Writers in the Storm

by Jenn Windrow

It’s that joyful time of year when we agonize over what to get our loved ones, friends, and coworkers for Christmas. Searching on end for that perfect gift. Something they will love, use, and cherish for years to come. Something that won’t be regifted at next year’s white elephant exchange.

Well, if you have a writer in your life, you’re in luck! Being one myself, I decided to come up with a list of ten things that I use almost daily in my author life. Hopefully, your author will love them too!

Here are a few of my favorite things!

The TUL notebook system

Why do I love this? I write most of my novels by hand and traditional notebooks take up a lot of space on a bookcase. But since this notebook has refillable pages, I can write to my heart’s content, then when I am all done, pull out the pages, binder clip them together, and store them nice and flat in a drawer or a filing cabinet. When I am ready to start a new book, I refill the pages in the notebook and start all over again.

This notebook is truly one of my favorite things and has a permanent place on my desk.

Buy it here…

Scriveiner Black Lacquer Rollerball Pen

Most writers love pens. And there are some lovely ones on the market that won’t break the bank. I mean everyone would like to get a Mont Blanc, but you don’t have to spend a Mont Blanc amount of money to have a great writing tool. Personally, I love the Sharpie brand pens, they glide smooth, the ink doesn’t bleed, and they fit nice and comfy in my hand, but those aren’t what I would call fancy.

But this pen here is beautiful, has great reviews, and would look like you broke the bank by buying it for that special writer in your life.

Buy it here…

Large-sized Post-it Notes

Post-it notes are a must-have for the writer in your life. I especially love the larger-sized lined ones. I can write changes to my manuscript on them and either stick them in my notebook or on printed pages. This is really handy when you have a large number of changes on a page and scribbling in the margins just won’t cut it anymore. Plus, these make a great stocking stuffer.

Buy them here…

A fancy (or fun) mug

A mug may seem like an unusual gift, but I know I love getting them. Most writers sit at their desk with a cup of coffee or tea, furiously typing out words between staring out the window in frustration. Why not have a mug that advertises their fun job? I did an Amazon search for writer’s mugs and picked one of the first ones I found, but they have many different kinds. I will admit I have a few in my cupboard!

Buy it here…

The Lego typewriter

This one is totally silly, but I adore my Lego typewriter. So, if you have a writer in your life who also loves to build Legos during their free time, this is not only fun, but it is adorable as well. Mine is displayed proudly on my bookshelf in my office. Plus, it totally sticks with the writer theme!

Buy it here…

Scrivener

This one truly is the gift of WRITING!

Scrivener is a writing, plotting, organizing software for writers. It is a great product and when you buy a license it’s a one time purchase for the lifetime of the product. The great news is, it used to only be for MAC, but now you can use it on a PC too!

Buy it here…

Vellum or Atticus

Both Vellum and Atticus are formatting software that any self-published author should have in their arsenal. The main difference between the two is that Vellum can only be used on the MAC. Both do a wonderful job of creating beautiful print and eBooks that any writer would be proud to call their own.

Buy Vellum here…

Buy Atticus Here...

The Emotion Thesaurus

If the writer in your life hasn’t heard of The Emotion Thesaurus, they are missing out! This is one of the greatest craft books ever written. It helps writers really dig deep into writing emotions. Mine sits next to me on my desk, and my copy is very well-worn.

Here’s something fun: there are several books in the series. If you are looking for more craft books, you can’t go wrong with these wonderful writing companions written by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. (They're also contributors here at WITS!)

Buy it here…

Publisher Rocket

If you have an author in your life, whether they are self-published or trad published, the gift of Publisher Rocket will be well received. This software will help them find keywords, categories, comp titles, and books to use to run ads. To me, this is a must-have in any author's arsenal! (And right now Lifetime access is $199.)

https://publisherrocket.com/

Love and Support

This one can’t be placed in a box, wrapped with fancy paper and a pretty bow, and placed under a tree. But it’s free, and probably the most needed gift of any author.

