Tips from the Pros: Maureen Lang

Aloha from Karen,
        It's great to introduce Maureen Lang today. She's a fiction author who got her start through a writer's confrence, but in an unusual way. She learned as her books got published and now has great plans for her next book release that she'll share with us.
        In this post I'll also mention a contest to win a free registration/stay at an upcoming conference (there's not much time left though).

                                                                    Maureen has a new series about to be released by Tyndale.
 

How did you get into writing?
I’m one of those writers who seemed to be born to write! I can’t actually recall when I started telling stories, but I finished my first “novel” at age 10 and passed it around to neighborhood kids. As I got older the urge to write never abandoned me. I became involved in RWA, had three secular romances published by a New York publisher while in my twenties, then life took some turns. My spiritual life had grown dormant during the time I wrote seculars but after a divorce I rededicated my life to Christ. Because of the divorce, life’s demands prevented me from devoting the time it takes to write seriously, so for over ten years I was away from this craft I’ve always loved. When I started writing again about ten years ago, I knew I’d write only for the Lord.

Notice that Maureen’s dream came to reality later, after she had many life experiences. It’s never too late to begin a new adventure. I know I never considered writing and didn’t start until age 43.

How many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles?

I’ve had five Inspirational novels published and am currently working on a three book series. My titles with Tyndale Publishing are The Oak Leaves and its sequel On Sparrow Hill, and a stand-alone contemporary women’s fiction called My Sister Dilly.

How did you get your first book contract?
Like many writers, I realized how hard it would be to get my work onto an editor’s desk—even ten years ago. Attending conferences seemed the best route to go, because not only could I learn more about the industry and the craft, I could network with other writers and meet editors. An all-around best decision! But conferences are expensive and time consuming, taking me away from my family, so I had to be choosy. I looked at the cost, the location, and if the faculty would best fit my writing goals. I’m glad to see there are more and more Christian conferences available all the time, offered all over the country.

I’ll be teaching at two upcoming conferences. One is the Florida Christian Writers Conference (north of Orlando) from Feb 26-March1. There’s even a contest to attend for free through radio network reachfm. Check out the conference at FLwriters.org and the contest at reachfm.org

Your first book contract seemed to be a roller coaster ride. What happened??
I’m fortunate to be local to the Write To Publish conference, which offers a wide variety of editors and agents on their faculty. At one Write To Publish conference I met with an editor from Kregel Publications. It was actually kind of funny, because the book I pitched made it no farther than the first line, a brief description about the book. To which he answered: Oh, we just bought a book with an espionage factor, what else do you have? Fortunately I DID have another project to discuss, and this editor was interested. But it wasn’t ready for submission. He told me not to worry, to send him what I had and he’d keep in mind it was still in the early stages. He did take my one-sheet proposal on the espionage book, but I thought that was already a dead issue.

So I went home and rushed to finish the book he’d expressed interest in, which he followed through with and asked to see the complete manuscript as soon as it was finished. Well, that book was ultimately rejected (see what rushing something off can do?) but another editor from Kregel contacted me asking about my espionage story. I was confused but who would say no because of a little confusion? So I sent that off, learning later the editor I’d been working with on my other story had passed that one-sheet on to this editor who bought the espionage story.

These God-incidences happen more than people might expect. I felt so discouraged over one proposal when, at a writers conference, an attendee asked to show it to their editor, I only gave him a one-sheet on the book instead of the proposal. Two weeks later and a phone call from the editor started the process that led to a full-color book, Family Devotional Builder.

What has helped you promote your books the most?
I like doing online blog visits! The hosts usually have unique and interesting interview questions, and I love getting my books into the hands of new readers. Those are the kinds of things I do most often, although I’ve done a few podcasts and radio interviews which probably reach more readers so are a better use of time. Book signings, in my opinion, are most effective for the outgoing salesman-type writer, who can hand-sell their books to strangers. (I’m not one of them.)

