Why I Started an Author’s Newsletter

Last Monday, I sent out my first copy of my newsletter to a list that I have been adding to over the past week. In this newsletter, I started sharing my books and articles directly to people who have agreed that they would like to read what I have written. The newsletter will tell about the events in which I intend to participate.
I started a newsletter a couple of years ago but dropped it when I wasn’t getting the traffic that I needed to sustain it. It was on AWeber which is quite an expensive email server. This time I am using MailChimp is free up to 2000 subscribers. If I can reach 2000 subscribers, then I believe that I should be able to afford the newsletter.

The Trouble with Amazon Selling my Books

I should have started this newsletter long ago. I have been frustrated by the fact that sites like Amazon do not let me see who buys my books nor lets me let readers know when I come out with the next book. Plus I want to sell from more than just Amazon so by having a central document in which to let others know what I am doing and when I will be coming out with a new book.
Not that I have anything against Amazon. It a great search engine. It started out as an online bookstore, but now it is so much more. It used to be that if someone put their book on Amazon, they had guaranteed sales. At one time if a person put a book on Amazon Kindle, it was an immediate success. That has changed now there are half as many books now as there are people. Amazon is not that interested market my book because it is only one of millions (or perhaps billions). My books however are the only ones I have written so they are more important to me, so why shouldn’t I take my books to the audience who is likely to ready them?

Want to Build Relationships with My Readers

More importantly, I want to build a relationship with people that read my books. So far I see too many “I”s and “me”s in what I am writing and this is unsettling. I want to know who reads my books and why. I want to know that I am making a difference in people’s lives. My goal is to make this newsletter more about the reader than about me. Am I providing what they want? Are my books informative as well as entertaining? Am I sharing what they really want?

Adding Events to the Newsletters

I intend to attend numerous events this year, but so far I only have had one definite event this year. That event was last month. During this next month I am going to be working on this as well.
Once I have figured out what events and festivals are available and their costs, I will schedule this coming year accordingly (Hopefully with other members of my writers group). In addition, any week this spring that I don’t have an event planned, I am going to create other activities related to book sales and marketing.

Join My Mail Marketing Campaign

If you haven’t already, join my newsletter. It is free. In it I will share contests, let you kknow when I have free book promotions and let you know where I will have my next book signing event. Here’s the link to sign up http://eepurl.com/bPpzXX

Have a great week! Are you a writer? What is your most recent marketing success or question. I would love to hear from you.

Donna Brown is pastor at Faith in God Church  1 1/2 miles south of Brandsville, Missouri on Hwy 63. Sunday services are at 10 am and Wednesday night Bible Study at 6:30 pm.   As Author Cygnet Brown, she  has recently published her first nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener

She is also the author of historical fiction series The Locket Saga. which includes When God Turned His Head and Soldiers Don’t Cry, the Locket Saga Continues, and most recently, A Coward’s Solace, Book III of the Locket Saga

Her most recent publication were two booklets Help From Kelp and Using Diatomaceous Earth Around the House and Yard. Available in paperback.

.For more information about Cygnet Brown and her book, check out her website at http://www.cygnetbrow.com .