Homepage for Shane Maddon

Welcome! If you have directed your way to this page,

then you may be a new author in need of some help.

Whether you are published, un-published, or don't

even know what a book is, I hope the following

information helps you understand the advertising

business a little.

2nd step- EXPOSURE

Like the title says! In order to make it in any business, you need exposure! You need to be exposed!

 Now, that doesn't mean I want you to get naked and run around yelling madly. Exposure is the advertisment of yourself. There is nothing wrong with letting people know what you do, who you are, and why they should read your material. The following is a very important list that will help you more than anything.

1) A WEBSITE- Get off myspace.com and make yourself a genuine webpage. Though there are many free places that offer free websites ( freewebs.com, Synthasite.com...etc) It is important you eventually purchase your OWN domain. A free website is okay to start out, but you will need your own after you become famous! Okay...maybe not famous, but who wants to type in Yourname@theirname.somethingrandom.org all the time?

Having your own website is professional and will put you on the path of exposure.

2) JOIN A FORUM- They have some specifically for authors and you will get to meet some amazing writers and also get the word out of your own book.

3) BOOK REVIEWS- Have a company or website review your book. People are easily influenced, and if "Betsy Sue" says she loves your book because it's simply swell! Then by golly other people are bound to read it too!!

4) LINK LINK LINK- IF you have a myspace, blog, facebook, heck even a yahoo profile, make sure to link to your website. The more links there are that lead to you, the more traffic is going to end up at your site. Get listed in directories, book websites listed by genre, google...etc. It is such an easy way to get people to your site. LINK LINK LINK!

3rd Step- MARKETING

OKay! Now that you have a website, and people are wondering who is this fantastic "John Doe" person they have stumbled upon, the next important step is a marketing plan. This word can seem very intimidating to a new author, but in fact it is one of the funnest parts of your job! I have compiled a list of marketing tools an author should carry with them at ALL TIMES.

• Business Cards ( Affordable and INVALUBLE  in the marketing world )
• Copy of your book on hand ( for when the news reporter shows up )
• A book synopsis. Laminated and easy to read
• Author's Bio ( People want to know who you are! )
• Book Reviews ( If any ) Let people know that others have read it, and loved it!
• Contact Info ( If not printed on your card ) So that famous publisher you stumbled upon can call you.
• Bookmarkers with your books cover. Give them away to EVERYONE. People love free things, and this forces them to look at your bookmaker. Also make sure your name is on there, and the title of your book, and your new fabulous website!
• A poster. Talk about flashy free advertising. Make a big fat poster. HINT- People like shiny things.

4th Step - MEDIA ATTENTION

So your book is out, and you have passed your business card and media kit to everbody and their grandma, what now?  Alert the Media!  Okay, maybe not so dramatically, but seriously, call and email every news station, local paper and magazine you can.  Let them know that you are a local author super star, looking for some attention....Okay, again, maybe choose your words better, but media companies love local events that can spark attention. I have compiled yet another random list of places to promote!

• Bookstores- Hello! Your an author, call up that local bookstore and organize a signing. This will earn you some pocket money, and get your name out there.
• Libraries- The Mecca of books! Do a book reading, or book signing, and convice that library to catalogue and carry your book. This lets the local residents see your book on the shelves, and again gets your name out there.
• Fleamarts- Set up a booth and sell some books, give away free things, and have fun!
• Shopping Center- Organize a book signing, or even just a autograph/picture signing. Print out tons of picture of your, or your cover, and get a nice shiny marker to sign it with. Even if people do not know who you are, they will be interested in a well dressed person signing things for free. ( please dress nicely....it's a given )
• Friends and Family- They are proud of their new famous relative, and are proud to boast about them.

5th Step- SO YOU LANDED A BOOK SIGNING

Okay, now apart from being an author, I am a manager at our local Borders store. How convenient, huh? I am constantly organizing book signings for local authors ( including myself ) Here some tips to remember when you are trying to get a book signing.

1) Call in advance and make sure the bookstore has had plenty of time to order copies of your  book.

2) On the big day, show up early to make sure you have time to set up and get aquainted with the booksellers in the store. Let them know your having a signing and tell them about your book, so they can reccomend to customers who are browsing.

3) The bookstore may provide a small table for you, but ALWAYS bring one just in case. A SMALL round or square table is all you need, with an attractive table cloth. I personally prefer ( and we do this for all of your local authors having signings ) A small round table with a black silky tablecloth. Its very clean and professional looking.

4) Things to remember to bring are. Advertisements such as stickers, bookmarks, leaflets, posters, magnets...etc. These should be given away for free to passing people. It should include you name, name of the book and ISBN #, Description of book, publisher, website, contact info..etc.  Don't forget an appropriate pen. I reccomend bringing several, including a silver gel marker, a sharpie and a nice black or blue ink pen that writes very smoothly.

5) Remember to dress the part. Bookstores are casual enough that you do not need a business suit or tux, but make sure you are VERY nicely dressed and smelling good. First impressions are very important and your an author now, your face could be around the world one day, make sure it's attractive!!

6) Smile, engage customers, thank the ones that aren't interested and give them the freebies anyway. Maybe they will check out your website and decide your book is worth a read anyways!

Don't be nervous, don't be rude and just make sure to have fun!! They are really a great experience and the bookstore would love to have you back again I'm sure!!

HAVE FUN!!!

It really can be an incredible journey to start off as an amateur and end up as famous as Steven King. You may scoff, but the fact is, even Mr. King had to start somehwhere.

It can be very stressful, but it is only as hard as you make it.

Take a deep breath, relax, and make sure to smile and greet every person that you see. Make a first impression that will last.

GOOD LUCK!

-Shane Maddon

WRITERS BEWARE. CLICK  HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF BAD PUBLISHING HOUSES. IF THE NAME OF THE PUBLISHER THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT USING IS ON THERE, I URGE YOU TO RE-CONSIDER.