Now that you have been writing a while, what do you find works best for you in promoting your work and why?
As I mentioned above, I’ve had fun doing blog tours. An online presence is one of the most useful things an author can do. It’s affordable for the most part, especially if you belong to writers’ organizations in which you can network and arrange your own blog tour. It does take time away from your writing, but it’s a great way to really connect with others—and it costs either nothing or next to nothing, if you decide to do contests in conjunction with a blog visit. The cost involved is minimal: a signed copy of your book and the postage to get it to the winner.

Maureen it's great to see you know yourself and your weaknesses and strengths. It's wise to make choices that fit your personality and make marketing work for you. So, folks, do a self-assesment of your skills and passions to find where to focus your marketing energies. Online is more important all the time, but even online has various outlets and means (U-tube, website, blogs, etc..)

What mistakes or wrong assumptions did you make with the marketing of your first book? Did those mistakes cause you to change? If so, how?
Since I’d had a little experience with the industry from having those secular books published a number of years ago, this time around I like to think I was a little wiser.
I knew authors didn’t make a gazillion dollars.
I knew getting something published didn’t make one so famous that readers would line up at book signings.
I knew publishers didn’t have big budgets to advertise their untried authors, so my expectations on that end were fairly accurate.

I think I assumed a well-written book would sell itself, but the competition factor is huge (literally hundreds of thousands of books offered in bookstores and online all at once) and taste is far more fickle than I imagined. My books do appeal to a certain segment of the population, but not to everyone as we all like to think. ☺ I’ve learned to relax a little on the marketing end of things. There is just so much an author can do, or afford. Can we start a ripple effect? I like to think so, which is why I enjoy an online presence to the extent I can master. But word of mouth advertising is the best, and that takes time to build. Unfortunately in today’s market, staying published is becoming almost as difficult as getting in.

I love the idea of a ripple effect. I also like to think that word-of-mouth, blogging, and the rest authors do are multiple streams of marketing that flow outward. Using more than one method is like creating different streams to flow. That way, if one seems to dry up, there are still other marketing tools still flowing.

What is the most surprising thing that has happened in marketing your books?
The surprise to me is that the author is so limited in what's effective. Apart from an online presence, it's so expensive and with such a vast number of places to advertise, an author has to use discretion as to what's the best use of time and money. I've always heard word-of-mouth advertising is the best, but until getting involved in this industry I didn't know how effective that really is.

Is there something you did that really helped with marketing your books?
It’s hard to pinpoint one thing that put any of my sales “over the top” since I haven’t been there—yet! My basic belief, or perhaps I should say hope, is that if I continue to write quality books and am blessed to have them consistently published, word of mouth advertising will do its job. Naïve? Maybe. But still hopeful.

Did you see God open any doors you never expected in the promotion of your books?
When I first published with Tyndale, they grouped me with a couple of their other newer authors as a “New Voice in Fiction.” That came with some nice advertising on their part in magazines aimed at the industry (libraries, retail), as well as great email blasts and blog touring. They also advertised My Sister Dilly on Shoutlife, which was so fun to see pop up one day when I visited the site, because I didn’t know they’d arranged that.

Another strength of a larger publisher is their ability to pair authors and tie one to another to use the marketing dollars more effectively and carry along a newer author. That’s part of why publishing houses have lines or divisions of books.

Is Engaging the mind, renewing the soul your brand or simply a tag line?
It was designed to be a tag line, but since having multiple books published I use it more as a "brand." To me the difference is that a tag line would be used more in correspondence, i.e. below my name with each email or on any correspondence really, in various loop conversations or wherever I have the opportunity to sign my name.
Now I'd rather direct people to my website or blog, and name my latest book - so adding a tag line to all of that just seemed over the top as far as number of lines below my signature.
So it's become more of a brand. Hopefully some day my name will be considered my "brand" - that readers will automatically connect that name with the type of book I write. But for the this season of my writing, I'm defining for people what they can expect from one of my books - something that'll make people think but also invigorate the inner person, or soul.

