Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell

 

“It is Friday Lucy.”
“Yup Little Potato it is.”
“Let’s party.”
“Okay. You get the water bowl, and I’ll get the kibble.”

Here’s Friday. Seems like it was just Friday yesterday. Well, that’s how it goes when busy. What came to my mind this week other than the crappy weather was the subject of newsletters. I guess we all know that one way to boost book sales is to have regular contact with a core fan base. Hence the birth of the newsletter.

The newsletter is supposed to give the subscriber an inside track on giveaways, new launch news, and importantly (to most pushing newsletters) a closer and intimate relationship with your favorite author.

I keep hearing how some authors have amassed thousands of followers on their newsletter. In fact, they have such a good system in gaining followers they are willing to sell you the secret for oh, $250 bucks. Now that $250 also gets you an inside track to Hollywood, an agent, and publishers. Still not convinced? Try it free for 30 days. If you don’t increase your subscriptions and land a Hollywood deal, you can get your money back.

Okay so maybe I exaggerate. I have about 1100 newsletter followers and guess what? During the time I sent entertaining, erudite newsletters I don’t think one of them purchased a book. I could give away books until the cows come home yet I see no reviews. So what am I doing wrong? I guess plenty. I stopped communicating regularly since it was a lot of hard work for very little return.

Much like Amazon advertising, I am in the dark on how to have an energetic newsletter program. I do know that if I signed up for every newsletter offered, I would get over 350 in a month. Can you imagine? Most are about 1200 words. That would be like reading an extra five books a month. No wonder my letter doesn’t get traction. I’ll bet my average subscriber gets quite a few each day and can only skim them at best. I gotta think this through. Today’s JohnKu talks about beating on reader’s doors to get them to buy our books.

The reader by John W. Howell ©2019

Sitting quite content,

The reader’s door gets pounded . . .

An author needs sales.

Also, I am happy to say that The Contract by Gwen Plano and I has been selected as a semifinalist in the Global Thriller Book Awards for 2018. We are among thirteen semi-finalists. This is a juried award and not one that can be decided by reader votes.

Here is the list.

  • Richard Garis – Magenta is Missing
  • Randall Krzak – Dangerous Alliance
  • Timothy S. Johnston – The War Beneath
  • R. Barber Anderson – The Sunken Forest
  • John W. Howell & Gwen M. Plano – The Contract Between Heaven and Earth
  • E.M. Kelly – Addiction & Pestilence
  • Rachael Sparks – Resistant
  • Michael Pronko – The Moving Blade
  • Randall Krzak – The Kurdish Connection
  • Lawrence Verigin – Beyond Control
  • Harvey A. Schwartz – Never Again
  • Elena Mikalsen – All the Silent Voices
  • Paul McHugh – The Blind Pool

We will find out in April if we have been selected as the first place winner

Chanticleer semi finalist

96 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF”

  1. Congratulations to you and Gwen! A much deserved nomination, John. As for newsletters…I don’t get the big push for it. I think people sign up for free books. I don’t have a newsletter…perhaps I’m doing it all wrong, but I think the interaction of blogging promotes better sales than a newsletter that goes into someone’s junk mail. As for it feeling like it was “just Friday” I’ll probably feel that way if I ever retire. 🙂 Have a great weekend and congratulations!

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Congratulations to you and Gwen, John. Your nomination is well deserved. You have a newsletter? Who knew. Oh well.

    I think the best way to get me to buy your books is to write well. You do. I have. I’m with Lucy. I’ll get the beverage, you get the snacks, let’s read.

