Let's Talk FB Author Groups...And I Have Advice.

I thought I'd join a few FB groups and interact with other people, but I just can't. I woke up to 87 notifications. Why? About 6 authors posted advertisements in about 8-12 groups all within a matter of seconds. The posts filled up my notifications to the point that I could not see which ones were directed at me from my personal wall, which I take serious. It's so absurd to me. Ninety percent of all the groups have the same members, so why launch an air assault on them. What's striking is if you ask these authors do they have media/press kits that they blast to every store across the country, they'd not only say no, but may add that there books aren't sold in any stores. You ask these same authors to show you their electronic and paperback libraries and they don't exist. They post in 10 groups and may not even get 1 person to "like" their stat. They post giveaways that people barely reply to because it takes time to build the sort of trust needed for the readers that have been burned and spread the word about it to trust them. Building trust and a reader base requires interaction and fostering relationships on FB, not simply posting random book posts and offers. There is an art to this. You have to chit chat with people. Get to know them. Let them get to know you. People always wonder why I post so much about my life, my career, and my day. I've been called a "bragger." One, in 20 years from now, I want people to say they watched me go from Laugh Now to an office on Sunset Blvd. in LA that produces books and movies. Two, I want other authors to be inspired. I want other indie authors to see me doing it, letting them know that they can do it. Another third advantage is people interact with me about the things I do. I have an interesting life. That is what attracts people to my books. They support me because they like me, or hate me, and want to see how my books are. In practically every city I've been to I've had a person tell me that they go to my page just to see what topic I have brewing. Everyone needs a platform. I am an adventurer, traveler, and if I find out information I share it. And as a result I have friends on FB. And here is how that works in my favor. 

I found out about the Miami International Book Fest on Monday and mentioned it on FB. I asked Kristofer Clarke should I scope it out for next year, and he told me if I could do it to go. Tuesday, I worked my FB friends list and I have a signing at a FB friend's salon in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I will also meet with a fellow author so that he can pick my brain about publishing. These two FB friends I've never met, but Debra Owsley extended her hand to me and her shop on a Saturday. That's what building great FB bonds will do. 

In the end, I assure that if people get a load of the person behind the books, they'll get behind the books. For A+ examples, see Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Al-Saadiq Banks, Treasure Blue, Tamika Newhouse, and K'wan FB walls. Look at how balanced they are. They look like regular people that happen to be authors, not authors that happen to have a FB account.

Resources:
Libraries: To get my book into libraries, I had my local library get one book, which was placed into the world's library called, World Cat. A listing in World Cat is what I approach other libraries with. I explain that my books can be found in the World Cat library and that assures them that other libraries are carrying it, so perhaps they can and should, too. But start at your local library, as they will support the home team. http://www.worldcat.org

Indie Bookstores: To get my book into indie book stores around the world (well for me, I have books in one store in London and Australia) I use a site called, Indie Bound. There, I plug in a zip code and just cold call down the list. I offer to E-mail media kits, I have my ISBN's ready to read to them, because some will look the book up on their distributors site. Be sure distributors have your book listed as returnable and that stores get at least a 40% discount. http://www.indiebound.org

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