Writing is like baring your soul on paper and it’s hard. Really hard. But a kind word of encouragement, or listening when they need to discuss a plot, or just want to babble about their characters, a great line they wrote, or how frustrated they are about their WIP will mean the world to the writer in your life.

One of the best gifts you can offer is showing them you love and support them.

Thank you for reading...and a very happy holiday season to all the WITS readers! See you in the New Year!

Have any more holiday gift ideas for the writer in your life, leave a comment and share the joy.

About Jenn

Sass. Snark. Supernatural Sizzle. 

Award winning author of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Vampires, Greek gods, and a bit of Demon Destroyer fun for everyone.

Jenn Windrow loves characters who have a pinch of spunk, a dash of attitude, and a large dollop of sex appeal. Top it all off with a huge heaping helping of snark, and you’ve got the ingredients for the kind of fast-paced stories she loves to read and write. Home is a suburb of it’s-so-hot-my-shoes-have-melted-to-the-pavement Phoenix. Where she lives with her husband, two teenagers, and a slew of animals that seem to keep following her home, at least that’s what she claims.

Website: https://jennwindrow.com/

Top photo purchased from Depositphotos. All others are from Jennifer Windrow.

by Cassie Mannes Murray

The Importance of Book Distribution

One of the most important things about publishing a book at any level–traditional, hybrid, small press, indie press, or self-publishing–is understanding book distribution.

It’s the sort-of-secret denominator in book publishing that no one really talks about, but defines many aspects of how readers find and buy books. Because it matters most in the final stages of a book launching into the world, it’s often relegated as unimportant until something goes wrong, or a bookstore tells an author they’ll have to sell books on consignment (or even not at all). So, let’s look at the factors that are determined by a book distributor as part of a book’s life.

Book distributors control things like:

• whether or not your book is displayed in a bookstore
• whether or not you can sell books at an event (and at what percentage point to the bookstore)
• what websites will have the book available for sale
• whether your book will be on industry galley or ARC (advanced reader copies) sites like Netgalley or Edelweiss
• whether your book will be presented at seasonal sales conferences to booksellers, librarians, and other industry professionals
• sales representatives’ access to the book to schmooze booksellers, large (often, celebrity) book clubs, and librarians for things like Indie Next Pick and Jenna’s Book Club
• whether your book will be available at regional sales conferences like SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Association), PNBA (Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association), MIBA (Midwest Independent Booksellers Association), and others
• the speed and delivery at which preorders go out, ARCs go out, and bookstores get copies ahead of events
• whether a book can be returned or remaindered (impacting book sales and therefore royalties)
• whether a book is printed on demand or stocked (often dependent on sales and publisher)
• and sometimes, even how much control you have over metadata (what information Amazon or retailers like Barnes & Noble display about your book to potential readers).

It’s the factor that often doesn’t come up during the giddy glee of signing a book contract, but one that ultimately decides the lifespan of a book.

Now, if you’re publishing with a traditional “Big Four” publisher (Macmillan, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, or Penguin Random House) distribution is taken care of for you. But if you’re publishing anywhere else on the publisher’s spectrum, it’s important to ask your publisher about distribution.

Types of Book Distributors:

There are several distributors in the US, the biggest one being Ingram, alongside others including Baker & Taylor, Independent Publishers Group, University of Chicago Distribution, Consortium, and other smaller press distributors like Asterism. Here is a larger list for reference. Earlier this year in March, Small Press Distribution which cornered the market on distributing hundreds of small and independent publishers abruptly shuttered, leaving publishers and authors in a lurch. While this isn’t a “normal” facet of publishing, it’s one reason why it’s so important to understand the distribution of your book.

The Power of Ingram:

Because Ingram pretty much rules the roost, they have the cornerstone on the distribution market. They are the distributor that bookstores most often order through, or have an account with, and they are the sole distributor populating Bookshop.org. So, if your book is not available through Ingram (which many other distribution companies work with in order to make books available), then it won’t be listed on Bookshop.org, and it may not be available to order through your favorite neighborhood independent bookstore.

