Check out the new, improved and cheaper ($7.99) mass market edition of
Antarktos Rising. It came out AMAZING!
WHAT I LIKE TO READ:
I'm often asked what books/authors I would recommend
from readers who have read all of my books and are looking for more good
reads. If you're one of those folks and are looking for a good read, I
have provided my top 40 picks for novels by some of my favorite
authors. Enjoy.
I think this is the most common question I'm asked by authors. And there is no easy answer. The list of potential marketing techniques is vast and there are books dedicated to the subject (don't ask me what they are, scan around and find what fits you best). So when I talk about HOW you should market your book, I'm not talking technique. Forget viral videos, listmania lists, podcasts, and the million other possibilities available to you and prepare for some three point wax on, wax off, goodness.
1. Innovation
Forget what the marketing books say, come up with your own brilliant scheme. That's not to say you should ignore tried and true marketing, but you should innovate your own methods for your book. Here's some examples of things I've done int he past--some of which are mainstream marketing now.
• Book trailer: when I made my first there were very few other book trailers being used as marketing vehicles.
• Viral Video: To my knowledge I was the second author to create a viral video to promote a novel. I was certainly the first author to create TEN viral videos. They've been viewed more than 300,000 times.
• Virtual Book Signing: I was one of the first authors to do this, and was absolutely the first to officially partner with Skype.
That's just three of many strategies I've tried. Did they all work? I'm not going to say. What doesn't work for me may work for you. The point is, try something new. As a fiction author it's nearly impossible to get press, but every time I try a new marketing technique I get lots of press coverage. So there are side benefits to trying something new, even if it doesn't work.
2. Dedication
What ever you pick, stick with it. Don't give up half way through. Be committed and see it through. I see a lot of authors take up a marketing project with lots of excitement only to let it drop when the commitment becomes too large. Don't start a podcast novel if you can't see it through. Don't promise a viral video campaign and fail to deliver. You get the point. If you put something out for public consumption, finish it. Not doing so could actually harm your efforts.
For example, last year I launched a contest for the hard cover release of PULE. I created a viral video and asked fans to create their own. The winner would get an AMAZING prize package of signed novels donated by authors. How did it turn out? Two people entered. I could have let it drop and fade away, apologizing to the two entrants, but I didn't. I saw it through to the end and ended up paying $250 to ship the prize package to NEW ZEALAND! But those two entrants were thrilled and have been spreading the word about my books since. Who knows what they would have said if I pulled out.
3. Fearlessness
One of the best compliments I've got as an author was from Scott Sigler. He called me fearless because I'm willing to try anything. I've made a fool of myself on several occasions and will continue to do so. Of course, being fearless doesn't mean you have to make a fool of yourself. That's just my personality. I'm a little loco, especially when I've got a video camera.
You might be camera shy. You might be afraid of public speaking. You might have a fear of technology. Get. Over. It.
I took a public speaking class in college. I hated every second of it and spent ten minutes before every class in the bathroom. It's the closest I've experienced to sheer terror. But I forced my way through it and got an astonishing A+ (I think the prof was being merciful--did I mention I did my final presentation with my fly down? I won brownie points with the jocks in the class who thought I did it on purpose--but I will forever check my fly before getting up in front of people).
Anywho, I have gone on to do many signings, workshops and lectures since publishing my books. I'm at a point now where a group of 30 people hardly phases me. My new found tolerance for public speaking was challenged last summer when I was a Panel Master at Thrillerfest, but once again I made it through. I could have said "no" to all these things and stayed in my comfortable bubble, but I didn't. And you can't afford to, either. You're in the trenches of self-promotion. If you don't get out and charge the front line you're going to get rolled over. Cheesy analogy? Maybe. But accurate.
So when you think about HOW you need to market, don't just think about what you need to do, think about the intensity with which you will complete the task. Will you innovate something new? Will you dedicate yourself and see it through? Will you face your fears and conquer them? If not, well, I'm going to. Your competition is going to. So take some marketing, wax it on, wax it off and repeat until you can do it on reflex. If it can make Ralph Machio a force to be reckoned with, it can help you sell a few books.
PULSE is now out in mass market format, which means its more affordable than ever ($7.99). Snag it now and get caught up with the Chess Team in time for INSTINCT (April 13). Think about it, you can either go eat at McDonald's, which takes what, 20 minutes. Then you can feel sick for an hour, then feel fat, then depressed.
OR you can get PULSE, be entertained for eight hours, lose weight (you won't be getting up to eat) and feel better about yourself AND have a smile on your face because the book is so fun. So what will it be? The choice is yours. Fat and depressed or healthy and happy.
I will be at the Barnes&Noble in Manchester NH at 7pm on July 24. Join me for some fun and get your copy of PULSE signed. Come loaded with questions, too! I'll talk about writing, publishing, life on Mars--whatever! Hope to see you there.
Episode 12 of the FREE Kronos podcast novel is up and available for download. Check it out!
Episode summary: Atticus opens a can of pain on the crew of the Titan while Oshea and Andrea try to make contact with the outside world. Meanwhile, Giona begins to figure out what's going on.
