(Well, first of all, if anyone is interested in my back story, it's summarized pretty well in this post: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6319867&postcount=70 )
The upshot is that I have self-published one narrative nonfiction book, No Comfort Zone, on my personal experience of living with non-combat PTSD. It's been out in print (CS and LSI) and available in the Kindle format for around a year. I expanded the number of ebook formats a few months ago using both Barnes and Noble Pubit and Smashwords.
I have good reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I've done a giveaway on Goodreads, which brought quite a bit of attention, and am now doing one on LibraryThing, which is doing less well. I am about to do an Author Q&A on Goodreads.
The book has been a personal success in that it is having the impact I had hoped. I've had several readers who also have PTSD thank me for writing it since the book made them feel less alone and helped them explain their life experience to their loved ones. It's being used as an educational tool in classrooms and was the basis for an educational film (http://www.giftfromwithin.org/html/Making-Peace-With-Chronic-PTSD.html#14). It's been discussed in several trauma-related online groups and I have, um, followers/fans/nice-people-who-have-read-and-recommended-my-book in the US and Australia.
I think it's selling about as well as it would have through a small academic press and I've now sold enough copies to cover my expenses. I have a few online book promotions set for the next few months and a couple of speaking engagements scheduled.
But, then what?
When is a book such as mine no longer new? Is there a point at which you can no longer promote it as something fresh? When, if ever, do you just assume that it will gain or lose momentum on its own?
It's not a read for everyone, but I would like it to be visible enough that those who would find it helpful could actually find it.
I know that I could shift from promoting the book to somehow promoting myself, but I am already established in a professional field I love and am not sure I want to start from scratch as an expert in trauma. I don't have another book in me on this topic (at least not now.) I am doing some PTSD-related educational seminars, but don't see myself becoming a speaker in this field.
I've seriously considered writing a blog, but that would be more about life and society in general, than specific to PTSD. (I would link both the book and the DVD, but promoting them would not be the main purpose for blogging.)
Anyway, I still feel rather like a stranger in a strange land and would appreciate any thoughts, guidance or suggestions you could share. Thanks.
The upshot is that I have self-published one narrative nonfiction book, No Comfort Zone, on my personal experience of living with non-combat PTSD. It's been out in print (CS and LSI) and available in the Kindle format for around a year. I expanded the number of ebook formats a few months ago using both Barnes and Noble Pubit and Smashwords.
I have good reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I've done a giveaway on Goodreads, which brought quite a bit of attention, and am now doing one on LibraryThing, which is doing less well. I am about to do an Author Q&A on Goodreads.
The book has been a personal success in that it is having the impact I had hoped. I've had several readers who also have PTSD thank me for writing it since the book made them feel less alone and helped them explain their life experience to their loved ones. It's being used as an educational tool in classrooms and was the basis for an educational film (http://www.giftfromwithin.org/html/Making-Peace-With-Chronic-PTSD.html#14). It's been discussed in several trauma-related online groups and I have, um, followers/fans/nice-people-who-have-read-and-recommended-my-book in the US and Australia.
I think it's selling about as well as it would have through a small academic press and I've now sold enough copies to cover my expenses. I have a few online book promotions set for the next few months and a couple of speaking engagements scheduled.
But, then what?
When is a book such as mine no longer new? Is there a point at which you can no longer promote it as something fresh? When, if ever, do you just assume that it will gain or lose momentum on its own?
It's not a read for everyone, but I would like it to be visible enough that those who would find it helpful could actually find it.
I know that I could shift from promoting the book to somehow promoting myself, but I am already established in a professional field I love and am not sure I want to start from scratch as an expert in trauma. I don't have another book in me on this topic (at least not now.) I am doing some PTSD-related educational seminars, but don't see myself becoming a speaker in this field.
I've seriously considered writing a blog, but that would be more about life and society in general, than specific to PTSD. (I would link both the book and the DVD, but promoting them would not be the main purpose for blogging.)
Anyway, I still feel rather like a stranger in a strange land and would appreciate any thoughts, guidance or suggestions you could share. Thanks.
