of creating it and Kelly’s experience as a narrator. in Part Two we ask Kelly about her publishing journey and she shares how to find an agent.

Thank you for reading Get Your Book Seen and Sold. This post is public so feel free to share it.

An Author Platform For You… A New Platform For Your Writing

Perhaps creating a serial podcast to get your work out there and to enhance your resume as a writer, is a good choice for you. If you enjoy or have considered voice work or narrator work, listening to Kelly’s interview will give you a good idea of how it works. Remember, the serial podcast is NOT an audio book - it is not a narration of an existing book. It is the telling of novel that is ONLY found in podcast format. It is a pretty exciting idea and may be perfect for you.

You can find Kelly and read about her books and her new serial podcast, titled Open The Window at KellySimmonsBooks.com. You can also reach out at her K E L L Y 🖌 S I M M O N S (@kellyasimmons) • Instagram photos and videos.

Voice Actor LessonsOn the subject of becoming a voice actor… if you feel you would like to try it, I have a promo code offer from Voice Coaches: Use the promo code "WOLK" to get half off their introductory workshop to determine if voice acting is the career for you.  Voicecoaches.com. I took the introductory workshop and the full voice coaches course. I learned so much and loved the course.

Have you listened to any serial podcasts lately? Please share the name and link. Any questions on the voice acting class?

It Is Time... For You to Sit & Write Your BookIn this episode of Get Your Book Seen & Sold, Kate Brenton joins me to present an opportunity for authors and aspiring authors.  Kate Brenton, author and inspired teacher has created the Sit & Write Master Class that starts October 1 (intake interviews in Sept).  Kate and I explain the Master Class: who it is designed for, how it works, and why combining our unique skills will make the difference between being an aspiring writer or a published author. If you have no interest in a class at this time, keep listening.  Kate and I tell our publishing stories and how working together made a huge difference in successful publishing!What is the Sit & Write Master Class?It is a class "container" that runs from Oct to Jan.  With commitment to the program, the aspiring writer could come away with a first draft of a book plus the marketing knowledge to give it the best chance to be seen & sold.How does it work?Community calls, video lessons, and one-on-one calls combined with the unique insight of Kate (spiritual) and me (analytical) will provide both pieces of what is needed for your book to get written and seen.   Kate provides the "tapping into the creative" side and I provide the book marketing / publishing industry side (like I do right here on my Substack!) to give aspiring authors what they need at the right time to achieve their publication goals.How to get started?Your process starts with an intake call with Kate Brenton to make sure of a good fit.  The call is free.  Once the connection is made, the Sit & Write Master Class begins Oct 1.  The information to start with the intake call and pricing can be found on Kate's Site.  You can also contact Kate directly with any questions at [email protected]. Why Kate & I?We are both published authors/teachers/mentors and we have been there and done it successfully.  We both passionately desire to help aspiring authors to get their message/story out in the world and to give their book the best possible chance to be seen and sold.I am so excited for this class, Substack readers/listeners!  By joining Kate, my long-time goal of helping authors get their message out and their books seen & sold is fulfilled.  For four years now I have interviewed experts who have wished to publish a book or they publish quickly (and not so successfully) simply because they didn't know the book marketing side of being a published author.  We change that state of affairs with this class!Sign up to Sit and Write Master Class before 9/15/22 and use the promo code YES for an early bird discount!

Yes, Yes…I know this is a podcast / newsletter to get your book seen and sold. However, I promised in the intro of the podcast that there would be times when I would present book marketing by example. This is one of those times. Not only will you learn about a great new best-selling book, The Trial of Lizzie Borden, and meet it’s Author, Cara Robertson, you will also learn:

* How a twist on a popular story can make a unique and successful non-fiction book

* Defining the WAY to present non-fiction material is half the battle for a writer

* How an expert can add (ahem) expertise to a non-fiction plotline

* The first step in a successful pitch is to get on out there and ASK…no matter who it is you are pitching

* Sincerity ALWAYS wins the day when asking for an interview…show a genuine and sincere interest in the subject you are pitching. If you are pitching TO an outlet, prove that you learned a bit about them instead of pitching blindly.

