by April Robins
Member since:
October 15, 2007

Wait! I think this is self promoting!

December 19, 2007 04:37 PM EST
views: 110 | rating: 10/10 (22 votes) | comments: 59

As I told my book rep yesterday, I am beginning to understand the life of a writer.  I keep getting these messages that say things like "Does not accept Authors as friends".  I answer a posting on amazon.com and someone clicks the "does not add to the conversation" button.  Then yesterday, I said "Hi, my name is, I am an author, I have free printouts", and I get this private message from a forum which I won't name.  In the private message, they say "we believe you have self promoted".  This forum was full of teachers and I could offer them all sorts of freebies for their classrooms.  How can I do that if they won't even let me say "Hi"?  I am about to pull my hair out.  I feel like a stray dog in a butcher shop. "Get dog!" "Get!"  I guess I will get used to the swift kick out the door someday.  

Well that was yesterday and here I go again.  I went back to the same forum and simply wrote "Hi, I am new to the forum."  So far I haven't received a private message.

Then today another one of my books became available on amazon.com.  It is titled "I'll Tuck You in, Deer".  It is a sweet story about a deer who wants to be tucked in.  I think it would be great for a Valentine's gift.  Its cover is one of my images, and I am attaching a printout for you to copy for your children to color.  No, I am not going to tell any other forum about this printout.  It is a gift to my gather friends for listening to me carry on.

Have a Wonderful Christmas,

April

P.S.  In case you are wondering, I am really just sitting back and laughing at the whole situation.
 

 
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Comments: 59

Good! If you aren't out promoting yourself/your stuff no one will.
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 4:44pm EST
Mint, thanks. I needed that reminder.
Aniko     Dec 19, 2007, 4:45pm EST
April, I understand your dilemma--"you need to market your books" is what authors are told. Still, I understand that if you've just appeared on a forum and your first post is self-promotion, people might get upset. If the forum is for discussing things, how about participating in the discussions for some time, making a friend or two, before you come out with the links and offers? Putting them in your profile, but not in every post? Making your name a clickable link, one of your book covers your icon--things like that, while you participate in the discussions?
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 4:51pm EST
Aniko, I simply linked them to my gather site so that they could have the printouts for their classrooms. I think your approach would have been much better. Great advice.
Chuck M. Dec 19, 2007, 4:52pm EST
Was it a website that is something similiar to what you're offering? I know with the music business, it's not looked on kindly to go on another music related website's message board and promote your website because the owner of that message board or website doesn't want their viewers heading to your site. I don't know if that's something like the case with the forum you were trying to post to or not. Just something I would throw out there....
Aniko     Dec 19, 2007, 4:53pm EST
I meant to say "your first post looks like self-promotion". Sorry. :-)
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 4:57pm EST
Chuck, I wondered if I wasn't trespassing. If that is the case, I won't get any further than the "Hi" message I left today, and I understand that. Maybe I should investigate and see if there is any way that I can pay to advertise on that website. Good point.
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 4:59pm EST
Thanks Aniko. You would be a nice person to know.
Tanya S. Dec 19, 2007, 5:03pm EST
Look's like you have gotten good info already. So have a great Christmas..
Barb R. Dec 19, 2007, 5:09pm EST
Oh April, the twisted road an author must travel ! An author myself, my feelings on self-promotion are "Why Not?" We live in an era of networking being the most valuable tool for business and friendship. If we can't put it out there without some thin-skinned person jumping on us, then do we want to hang out with them?

When I teach customer service courses to business people, I am surprised how many are embarrassed to "shamelessly promote" what they love to do. If we don't believe in ourselves and our product that much, how will anyone else?

Look for people who are like minded: other writers, business people,big dreamers and the great ones on Gather. And now I'll get off my soap box and send you good energy to keep on putting your word out there.
Merry Christmas from the windy west coast!
Barb
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 5:09pm EST
Tanya, you are so right; but I would love your thoughts anyway.

