My mother was on the local library board for years and I was asking her recently about my idea to turn my podcast into a Bedtime Stories for Insomniacs LIVE event, where I do a live read of one of the stories from the podcast with practical sound effects (rather than digital) and some pre-recorded music. She mentioned that the library would very likely be open to such a presentation since they receive grants that require them to spend the money on programming for the community.
I know, too, as Robin mentioned, libraries often have a bias toward local or even region authors.
I really believe that could work for you as well. Pair up with a local author and do an episode streaming live on Facebook--the library may have their own channel to broadcast it on--and then you've also got a podcast episode ready to drop.
I must have the same mental disorder you have. Only I'm not only thinking of ways I can keep going, but how to keep you going as well...
I love everything about this comment, and I am grateful for your support Rich. I too am in it for you to win it. Your books are so good, they demand an audience. It's a good thing you're more patient than I am. Balance in approaches is so important!
I told you the first time we talked, that I expected it to take 5 years or more for me to create a critical mass audience for my podcast and books. After a year and a half, I see the growth I was hoping for. My audience has increased 5-fold over last year. If I can do that again next year, and then again, I know I'm on the path to financial success. Sucks that I have to have the day job (and the part-time night job) in the mean time, but I had my time in Hollywood to make that my full time effort. Now with college tuition and a mortgage, I just have to adjust my expectations a bit.
My dream is that sometime in the near future, while we're on the road with #writers, that we can offer a two-fer show at whatever book fair we're at, or the local library of a live episode of Bedtime Stories followed by a live episode of TRBM--maybe resurrect the old story-telling style episode where you start with a prompt and see where it goes.
Robin Bradford is amazing - wow. What a great personality. And smart. Plus, she's open to Indie authors. Incredible! She seemed SO engaged - e.g., having just listened to one of your previous podcasts just earlier that day. And her willingness to take a chance. I just love her.
Yes, yes I would love 25% of JP's name recognition, but not his reputation for not really writing his own books.
My question is, at what point has an indie author's book done well enough for her to meet the whole, "I look to see how their last book did..." What's enough to get her to look? That would be a good thing to work toward.
$75?!?????? For the love of Pete! And think about it: if the Big 5 "lend" copies for exorbitant rates and they expire, how great would less expensive books be - be they "lent" or "sold?" This is some really interesting information!
(I LOVE your wedding vows, by the way. GO CUBS!!!!)
I just wish I could get copies of my books to her to read (just to send to her). I wonder if she'd like it. She seems warm to both romance and mystery. I think I have sufficient elements of that in my stuff.
The Wire was phenomenal, by the way. I just recently binge-watched it for a second time. And I'm telling you, Omar Little is one of the most impactful characters I've ever watched. I truly, truly LOVED him. And not just him - but my gosh, the Wire was just amazing.
I don't typically enjoy conversations surrounding "diversity" - mostly because it too often gets angry and contentious - but to your and Robin's credit, I really enjoyed the perspectives on it. I found myself agreeing with both of you. So, wow, Jody, that's huge for someone like me. It was the best discussion on the topic I've ever, ever heard. Seriously.
Listening to the 1:12 mark or so, there was a huge thing I heard: trad publishing is actually taking its cue from Indies to some extent. They're typically so rigid in what they accept/publish, but then they take notice when something (e.g., "lesbian romance") starts making money outside their bubble. So they get jealous and jump on the bandwagon. Indie publishing has some power that seems to me is not yet properly harnessed - mostly because so many Indie books are trash, because the "anyone can do it" fringe of people decide THEY'RE an author "too." Bad quality, sloppily written, unedited, bad covers - all the cliches that have been attached to Indie. This is something we know but don't discuss enough, in my opinion. The revelation that we're actually DRIVING the trends to some extent is both huge and hush-hush, it seems. And Robin's take on what it takes to BE an author? Man - this woman is absolutely the best.
And I agree with Robin, Jody: You CAN'T quit something you ARE. You ARE a writer. It's impossible for you to BE something you're not.
This is my favorite episode from you in a while. You came alive in it, and your guest was exceptional. Thank you for this. What a shot in the arm.
So much to respond to here, and I'll keep it to the highlights. Yes, I needed an upbeat episode because writing isn't all attached to sales and marketing. Inside the great library info is the reality that we know where to go for readers. Library patrons read. What a great truth. And people care. And people want good books. I love how you spotlight the implication of Robin's comments on indie fiction. I hadn't connected that reality that indie is driving trad. It excites me to think that way.
For me, one of the biggest takeaways, and one I'm trying now to implement is that libraries respond to their patrons. I'm going to take a trip to West Point this week, where the library has Hoopla, and I'm going to see if I can get a few patrons to listen to my books, and I'm going to see if I can get a patron to request my book, and then I'm going to see if the book is purchased.
I worked briefly in the Home Video department at Paramount studios in my youth and they would sell copies of video tapes that were wholesaling for $5 or less in the direct-to-consumer channels for $100 or more when selling to video rental stores.
Fascinating. But I guess that does make sense. But at least that was a physical product. The concept of $75 for an ebook - and then adding that that may be only a rental - I was amazed. And a little humiliated that mine aren't currently in libraries. LOL
It was the exact same physical product that was being sold to consumers. A lot of independent video stores would just go buy a consumer copy and rent it out. Hard to wrap your mind around the idea that they willingly pay more, but like she said, it's what the people want, so the publisher can do whatever they can get away with.