* Finally, never burn a dress if you are accused of murder. That last one is common sense. You will have to listen to the podcast to know what I mean by that last one.

I need to share another point about this book. It is a traditionally published book. It had a hardback release and then a paperback release. It was also submitted to long- lead industry reviewers… article coming about long-lead reviewers. Two of those reviewers reviewed the book…Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. The author highlights these reviews on her page. Those two reviews got an enormous amount of exposure for this book in the book industry including worldwide catalogs and libraries. Consider a long-lead book review outreach for your marketing plan if you are in the planning stages of your book publishing process.

Enjoy the podcast and leave a comment - Is Lizzy Borden Innocent? What did you learn about this age-old story that you didn’t know before?

Hello, my Substack friends. This interview with Podcast Host of the Award Winning The Creative Penn podcast, Joanna Penn proves the old adage that “you never know until you ask.” I am a big fan of Joanna’s podcast, website, and books. On a whim, I pitched an interview with her and she graciously and generously agreed to it. I am still on a high from this interview and the fabulous information Joanna shared.

Joanna covers every aspect of self-publishing from writing, to publishing, to distributing, to marketing a book in her books and her podcasts. She has grown a successful business as an author with over 30 books both fiction and non-fiction to her credit and another book soon on the way. How did she do it and what tips can she share with the aspiring writer?

Have a listen… Always positive and a self-proclaimed “cheerleader” for authors she believes that an already published book can find more success than a newly launched book with the right marketing techniques and new publishing outlets. She offers insights into the indie publishing field and how she feels it is transformative for new authors in getting their work out into the world. She answers all of my questions - some pretty basic - ie. can you place your book with two different online retailers as the same time? - Sorry, Joanna. But, hey, this is how my mind works. Listen and learn.

You can find Joanna Penn and all about her books and her podcasts at her website, TheCreativePenn.com

Author Catherine Read was asked by a publisher to write this book on homeschooling using the Waldorf Curriculum. Listen in to learn what she learned about book marketing - specifically what a publisher is willing to do and what an author CAN do to help promote her book! Catherine can be reached at her website: TheGeniusofHome.org.

Deborah Shepherd is the Author of "So Happy Together," a coming of age novel set in the 60's.  Deborah fulfilled her lifelong dream in publishing this book.  In her 70's, she is now close to completing her 2nd book - a memoir!  She talks about the book and publishing the new way, with a hybrid publisher.

You can find Deborah  at DeborahShepherdWrites.ComHow fantastic to pull a manuscript from the closet and see it published thirty years later?  Deborah tells us about her new novel and her publishing story.  We are hearing more and more about hybrid publishers.  Deborah's publisher is She Writes Press which turned out to be more than a publisher.  It also provided an invaluable support system of other women writers.

Many of the questions that I get are related to publishing. It makes sense that I would get these questions: how to publish, what are the publishing choices, how are they different? In this podcast, I speak with Dani Mahfood and Jenny Judson, co-authors of The Last Season - a Victorian era, romantic novel published by hybrid publisher, TouchPoint Press.

You can find Jenny and Dani at their website - DaniAndJenny.com. Their excitement at being new authors is palpable. I hope their excitement is contagious and gets YOU excited to get your book seen and sold, too, through hybrid, traditional, or self-publishing.

Claudine and Geraldine Donaher, first-time author of Still, talk about writing, staying motivated, Beta readers, the role of exercise, and not letting your writing (your dream) dry on the vine. This holiday weekend, take a few minutes to re-connect with your writing or if you are finished your manuscript, your book marketing plan.

Geraldine’s book, Still, is available in ebook format on Amazon.

Claudine mentions a book called The Full Spirit Workout by Kate Eckman.

Correction: The Fifty Shades of Grey Books were published first as ebooks but not necessarily, Kindle. Kindle to ebook is like Zerox to copy, though, right?

Claudine also mentions author PD James. Although Ms. James was most certainly more prolific in her 50’s, she wrote her first book at 42.

The original podcast episode aired on Stories and Strategies for Women Podcast titled “Have You Ever Wanted to Kill Their Husband?”, Episode 3o, at the link. Coincidentally the most popular S&S podcast to date. Hmmmmm