Hope everyone enjoys the five printouts at my gather site. They are just illustrations without promotionals. To be honest though that is because I don't have to software yet to add the name of the books and author.
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 5:14pm EST
Tom, I am just beginning. My books would not be half as good as they are if it were not for my families involvement. They have such wonderful creative minds. Unfortunately as the author, I am the only one doing the promotions.
Austin Cushing Dec 19, 2007, 5:20pm EST
::wryly:: That's because the Internet is full of contradictions. EVERYTHING someone writes in a public forum, technically, is self-promoting, because it contributes to their general output. Everyone wants to promote themselves -- one way or another -- and of course, they don't like competition. So, if they see someone else doing it... GRARR!
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 5:24pm EST
Barb, I have started paying for help in advertising my self published books. I am open for suggestions. As my husband once put it about my book babies, "You don't think you have any ugly babies do you?" He is right, I don't.
Barb R. Dec 19, 2007, 5:33pm EST
We just took my latest book "RV Canada On A Dime and A Dream" on a cross Canada tour this summer for 4 months. We had the most wonderful time and are already planning the next one. It was our second working holiday of this kind and sales from the book and other things we make almost paid for the gas. I've done most of my own promotion, any way I can get it out there without costing much I will try.

I also belong to a writers group I started here in town and online. That has given me the support and motivatioin to keep writing and also helped with sales. I helped start a writers festival here in Powell River, BC. That too has been a great help both emotionally and to get my baby out there.

Your husband is right ...every mom thinks her baby is the cutest and how could anyone not love it. Our books are the same, so we need a good dose of unbiased feedback.
What are your books about? Doh't give up doing what you love!
Barb
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 5:35pm EST
Austin, Ok I will join with you. Having been a software consultant myself, I know how big business works. I have often wondered how many people are paid by large publishers to answer blogs suggesting you buy that publisher's books. Do you think that happens?
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 5:44pm EST
Barb, I have an RV and we want to soon start RV'ing in Canada. I would like to buy your book. How can I purchase it?

My books are Children's Picture Books. They are sold worldwide through amazon.com and other leading bookstores. I have pictures of all my front covers for my published stories in my gather images. To see inside my books, why not start at amazon.com with my first book, "Where is My Bennie?"
jessie voigts Dec 19, 2007, 6:42pm EST
that is crazy, people are nuts! congrats - and that image is just precious.
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 6:52pm EST
Jessie, I am so glad you like the image. It is the pencil sketch for the front cover of "I'll Tuck You in, Deer".
Larry H. Dec 19, 2007, 7:22pm EST
Thanks for sharing..
Leslie - The Soap Lady! Townsend Dec 19, 2007, 7:42pm EST
Good Point Austin! Most of the time I find the problem isn't with you self promoting, it is that it is interfering with SOMEONE else's self promoting agenda and they don;t want competition....WHINERS!
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 7:44pm EST
Larry, you are welcomed.
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 7:48pm EST
Leslie, thanks for adding to the conversation. That baby of yours is a doll.
Nancy O. Dec 19, 2007, 8:26pm EST
laughter is the best medicine !!!!!
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 8:52pm EST
Nancy, I have benn laughing a lot lately. It feels good to still be able to laugh.
A. F. Stewart Dec 19, 2007, 8:59pm EST
I put all my promos on my website, then just attach the link to messages. But if you looking for some help on self promotion that's free, I wrote a couple of articles here on gather about my trials.
My Articles:
-How to become a Self-Published Author on Little or No Money. (Or how to publish on Lulu.com)
-How to become a Self-Published Author on Little or No Money- Part 2. (Or how to advertise yourself as an Author for free.)
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 9:15pm EST
A. F. I will look at your articles. I appreciate your bringing them to my attention. Writing the stories is so much fun, working with the illustrators is breath taking even if you do have to change your words to match their drawings, and verifying the final product is statisfy. But this step of promos is a lot of hard work. My next step we are going to do during the holidays. We have two websites to design, www.aprilrobins.com and www.robinfalls.com for our new business Robins Falls Children's Stories, LLC.
A. Foster T. Dec 19, 2007, 10:08pm EST
There are actually a couple articles on Gather calling self-promoters "whores". It is hard to walk the line between promtion and annoying.
April Robins Dec 19, 2007, 10:48pm EST
A. Foster T., I will have to do a search on your key words and read the articles. Don't get me wrong, I would like to sell books to the teachers in the forum I found. Also, I would like to maybe come to their school and read to their kids and answer questions on why I wrote a particular story. I gained a lot by reading to a very small group of kids last Saturday. The children showed delight in areas of the books where I thought there would be no reaction. It helps me in developing my new stories.

