I Didn’t Want to Market My Book Either

Back when I was writing my first novel, I became an avid listener of the Story Grid podcast.    

The podcast features veteran editor Shawn Coyne in conversation with Tim Grahl, who was a newbie fiction writer. I found the show incredibly helpful and was so grateful to Tim for being the guinea pig that allowed the rest of us to get some great insight from Shawn about how to tell a story that works. 

Eventually, I learned that Tim had a day job where he ran his own book marketing company at BookLaunch.com. My first thought was, "Um, no. I've got no interest in that whatsoever."

As my book got nearer completion, that started to shift. I signed up for Tim's email list. I went to a few of his webinars. I saw all the parallels between the type of marketing he was doing and the type of stuff I'd been doing in my day job as a freelance copywriter. 

Then one day a few years ago, one of his newsletters contained a buried announcement about a program his was offering to train other people as book launch coaches. It was one of those lightning bolt moments for me. I HAD to sign up — I can't really even explain why. I applied, was accepted, inhaled all of his existing training online programs, then flew to Nashville where he brain dumped for a week. 

It was great and I was jazzed. I had somehow managed to create a working life that revolved around books, both writing them and helping other authors find they audience they deserved.

And then I somehow turned into a life coach.

I had to, really. In order to see my clients thrive, I realized I had to help clients achieve the growth mindset it takes to be an author.

Authors have to be willing to learn the hell out of damn near everything. We have to be willing to constantly step out of our comfort zones and do the thing that seems the hardest (or the most boring). 

For many writers, marketing themselves and their books is the biggest area of discomfort (and/or boredom). And you're not going to move through that discomfort by simply working your way through a checklist of marketing tactics.

It's my job as a book marketer (or life coach or whatever I am) to help you change your thinking about marketing so you can find a way of marketing that's both effective and authentic for YOU. 

Whether I work with someone one-on-one or in group coaching, my number one goal is to help create the mindset needed to succeed in the long term. 

If you've been stuck on marketing, even though you know you need to do it, check out the Happily Ever Author Club. It will help you with your marketing, but even more importantly, it'll help you with your mindset, so you'll actually do your marketing.

It’s strategy, coaching, feedback and an inspiring community of fellow writers — all in one place.