Episode 10 of the FREE Kronos podcast novel is up and available for download. Check it out!
Episode summary: In the wake of Atticus's startling discovery, alliances melt down and aggression ratchets up. Who can be trusted and who is the true enemy is put to the test.
Episode 8 of the FREE Kronos podcast novel is up and available for download. Check it out!
O'shea gives Atticus a tip that results in a showdown between Atticus and Remus. Andrea makes her way on board the Titan. Atticus and Andrea tend to wounds, physical and emotional. Trevor and Remus add "peeping Tom" to their list of offenses.
Ready to win the most amazing prize a novel reader could wish for? Well, I'm ready to give it to the winner of my new viral video contest. Click here for the details. But in short, here's the deal. Check out my viral video, then make one of your own, featuring PULSE. Link it back to mine and the person who gets the most views on their viral video wins this insane prize (which continues to grow!).
SIGNED COPIES of these books have been graciously donated:
• James Rollins - The Doomsday Key • Steve Berry - The Paris Vendetta ARC • Steve Alten - MEG: Hell's Aquarium • Thomas Greanias - The Atlantis Prophecy • JC Hutchins - Personal Effects: Dark Art • Karen Dionne - Freezing Point • Scott Sigler - VERY RARE: UK paperback of Infected and Australian trade paperback of Contagious
SIGNED COPIES of My books, including:
• Pulse Hardcover • Pulse ARC • Antarktos Rising • Kronos • Raising the Past • The Didymus Contingency • The Didymus Contingency - Bulgarian • Antarktos Rising - Spanish • The Screenplay Workbook
Also, these books from my personal collection:
• Stel Pavlou - Decipher • David Lynn Golemon - Ancients • David Lynn Golemon - Legend • David Lynn Golemon - Event • AJ Tata - Sudden Threat • Joseph Flynn - The President's Henchman • Sean Young - Violent Sands • David Michaels, Daniel Brenton - Red Moon • Seth Harwood - Jack Wakes Up
For months I have been talking about the podcast novel version of Kronos. Well, it's finally here and the first six episodes are available for download from podiobooks.com. You can also find the download links on my website. While you're there sign up for a subscription and get the next bunch of episodes as soon as they come out. Be sure to rate the book (5 stars please) and forward this to anyone you know who enjoys podcasts or audiobooks. The book is being narrated by Jeff Kafer, 2008 Voicey Award winner for Best New Voice, so you know it's good listening, and the story isn't half-bad either. My personal RSS feeds and iTunes listings will soon be available.
If you are a podcaster, know a podcaster, run a blog or frequent facebook, myspace or Twitter, feel free to download or link to this super cool audio spot for the podcast.
Have you wanted to sign up for Jeremy Robinson's Virtual Book Signing (powered by Skype), but don't have a video camera compatible with your computer? ... Then in turn you thought, "well, it's not worth spending the money for this one time use"? Well, today you have the opportunity of receiving a brand new Skype certified Logitech QuickCam (free shipping via Priority Mail) - open to continental US residents only (sorry)! All you need to do is sign-up for the VBS, order both Antarktos Rising and Kronos, and we will send it to you(all transactions are final after shipment)! Supplies are extremely limited to the first five sign ups starting today, January 14, 2009, and ending January 18, 2009. Be sure to add "for promo" when prompted by PayPal for your Skype ID. How can you beat that? Two books plus a Logitech QuickCam for about $20!
To sign up for the event, go to our Virtual Book Signing page and select the day that works best for you! It's that easy! Once we receive your order, we will confirm your address, Skype username, etc. to make it all official. If you're not sure that the QuickCam will work with your PC, please visit Logitech for Minimum System Requirements.
Thanks! See you next week!
There you have it, right from the publisher! Though I may not see all of you there, I look forward to meeting with my fans in 'Round 2' of this exciting event!
• THE PRESIDENT'S HENCHMAN is also in and is Variance's second hardcover! Cover created by yours truly, interior design by Stan. TPH will be out Jan 13!
• Question 1a - What is a perfect book? One you start reading and can't put down... when you do all you think about is that book! For me, that was Descent by Jeff Long, and its sequel, Deeper. It was inspirational to me and my writing, thanks Jeff! ... Where is the third book?
• Q 1b - Do you read your books after release? Do you think you can make it better after its release? I don't always read them after release, only if a sequel is in the works. Though, through editing I have to read them many times pre-release. Sure, I do think that they can be better post-release, but that is part of the growth process... but I don't do it, I just improve my new novels.
• Q 2 - What kind of machine prints your books? I don't really know. We send our novels to printers (we have two, one mass market, one hard cover), but what I do know is it is offset printing and we do large print runs.
There was over nine minutes of updates this week! I hope you enjoy watching what a day in the life of a new dad, while running a small publisher, looks like on a daily basis!
• The baby came! A healthy baby girl by the name of Norah made her way into the world the day after Thanksgiving. All are good... tired, but good.
• Question: Any advice you can give in setting up a publishing company? -Wow, HUGE question! Two pieces of advice can be given though... #1, Hire/employ people who are good at what they need to do (interiors, design, etc)! It makes the process that much easier. #2, Be ready to FIGHT! This is a very competitive business and if you aren't ready to come out swinging from the first bell ring, don't bother. Also, read POD People, that answers many questions people may have.
