Does media coverage lead to book sales? by Alice Jolly
Happy New Year to everyone. I've just been reading some of the posts on Authors Electric and am fascinated by the range of subject matter and the breadth of experience on display. It really is amazing to be able to draw on so much experience and share in other writers' creative processes. I can only thank all the people who are contributing.
As for me, the New Year got off to a good start as my book (or rather the story that lies behind the book) was featured in the Daily Mail. I have to say that the Mail is not my favourite paper but, of course, I'm grateful for the publicity.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2893028/The-girls-called-Hope-good-reason-stories-inspire-New-Year.html
Also, when I had to go to the offices of the Mail with my three year old daughter for the photo shoot, the staff were all wonderfully friendly and highly professional. They spent hours turning us into 'Daily Mail' people. Even my own family can hardly recognise us. Yes, the camera does lie.
However, it turns out the article isn't the end of the story. I now find that the Mail on-line has linked to the video on the Unbound website. I know nothing about how the media works really but I'm told that the Mail on-line has a huge readership.
You might suppose from this that the level of subscriptions for the book has shot up. It hasn't. So far I have the grand total of two new subscribers - and one of those is a person who I half-know anyway. Uuum.
I remember talking to a very well known agent about my book over a year ago. He said to me, 'This is the kind of book which will attract a lot of media attention but it won't sell.' I was shocked by his comment but also very interested. I had always supposed that media coverage equals sales. Apparently that isn't necessarily the case.
I did always know that the book would attract media attention. At the time when we went to the High Court to get my name on our daughter's birth certificate, we were contacted by the press often. I wasn't interested in talking about our experience at the time and I was worried that publicity might prejudice our case.
Now I'm happy to talk to anyone. I don't mind about the sales from a financial point of view because the money will go to charity. But I do want the book to sell well so that it will make it easier to sell another book. I can only hope that the gloomy agent will be proved wrong.
Anyway, I am very close now to raising all the money I need (only another 11% to go). So what happens next? The book goes into production. I suppose that means editing, proof reading, cover design etc. I know that when I was published by Simon & Schuster, I was largely a by stander in the process.
How will it work with Unbound? I don't know but I'm looking forward to finding out. I also know that an independent publicist will be appointed to work on the book. I'll be interested to see how that works, what exactly that person does, and when.
I also have big decision to make about a novel I've written, which is enormously close to my heart, took me eight years to write, and is currently residing in a drawer. What am I am going to do with it? I want it out there one way or another - but what realistically are the options?
I long to live in uninteresting times.
As for me, the New Year got off to a good start as my book (or rather the story that lies behind the book) was featured in the Daily Mail. I have to say that the Mail is not my favourite paper but, of course, I'm grateful for the publicity.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2893028/The-girls-called-Hope-good-reason-stories-inspire-New-Year.html
Also, when I had to go to the offices of the Mail with my three year old daughter for the photo shoot, the staff were all wonderfully friendly and highly professional. They spent hours turning us into 'Daily Mail' people. Even my own family can hardly recognise us. Yes, the camera does lie.
However, it turns out the article isn't the end of the story. I now find that the Mail on-line has linked to the video on the Unbound website. I know nothing about how the media works really but I'm told that the Mail on-line has a huge readership.
You might suppose from this that the level of subscriptions for the book has shot up. It hasn't. So far I have the grand total of two new subscribers - and one of those is a person who I half-know anyway. Uuum.
I remember talking to a very well known agent about my book over a year ago. He said to me, 'This is the kind of book which will attract a lot of media attention but it won't sell.' I was shocked by his comment but also very interested. I had always supposed that media coverage equals sales. Apparently that isn't necessarily the case.
I did always know that the book would attract media attention. At the time when we went to the High Court to get my name on our daughter's birth certificate, we were contacted by the press often. I wasn't interested in talking about our experience at the time and I was worried that publicity might prejudice our case.
Now I'm happy to talk to anyone. I don't mind about the sales from a financial point of view because the money will go to charity. But I do want the book to sell well so that it will make it easier to sell another book. I can only hope that the gloomy agent will be proved wrong.
Anyway, I am very close now to raising all the money I need (only another 11% to go). So what happens next? The book goes into production. I suppose that means editing, proof reading, cover design etc. I know that when I was published by Simon & Schuster, I was largely a by stander in the process.
How will it work with Unbound? I don't know but I'm looking forward to finding out. I also know that an independent publicist will be appointed to work on the book. I'll be interested to see how that works, what exactly that person does, and when.
I also have big decision to make about a novel I've written, which is enormously close to my heart, took me eight years to write, and is currently residing in a drawer. What am I am going to do with it? I want it out there one way or another - but what realistically are the options?
I long to live in uninteresting times.
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