So, what should you ask your publisher before you sign a contract, or what is actually important for an author to know about their distribution? I don’t want to send you into the weeds of worry.

• Who distributes your books and how often are you in contact with them?
• Do they work with all major retailers?
• How far in advance do bookstores need to order my book for an event?
• What is the percentage offered to bookstores?
• Will the book be available through the distributor’s sales catalog or submitted before the seasonal catalog goes live?

Other resources on book distribution:

• 📚Jane Friedman, “The Value of Book Distribution Is Often Misunderstood by Authors”
• 🎧 Pub Date Podcast, Book Distribution 101
• 📺 Alexa Donne on Youtube, Bookstore Secrets! How Publishers Distribute Books

QUESTION: Which part of the book publishing logistics makes you the most nervous?

About Cassie:

Cassie Mannes Murray is the founder and director of Pine State Publicity. A former literary agent with an MFA in creative nonfiction, Cassie has worked across publishing including literary magazines, book design, and as a bookseller. You can find more advice & thoughts on her Substack: pinestatepublicity.substack.com, and she is on Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, and Bluesky under @cassmannes.

Top image by Deleyna via Midjourney.

by Brittany Pinney, Chief Customer Officer for Shimmr

"Every book has its reader—AI is simply making those connections possible at scale."

Every author pours their heart into creating stories and insights that deserve to be read. Yet in today's saturated market, with millions of books competing for attention, ensuring a book reaches the readers who would love it most has become increasingly challenging. The traditional approach of genre-based marketing often falls short, missing the deeper connections that make readers fall in love with books.

With increasingly growing numbers of titles being published every day, adding to the hundreds of millions already out there, it can feel impossible for any single book to get noticed.

But there's hope.

The emergence of AI in book marketing is transforming how books find their readers. It's not about replacing human creativity—it's about understanding the deep psychology of what makes readers connect with books. In this article, we'll explore how AI is breaking down traditional marketing barriers, why genre-based targeting is limiting your book's potential, and most importantly, how these new technologies can help your books find their true audience.

Beyond Genre Labels

Think about it: when was the last time you chose a book solely because it was "science fiction" or "historical fiction"? Readers are complex beings with layered interests that transcend simple genre classifications. Your dystopian novel might resonate deeply with environmental activists. Your romance might speak to people wrestling with cultural identity. Your business book might captivate psychology students.

Many books transcend their genre and captivate readers due to their rich, universal themes. Take To Kill a Mockingbird, for instance. While it's categorized as Southern Gothic fiction, its exploration of racism, injustice, and the loss of innocence resonates deeply with readers across cultures and generations. Its enduring popularity stems from its ability to provoke thought and spark conversations about timeless issues.

Similarly, The Song of Ice and Fire may be classified as high fantasy, but its complex characters, political intrigue, and moral dilemmas appeal to fans of thrillers, historical fiction, and family dramas. The Last Days of Night delves into the world of innovation and ambition, raising ethical questions that go beyond the historical context. Even graphic novels like Maus can transcend their format, using a unique visual style to tell deeply personal stories about trauma and family. These examples demonstrate how powerful storytelling, regardless of genre, can connect with readers on a profound level.

The AI Revolution in Book Discovery

This is where AI is revolutionizing how books find their readers. Through advanced analysis of what we call ‘BookDNA’—the themes, emotions, cultural touchpoints, and psychological appeals within your work—AI can now identify and reach readers based on the actual substance of your book, not just its shelf category.