What are your marketing plans for your next book?
My next book is the first of a three-book series, so I'd like to do a little more marketing than I have in the past, and I'm hopeful my publisher will feel the same.
•    Some of my marketing will include visiting local bookstores with ARCs (advanced reader copies) and chocolate, to encourage at least one staff member to actually read my book and perhaps recommend it to buyers. Visits like those would also include local libraries in the area. I like seeing my books in libraries - it means at least one sale, but it also means increased readership. I've fallen in love with a few authors from library books, and am more prone to buy an author's other books if I already know I like their work.
•    I will also set up a blog tour of my own, with an expanding list of places I know will have me back or are open to author visits with their own, unique style of interview. Those are always fun.
•    I'll also invest in a post card mailing. I won't do this with every book because of the cost and time involved, but it's fun to see the book cover on a post card. I mail them to friends/family/bookstores/libraries/newsletter recipients if I have their snail mail address.
•    I'll also announce the book release in my newsletter, which is something I've just started circulating (an e-newsletter, no paper, very easy to distribute).
•    I'll run a contest on my blog to help spread the word. I haven't decided on details, but the gist will be to attract new readers with a contest that people will want to enter - going beyond just a free copy of the book. Free books are great for blog interview contests, but the number of interviews I set up prohibits giving away anything bigger. This contest prize will go a little farther, including a free book but also, probably, an Amazon gift card which is easy to order and/or something else that's easy to ship. No chocolate in the summer, but perhaps a gift that relates to the book - wooden clogs like my character wears, or a shawl of the kind that would have been worn during that time period, etc. Whatever I choose will depend on cost and availability, but be fun and enticing.

Wow! Maureen you have been thinking this through. Part of marketing is to move forward with bigger plans each time and to expand our efforts and yet have a focus to reach the target audience. I see that has shaped up and you have certainly grown in the marketing skills since you began getting published.  I hope this inspires our audience to create a marketing plan.

What are your top tips for aspiring writers with their first book contract?
•    Be realistic. As enthusiastic as you and your editor might be about your upcoming release, many publishers don’t put a lot of money into promoting new authors. And the marketing most authors can afford is limited, since print and widespread online advertising is so expensive.

•    Be creative. Join other authors and share an ad. Take advantage of any writer’s groups you belong to which offer help in combining your marketing efforts with theirs. Start a blog and offer contests, which costs your time but not a lot of money.

•    Be available. If the publicist working with your publisher sets something up, don’t turn it down. Sometimes it’s a stretch to take an introverted author who sits alone at the computer all day and throw her in front of a camera or on the radio, but with God’s help you can do it!

•    Be grateful. This is a tough business, not only to get in, but to stay in. There are countless other writers ready to take your place, many of whom are every bit as talented and worthy to be published. But God has given you the talent and opened this door, so it’s your responsibility to work hard and keep writing quality books, and to remember in all things give thanks—to God first, and then to the others He puts in your path to help you (editors, PR people, sales staff, bloggers, other writers, etc.). A grateful heart is far better than a proud one!

To find out more about Maureen, visit her website and blog
Maureen Lang's website

Maureen Lang's blog

Please chime in with your comments!

Karen's website
Karen's blog for moms

Comments

[Laura Ann Miller]

Thank you Maureen for your great marketing tips and sharing your writing journey. I really enjoyed reading about your conference experience and how that led to a contract and book for you.

I always learn so much from your interviews Karen.
Thank you!

[Karen H Whiting]

Thanks Laura and I know you also garnered a contract through attending a conference- the Florida Christian Writers Conference. I hope this helps you with marketing your book series!

[Maureen Lang]

Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the interview, Laura! I enjoyed my part and appreciate Karen's work to get it posted.

It sounds like we've both benefited from conferences. Wouldn't it be interesting to see a poll of how many authors received their first contract through a conference connection?

[Laura Ann Miller]

That would be fun to read about. I would recommend going to a conference to anyone looking for a place to get started. I'll actually be on the morning show with Bob and Anitra on Reach FM Monday morning to talk about the Florida Christian Writers Conference.