Guest Blog - Author Nancy Dane

This month author Nancy Dane has completed production on her 3rd book with Tate Publishing. The official release is coming this summer, but that won't stop Nancy from selling pre-release copies now! Click here to view and purchase Nancy Dane's books.

Below are Nancy's terrific thoughts regarding author sales and her successful venture to become one of Tate Publishing's best-selling authors. It didn't come easy, and it was not done overnight. But Nancy has found her audience and is one of the hardest working authors I know. And best of all¾she is having a blast selling books!

Great Writer¾Few Sales? What Works for Me

In the four years I’ve been published, I’ve learned some valuable and sometimes hard lessons. Most of all I’ve learned that success is spelled h-a-r-d w-o-r-k. There’s just no getting around it. I don’t care how excellent the book¾if you aren’t willing to get out and promote, you are doomed to fail. There may be exceptions to this, but I haven’t seen any.

I often tease that my books sell well because I’m more used-car salesman than anything. Only slightly a joke! A good sales campaign is imperative for success. A few keys for reaching that goal:

1. Find your audience and target them. (I write Civil War historical fiction, so I go to Civil War events, reenactments, etc.) At events, I talk to people and engage them in conversation as they pass by. If not, that is exactly what they will do¾pass you by!

2. Accept public speaking engagements. (Even if you are petrified, go ahead. You’ll either die of fright or get better at it!) J

3. Write more than one book. Several titles give credibility to an author and make a table display more impressive.

4. Watch for and then walk through every door of opportunity. For example, I now do professional development seminars for teachers. As a result, my books are being used as curriculum in Arkansas Public schools.

5. Develop a website (for ideas check out mine at www.nancydane.com ) and have business cards with the web address. Also I’ve sold books to old high school chums because of my 'Nancy Dane' Facebook page. Send me a friend invitation!

6. Let me say it again¾you can’t sit home and write and expect the books to sell themselves. Get out there and promote. Ultimately, the motto for success is lots of h-a-r-d w-o-r-k. The resulting sales are worth it. I now enjoy the thrill of great fan mail and readers clamoring for Book Three in my 'Tattered Glory' series...which, by the way, is now available here!