In fact, the critique I get at Gather helps me analyze my product. So thanks everyone.

Hope you have printed out the sketches and copied as many copies as you want. I would love to know if the children liked them.
shannon k. Dec 21, 2007, 2:35pm EST
the deer looks very cozy
April Robins Dec 21, 2007, 8:34pm EST
Shannon, the deer fieels the love of the woman's touch while he dreams of being once again with his mother.
Rachel D. Dec 23, 2007, 8:42am EST
Not to be rude, but how on EARTH are you supposed to sell books if you can't get the word out? Self-promotion is NOT a bad thing!
I think the title of your book sounds great - maybe a great bedtime story for my little baby girl - I'm just starting to read to her daily (she's 10 months old). And she's a snugglehound!
April Robins Dec 23, 2007, 11:31am EST
Rachel, thanks. I have two new books that should be available in January they are for babies and toddlers. I will keep everyone posted when "Lovely Little Lamb" and "Keeper of Happy Faces" are released. Also, I think you would enjoy reading to your little dear the deer story.
Pat Bertram Dec 28, 2007, 4:19pm EST
I suppose to some people just saying you are an author is self-promotion. Good to see you're keeping a good attitude about it.
April Robins Dec 28, 2007, 9:42pm EST
Pat, what a neat concept of the meaning of the word author.
ericka choate Dec 30, 2007, 1:02pm EST
wouldnt the best promotion be self promotion.after all who knows your work better than you.
Marie L. Dec 30, 2007, 1:38pm EST
People can be terribly touchy but an author has to promote nowadays -- there is just so much competition in the marketplace nowadays.
Marie L. Dec 30, 2007, 1:38pm EST
And the Deer book sounds really sweet by the way -- my kids would probably enjoy it -- so I will look for it on my next visit to Amazon :-)
April Robins Dec 30, 2007, 1:43pm EST
Ericka, you are right. Sometimes I hope that I get the true concept of the book across.
April Robins Dec 30, 2007, 1:45pm EST
Marie, thanks. Please do take a look at "I'll Tuck You in, Deer".
Glenda Bixler Dec 30, 2007, 6:09pm EST
April, this is too funny not to be funny! We are all self-promoters...anybody who takes pen and writes wants somebody to read it...even if it is a personal letter! I see no difference in self-promoting versus what I do to try to help my clients! Most of what I provide here on Gather is for somebody else...I do not get paid for it...it just happens to be something I feel should be done to help new authors! We are a world of greedy people when we can't stop and say, "I can help you!" just by doing this... Unfortunately, those who challenge self-promoting would also want anything they could get free...too bad!
Lin G. Dec 30, 2007, 7:46pm EST
I love your drawings. Where can I buy your books?
April Robins Dec 30, 2007, 9:44pm EST
If you have time Glenda, I would love to have you review one of my books.
April Robins Dec 30, 2007, 9:48pm EST
Lin, my books are available at amazon.com. You can see all the books on amazon by doing a search on "Where is My Bennie?".

