The Logistics of Selling Signed Paperbacks
By: Ginger | Posted on May 28, 2021
I love eBooks, and I admit that it’s been a while since I’ve cracked open a paperback, but there’s no denying that I sometimes miss the feel of holding an actual physical book in my hands. Of course, there are plenty of other readers that prefer hard copies over electronic. But regardless of which end of the spectrum you fall on, there is still something special about getting a signed copy of a book you love. Often these copies are handed out, or sold, in-person by the author at a conference or bookstore signing, but just because you’re a self-published author that never attends these things doesn’t mean you can’t also get in on the action. Here are the steps that Ginger uses to sell signed copies of his books, but you can also use them to send out free copies as gifts, prizes, or even rewards to valued members… Read More >
Author Spotlight Interview: Fynn Perry
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on May 25, 2021
Today’s interview is with Fynn Perry, author of high-concept thriller fiction. Fynn’s debut novel Earthbound––a crime thriller that crosses over into the afterlife––is now on Amazon in eBook, paperback & Kindle Unlimited. It was an absolute pleasure to get to know more about his writing style, inspiration, life outside of writing and upcoming projects! HG: Congrats on the success of your debut novel, Earthbound: A Supernatural Thriller. It is advertised as “THE 2021 MUST-READ HIGH-CONCEPT CRIME THRILLER”. For our readers that aren’t familiar with the genre, how would you describe it? FP: Thank you. High-concept is kind of a general term that can span many genres. The term is applied to any work with a unique, original, or highly visual premise. Earthbound takes place in our world and a world hidden behind our own and is written in a style that many readers have called ‘cinematic.’ It’s primarily a crime… Read More >
Designing Covers by the Numbers
By: Ginger | Posted on May 21, 2021
There’s a reason we keep circling back to the importance of a solid cover. It’s the first thing readers see when confronted by a sea of other choices, and if it can’t entice a click to your product page, it doesn’t matter how great your book is. I see it all the time with the ARC program as well, because readers are even picky about the books they get for free. Covers that fall flat end up with way fewer sign ups than similar books in the same genre with well-designed covers. Not only should a cover look like it was done by a professional instead of homemade, but it needs to contain the right genre-specific elements to sell the reader on the idea that this book is the one they’ve been looking for. So just as we argued last week in terms of using data to plan your ads,… Read More >
5 Self-Help Books To Focus Your Mental Health
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on May 18, 2021
May is Mental Health Awareness Month so we thought we’d take this opportunity to round up five self-help books that were highly rated by Hidden Gems ARC readers. While we’re not suggesting that all the answers to your stress, relationship issues or mental health challenges are in these books, we think they open up important discussions and can be a piece to the puzzle if you’re looking to focus on self-care and your own wellbeing. Get Out of Your Head: A Toolkit for Living with and Overcoming Anxiety by Brian Sachetta With nearly 400 reviews on Amazon, this self-help book has been praised by Hidden Gems ARC readers and a broad audience alike. Get Out of Your Head helps readers to break free from fear cycles and ultimately begin to alleviate anxiety, which burdens millions of Americans. “One of the best anxiety books out there,” writes Richard S. in… Read More >
When it comes to your ads, don’t trust your gut!
By: Ginger | Posted on May 14, 2021
Often, the quickest way to fail when it comes to promoting and marketing your book is to make decisions on how you feel. Feelings are great when it’s time for writing, but only cold, clinical data can truly guide you forward after publication – or talk you off the ledge when you’re ready to quit. It doesn’t matter if you’re an entrepreneur, a billionaire, or an author looking to market your latest novel – numbers don’t lie! A few months ago, we published a blog about how to calculate the value of your advertising spend. Since then, I’ve worked with several authors who’ve benefited from a deeper dive into the subject, since it’s one of the biggest and most deadly stumbling blocks for those authors hoping to make a living out of writing. The Importance of Data Billionaires become so through fractions of a percentage. An increase of a… Read More >
Author Spotlight Interview: Iris Morland
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on May 11, 2021
Today we’re talking to Hidden Gems reader favorite, Iris Morland, who recently became USA Today Bestselling Author Iris Morland when The Youngers collection hit the list in April. Iris writes contemporary romance and steamy romantic comedies that are enjoyed by a broad audience. It was an honor to chat with her about her path to writing, what she has in the works and to learn more about her life outside of being an author. HG: Welcome, Iris! Let’s dive right in. How would you describe yourself to somebody who isn’t familiar with your writing yet? IM: I like to think my writing is fun, full of banter between the hero and heroine. I’m also very fond of swoon-y speeches from the hero, and lots of smaller details about the characters that make them come alive. I love including little anecdotes, whether about a particular hobby, or something important in the… Read More >
Scaling your ads means thinking outside the box
By: Ginger | Posted on May 7, 2021
Any author who has tried to scale their book’s advertising campaign has probably experienced the pain of a corresponding drop off in ad performance. Unfortunately, simply increasing your advertising spend doesn’t mean your sales will also increase at the same rate. In fact, in some cases they may not even increase at all, you’ll just spend more money for the same results! Ginger explains why that is, and offers up some alternative ways at scaling ads up on the different advertising platforms. I hear the same questions from authors again and again when I do consulting sessions with them – and I’m painfully familiar with them myself, because they normally involve challenges I’ve also encountered on the path of self publishing success. One of the biggest is the issue of scaling your ad spend. Facebook, Advertising on Amazon, or BookBub, it doesn’t really matter where it is – the… Read More >
Highly-Rated Women’s Fiction
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on May 4, 2021
Women’s Fiction can range from flirty, fun and humorous to heartfelt and deeply emotional. Today we’ve rounded up 5 women’s fiction novels that were highly rated by Hidden Gems ARC readers recently. You’ll absolutely want to add these to your TBR list no matter what mood you’re in. Under the Light of the Italian Moon by Jennifer Anton Over 650 reviews and an almost unheard of average 4.7 star rating on Amazon is reason enough to pick this one up. Spanning over two decades, Under the Light of the Italian Moon is an epic, emotional and triumphant tale of one woman’s incredible resilience during the rise of fascism and Italy’s collapse into WWII. Fans of Elena Ferrante’s novels, Beneath A Scarlet Sky, All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will enjoy this Italian saga about strong women, survival and love. “I was immersed… Read More >