• Sudden Threat came out the Tuesday before Thanksgiving! It sold 1,000 copies in its first week! Quite the amazing feat, congrats to A.J. Tata for making our first hard cover a hit! Continue to buy it to make it a New York Times bestseller!
• Enjoy seeing and hearing about some of the steps we have to OK as Variance from our printers.
• Enjoy seeing and hearing about some of the steps Jeremy has to OK as an author from his publisher, Thomas Dunne, to finalize the edits of PULSE, his first hard cover release.
Thanks for the well wishes for the Robinson clan. More info next week friends! See you then.
"If you like thrillers original, unpredictable and chock-full of action, you are going to love Jeremy Robinson's Chess Team. INSTINCT riveted me to my chair."
--Stephen Coonts, NY Times bestselling author of THE DISCIPLE and DEEP BLACK: ARCTIC GOLD
"Jeremy Robinson is a fresh new face in adventure writing and will make a mark in suspense for years to come."
--David Lynn Golemon, NY Times bestselling author of LEGEND and EVENT
"Instinct is a jungle fever of raw adrenaline that goes straight for the jugular."
--Thomas Greanias, NY Times bestselling author of THE ATLANTIS PROPHECY and THE PROMISED WAR
"Rocket-boosted action, brilliant speculation, and the recreation of a horror out of the mythologic past, all seamlessly blend into a rollercoaster ride of suspense and adventure." -- James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST ORACLE
"PULSE contains all of the danger, treachery, and action a reader could wish for." -- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of THE CHARLEMAGNE PURSUIT
"There's nothing timid about Robinson as he drops his readers off the cliff without a parachute and somehow manages to catch us an inch or two from doom." -- Jeff Long, New York Times bestselling author of THE DESCENT and YEAR ZERO
"Jeremy Robinson's
latest is Moby Dick meets James Bond thriller with an amazing
twist, offering page-turning results."
-- Steve
Alten, N.Y. Times best-selling author
of MEG & The LOCH
"Jeremy Robinson peers into the deep. What
lurks there is timeless, yet as old as the sea. The fear that
dwells in men's hearts has a face and it has come to the
surface."
-- Stel
Pavlou, International Bestselling
author of Decipher and Gene
"Kronos was a surprisingly great read-- gripping!" -- Rob Kall,opednews.com
"Jeremy Robinson is
an original and exciting voice. [Antarktos Rising] fires on all
cylinders in a smart, taut thrill."
-- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of THE
VENETIAN BETRAYAL and THE CHARLEMAGNE PURSUIT
"Robinson opens a
new dark continent of terror. Trespass at your own risk."
-- James
Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Black Order and
The Judas Strain
_____________________
Fan Pages
_____________________
INTERVIEWS
Here are some links to
interviews I've done, past and present--newest on top.
I'm a huge fan of the genre I write,
and read books by the following authors like they were my Grandma
Vincent's homemade chocolate bon-bons on Christmas Eve. If
you're a fan of any of these authors, you'll feel right at home
within the pages of my books.
jamesrollins.com - My favorite
author, and my biggest supporter, James Rollins, bestselling author
of BLACK ORDER and THE JUDAS STRAIN can do no wrong in my book. I've
been a fan since reading SUBTERRANEAN maybe seven years ago.
prestonchild.com - Douglas
Preston and Lincoln Child are the fantastic writing duo that brought
us THE RELIC, DEEP STORM and BOOK OF THE DEAD. Whether they're
writing together or solo, these guys don't miss.
matthewreilly.com - Matthew Reilly's novels are basically
action-adventure/thrillers on speed. I love his creative and his
non-stop pace. His first novel, CONTEST is not only my favorite
of his, but it was also originally self-published...no wonder I
like him!
stevealten.com - Steve Alten thinks big...big creatures
that is. I discovered his books about two years ago and read one
after the other until I ran out, finishing with THE LOCH, which
I have to admit was a major inspiration (along with his MEG
series) for the novel I just finished writing. I am now proud to
say that I am publishing the next book in the MEG series, HELL'S
AQUARIUM through my publishing company, Variance.
crichton-official.com - Not including
his two most recent book, Michael Crichton is the master of science
based thrillers. JURASSIC PARK, THE LOST WORLD, TIMELINE, SPHERE and
PREY all rank among my favorite novels.
scottsigler.com Scott is not only a cool guy, but he
also writes awesome novels. Ancestor, which I blurbed, is one of
my favorite new novels. Look for his future books, INFESTED and
NOCTURNAL from Crown Books.
jackdubrulbooks.com - When you're looking for action
adventure novels, Jack DuBrul's character, Phillip Mercer, can't
be beat. And now that DuBrul is teaming up with the granddaddy
of the genre, Clive Cussler, we'll be seeing a lot more from
him.
stelpavlou.com - Not only is Stel a stand up Brit and a
really nice guy, but he's also written one of the finest books
of the last 10 years. DECIPHER is an amazing and smart thriller.
