Author journey - it's review time

I have engaged professionals to edit, proofread and design my book cover, so why the heck did I think I could do the marketing myself? Either arrogance or delusion, perhaps both.

My editor and cover designer have helped me to create an exemplary novel. So, when it came to finding my readers, I was under the blissful ignorance that people would "want" to read my story. {Which you should because it's a blooming good read}. I had an underappreciation of the PR and Marketing profession. After launching the book for pre-sale and the tumbleweed blowing over my screen, I realised I needed help.

With 25 years of corporate commercial experience, I decided to leverage my skill set to develop a strategy that would enable me to control costs while maximising the effectiveness of professional assistance. After I was content with my novel and the quality of my product, my strategy to engage readers is as follows:

(1) Establish an online presence. Louise McLaughlin author artist (@louisemclaughlin.bsky.social) — Bluesky I have decided not to be on the usual platforms (this might backfire, but the larger social media platforms don't quite fit with my ethos)

(2) A drumbeat for communications online. I try to post every few days.

(3) Clearly identify areas that I am not confident in - for me, this was PR and media launches. I have engaged a professional to manage my PR

(4) Get ARC readers to review the novel. Reviews are going to be essential. But here is the minefield:

Getting reviews:

This is one area where engaging a professional could backfire; there are companies that offer reviews for a fee. This could result in a false narrative and potentially lead to being banned from various outlets. For me, it's too risky to jeopardise future sales.

I've decided to offer Advanced Reader Copies and try to grow the readership naturally with honest reviews.

My strategy should create a gradual and sustained impact rather than a big bang, which is ideal for me. I want my stories out there for people to enjoy.

FREE BOOKS

If you're looking for new fantasy books, I’d love to offer you an ARC copy of my novel, Discovery. It’s an urban fantasy of 70k words. It’s a story of magic, secret organisations and a heroine who is led by her moral compass. As we follow her journey, we find ourselves asking, did they do the right thing? The novel is a fun fantasy story —perfect for readers who enjoy an easy read and an escape from today’s tumultuous world. 🔗 Sign up here: https://forms.gle/RM3YBXvrTBWacdGk6

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The gods, witches and politicians all enjoy the daily tug-of-war for control. In a world of constant scheming and manoeuvring, their peaceful world of ruining each other’s day was truly disrupted. What if it was all just a distraction keeping everyone busy until They came back home again?

At the urging of her beloved grandmother, Cassie takes an apparently safe and humdrum job in a government office in Glasgow. However, it turns out the conspiracy theorists are right, and there’s more to the civil service than box-ticking and inscrutable acronyms. When Cassie is drawn into a plot involving alien invaders, unscrupulous billionaires and the highest levels of government, she also discovers that living in her home city is a group of semi-retired gods, witches and supernatural beings hidden in plain sight. As Cassie’s true power becomes apparent – she can get people to do what she wants merely by suggesting it to them – she becomes a vital ally against the forces that want to rid the world of gods and humans alike.

They have only 10 days to save the human race and themselves.

📖 Available in EPUB & PDF 📚 Would love to have your thoughts & reviews https://www.goodreads.com/author/Louise_McLaughlin 📅 If it resonates with you, it could be a great recommendation for your book clubs!