10 Responses

  1. Lavender Wynter
    Lavender Wynter at |

    You just described yourself and why it is I follow you through various places. You are very intriguing yourself, good sir, and that’s part of the deliciousness that helps along your works. For some people, sometimes knowing the person behind the words makes the stories I read extra special. It doesn’t apply to everyone, but in your case, it definitely makes it cool.

    Ah, it is good to be back. I miss staying on top of these things. <3

    Reply
    1. AF Henley
      AF Henley at |

      Thank you for the kind comment and welcome back. 😀

      Reply
  2. drawboy
    drawboy at |

    Buddy, have I ever mentioned how much I do love your honesty and thoughtfulness?
    It is this plus your sincerity that makes the man behind the words so wonderful. And those qualities make your novels so special, my friend. <3

    Reply
    1. AF Henley
      AF Henley at |

      You are too kind, my friend. Thank you. <3

      Reply
  3. Myles
    Myles at |

    I will admit I have never been in love with your contemporary works (your historical – Honour is a top 10 favorite, though) but I buy your contemporary books anyway because I love you on the social sites, love the way you express social norms so we can see them for what they are, and I want to support you. I started following you because your comments to another authors on Twitter.

    Reply
    1. AF Henley
      AF Henley at |

      I’m honoured to real that. Thank you very much, Myles. Honour was one of those novels that taught me more about myself while I was writing than I figured a book ever could. And I’m thrilled to no end that it was social media that brought us together. 😀

      Thanks very much for taking the time to comment and let me know. <3

      Reply
  4. Jack Frost
    Jack Frost at |

    Allow me to add to the praise of “we loved the author.”

    It’s so weird to think. I only found out about you because of a wonderful artist sharing her work in a livestream. Same with all of the people I communicate with on Tumblr. When I found out you were a writer I favorited your y-gallery page intending to come back to it. But never did.

    I just liked talking with you and the others in the livestream.

    Then I started following you on Tumblr.

    Then I won Second Star to the Right. I’m not a romance guy, I like romantic things I try to be romantic, I blush and get all awkward when it’s done in a cute fashion. But I don’t read romance works. But I really really enjoyed it. Then I won The Chase and the Catch. And I slightly enjoyed that one. (Parker urked me xD )

    I bought Road Trip with my own money. And I pre-ordered by one of your links that Wolf..one….need to remember the name.

    In the immortal words of Harry Wormwood ” I say appearance is 9/10 of the law. People don’t buy a car, they buy me”

    Anyway, having never read Romance I never would have found you. It’s to my great joy and libido that I found yet another author I can enjoy.

    Reply
    1. AF Henley
      AF Henley at |

      Well, thank you very much. As much as I was expecting some negative debate on the subject at hand, I certainly won’t turn down the praise when it’s sent my way and I think it’s fantastic that I’ve roped err… convinced you into reading some happily-ever-afters. Me… inspiring romance in the young and cynical. I freaking love the idea! 😀

      Seriously, it was a pleasure to meet you back when we did and it’s still a pleasure to interact with you, my friend. <3

      (Btw, Parker irked me too)

      (The new novel is called Wolf, WY and I can guarantee the series is going to progressively have more action than the rest have, LT3 willing and the creek don't rise)

      Reply
      1. Jack Frost
        Jack Frost at |

        Negative debate? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Debates are always positive. Arguments are negative. xD

        The thing is I think you’ve captured the concept very well.

        Promotion does sell books, if you aren’t out there you can only expect people to buy if they randomly stumble across it and think the description is interesting or it’s part of a deal of some sort. Without promotion, you won’t sell enough to have made publication worth it. Would have been better posting it to a share site.

        But the individual promotion of a single book will only garner sales from dedicated fans, or people who are intrigued a.k.a impulse buyers. So while promotion does sell books, the turn around, ROI, or goal conversion (visit = sale) is very small.

        But it’s important that the information is out there.

        The writer’s platform has changed significantly in the past years. When the internet was young, promotion and stumbling upon a book were all that sold. Also loyalty to an author.

        Now you can learn about the author and determine if they meet your desires. We went from a marketplace, to dedicated stores, to an online mixture.

        Self promotion, self publicity, the selling of the author. That social platform that lets an author stand up and yell “I’m here, see if you like my wares.” Three stalls in a market place, one is touting his prices, the other sits silent, and the one with the business smiles and tells you who they are.

        Promotion still has a major place in the selling of a book. But most won’t know about a book unless it’s the big names, or an author you know.

        Honestly, the only thing we could really debate is best online platform. Social Media is now the hot ticket. Some publishers are advising new authors away from dedicated websites because Websites don’t garner a lot of conversions. And new authors try to tend it themselves leaving it a bit out of date, or offending certain markets by not having links to all options for the book. And with social media being the spotlight they feel the author would be best served only building up their social platform.

        Others advise a mixture.

        Others just tell you to make sure you do it right whatever you choose.

        Reply
  5. September Links | Becky Black
    September Links | Becky Black at |

    […] Self-promo, does it sell books? A.F. Henley asks the eternal question. […]

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