Help me keep my mother-in-law occupied with her KDP-published novel
November 8, 2023 8:37 AM Subscribe
Short version: My mother-in-law wrote a YA/kids novel many years ago. My husband and I scanned it and have laid it out and produced a custom-designed (i.e. non-template) cover for it. We plan to give her the book and hand over the Amazon KDP account to her so that she can do whatever she likes with it. But here's the real question: What can an 80-year-old with decent, but limited mobility, do to promote her book? Bonus: She isn't especially tech-savvy. (more inside)
Longer version: My mother-in-law has been in desperate need of a project to keep her busy. She's becoming isolated and has lost some of her interest in engaging with the world. But she has always wanted to share her writing with people (and she's also still writing).
She wrote the book that we've put on Amazon KDP about 35 years ago, and weirdly, it reads like a contemporary, retro-80s YA book. I think that works well for her, as there's some real nostalgia still around kids' lives in that period.
When we hand over the account to her, we want to help her schedule some projects that might help boost the book's readership. But they can't be too difficult (in terms of technology), nor should they be too expensive.
She lives in South Florida, in a pretty populated area. So library readings, community center events, etc. are a possibility for her. She'd also love these, as she enjoys interacting with people.
[Side note: Printing copies of the book to take to a signing might also make this feel more legit to her, so don't shy away from proposing things that might require hard copies (it's actually a paperback now, but you get the idea).]
What other things can she do?
Longer version: My mother-in-law has been in desperate need of a project to keep her busy. She's becoming isolated and has lost some of her interest in engaging with the world. But she has always wanted to share her writing with people (and she's also still writing).
She wrote the book that we've put on Amazon KDP about 35 years ago, and weirdly, it reads like a contemporary, retro-80s YA book. I think that works well for her, as there's some real nostalgia still around kids' lives in that period.
When we hand over the account to her, we want to help her schedule some projects that might help boost the book's readership. But they can't be too difficult (in terms of technology), nor should they be too expensive.
She lives in South Florida, in a pretty populated area. So library readings, community center events, etc. are a possibility for her. She'd also love these, as she enjoys interacting with people.
[Side note: Printing copies of the book to take to a signing might also make this feel more legit to her, so don't shy away from proposing things that might require hard copies (it's actually a paperback now, but you get the idea).]
What other things can she do?
Depending on how not tech-savvy she is, a reddit AMA as an author? You can pepper the thread with questions for her to answer?
Become a goodreads author and have a blog.
A substack or other newsletter that can start with family and friends as the subscribers.
Assisted-living facilities might like events such as reading portions of the book. The activity directors of these types of places would be who would be interested in scheduling these events. Maybe a weekly reading of a chapter or two a week.
Writing groups. Perhaps through the library.
Go to book groups that read the book.
The local community college may have classes about writing memoirs / stories about your life. I wonder if that would prompt her to write more.
posted by RoadScholar at 9:39 AM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Become a goodreads author and have a blog.
A substack or other newsletter that can start with family and friends as the subscribers.
Assisted-living facilities might like events such as reading portions of the book. The activity directors of these types of places would be who would be interested in scheduling these events. Maybe a weekly reading of a chapter or two a week.
Writing groups. Perhaps through the library.
Go to book groups that read the book.
The local community college may have classes about writing memoirs / stories about your life. I wonder if that would prompt her to write more.
posted by RoadScholar at 9:39 AM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Since it's a YA book, maybe contacting a local school library would yield opportunities or ideas?
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:53 AM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:53 AM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think the best low-tech approach for her would be to find a writing group, perhaps through the local library or a seniors group. Undoubtedly folks in that group will be publishing on Amazon. That won't get people reading her book exactly, but I suspect it will help her shift into the mode of author and engage with others who are also writing, and likely get her some ideas. It might help inspire her to do some more writing?
Some of the online advice talks about social media presence and a blog. I'm guessing that might be beyond what you can facilitate, but could you set her up with a blog that's easy to publish?
