She currently works in Silicon Valley in the gaming industry and high tech. In addition, Palmer holds a certificate in Chinese Acupressure, is a certified solar panel installer, and studied Tibetan Buddhism with the 14th Dalai Lama.
She lives and writes in the magical redwood forest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, California.
Her latest book is the scifi fantasy for adults, Moon Deeds: Star Children Saga Book One.
You can visit her website at www.MythologyPress.com or connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
After your book was released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch?
I let all my beta readers know, and they told their friends. They were very enthusiastic about the release of my book, and they helped spread the word.
After that, what was your next step?
I bought a bunch of ads, including social media ads, Amazon ads, and radio ads. I contacted a bunch of reviewers, I posted the book on Netgalley, and I called independent bookstores.
Did you do anything different to spice up your website in lieu of your upcoming book release?
Yes, I hired a different website designer to make it more modern and to work well across PCs and mobile.
Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route?
I actually work with multiple PR professionals to help spread the word about my books, mostly for blog tours and getting readers and reviewers interested, but I’m not using a full-service PR firm. I am a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and they manage a bunch of really good promotional activities for you, such as
Netgalley, book fairs, librarian outreach, press outreach, radio ads, etc.
Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that?
Yes, reviews are key. I bought some reviews from review services such as
Readers Favorite, I entered several contests that also post reviews, and I contacted a lot of Goodreads reviewers directly. Now I am reaching out to people on Twitter, doing author swaps, and participating in several blog tours.
What are your views on social media for marketing your book?
It’s a lot of effort for not a lot of sales. I hope that the name recognition of putting the book info out on a lot of social media channels will have a positive effect over time, but there is so much content out on the internet, it’s difficult to break through the noise.
What social media has worked best for you?
I measure my sales results and Goodreads adds realtime, and here are the things that resulted in the biggest bumps: 1. Newsletters such as BookGorilla. 2. Goodreads giveaway. 3. Reviews posted by a few bloggers with loyal followers. 4. Amazon ads.
Did you write a press release and do you think it worked for you?
I did write a press release. I used it as part of my PR packet when I contactednbookstores and when I did a press release email blast via IBPA. Otherwise, it did notnserve much use. I only got two hits from the press release blast from not very interestingnpublications, and I got very few bookstores to carry my book, but I attribute that toncalling them on the phone and speaking with the buyer directly.
Did you create a book trailer?
I did create a book trailer. Here is the 0:60 version. I posted it on TikTok (via a boost/paid placement ad) and Facebook (via a boost/paid ad) and got tens of thousands of views, thousands of likes, hundreds of reposts, and dozens of comments, but almost no book sales as a result.
https://youtu.be/Xt13Js_M-P4
What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch?
Joining IPBA
Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch?
Set aside time to do outreach however you can to generate interest in your book.
Keep it up for at least three months. Try different things and see what works for you.
Develop relationships in the indie book world and with other authors.
Keep it up. Don’t think that lack of huge sales means your work is no good. You are literally competing with millions of books. In my experience, I worked hard for every reader and reviewer.
It’s a slog, but I am slowly developing a loyal reader base. Don’t give up!
And keep writing. As a successful indie author friend told me, “Your best advertisement is your next book.”
Title: MOON DEEDS: STAR CHILDREN SAGA BOOK ONE
Author: Palmer Pickering
Publisher: Mythology Press
Genre: Adult Fantasy/Science-Fiction
Book Blurb:
“The path to power is cloaked in shadows, so if you avoid all the shadows, you’ll never learn anything.”
It’s 2090: the last outpost of freedom is the moon, the best defense against technology is magic, and the only hope for humankind rests in the hands of the Star Children.
Twins Cassidy and Torr must save Earth from a ruthless enemy at a time when the only force more powerful than alien technology is magic. Moon Deeds launches the siblings’ journey across the galaxy, where they must learn their power as the Star Children, claim their shamanic heritage, and battle dark forces that threaten humankind.
The Star Children Saga follows Cassidy and Torr as they slowly awaken to their destiny as the twin Star Children, born every millennium to reconnect with the source of all life. They come to discover the sheer enormity of their task: to find our ancestors on a lost planet across the galaxy and save humanity from a spiraling descent into darkness. The powers they must wield to accomplish this task are truly frightening and put at risk everything they love.
Come along with twenty-year-old twins Cassidy and Torr, who inherited deeds to land parcels on the moon. They want to use their moon deeds to get off Earth and escape a brutal dictatorship. But first they must unlock their shaman powers.
A rollicking yet poignant adventure in the not too distant future, when we have colonized the moon and nearly lost Earth to a dictatorship. Only the shamans remain free, plus the lucky ones who escaped to the moon.
Join the adventure! An addictive space opera, science-fantasy series.
“This is a marvelous book. The characters are compelling, complex, and emotional. The future described is neither all evil nor all good, and it’s described so realistically that I can still feel the moon dust in my nose and expect to see large packing containers around every corner. The text is delightfully written with none of the bad grammar that makes picky people like me wince even in an otherwise great story. Alas, this is just the first book of the series, and it appears I’ll have to wait a whole year for the next one. I really need to know *now* what happens next!” – Garden Reader
“I was totally captivated by this story. It is set just far enough into our future that I could see it all unfold. This tale has it all, mystery, magic, aliens, war, family, friendship and love. The authors ability to paint landscapes with words is amazing! I can not wait for book two to come out. I must know the fate of the Star Children!” – VR
“Anything dealing with the moon is almost immediately mystical and magical. Throw in a heart racing adventure and characters that will leave a mark on your heart and you have a masterpiece!” – Taylor Johnson (Educator, Netgalley)
“I found this novel to be as much a psychological thriller as it is a science fiction adventure, and the draw-in happens almost instantly. This is unquestionably one of the best books I’ve read this year and Pickering has roped in an entire family as new fans. I’d give Moon Deeds a whole bucket of stars if I could.” – Asher Syed (Readers’ Favorite)
“There is so much to love about this book, from its complex and intricately woven plot filled with tension, strife, and discovery, to the personal attachment you begin to build with the characters due to finely executed character building, engaging personalities, and difficulties in both moral dilemmas and situations. The pace is perfect to build tension, and I loved the length of this book.” – K.J. Simmill (Readers’ Favorite)
Book Information
Release Date: May 25, 2019
Publisher: Mythology Press
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1732568808; 598 pages; $21.99; E-Book, $.99; Audiobook, FREE.
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt13Js_M-P4
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uKWq2o
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3rQteFx
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