This may possibly be classified as a rant …
On the brink of publishing my fourth book in my Roma Nova thriller series, I am marshalling my PR/marketing campaign: arranging blog appearances, organising reviews, showing off the AURELIA cover and book trailer video. I’m also writing a daily series of ‘blogettes’ about Roma Nova, books, etc. on my Roma Nova book site. All legitimate stuff to promote a new book.
But an increasing trend is the almost frenetic urge to give small extras away – bookmarks, photos, drawings, postcards, badges, even used event tickets – as if they were great prizes. Sometimes, it’s more significant – an e-reader or a retailer gift card for $20 or more.
Now I’m a fan of letting people know your book is coming out. I also keep my newsletter readers abreast of my writing progress (or lack of it!). I even offer a book giveaway for the best comment on other people’s sites where I’m a guest. It’s a little way of thanking the host by attracting extra traffic to their site.
I’m not so simple that I don’t realise this ‘gifting’ is to create a buzz for the book. But I think it’s now teetering on bribery.
I’m not being precious – I like a bargain along with anybody else and sometimes offer my previous books at a discounted price for a short period. At fairs, I offer an imperial purple and gold pen to anybody who wants one, and for those who attend one of my talks or have bought or buy all three of the first books, I give them a special Roma Nova badge. These are rewards, a thank you – a big difference from bribes.
At the beginning of a book’s career, we should be celebrating it, not offering bribes to read it. If it’s that bad, we shouldn’t be publishing it at all. We are in danger of making our creative work look like today’s BOGOF, something you have to be given a monetary or other incentive to read. It’s undignified. But worse, we are infantilising our readers if we think they are going to fall for it.
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO. The fourth book, AURELIA, is due out on 5 May 2015.
Find out more about Roma Nova, its origins, stories and heroines…
Couldn’t agree with you more, Alison.
It’s a fine line, Carol, but crossing it sends a negative message.
Agreed, Alison. And the money to fund these nonsenses has to come from somewhere.
Thanks for commenting, David. It’s how these things are applied, almost as bribes.
Some readers may need SWAG. Yours need your next book.
Writing it, Dale, writing it! 😉
I am with everyone else Alison and yes; I too have noticed this developing trend. The book is the treasure for me and your truly are treasures!
Wow! Thank you, Leila! I treasure your words in turn.
Forgot to say Alison Korculablue is my ‘posh’ title my name is Leila lol.
Being of devious and paranoid mind, I had looked into Korculablue and found your true name a little while ago… 😉
LOL Alison. I should have known, not because of deviousness and paranoia….not at all! More really; that all of us readers and/or writers who follow you, not only enjoy your books, but appreciate your keen interest and dedication to us. I have learned so much from your newsletters about Rome and Roma Nova. Thank you.
Thank you, Leila, for your kind words. I love talking to you and other fans and readers. But be warned – I might never stop! 😉
It’s tricky. I’m caught between not doing something my publishers wouldn’t like/haven’t had any input about, and wanting to give the kind people who’ve bought my book/come to a signing a little extra. But I’m only just starting out – with a great series like yours, I absolutely get where you’re coming from.
It is a tricky one indeed! I’ve slightly mellowed in that I now give away an e-book of INCEPTIO as a thank you when somebody signs up to my mailing list. That leaves six more episodes of Roma Nova for them to buy and read. 😉
I agree with you, Alison. If a book has innate value, bribes are not needed. A bookmark with the book is fine in my view, or a postcard or anything pretty that enhances the whole product. But tickets or bath towels, that smacks of desperation. Mind you, I’d read a book if it came wtih a guarantee of three hours’ lawn cutting or a full window clean. Happy new year!
A full window clean – yes,please!
A bargain price is attractive, but I wonder how many of the 99p buyers go on to read the other boos in the series. I once bought a book for 50 centimes in a book sale, loved it and promptly bought the other four in the series, total 35 euros. It worked very well in my case and I believe it does for others.
But I shall do price promotions very selectively. in the future..