Self Promo for Small Press Authors

We leave the majority of blog posts here at Undertaker Books to D.L.--he's good at them, and comes up with interesting topics. But today I (Rebecca) wanted to step in with some observations.

I have noticed a lot about my friend and Undertaker Books author, Elizabeth Broadbent, whose titles include INK VINE and NINETY-EIGHT SABERS (Undertaker Books), with BLOOD CYPRESS (Raw Dog Screaming Press), BREAKING NEVERLAND (Sley House Publishing), and more on the way.

She's relentless in her efforts. And that is why her books sell--initially to interested publishing houses, and then to readers. 

She writes every day. And she's not writing a novel a week and tossing them off, without regard to quality. Nope. She is writing, and rewriting, and revising, and editing every day. She puts in the work until a manuscript is ready to send out to pubishers for possible interest. And, as we know by now, chances are they're gonna be interested, because her work--lyrical southern gothic horror with a focus on feminism and social justice--is absolutely fantastic. 

But Elizabeth doesn't stop there. She researches potential reviewers and review outlets and interviewers. She reaches out to authors she admires for blurbs. She attends conventions and conferences and vendor events. She participates in the online horror community, congratulating others and sharing their content and recommending their books. 

She makes videos and social media graphics and posts actively on Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Facebook, and elsewhere. She has an up-to-date website and sends out a newsletter to subscribers. She designs and puts together creative book swag.

In short, no honest person could ever call her a slouch. 

I want to be more like her (though time and energy are limited resources, as they are for all of us, and everyone has different obligations and struggles, I know). But my point with all of this is that small press authors need to be willling to put themselves out there, try new things, and be active in promoting their work. (Because while many of us small press publishers wish we had a whole independent marketing department--um--we do not). It's true that not every promotional effort will pay dividends, and the amount of "no" responses will some days feel crushing. But no effort pays no dividends, and gains authors no new readers. 

So give something new a try. For me? I'm learning how to make new-to-me content for social media. Progress will be slow, and I'll create some REALLY bad videos at first, but if you care to join me, you can find me out there, swimming against the current. That, and I'm taking a six-week marketing class that runs through the end of January. Wish me luck, and be sure to follow Elizabeth Broadbent on all the socials to see how a pro does it.