I also have two books that have not made it to amazon.com. They are available at www.xlibris.com. When you get into their bookstore, do a search on April Robins.

I also have blogs setup within each of my books on amazon with links that will take you directly to all my books.

Thanks for asking.
Charli Mills Dec 31, 2007, 4:11pm EST
Hello April--

I just accepted your invitation and glad I did. What sweet work you write and draw. I especially like that you have involved your family in the process of your work. I am a freelance writer and currently work as a marketer for a large natural foods store. I joined gather through the Splendid Table a while back, but really did not grasp the potential of the group. Then, this past year I have attended several workshops and have gained greater insights on social networking. Gather seems to be a gem of a place to do so and I have already reccommended to several associates who write, teach, cook and inspire to join up. Even my mother joined yesterday and I am still laughing at how excited she got when someone commented right away on one of her photographs. Anyhow, I am glad to be here and next time someone tells you that you are "self-promoting" keep in mind they do not yet understand the graces of social networking.

I look forward to reading your blogs on Amazon.
carmel m. Dec 31, 2007, 6:29pm EST
Bully for you! The only way to get ahead is a positive approach.
April Robins Jan 2, 2008, 12:43am EST
Charli, thanks so much. I am so glad you accepted my invitation. Also I am very glad that you like my books. I have four wonderful illustrators that I have used. They come from New York, Indiana, Michigan, and California. I love working with my family. I don't know how many times my husband has said to leave his name off the books, that I came up with the story. I will not do that because with out my family adding their concepts my books would not have that wonderful little zing. I plan to often blog about what inspired us to write our stories. Please look them up on amazon.com, authorhouse.com, xlibris.com, and google book search.
April Robins Jan 2, 2008, 12:44am EST
Thank you carmel.
Karoline L. Jan 2, 2008, 10:18pm EST
Hang in there, it will have both positive and negatives, just like everything!
April Robins Jan 3, 2008, 4:35pm EST
Karoline, I don't intend to let go. Thanks for the words of wisdom.
carol s. Jan 7, 2008, 9:23pm EST
How can anyone be successful at anything without promoting themselves? Lol It seems ridiculous to me.
April Robins Jan 9, 2008, 1:30am EST
Carol, sorry I am so late in answering everyone. I have spent every waking hour working on my next promotion, a website. It is looking pretty good and hopefully will be running next week. I will keep everyone informed when it is up and running. I would love feedback on it. It will be at www.robinfalls.com.
April Robins Jan 20, 2008, 8:21am EST
My new website, www.robinfalls.com is now up and running. Please go by and visit Robin Falls. Take a nap under the big Oak or stick your feet in the pond. Watch out for all sorts of wildlife that will be roaming in the valley.

When you get ready to leave, please come by and say Hello.

April
April Robins Jan 22, 2008, 1:15pm EST
Well, I am getting really good at getting messages that I have self-promoted.

One forum (not gather) sent me an e-mail yesterday stating that I could not talk about my website or books on their forum. I sent them a message back asking if they would like for me to put a link to their forum on my new website. They e-mailed me back and said that if I listed my website in my profile, they would expect their forum to be mentioned in my website.

Wow, can you believe that! Sorry, I should not have wrote that.
Ann S. Jan 22, 2008, 1:35pm EST
On the subject of self-promotion. I have two personal websites and one networking site I'd like to post on Gather. Do you think they would allow that?
I might just include the links when I comment....I'm not sure if I should post articles about each or just comment with them included?
April Robins Jan 22, 2008, 2:04pm EST
Ann, I have no idea as to how to answer your question. I do know that you can write gather and ask for information on putting their link on your website. They will appreicate it and even pay you for new members they get from your site (atleast that is what I understand). Again, contact gather for their rules. Best of luck with your websites.
Ann S. Jan 22, 2008, 4:52pm EST
Thank you, April. I may do what you suggest. :)
Jodie P. Mar 14, 2008, 10:16am EDT
:) yeah!

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