I am marrying an author in December....... Now what do I do?

[David P. Spears II]

So here is the thing, I am getting married (and doubling my personal libary) to a wonderful woman who happens to be a great writer. Yes, I know I may be a tad biased but that can't be helped. She has completed her first book but is a bit shy about marketing it. I am going to be the one doing much of the marketing and promoting. This is fun for me because the book is now something we can do together and I like the idea of helping. That brings me back to my question, now what do I do?
1. I know I don't want to be some guy that just spams everything. I think the book is great literature and I want to be respectful of that. Do you have any ideas on how to market a book but not be a spammer?
2. I want to be part of the blogging comunity and start a grass roots interest in the book. How do bloggers like to be asked to review books?
I will post more questions as I think of them. Thanks for any help and feel free to share your stories about marketing books (as long as it is helpful to others and not just pimping your own book)

David Spears
www.iservenovel.com

[sari]

I am not an author but thought I would share my story. A year ago I recieved a comment on my blog post from an author who wrote a personal note of interest. She said she had been blog surfing (looked for blog themes similar to her subject matter). She said she liked reading my reviews and asked if I would review here book. I was touched that she took the time to write, not just post a link to her website. I read the book, reviewed it and wrote her a note telling her what I liked and did not like about her book.
Marketing an indi book can be frustrating, as there are so many out there. I would encourage you to market it to its target audience at first, then branch out. There are many fine Medieval blogs out, I would start finding them and following to build a relationship.

I looked at your site, the book looks interesting. Good luck to you and your future wife. May she turn out to be a highly respected historical writer!

Sari
http://theviewfromsarisworld.blogspot.comhttp://theviewfromsarisworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">

[David P. Spears II]

Thanks for the sharing your story. It is very nice to hear from a blog owner. I think most people now days don't want to take the time to do the work of building friends. Most people just think cut and paste spaming will get people to look at your site. I can't think of many books I have bought that I did not first hear about from a friend. Happy Thanks Givivng (a day late).

David Spears
http://www.iservenovel.com/

[Parajunkee]

I agree with Sari. Find blogs that focus on the main theme/genre of the book you are marketing and approach those blogs with personal emails, instead of just generic THIS IS MY BOOK emails.

There is nothing wrong with marketing your book. Aggressive marketing can work, just do it in a calculated, understanding way. Don't blast out a million emails to just everyone. First understand the audience you are targeting and then find that audience.

Parajunkee

[Stacy-Deanne]

Congratulations, David! Your post made me laugh because I instantly thought of that movie Funny Farm with Chevy Chase. Did you see it? If so you know that Chevy Chase was this well-known writer who got writer's block. His wife was writing a children's book and he was so desperate to have a completed manuscript to turn into his editors that he slapped his name on her manuscript and sent it off as his, LOL. It was hilarious. I don't know any writers who are married to writers personally, but the thought of me marrying another writer would make me think of Funny Farm. I'd watch my hubby to be (if there ever becomes one), closely, LOL!

Sorry if I derailed but I had to mention that. I hope you saw the movie or else my post was pointless, LOL!

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[David P. Spears II]

Yeah, I watched it a long time ago. They don't make movies like that any more. Thanks for the post. I will try not to steal any of her manuscripts. Then again it is good writing so maybe I should start thinking up a pen name.

"Max Ebnezer"
http://www.iservenovel.com/

[Stacy-Deanne]

LOL!