Skip to main content

Flashback Friday Tips from TJ Butler

 

[screen shot of author TJ Butler during her "DIY How to Market Your Book to Bookstores" live chat with The Write Women Network* last month https://www.tjbutlerauthor.com/]   

In early May author TJ Butler shared tips for effective ways for authors to get their books stocked in bookstores: 
Be your own best cheerleader! 

Your Pitch Package should include a pitch letter, book blurb, hi-resolution cover image, a professional head shot, press release, and an author one-sheet. 

Also include reviews and your connection to the bookstore. 

Consider consignment agreements and hand selling. 

Be prepared to self-promote and advertise. 

A hard truth: These days most authors, outside of the most successful bestselling legacy traditional ones, are responsible for 90% of the effort of generating attendance for their events. (Yikes!) 

Suggested resources: Before and After the Book Deal... by Courtney Maum and editing & coaching services offered by Aileen Weintraub https://www.witchesofpitches.com/  

TJ Butler also suggested subscribing to podcasts that are relevant to an author's particular book themes. And she reminds authors to decide their personal definition of success for themselves BEFORE their books launch. 

And as always, exercise due diligence before signing any contracts or even pursuing the suggestions of well-intended advisors.;-)  

Happy creating!  

*Two days ago TJ Butler offered additional information for indie authors in her "Your Path to Small Press Publishing" live chat with The Write Women Network whose small, dedicated team no longer records them.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen Delivers All the Feels

Black love. Black joy. Black drama. Humanity in its vast melanin array.   [front cover of a paperback ARC for The Best Man: Unfinished Business; silhouette of three adults] The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen  adult contemporary fiction with romantic elements  Storehouse Voices, July 2025   First, dedicated fans of The Best Man franchise and its beloved characters need not fear how they’re treated in this first of three novels. In fact. One thread of Harper’s storyline seems to reflect the real-life author/screenwriter/director’s battle to protect and maintain the integrity of The Best Man universe. Mission accomplished.  Second, once readers - fans or not - start this novel they won’t want to stop. The compulsion to re/watch The Best Man movies and limited series and maybe even to reread this book while anticipating the release of book two in 2026 will prove difficult to resist.  Who are you?  Who are your people?...

Our Poet Laureate's Memoir + More TWWBF2025 Prep

Educator, poet, short story author, mindfulness guide and now the moniker of memoirist has been added to the long list of creative accomplishments earned by Poet Laureate of The Write Women Book Fest Aressa V. Williams.  She was born and raised in the vibrant community of Washington, D.C.'s Northeast neighborhood of Deanwood. Her Memoir evokes the nostalgia, challenges, victories, heartaches and joys of her life that connect with readers across generations and locations.    [photo credit: H.L. Brooks; image: two paperback ARCs of In Deanwood, A Memoir by Aressa Verdell Williams arranged on a tabletop; cover art of a sepia toned two-story colonial house with four columns - two on each side of the front door]  The ebook is currently available with print copies coming soon! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-deanwood-aressa-verdell-williams/1147594007   Just under 3 weeks before day one of The Write Women Book Fest and we've finished decorating t-shirts for our aw...

DIY Marketing TWWBF2025 + the Usual BAC Issues

Six(!) days until day one of the 6th and grand finale year of The Write Women Book Fest!!!  Last week was another hard one for federal workers in the DMV area along with other ongoing challenges, making it tough for a lot of people to prioritize joy. This coming weekend TWWBF2025 intends to celebrate and support talented authors, poets, creatives, and publishing industry professionals and their work, readers and literacy advocates while we also celebrate everything positive that this event has contributed to our community since 2019. [a two-image collage: right side - two posters atop the closed lid of a baby grand piano; both with "The Write Women Book Fest, 100+ authors Golden Angel, Eden Appiah-Kubi, Courtney Duke Foster, Jeaniene Frost, Maria Vale, Erin Wright, EC Poetry & Prose, July 19th QR Code thewritewomenbookfest.org, Use code FESTNEWS25 for 30% off!"; left side - an incomplete poster with "The Write Women Book Fest" and a blank sheet of paper with a g...