In a world full of Amazons, Kobo, Scribd, (now Wal-Mart joining the bunch), and many more online book selling platforms, it may not be too surprising for you to hear about another major retail chain of bookstores closing. It doesn’t mean that my heart doesn’t weep each time it happens, though. A bookstore has always been a place I could disappear into for hours at a time – grab a cup of java; enjoy the soft leather of a cozy armchair while I perused the merchandise, deciding on which book I was going to take home. This was how I found most of my reads in a time when we didn’t have Goodreads or Bookbub. Today, it reminds me eerily of the Blockbuster days right before they went out of business … mainly because they refused to change and adapt to the times. But don’t fret, there are many more options out there that allow you to check out both traditionally published authors and self-published authors, alike.
I am a self-published young adult author, which means I have to hit the ground running and never stop … my feet get tired, my figurative boots are muddy and war-torn and worn down to bloody stumps. If you’re traditionally published, these days you have to work just as hard to market and promote. I actually market just as much as I write. Getting the word out about The Outcasts – the first in my Blood Dagger series, was not an easy task. Heck, I’m still doing this and I probably won’t ever stop.
One of the things I’ve discovered recently are the sheer number of small, family owned boutique bookstores popping up all over the place. These stores are great places for self-published authors to display their work on bookshelves (not just the internet.) If you’re a more experienced author, then you’ve probably already figured this out. But if you’re looking for more information on ways to get the word out on your books, check these places out.
I am currently in two brick-and-mortar bookstores:
PJ Boox in Florida: https://www.pjboox.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pjboox
BookPeople in Austin: https://www.bookpeople.com/
If you haven’t had the chance to support your local bookstore, get out there and check one out. Support your local author and writer. We need you.
IndieBRAG was and still is a great platform to use. I was overjoyed to learn that The Outcasts – The Blood Dagger: Volume 1, has received an IndieBRAG Medallion. I thank them for this opportunity to speak about my own experiences.
My website: https://www.theblooddaggerseries.com/
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