Self Marketing in a Self Publishing World

(Pictures used in teasers are my own) 

In case you haven't heard (though I bet you have!) I'm self publishing my debut new adult romance Finding June on March 4, 2014! I started writing Finding June in February 2013, so it will be a little over a year start to finish for this book. I had no idea that I would work up the nerve to publish it. Honestly, I didn't even know I was writing a whole book. At first, it was just scenes and then suddenly a story grew from there. I didn't plot anything out, I just wrote. I wrote down notes at work while sweeping, or on post its during class or walking on campus.

But, you all know that. What I'm decided to write about today is Marketing. One of the biggest plus (or cons depending on how you look at it) is that in the self-publishing world, you are spear heading all the work. You're finding your own editor, finding a cover artist are attempting it yourself, formatting is the same. You're not only putting yourself out there with your writing but also with how well you market yourself.

And I have to be honest, I fear that I suck at it.

I'm not a pusher. I've worked in restaurants for almost ten years. One of the biggest things you have to do when you're serving is to increase the bill, because the more they spend the bigger tip you should get (in theory...) So where I worked (and if you're my old boss, ignore this. Just remember how awesome of an employee I was.) we were always told to upsell upsell upsell. Sell beer and flavored lemonades. Cheese on salads and burgers, desert, all of it. Push it. Sell it. I hated it. You want a water, well then get a freaking water. I don't drink soda, I know it's bad for you, I wont push it on you. You don't want to eat desert, fine I seriously don't care. I just want to make sure you have everything you need, not what I want you to have. There were times I would watch coworkers and someone asks for a burger....eight questions later....All of that makes me uneasy.

This above example shows you that not only do I hate pushing things to sell, I'm also not good at it. Article after article I read is about the importance of getting out there, making sure people know who you are before your book comes out. I see people with over 2 or 3k likes on their Facebook paged before their first book even comes out (bravo to them!) and I sit here with 50 likes on mine.....I think a problem is that I'm more a hybrid blogger, not a specific book blogger or life style blogger. I write about books, music, myself (because even though I don't like to push myself, I do enjoy talking about myself. That might be an only child thing...)

So really what does all this rambling mean? Well, I can't wait until Finding June is in the world. I seriously can't believe I'm actually able to cross of a goal I made at the age of seventeen. But I hate the idea of throwing my book in people's face. I hate bothering people and being like HEY LOOK OVER HERE. I WRITE THINGS. THEY MIGHT NOT SUCK. and expect my Facebook to have thousands of likes and everyone favorite my tweets (though I wouldn't mind...) And I'm in awe of those you do!

So, I guess this is my (poor) attempt at Marketing. Finding June comes out in less than two months. I hope you join me on this journey. If you're a blogger, I would love to talk to you! And honestly, it doesn't even have to be about my book. I love all books in general :) If you want to learn more about me, scroll through my archives. Usually my Monday Inspiration posts are about things going on in my life. If you want to help with my journey, you are amazing. I'm happy to do guests posts on blogs, or tell you more about my book, the music that inspired it (thats a few posts within itself!) or really anything! I'm a pretty open book.

And I shouldn't say that I have done this by myself, I have been so lucky and blessed with such amazing help from a few fellow bloggers and authors and friends! A huge thank you!

And the first thing: Here is the sign up for Finding June's COVER REVEAL which will be JANUARY 20, 2014!!!!!!!! So please feel free to sign up!!!

Finding June Cover Reveal- SIGN UP HERE