Help please! Advice on marketing an "edgy" book.

Hello Everyone!

I really need some advice on marketing my first published novel. It's contemporary female fiction, about a woman's journey from semi-social, wall flower, to self-pleasure cult hero. The theme is about going after dreams, living life without limits, and accepting people for who they are. It challenges, racial, social, and sexual sterotypes with humor, and sensitivity. The story is a first person account of a cheesecake addicted, socially inept, bookkeeper, who discovers the big "O", at age 33, and becomes obsessed with pleasuring herself. Masturbation leads her on unexpected journey of self-discovery that changes her life, and the lives of others she encounters. It's inspirational, and fun, with a syrupy sweet ending. I've been getting some great feedback from those who've dared to get over the title to read it. And therein lies my issue - the title, which is, "Confessions of a Serial Masturbator". The title completely fits the story, however, it lends itself to being prejudged as erotica, which it's not. Short of changing the title, how do I get this to the contemporary female fiction audience? How do I get book signings with this title? I'm writing a follow up, but I'm also working on some other novels with tamer titles. When they're completed, should I push those more, and then let the audience find "Confessions..." on their own? Any comments/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Catrina Barton on June 23, 2012 at 11:13am

I've done several posts about the marketing and self publishing route I've taken on my blog. Maybe some of them can help you a bit?

Oh, but don't assume people will "get over the title and read it." there are three dire important issues that sell a book. Title, Cover, and Blurb.

http://kittyb78.wordpress.com

Permalink Reply by Kitty K. Free on June 23, 2012 at 12:19pm

Thank you Catrina! I'm reading your blog now. And congratulations on your book being added to smashwords premium catalogue. I know how difficult formatting for Smashwords can be. I did my own for Kindle & Createspace, but I'm going to have to hire someone for Smashwords.

Permalink Reply by Catrina Barton on June 23, 2012 at 12:44pm

You're welcome and thanks! :)

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on June 23, 2012 at 11:24am

I think the title is cool. I don't have a lot of experience with advertising and marketing. Everything I've done is learn-as-I-go type of stuff, and it's mostly just reaching out to people through social networking, emails (personal-not-copy and paste), and word of mouth. I've had some moderate success with that, but I'm hoping to get better connections and more exposure, too. Just gotta keep plugging away. Some people have used publicists with some success. Others say do-it-yourself is the best way.

I'm going to go search for your book now. Is it available on Kindle? Congratulations to you! I'm going to shop that title around on my Facebook and Twitter pages, and see what kind of feedback I get. I'll share with you what other folks say. :)

Permalink Reply by Kitty K. Free on June 23, 2012 at 12:44pm

Thank you so very much Regina :)! I really appreciate that! Yes it is available on Kindle.

I've been doing pretty much what you said - social networking, word of mouth, and I respond to emails w/o copy & paste because I want people to feel the way I'd want to feel if I reached out to someone.

I know the book is not for everyone, so I really do appreciate you taking the chance of spreading the word.

I just looked up your book, "The Other Side of 30". Is it available on Kindle?

Permalink Reply by Catrina Barton on June 23, 2012 at 12:56pm

Word of mouth is one of the key ways, another is to know and reach out to your targeted audience, mainly by joining writer's groups in your Niche.

I write Young Adult, Paranormal, Romances, and Adventures, so those are the groups I focused on when joining places.

Another good way {besides blogging, twitter, and stuff like that} is to actually go out and talk to some of your audience. By that I mean participate in some of their current discussions {after introducing yourself} There is also the old fashioned media press kit option as well.

I put four years into researching everything and then devised a solid marketing plan for my YA book Dangerous Temptation. It's still early stages mind you, since the release of my five chapter free preview, {Which is part of my marketing plan} but I've been thrilled with the results so far. XD

Permalink Reply by Kitty K. Free on June 23, 2012 at 1:55pm

Cool, I'll need to check, that out. I'm writing a YA Sci-fi trilogy under a pseudonym. his will be the first time I'm using an outline, so I'll see how it goes!

I'm from NY, but I live in the Bible Belt now, so it's not as easy here to broach people about the book as it would be back home. At the same time, the women that I have been able to speak to, (a few co-workers & some friends) have been open to the book - though not necessarily open for others to know that they are interested in it.

Permalink Reply by Catrina Barton on June 23, 2012 at 4:54pm

I'm in the Bible Belt of Missouri. I know the feeling. Surprisingly a lot of locals have asked about my book preview. {Enjoy it. I'm new to YA genre, but I did my homework too. XD}

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on June 23, 2012 at 1:05pm

Hey! I just picked up a copy for my Kindle. And nope. Unfortunately, I didn't think to have mine available for Kindle at the time that I first published, and since I'm planning to do a 2nd Edition release, with a new cover, tighter editing, and stronger story, I figured I'd wait until the re-release to put it on Kindle. I hope that's a good strategy. I just want people to get the best value for their money. Thanks for asking, though. I'll be sure and let everyone know when it's out again, and ready for all of you Kindle/Nook readers. :)

Permalink Reply by Kitty K. Free on June 23, 2012 at 2:03pm

Kindle is my new crack! My old crack was bookstores, but they've pretty much all closed down where I live now.

The 2nd edition release sounds like a good plan. I published mine on kindle first & have revised it 3 times. When I first published on kindle there was a lot more to the formatting. That was October '11. Now it's much simpler. I didn't publish the paperback until March '12 and I've had to revise that as well, but it's very simple. Like Catrina, I want to be in Smashwords, which is also free, but I'm going to pay someone else to format it. The rates to hire someone are pretty cheap.

I'll be looking out for your book when it's ready:)

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on June 23, 2012 at 2:24pm

Thanks. :)

I just put up a thread on my Facebook pages about your book, to get some feedback about the title. I'll see what kinds of responses I get and copy and paste them here.

Permalink Reply by Kitty K. Free on June 23, 2012 at 2:38pm

Thank you! Now I'm nervous:)