Through our proprietary BookDNA technology, that powers Shimmr’s Automated Advertising, we're uncovering fascinating insights about effective book advertising:

• Visual storytelling that captures emotional moments consistently outperforms traditional book marketing approaches. For fiction, this means bringing pivotal scenes to life. For non-fiction, it's about translating complex ideas into visual metaphors that stop readers' mid-scroll. These visuals don't just advertise books—they tell their stories. We find that this type of advertising brings +6x more interest to your book than other digital advertising for books.
• The sweet spot for building momentum? Books need around 50 authentic reviews (with a 4.2+ star rating) before advertising can truly amplify their reach. This "social proof" allows you to make the most of advertising spend. At lower levels of reviews, advertising goals should be focused on building awareness of your name and your great works.
• Market dynamics matter: The US market, with its large and diverse reader base, allows AI systems to learn and optimize faster, often helping books find their true audience more effectively than in smaller markets. While the US market may be more competitive, its size and variety actually make it easier for your book to find its perfect readers.
• Price positioning plays a crucial role: Books priced between £10-20 show the best return on investment for digital advertising, striking the perfect balance between profit margins and readers' willingness to take a chance on a new discovery.

What This Means for Writers

The implications for authors are exciting. AI-powered marketing means:

1. Your book can reach readers based on its unique essence, not just its genre label
2. Visual storytelling can bring your narrative to life in ways that resonate with potential readers
3. Marketing efforts can be continuously optimized based on real reader response
4. Previously overlooked books can find new life by connecting with their ideal audiences
5. Your work can find readers across different platforms, with social media platforms like Meta showing particularly strong results for book discovery

The Future of Book Discovery

We're entering an era where every book truly has the potential to find its readers. AI isn't replacing human creativity—it's amplifying it, ensuring that the stories and insights we create as writers can reach the readers who will value them most.

For writers, this means focusing on what we do best—creating compelling works—while knowing that technology can help bridge the gap between our books and the readers waiting to discover them. It's not about replacing traditional marketing wisdom; it's about enhancing it with tools that can understand and communicate the deeper value of our work.

Making AI Work for Your Book Marketing

Here are some practical steps to leverage these insights:

1. Think beyond genre when describing your work to determine how broad your audience might be. What are the emotional threads, philosophical questions, or cultural insights that make your book unique? Your book may have bigger opportunities than you thought!
2. Build your review base thoughtfully—aim for that critical mass of 50+ authentic reviews before scaling up marketing efforts. Consider reaching out to your existing readers and engaging with book communities.
3. Explore how your book's core themes could be captured visually. What scenes or metaphors might stop a potential reader mid-scroll? Think about the emotional core of your work and how it might translate into engaging visuals. Is this something you want to try?
4. Don't limit your audience targeting to obvious demographic categories. Your readers might come from unexpected places, united by shared interests or values rather than traditional marketing segments.
5. Price your book strategically, considering both your readers' expectations and the sweet spot for digital marketing effectiveness.

The publishing landscape is evolving, and AI is becoming a powerful ally for writers who want their work to find its true audience. In a world where hundreds of millions of books compete for attention, these tools are making it possible for each unique voice to reach the readers who need to hear it. The future of book discovery isn't about algorithms replacing human judgment—it's about technology helping great stories find their way to the readers who will treasure them.

What unexpected audiences might your book resonate with beyond its primary genre? Share your thoughts in the comments—we'd love to hear about surprising connections you've discovered between readers and books.

About Britt

Britt is responsible for optimising our customers’ experience with Shimmr, ensuring we answer their needs and evolving our product with features and innovations to benefit their use of our automated advertising. After serving as Vice President of Sales, Strategy & Insights in marketing research, Britt was Chief Revenue Officer, leading sales, marketing, design, content and customer success, and President of the US operations, in an AI-driven brand management business. Affectionately nick-named ‘Fireball’, and lighting up your day, Britt is always focused on listening to what people need from software products and striving to deliver fulfilling solutions. She keeps Shimmr pre-occupied with delivering value and return on investment.

About Shimmr

Shimmr works primarily with Publishers and Author Services businesses. They can work directly with more established authors who meet the below criteria. Otherwise, they will work with your publisher or service rep:

Criteria for starting with Shimmr:

• 5 title minimum
• Monthly subscription with 4-month initial payment
• Requirements for books: 50+ reviews and 4.0+ star rating (ensures book is advertising ready)
• Authors needing support to get to these requirements can use our Partners Network: https://shimmr.ai/partners

You can see more info on their pricing page.

Top image courtesy of Shimmr.