What are the odds, eh? I answer our wonderful listener questions on choosing and developing ideas, working with agents and editors, writing non-sweary period dialogue, and I compare my experiences in traditional publishing, indie publishing, crowdfunding and now with Simon & Schuster… Have a listen here: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep303-mark-stay-and-the-crow-folk/
And here’s a quick look behind the scenes before we started recording…
We’re launching my new novel THE CROW FOLK with a special party and you’re all invited!
The launch will be happening online on Facebook and Youtube on Thursday 4th February, 7-8pm GMT (11-noon PST, 12-1pm MST, 2-3pm EST, 6am next AEDT, 5am next day AEST).
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ON FACEBOOK
The dress code is 1940s Home Front and our Master of Ceremonies for the evening will the wonderful Mr Caimh McDonnell — author and stand-up comedian of some repute. There will be revelations, merriment and a splendid time for all.
If you have any questions for me, then simply pop it in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer it on the evening.
If you cannot make the launch party, then fear not: it shall be recorded and distributed across all the usual social media channels.
We look forward to seeing you on the evening in your best bib and tucker. Until then, don’t forget to order The Crow Folk at all the usual stockists here.
3 weeks away from our book launch, we’re exploring virtual book launch ideas as the UK is in lockdown. So “The Crow Folk” author Mark Stay, pivots his book launch plans online. Joined by facilitator Sara Cox – we discover how to launch a book online.
In this 11th outing of the ‘Book Marketing Challenge,’ You’ll learn loads of tips for planning a successful book launch, with stacks of book launch ideas, to make your next book launch a massive success.
This series takes you on a journey of book publishing – offering writing tips and writing advice – along with book promotion and book marketing strategies. It’s the uncut, inside story of a book’s journey from the page to it appearing on a bookshelf in your favourite bookstore …
We did one of those author unboxing videos… We might have got a bit carried away.
Camera, sound and edit: Kai Newton
Production Assistant: Emily Stay
Pumpkinhead: George Stay
Music: Dom Currie
Kai is keeping a video diary and you can see behind the scenes here…
New Year – new lockdown! With just 4 weeks to go – our book marketing plans are dealt a blow thanks to the Pandemic – how will I keep my latest book launch on track?
The 10th outing in this series – following the book marketing journey of Mark’s newest book ‘The Crow Folk’ – the video is rammed full of book marketing strategies and tips for authors, as well as writing advice and all sorts of book promotion insights.
This series takes you on a journey of book publishing – offering writing tips and writing advice – along with book promotion and book marketing strategies. It’s the uncut, inside story of a book’s journey from the page to it appearing on a bookshelf in your favourite bookstore …
Video Tools We Use & Recommend: Full disclosure – This is an affiliate link – but you’ll be able to purchase these tools at the same rate as anywhere else. All this means is we get a small amount of cash for introducing you to these fine products, and that is invested back into producing more content, to help you. YouTube Channel Optimisation: VidIQ : https://vidiq.com?afmc=7j0 Editing: Camtasia : https://techsmith.z6rjha.net/bLdo6 ScreenFlow: Telestream : https://telestream.8bx6ag.net/6vmYb Captions: Subly : https://getsubly.com/ Rev : https://rev.com/ Temi : https://temi.com/ We are ALL about HELPING business owners, entrepreneurs and marketers get the MOST from VIDEO and DIGITAL MARKETING. Our mission is to share our marketing knowledge and our 20+ years in broadcast TV to harness the AWESOME power of video to HELP all our BUSINESSES GROW.
My book The Crow Folk is out on 4th February. How can you buy it and support indie bookstores?
Here are some links…
Coles Books for a signed copy and signed exclusive art print
Book Depository for free world wide P&P
Support your local bookshop at The Hive and Bookshop.org
Oh, all right then… Amazon
TRANSCRIPT:
Hello folks, Mark, Stay here. It’s January 6th and the UK has gone into lockdown for the third time, third time’s a charm and that means all bookshops are closed. So if you want to buy books… In particular, if you’re going to buy this book. Where can you go? Now, uh…
All sorts of options. All sorts of options. Number one, I would suggest you go to Coles Bookshop in Bicester because they’re selling signed copies of the book with a free signed art print, signed by myself and the artist Harry Goldhawk. Look at that. Marvellous. Look at it. Ooh. That’s port of call number one.
