Welcome to our new podcast series: Promotional Secrets for Authors! brought to you by Waxcreative Design and Autographed By The Author stickers.
Hosted by award-winning author and professional publicity coach Elizabeth Yarnell, these podcasts connect author to author about book promotion.
Jane Porter
This week, we welcome Jane Porter. The bestselling author of 32 novels for Harlequin Presents and Grand Central Publishing, Jane has been a finalist for the prestigious RITA award from Romance Writers of America in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2010. Jane’s July ‘06 release, Flirting With Forty, picked by Redbook as its Red Hot Summer Read, went back for seven printings in six weeks before being made into a December 08 Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear. Jane’s newest release, She’s Gone Country, is in development now. A busy mother of three sons, Jane holds an MA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and makes her home in Bellevue, Washington where she’s working on her next novel.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
What kinds of promotional efforts have brought you the most benefit in terms of recognition and book sales?
JANE: I think having a significant web presence has been my most successful promotional effort, and I use the web to promote the Jane Porter brand, not just a book. My goal is to drive readers to my site where they can learn about not just one book, but all 32 of my books. I am not just promoting a new title, but the entire backlist and the Jane Porter brand.
What secrets can you share to help create successful book signing events?
JANE: Successful booksignings don’t just happen. They’re created. I work hard to make every event I do a true event. But to get people out of their house requires effort and planning. You have to offer your readers something… your book, yes… but something to compete with the hectic world we’re in. Is it a girls night out? Is it a social event? Is it a small, intimate get together? Is it a discussion or a party? I focus on the type of event, and then getting folks there. I use social media, enewsletters, and mailed event invites. I try to follow up as well and I “reward” those that come with food and drink, or a fun discussion. Stuffy book events just don’t draw readers.
Do you have branded promotional items other than paper products?
JANE: I use very few paper products for promo items. Yes, I always do a bookmark and a postcard, but that’s not my giveaway. Paper gets discarded very fast. I’m queen of practical giveaways–nail files, mirrors, pens (love pens), letter openers, water bottles, note pads, and luggage tags.
Is there anything you always carry with you, in case you run into readers of your books?
JANE: I don’t carry items for readers on me, however, as I’ve had pens made for every book, and I only use my own Jane Porter pens, its easy to give someone I meet one of the pens from the bottom of my purse or computer bag. so when I do meet someone, I give them a pen, and every pen has my url on it so they can look me up later if so inclined.
Do you have a final tip to offer on building an audience?
JANE: Just as I don’t expect a booksigning to just happen, I don’t expect readers to just find me. I try to find them, go to them, and I’m always looking for ways to introduce new readers to my books and themes.
Great tips and tricks, Jane. Thanks! For all our listeners, check back here regularly to get insider secrets from bestselling authors about what promotional tools YOU can use to support yourself as an author. Or subscribe to the Promotional Secrets for Authors podcast on iTunes!
Thanks for listening, and thanks for showing off your signed books with our gold Autographed By The Author sticker… the signature sticker that makes your signed books that much more valuable on the store shelf and in a reader’s hands.
Don’t forget to check out our first two podcasts in this series, interviews with Mia Marlowe and Rebecca K. O’Connor. And next week, look forward to Julia Quinn. We know you have promotional secrets to share! We’ll have an easy-to-use online form ready for you soon, but in the meantime, please email us if you want to be interviewed, be featured here, and share your secrets with other authors.
RELATED POSTS:
When Jane shared her final tip about finding new readers, she was being totally honest. She found me! She commented on an article I had written online not knowing I was a voracious reader and so I checked out her books. That was all it took because now she is my favorite author and I have shared her books with more people than I can count!! Jane Porter is a brilliant marketer because she moves seamlessly from online efforts to face-to-face encounters. Her fans love her because she treats each reader as she would a friend.
i had the pleasure of meeting jane for the first time at the kentucky book fair in frankfort, kentucky. she was welcoming and warm and very down to earth. we were able to go to her dinner afterwards, and had the best time ever!!! she is the best! everyone i share one of her books with becomes a fan of her and her writing…
[...] over to Waxcreative’s blog to read more of the transcript or, even better, listen to the [...]
Attention all authors: there is a fantastic thread at Jane’s blog with insight into what readers love about booksignings. Join that conversation! Follow the link this comment is replying to.
And THANK YOU for your input Jane!
Jane, GREAT BOOKS! From a marketing perspective, some authors have “teamed up” with the Boardrooms of different airlines (for example, Alaska Airlines) and offered free copies of their books to Boardroom members.
It’s always worthwhile to have a good read on an airlplane…I’m often surprised how many passengers ask about what you are reading; it leads to great word-of-mouth marketing!
Thanks for sharing such great information, Jane! I loved seeing the responses from your readers and fans on your blog, too, as podcasts can be a great way to connect with your audience. Here’s my favorite quote out of the comments:
“I just saw this post, listened to the POD and thought it had so much good information that I forwarded it to my RWA group.”