The other suggestion is to find some readers and have them write reviews. So, I think that means that you all review it with your Amazon accounts, and maybe ask friends to do the same. You can also find the lists of top reviewers for YA books in roughly the same genre and give them a copy.
In terms of libraries: my guess is that it's going to be hard to get a library to host a reading if she doesn't already have a reading audience, since she's not publishing through a traditional press. Authors of self-published books sometimes do give books to local libraries, so you could consider printing a few copies and seeing if any local libraries would accept them for their collection (it's a bit of a stretch, I think, but worth trying?).
posted by bluedaisy at 11:17 AM on November 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
Some of the online advice talks about social media presence and a blog. I'm guessing that might be beyond what you can facilitate, but could you set her up with a blog that's easy to publish?
The other suggestion is to find some readers and have them write reviews. So, I think that means that you all review it with your Amazon accounts, and maybe ask friends to do the same. You can also find the lists of top reviewers for YA books in roughly the same genre and give them a copy.
In terms of libraries: my guess is that it's going to be hard to get a library to host a reading if she doesn't already have a reading audience, since she's not publishing through a traditional press. Authors of self-published books sometimes do give books to local libraries, so you could consider printing a few copies and seeing if any local libraries would accept them for their collection (it's a bit of a stretch, I think, but worth trying?).
posted by bluedaisy at 11:17 AM on November 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
Amazon Ads, it requires a little savvy, but it works and you get metrics.
posted by credulous at 11:22 AM on November 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by credulous at 11:22 AM on November 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
Have her contact influencers in #booktok and #bookstagram. In exchange for free copies of the book (or a PDF), many will do reviews to fill their own content needs!
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 12:34 PM on November 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 12:34 PM on November 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
See if she writes fanfic and help her get an AO3 account. Lots of people there post their original fiction as the platform accepts all, but if she’s open to trying a fandom she likes, there is nothing quite like posting something and getting immediate comments.
You can also try TikTok which is very easy for posting content - she could share book reviews or writing tips.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:02 PM on November 8, 2023
You can also try TikTok which is very easy for posting content - she could share book reviews or writing tips.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 5:02 PM on November 8, 2023
If she has a performer streak, maybe record her reading it aloud, and if you could share it as a podcast. Note that audiobooks are recorded over multiple days so it’s not too exhausting.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:14 PM on November 8, 2023
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:14 PM on November 8, 2023
Seconding suggest she join a writers group. Since the pandemic, a lot of them migrated permanently to zoom or hybrid, so it’s easier to attend one that’s not conveniently located if you like the people or the format. The group I belong to literally has half its membership out of state, but we keep getting new members and keeping old ones bc it’s effective for development and it’s nice low key socializing.
ETA we have monthly speakers to address a range of developmental needs from learning to write to marketing a published book
posted by toodleydoodley at 5:47 PM on November 8, 2023
ETA we have monthly speakers to address a range of developmental needs from learning to write to marketing a published book
posted by toodleydoodley at 5:47 PM on November 8, 2023
If you're willing to throw a little money at this, you could sign her up for NetGalley, which is a pretty efficient way to get reviews, and if she has an email address she will receive the reviews from netgalley (readers have to provide the review back to the site to keep getting free-to-them books). I used to do this when I ran Upper Rubber Boot Books, and I think it was about $500 to list a title.
I like the suggestions above for libraries and bookstores, assisted-living facilities and writing groups.
I have no experience with them but Florida Writers Association (https://www.floridawriters.org/) might be helpful to her. I'm a member of the Nova Scotian version of this group (not affiliated) and they are great so maybe this group will be similarly helpful to meet other writers/writing groups.
posted by joannemerriam at 8:07 AM on November 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
I like the suggestions above for libraries and bookstores, assisted-living facilities and writing groups.
I have no experience with them but Florida Writers Association (https://www.floridawriters.org/) might be helpful to her. I'm a member of the Nova Scotian version of this group (not affiliated) and they are great so maybe this group will be similarly helpful to meet other writers/writing groups.
posted by joannemerriam at 8:07 AM on November 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
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