KRIS WAMPLER
Casey Bell believes authors should learn how to promote their books early in the process. Find out why he encourages writers to save and spend their money wisely.
1. Tell me briefly about your latest book – what is it about and what motivated you to write it?
My latest book is the third book of an eight-book series, American History. It is a book series about American inventors and/or innovators not mentioned in the school system. The first book, American History: Americans of African Descent, was inspired by my nephews and nieces. I wanted them to see more about their ancestors than the slavery and segregation they had to endure. I then decided to keep making books that shows more than the mistreatment of a people in American history and shows the great things people have done. The latest of the series is, American history: Asians in America.
2. You’ve chosen self-publishing. How have you liked it so far? Talk about some of the positives and negatives you’ve encountered.
The best thing about self-publishing is the freedom to do things as you please and to keep 100% of the copyrights and ownership of what you write. You also are free to market as you please. I really just enjoy the freedom I have as a self-publisher. The down side, which is the upside of publishing with a commercial or small publishing company, is the publicity, advertising, and marketing work. You either have to pay thousands of dollars for someone to do it for you or you have to spend thousands of hours doing it yourself. It is not the fun part of self-publishing in my humble opinion.
3. What sort of networking have you done as an author, and what have been the results?
I have contacted other authors to do podcasts, interviews, and blogs. I have just recently started an online project entitled, “Writer to Writer Interviews,” where writers interview one another. I have just now started to network. I only wish I would have started back when I first began writing. Because I am new at it, I cannot give any major results. But I will say, I have more interviews out there due to networking with people.
4. Talk a little about the sort of marketing techniques you’ve used to sell your books. Which ones have been most successful?
I haven’t done much marketing. Most of my efforts have been in publicity and adverting. None of which have been that successful due to the fact I lack funds. I will advise anyone who wants to publish books, before you even start writing, to sacrifice that cable, expensive coffee, expensive clothing, and open up a savings account and fill it with the money you’ve been using on your unnecessary wants.
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