Comments on: The New Rules of Book Publicity

By: Sheri Schofield

Sheri Schofield — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:58:11 +0000

Anne, I've struggled with marketing - I live in a relatively small town in Wyoming, surrounded by plains. My husband needs me to be at home because of his health. We don't have much money. But I'm writing award-winning books, both novel and nonfiction. I wrote a short book about a battle I fought in the mid '90s to save my husband's life, and though I haven't marketed it, it keeps selling on Amazon. (One Step Ahead of the Devil, by S. M. Hausen - my pen name for this book.) I'm just not sure how to market under these conditions!

By: Anne D Robertson

Anne D Robertson — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:28:02 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Thanks Jenny! So glad you enjoyed it, and I agree that the crisis impacts all sectors, not just book publishing.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:48:59 +0000

Fantastic post, Anne!

I do business branding in my day job and, believe me, it's not just book people having the existential crisis. Companies are too.

I really enjoyed your breakdown of it all, and the window into Frank Zappa's champagne-filled tour!

By: Anne D Robertson

Anne D Robertson — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:44:33 +0000

In reply to Jerold Tabbott.

Hi Jerold! Thank you for your feedback and sharing your author journey. I'll get in touch with more information about InkFox Publicity and our launch (website goes live end of this month). You can also contact me at my email: ar********@*****ge.com. I look forward to connecting soon!

By: Anne D Robertson

Anne D Robertson — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:37:29 +0000

In reply to Apple Gidley. Hi Apple! Yes, scams are unfortunately part of the new world of publicity and marketing. We include a warning about scams on our InkFox website (which goes live later this month). I always advise that if sounds too good to be true, run!

By: Jerold Tabbott

Jerold Tabbott — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:40:29 +0000

Anne— Very clear and worthwhile explanation about how publicity works now (and loved the Zappa story). When I completed and edited my first novel, I sent about thirteen queries out, tailored to follow standard query-writing recommendations I’d read in articles. But as friends and family kept asking when they’d see the book, I quickly gave up on the process.

So, I self-published on Kindle (POD & ebook) and Apple iBooks. No advertising, no promotion. Predictable results.

For my second novel, I decided to make a serious effort querying. Sent about 79 and got feedback from two who seemed sincere about having discussed it further with their colleagues (still about 20 unanswered). This year, therefore, I’m going to release a 2nd edition of my first novel (re-edited and following a small recommendation by a Nebula Award winner who enjoyed it and thought it was good… but doesn’t blurb non-trad books). This time I plan to aggressively promote it, the use any progress to help lead in to the release of book two.

Please send me information on Inkfox. My email address is jhtabbott at me.com… jh*******@**.com .Thank you!

By: Jim Gamble

Jim Gamble — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:27:42 +0000

In reply to Deb Trotter. The Second Comin' Jesus for President Santa for VP 2028. A game changing campaign!

By: Apple Gidley

Apple Gidley — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:45:46 +0000

Thanks for this, Anne. Added to the chaos of publicising a new release is the plethora of scam publicists, many seemingly out of Nigeria, that clutter my inbox every day!

By: denise

denise — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:33:43 +0000

It's amazing how things have changed.

By: Claire O'Sullivan

Claire O'Sullivan — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:27:20 +0000

I had a flash of absurdity which I have to share.
* have friends set up your table.
* make sure there is a banner for your books
* Hire a limo
* With your shades on, step from the limo, shake the mane you know you have ... and people automatically assume you're a star ... and the books? well they'll fly off the shelves.

OKAY so absurdity aside, marketing and publicity is hard work and expensive.

Many many years ago, I was visiting my mom in S. Calif. To get to San Diego on my way home, she called for an airport limo. What came to the house? A real. live. limo. complete with driver.

Of course, being an espresso addict I asked the driver to pull up to an espresso shop. I did have a long mane. I did have shades. And dressed in jeans, I sauntered in - not planning to look like a star, just someone who needed coffee but the heads all of them in the coffee shop turned. Voices whispered.

I left feeling limo-ed and really appreciated.
I was a nurse...
Who lived in a manufactured home without A/C in S. Oregon, and dirt poor.
LOLOL.
THAT was fun.