    Liked by 3 people

      1. Do you want some help with that? For a small fee of…

        Sorry, just kidding. If I can be of help, I would be happy to. I’ve published newsletters for several organizations, but not digitally – in the old days.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I have often wondered about this idea of a newsletter, John. I read a lot of blogs. I enjoy a good article and it gives me insight into the authors work. Writers usually post the odd article about their own reviews and books. I buy lots of books this way. I never read newsletters. It reminds me of school.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Congrats on the nomination, John. There certainly are advantages to juried competitions, depending on how any popular polls are structured. Of course, one would hope that the jury members would be well-read and intelligent enough to declare you the winner!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. The right way meaning you touch everyone you come across. And you are prolific not simply in your writing, but in how you connect with people. I mean, REALLY connect with people.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Congratulations on being selected as a semifinalist in the Global Thriller Book Awards. About the newsletters, I’m ashamed to say that I don’t read half of them. As you say, not enough time.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I’ve been wondering about sales and reviews too this week. Wish I had an answer. Does feel like free moves, but you don’t get feedback very often. Can’t even tell if people are moving on to the rest of my series.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Congratulations, John … and good luck. Sure hope the presenters read the right card at the awards ceremony. Meanwhile, I can’t imagine the sales agony independent authors as yourself go through.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Congratulations you two. I still don’t have a newsletter. Friends keep telling me I need one, but I just don’t like the whole idea. I don’t like the ones I receive, and delete most of them without a second thought.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Both you and my friend Rochelle are in the same boat. Fabulous writers who wish their books were selling more. I dunno about newsletters (bloody hell, I have trouble keeping up with the bloggers I love!)
    I do know one thing, though. And since “hanging” with authors, I write a review everywhere I can once I’ve finished a book… As I did for “Circumstances of Childhood” as I will when I get to “The Contract” and every other book I will read.

    Congrats on the nomination! Keep doing what needs to be done! I send good vibes your way (yeah, yeah, I know. What good are vibes? I dunno, but I like to hope they help!)

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Wonderful news, John — congrats to you and Gwen, and fingers crossed the panel deems y’all the winners! I’ve heard that newsletters are a MUST, too, but golly, isn’t a writer’s first priority to write?!? I just don’t know where “they” expect us to squeeze out more time for that sort of marketing/publicity stuff. Grrr!!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for blazing the trail, John. I imagine a newsletter is a good idea — if it’s done well — but who wants to slight their WIP for that, and from what I’m gathering, who wants to read one either (even if it’s by an author they love??!)

        Liked by 1 person

  19. What exciting news for “The Contract!” Fingers crossed. This is a fantastic story! I totally understand what you are saying about a newsletter, John. I have toyed with the idea for two years and finally decided that my blog would have to serve as my newsletter. I don’t have the time nor energy to attack yet a different medium of social media. I may be missing the boat, but it won’t be the first nor the last boat I’ve missed. 🙂 Love the JohnKu!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Congratulations on being a semifinalist in the Global Thriller Book Awards, John. That is good news at least. I have had exactly the same experience with newsletters and Amazon ads. This assumption that we are sold, that if someone hands over their email address, it equates to them becoming a loyal fan, is absolute rubbish.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Congratulations, John, and Happy Friday (for once, I´m on time :)). I do subscribe to a few newsletters, but I don´t buy books based on the newsletter. It´s nice to know when a favorite author might be going on a book tour or when his next book is coming out, but I don´t buy that newsletters bring an author and reader closer together. I agree with Jill that blogging probably works best for that relationship. Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. You make some valid points on newsletters John. I’m not as likely to read them but I do have a few I enjoy. I’ve developed some friendships with my newsletter that are different from my blog so I continue with it for that part. I guess we stay where our interest is being held and we like the person, too. Yes we do need/want sales. Still hoping to run into a reading fairy:) Huge Congrats on being a semi finalist. It’s much deserved and I’m rooting for you guys!

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Congrats to you and Gwen and best of luck going forward.
    Newsletters? I subscribe to *#* newsletters and truth-be-told, I barely have time to keep up with reading and commenting on blogs, so, at best, I just peruse the newsletters.
    Reviews? Unless your books are being read by other authors or by book bloggers, you wont’ get many reviews. The average person only thinks about reviewing anything (book or products) unless they feel they’ve wasted their money or thought it was horrible. Whenever someone tells me about a book they’ve enjoyed, I ask if they left a review on Amazon, B & N, or Goodreads. I’ve yet to have anyone tell me they did. We need to do a better job of getting readers to post their thoughts about a book, even if only to say, “It was good.”