My mother was on the local library board for years and I was asking her recently about my idea to turn my podcast into a Bedtime Stories for Insomniacs LIVE event, where I do a live read of one of the stories from the podcast with practical sound effects (rather than digital) and some pre-recorded music. She mentioned that the library would very likely be open to such a presentation since they receive grants that require them to spend the money on programming for the community.
I know, too, as Robin mentioned, libraries often have a bias toward local or even region authors.
I really believe that could work for you as well. Pair up with a local author and do an episode streaming live on Facebook--the library may have their own channel to broadcast it on--and then you've also got a podcast episode ready to drop.
I must have the same mental disorder you have. Only I'm not only thinking of ways I can keep going, but how to keep you going as well...
I love everything about this comment, and I am grateful for your support Rich. I too am in it for you to win it. Your books are so good, they demand an audience. It's a good thing you're more patient than I am. Balance in approaches is so important!
I told you the first time we talked, that I expected it to take 5 years or more for me to create a critical mass audience for my podcast and books. After a year and a half, I see the growth I was hoping for. My audience has increased 5-fold over last year. If I can do that again next year, and then again, I know I'm on the path to financial success. Sucks that I have to have the day job (and the part-time night job) in the mean time, but I had my time in Hollywood to make that my full time effort. Now with college tuition and a mortgage, I just have to adjust my expectations a bit.
My dream is that sometime in the near future, while we're on the road with #writers, that we can offer a two-fer show at whatever book fair we're at, or the local library of a live episode of Bedtime Stories followed by a live episode of TRBM--maybe resurrect the old story-telling style episode where you start with a prompt and see where it goes.
This is going to be fun!
Robin Bradford is amazing - wow. What a great personality. And smart. Plus, she's open to Indie authors. Incredible! She seemed SO engaged - e.g., having just listened to one of your previous podcasts just earlier that day. And her willingness to take a chance. I just love her.
Yes, yes I would love 25% of JP's name recognition, but not his reputation for not really writing his own books.
My question is, at what point has an indie author's book done well enough for her to meet the whole, "I look to see how their last book did..." What's enough to get her to look? That would be a good thing to work toward.
$75?!?????? For the love of Pete! And think about it: if the Big 5 "lend" copies for exorbitant rates and they expire, how great would less expensive books be - be they "lent" or "sold?" This is some really interesting information!
(I LOVE your wedding vows, by the way. GO CUBS!!!!)
I just wish I could get copies of my books to her to read (just to send to her). I wonder if she'd like it. She seems warm to both romance and mystery. I think I have sufficient elements of that in my stuff.
The Wire was phenomenal, by the way. I just recently binge-watched it for a second time. And I'm telling you, Omar Little is one of the most impactful characters I've ever watched. I truly, truly LOVED him. And not just him - but my gosh, the Wire was just amazing.
I don't typically enjoy conversations surrounding "diversity" - mostly because it too often gets angry and contentious - but to your and Robin's credit, I really enjoyed the perspectives on it. I found myself agreeing with both of you. So, wow, Jody, that's huge for someone like me. It was the best discussion on the topic I've ever, ever heard. Seriously.
Listening to the 1:12 mark or so, there was a huge thing I heard: trad publishing is actually taking its cue from Indies to some extent. They're typically so rigid in what they accept/publish, but then they take notice when something (e.g., "lesbian romance") starts making money outside their bubble. So they get jealous and jump on the bandwagon. Indie publishing has some power that seems to me is not yet properly harnessed - mostly because so many Indie books are trash, because the "anyone can do it" fringe of people decide THEY'RE an author "too." Bad quality, sloppily written, unedited, bad covers - all the cliches that have been attached to Indie. This is something we know but don't discuss enough, in my opinion. The revelation that we're actually DRIVING the trends to some extent is both huge and hush-hush, it seems. And Robin's take on what it takes to BE an author? Man - this woman is absolutely the best.
And I agree with Robin, Jody: You CAN'T quit something you ARE. You ARE a writer. It's impossible for you to BE something you're not.
This is my favorite episode from you in a while. You came alive in it, and your guest was exceptional. Thank you for this. What a shot in the arm.
So much to respond to here, and I'll keep it to the highlights. Yes, I needed an upbeat episode because writing isn't all attached to sales and marketing. Inside the great library info is the reality that we know where to go for readers. Library patrons read. What a great truth. And people care. And people want good books. I love how you spotlight the implication of Robin's comments on indie fiction. I hadn't connected that reality that indie is driving trad. It excites me to think that way.
For me, one of the biggest takeaways, and one I'm trying now to implement is that libraries respond to their patrons. I'm going to take a trip to West Point this week, where the library has Hoopla, and I'm going to see if I can get a few patrons to listen to my books, and I'm going to see if I can get a patron to request my book, and then I'm going to see if the book is purchased.
West Point?? Uh...New York??
Haha. No. It's a town about 15 minutes west of me.
I worked briefly in the Home Video department at Paramount studios in my youth and they would sell copies of video tapes that were wholesaling for $5 or less in the direct-to-consumer channels for $100 or more when selling to video rental stores.
Fascinating. But I guess that does make sense. But at least that was a physical product. The concept of $75 for an ebook - and then adding that that may be only a rental - I was amazed. And a little humiliated that mine aren't currently in libraries. LOL
It was the exact same physical product that was being sold to consumers. A lot of independent video stores would just go buy a consumer copy and rent it out. Hard to wrap your mind around the idea that they willingly pay more, but like she said, it's what the people want, so the publisher can do whatever they can get away with.