If you’re a if you’re a Waterstones fan or if you never used Waterstones before, try them because they have a wonderful thing. Every time you buy – spend ten pounds – you get a stamp and if you buy books as much as I do, then in no time at all. You get a free book or ten pounds credit. Fantastic. So get it from Waterstones.
If you live overseas, well, The best place… When I say overseas, outside the UK, obviously go to The Book Depository. They have free postage and packing worldwide, which is a wonderful thing. And very often you get free bookmark. Not my bookmark, but you know, a bookmark. Just get it for the bookmark.
And then apparently there’s some online start up called Ammaz? Amzz? It’ll come to me… Anyway you can… Look it up online. Just Google it.
But, yeah, if you’re working in a bookshop, and they’re on furlough now and, you know, help them support them as much as you can. We’re going to need them more than ever.
We interrupt this video to bring you an update on behalf of UK bookshops.
Many still operate on a click and collect or mail order basis during lockdown.
And we’ll be able to get you all the books you can eat.
Also, check the Hive and UK.Bookshop.org, an easy way to shop online and support local bookshops.
You’ll find links to these below.
Now back to your regular broadcast from somewhere in Kent
So yeah. I put some links for all this gubbins below.
Where you can get not just my book…
They do all sorts of books, but yes, support your local bookshops.
And, you know, if you can’t get out much, use Amazon.
I know it’s fashionable to hate them, but, you know, if you are housebound or whatever, they’re bloody good at what they do.
So, yes, anyway,
Oh here we go…
Out of the woods.
It’s a metaphor for something, innit
What a wonderful day to go for a walk.
Happy reading. See you again soon.
The splendid folk at Coles Books are offering a FREE art print, signed by myself and cover artist Harry Goldhawk, when you pre-order the paperback of THE CROW FOLK from them.
I’ll also be signing bookplates, so the books will be signed too!
This is completely exclusive to Coles Books and they ship worldwide, so get in fast (there are only 200 of these!) and pre-order here!
I join forces with video creator & video marketer Jeremy Mason to implement digital marketing techniques to drives sales and pre-orders of my new book The Crow Folk! Join us in our adventures in video marketing and book publishing …
In Episode 9 you’ll learn: – WHY persistence is key in book marketing and book publishing – YouTube’s algorithm changes WHAT it means & WHAT you should do as a video creator – HOW to keep motivated and keep consistently creating video marketing content – HOW to deal with rejection in business and as an author – The evolution of ‘The Witches of Woodville’ book series – HOW to use YouTube Live for book marketing – What NOT to do on Facebook and YouTube Live – Brainstorming virtual book launch ideas – ACTIONABLE ideas of how to promote your book with video – HOW to use content calendars to create PR-able ideas…
In this 5th episode author Mark Stay and video marketer Jeremy Mason reveal more book marketing strategies and tips for authors.
WHICH of their video marketing strategies have worked so far? WILL they hit their 1000 target for pre-sales before Feb 2021? WHICH digital marketing techniques will they enlist? WHICH book marketing strategy will be put to the test next on their ambitious (some may say foolhardy) quest?
In Episode 5 you will learn: Lots of book marketing strategies, finding the route to market for your book, insider hints and tips that will help you with marketing your book. We talk about: Tweetdeck, Canva, Goodreads, BookFunnel, Groovepages, book events, pre-orders, book signings, pitching yourself for publicity and more…
As you may know, at the start of my forthcoming book The Crow Folk our young heroine Faye Bright finds a book left to her by her late mother. In this book are spells, recipes, incantations… and a recipe for Jam Roly Poly (translation for non-British folk: Jam Roly Poly is a much-loved pudding that has the same density as a sock stuffed with pastry, but filled with jam and tastes lovely with custard).
I am delighted to announce that the recipe featuring rationed ingredients from 1940 is finally available for lovely subscribers to my newsletter. It was compiled by Miss Burgess, a baker of some repute in the village.
You’re NOT a subscriber to my newsletter?? Then sign up now and grab your free recipe and a sample of the first few chapters of the book here.
And you can watch the delectable Miss Burgess try both the 1940 and modern recipes here…
Mark Stay Writes 