New service!

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We are often asked how to market a book once it’s published, but book marketing is a big undertaking which would take time away from what we do best, which is helping you create your beautiful book. Thankfully, we recently met a New Zealand-based book marketer who can help you with the marketing aspects.

Wānaka author Kate Gordon-Smith has published three novels and a journal for readers aged 7 to 10 with her Relish Books company. She also runs the Kiwi Kids’ Bookstore, an online bookstore devoted to books by New Zealand authors for children and teens, where she supports independent as well as traditionally published authors.

With 30+ years’ experience in marketing and publicity, she knows there’s a LOT to learn and plenty of hard work to get your book into the hands of readers, but it’s a challenge she loves.

Kate is now sharing her knowledge as an indie publishing coach, helping New Zealand authors with various marketing tasks or taking on the work herself on an agreed fee basis. Her focus is primarily the New Zealand market, but she also sells her own books on Amazon, Kobo, etc., so can offer some insights there, too.

The main tasks Kate can help with are:

  • An initial discussion about the likely markets for your book, and how to reach them.
  • Getting your book listed correctly with Nielsen Data and Wheelers in New Zealand (important to reach public libraries and schools).
  • Creating book marketing tools like the Advance Information Sheet, author bio, book description and barcode (if going into bookstores).
  • Suggestions on how to reach bookstores and libraries.
  • Book publicity – getting your book out for review and seeking relevant media opportunities.
  • Publishing your eBook edition on Amazon or other eBook platforms
  • If you need one, she will set up a newsletter template and mailing list system for you.
  • Setting up an author website.
  • Deciding which social media channels, if any, will help your book marketing efforts.

Kate likes to have an initial conversation with the author about a new book well before it’s published – ideally, at least two months prior. She says, “There’s nothing worse than doing all the hard work of writing, editing, design, and proofreading to produce a fabulous print book and finding out that your back cover blurb could be more compelling, or that the front cover design simply won’t help your book stand out to its target audience, either online or on a physical bookstore shelf.”

That’s why Kate also offers what she calls her “bookseller’s critique”, which is a half hour assessment of your cover design and content, first 2-3 chapters, and any marketing material you’ve already created. If any of these important elements need work, it’s better to improve them before you press print with PublishMe.

Recently, Kate worked with a local Wānaka author to publish an historical murder mystery, and before the book was even officially released, an order for five copies from Auckland Libraries was placed with Wheelers, thanks to Kate making sure all the technical aspects were correct from the outset. The author freely acknowledges she didn’t know where to start with any of these tasks and has been delighted with Kate’s attention to detail.

Find out more about Kate’s indie publishing coaching services on her website, https://www.kategordonauthor.com/nz-indie-publishing-coaching/