In this episode, we have had the privilege of delving into the dynamic intersection of literature and marketing with Shalini. As an author who wears many hats, Shalini brings a unique perspective on the role of authors in book marketing. Join us for an enriching discussion on the power of authors in shaping the destiny of theory books tomorrow with Charlene. Don't forget to subscribe to the bookbot theory for more such engaging conversations with literary dominates. Until then, keep turning those pages and writing your own stories
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:09
Hi, Shalini. Can you tell us a bit about your journey as an author after the release of your debut book, stars from a borderless sea?
So that created activity around the book for quite a good amount of time. And then the book was picked up by Kitab. There was an excerpt, women's web reviewed the book, not one, but there were two. You know, little by little, things kept adding up, and the book started getting more and more visibility, which really helped me because it was a very consistent, slow kind of a process, but it really added on to everything
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:05
In today's publishing world, how much responsibility do authors have to market their books?
So here's the thing. If you have a publisher who's taking out, say, 50 titles a year, that is one title a week, that publisher has 50 authors in that year to focus on. So how much attention can that publisher give to you? One out of 50th. Right? And how much attention and energy can you give to your book? 100%. How will you be more consistent talking about your book, or will someone else?
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:10
How important is it for authors to build a personal brand or platform? Do you advise them to do it before the book releases or after the book has been released?
Having said that, I don't think that authors need to stress if they haven't done it so far, because, as I said, most of us here are writing for the sheer joy of writing and we are not doing this. And plus, writing itself is such an intensive thing that many of us have not had the opportunity or the bandwidth to actively cultivate your author platform or your brand. So if that is the case, it does not matter
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:07
So what strategies did you employ to build and engage with your audience? Did you have a plan in place?
So you have to form that personal connection, because people don't know your book, people don't know you. Also, why would someone go out of their way to pick up your book, out of so many books, right? So something has to connect with them. And for that, if you engage with them, you are able to build that connection, then they are much more likelier to pick up your book. So we did it like that
Hello. So, like I was saying, it's, you know, those kind of comments when a reader gets back to you and they say things like, oh, we like this character, or, oh, we didn't like this character. This doesn't work for me. Why did you do this? It's very important to engage with those readers. It's not just for marketing, it's also for your learning as an author
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:07
Can we talk a bit about what did not work as per the plan and how did you cope with it?
So I learned to manage my time. I learned how to, I would make a mental calendar, like, I will post only three, four times in a month or maybe two times in a week or whatever, and I would try and stay away from social media, because social media drains a lot of time. And I feel that it's just not a good place to be, but it is also an essential place to be. Right?
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:06
How do collaborations with other authors or influencers contribute to your marketing efforts
And these kind of collaborations, we are actually lucky to have a scenario where we can have these collaborations. Otherwise, how would you reach out to so many people? So that's important when it comes to other authors. Also, what happens is that your spectrum becomes broader, so you also get exposed to the thought process of the other author. You have very enriching conversations, which are important in the writing community, and you get a wider audience
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:05
In your journey so far, what are some of the valuable lessons you've learned about book marketing?
And also it's good to be aware of other authors who are working in the same genres, in the same areas. So if you just keep we, if you're just aware of the kind of marketing that they are doing, it will help you in defining your own plan. But your own marketing plan is specific to you and your book, and it has to be. But to make that, you will need all kinds of help
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:09
I'm sure a lot of our listeners would like to know this. Shalini, is there anything you wish you knew about marketing when you first started as an author?
You. So, yes, I wish that I had known that marketing would take up almost as much of my time and energy as conceptualizing a book does. I wish that I had known that it's really, really important. And I also wish that at the same time, I had known that I don't have to go it alone because writing is a solitary activity. We do say, but still, none of us writes alone, right?
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:05
What advice would you give to aspiring authors about the marketing side of writing?
And the second is when you're doing it, don't take it like it's an activity which is looked down upon, because I see a lot of authors do that. It's important, understand that it's important. Understand how it works, because you're going to invest a lot of yourself in this process. So understand how book marketing works. Don't get scared by it. Network by network, I mean engage genuinely with other authors
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:10
That brings us to the last question that we have for this interview. Are there any resources or tools you recommend for authors navigating the marketing landscape?
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
You. So frankly, there are a lot of resources out there. There are so many writing and marketing sites, so many sites which will give you information about what book marketing is, what channels you can use. So it depends again on how you want to market the genre you're writing in and you can start follow following those references on social media, like Instagram websites. There are many, but what I want to talk about here is that there are also many technical resources that can help you
And for that, you need to work with someone who's experienced, who's been writing, reading, been in the publishing world for long, so that you are able to maximize the efforts that you are making on marketing your book. That is why I said that there are many resources, but you have to narrow down to which ones work for you, which one is most appropriate for you, and which one is doable for you
The Bookbot Theory
@Bookbot · 0:25
Thank you so much, Shalini, for being here with us tonight, and it was wonderful listening to your journey and the achievements that you've had so far. Listeners, if you would like to grab a copy of our book, the link is in the description to this swell, and we hope you have a lot of takeaways from this interview. Have a great weekend, everyone. Thank you
