Marketing a book Isn’t just for publishers anymore (and that’s a good thing)
|
Listen to this article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
If you’ve ever imagined book marketing as something reserved for glossy publishing houses and high-budget author tours, you’re not alone. I used to think the same — that marketing was something “real authors” got handed on a silver platter once their book hit the desks of a big publisher.
Then, over twenty years ago, I published my first novel. And like many dipping our toes in the brave new world of ebooks, I quickly realised that unless I wanted to whisper my story into a void, I had to find a way to become my own marketing department.
Fast-forward to today. With Rainbows and Lollipops available to preorder ahead of its June 12 release, I can honestly say: I no longer see marketing as the “necessary evil” of indie publishing. I see it as storytelling’s second act.
No one cares at first (and that’s the point)
Here’s a truth many writers (especially indie ones) need to hear: no one is waiting for your book.
Unless you’ve already got a loyal fanbase, a viral moment, or a particularly famous ex who’s just posted about your breakup, the world isn’t hovering over the buy button. And that’s OK.
Marketing is about creating curiosity. It’s not shouting. It’s not trickery. It’s showing the right people why your story might just be the one they’ve been waiting for — even if they didn’t know it.
For Rainbows and Lollipops, I’m doing what I always do: starting with readers. I think about what they care about, what stories they’ve been missing, what they might connect with in this book — the humour, the heartbreak, the awkward dinner parties and accidental romantic confessions. And then I build conversations around that.
You can’t just “drop the link”
I’ve learned the hard way that just posting “Here’s my book! Link in bio!” doesn’t cut it. Readers want more. They want to know why you wrote it. What it says. Where it came from. Why it matters now.
So yes, I’m sharing the journey — through blog posts like this, behind-the-scenes pieces on Substack, interviews, social media, even the occasional awkward video. It’s work. But it’s worth it.
Marketing a book is about building relationships. Not begging. Not selling. Inviting.
You can compete — but only if you show up
There’s a narrative out there that indie authors can’t compete with traditional publishing. I don’t buy it.
Yes, publishers have teams. Budgets. Infrastructure. But what we have — when we take this seriously — is flexibility, creativity, and the ability to speak directly to our readers without layers of PR approval or committee meetings.
When I publish a book, I’m not playing small. I invest in great cover design. I hire editors. I produce audiobooks. I seek out reviewers. I plan launch content. I’m proud to say that Rainbows and Lollipops is launching with the same kind of energy and attention a traditionally published debut might get — because I believe it deserves that.
And yes, that includes asking people to preorder the book. Because preorders are a huge signal to retailers, media outlets, and platforms that this book is worth paying attention to.
If you’re reading this and you’ve supported me before — thank you. Truly. And if this is your first encounter with my work, I hope Rainbows and Lollipops might be the right place to start.
What preordering actually does
Besides making you a certified literary superhero, here’s what happens when you preorder a book like Rainbows and Lollipops:
-
You tell booksellers there’s demand
-
You boost visibility (especially with retailers that show rankings)
-
You help authors land press and podcast spots
-
And yes, you help indie authors recover their production costs faster — allowing us to do it all again with the next book
If you’re planning to read the book anyway, preordering is the kindest nudge you can give.
Final thought: marketing isn’t selling out — it’s showing up
There’s still a lingering sense in some creative circles that “real” artists don’t promote their work. That asking for attention is somehow tacky. That visibility = vanity.
I disagree.
I believe writing a story and giving it everything you’ve got is art. And putting it into the world so it can be read, loved, shared, and argued over? That’s art too.
Thanks for being part of this journey — and if you’ve already preordered Rainbows and Lollipops, you’ve made this stressed-out, over-caffeinated author very happy.
📚 Preorder now:
Rainbows and Lollipops
Book One in a new LGBTQ+ fiction series
Publishing June 12, 2025
eBook | Paperback | Audiobook
£1.99 eBook preorder price available now