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Pingback: Book Review “The Contract: between heaven and earth,” John W. Howell, Gwen M. Plano – Victoria Ray

  27. Look, about newsletters – so agreed with you!…its a huge mystery to me how they are doing that. Because I have to tell you honestly, I’m trying to skip reading newsletters (lol, I’m getting too many) and I don’t want spend time writing them (when I can write or do something else instead..) – so I don’t know. Have to try it tho.
    About semi-finalist – CONGRATS!
    And I finally posted the review of “Contract”, I’ll post on Amazon and Goodreads today as well. It was a delay tho, my dog got problems with teeth (mouth, ingrown tooth, inflammation), so she had surgery today. The second dog, Sky…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so sorry about sky. Dogs usually come out of tooth surgery quite well. We have had a number on ours. Thank you for the lovely review. I had to laugh out loud in a couple of spots. It was very good and I enjoyed it.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. 🍸🎇 Congratulations, John and Gwen! I’m delighted for you. As for Newsletters? Nyah, I tried it on for size and it just wasn’t a comfortable fit for me. Frankly, I resented spending the time I should have been dedicating to improving my writing craft. I know I don’t have the time to read many of the ones I receive. Marketing continues to be a huge learning curve that my brain has problems keeping up with. Remind me again why we do this to ourselves, my friend.😊

    Liked by 1 person

  31. That is fabulous John.. and Gwen.. so pleased for you both. As to newsletters I don’t subscribe, as you say I would be reading instead of writing with the number that would come through. I don’t usually except free books either as I prefer to buy those I review, and I don’t like giving my email address out on other blogs. Something unfortunately has become more prevalent of late. Anyway.. fantastic news.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Congratulations, John. I agree on the newsletter front. I think if you are known and have a traction, people will read your book no matter what, and, otherwise… well, it’s with the gods. What works wonderfully for one person seems to do nothing for another, and there are so many variables it’s impossible to know what makes a difference. Good luck with the award!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Olga. There are many variables it’s true. I have a problem trying to do a newletter that has as the primary objective the selling of books. I think folks can see through that motive. I receive one from a well known author and have finally unsubscribed since I came to the realization I just don’t want to hear anymore stories of how hard the poor thing works at the craft of writing.

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  33. If congratulations were book sales, eh John! I know we shouldn’t – in some respects – look back and compare, but I can’t help it now and then….Back-tracking to 1983/4, my first two factual books were published by mainstream publishers. Oh, what joy! And sales…Fast forward to 2000 plus….there’s no comparison. Just finding a mainstream publisher was difficult enough. The fact that, technically, I’m as adept as a sheep, there’s not a lot more to add…Nevertheless (husband reckons I was born with a pen in my hand) writing gives me immense pleasure – masochist that I am. Being an eclectic writer is not the best way forward….but we can only live in hope. All the above said, you deserve congratulations. Life is full of surprises and sales could sky-rocket. Hopefully!

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Congratulations to you and Gwen, and good luck with the final judgment. (Man, that sounds grim; not meant that way). This post and all the comments have finally convinced me I can stop fretting about not having a newsletter or building an email list. Your point that a blog is a way better way of actually engaging with readers is excellent.

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Congrats John on your nomination for your book with Gwen. Wishing you two much success. As for the newsletter, I’m with the masses on bombardment. If readers like what we put out on our blogs, some become interested in our books, then word of mouth. I’m not interested in competing with the numerous newsletters out there. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Wow, John. Congrats on being a finalist. Awesome.
    When authors talk about news letters, I’ve never seen the point — if one is also doing a blog. The blog serves the same purpose… That’s my two cents’ worth anyhow. Have a sublime Sunday.

    Liked by 1 person

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