Hanging at the Cool Kids' Table

 About a month ago I, filled with angst and trepidation, joined TikTok.  To be completely honest, I've mocked and scorned what I called TikGram and InstaTok in my classes, and I still despise what they've done and continue to do to our kids' minds.  That said, BookTok is an incredible boon for readers and writers alike, providing a platform for reviewers and authors to get their work known, and it's for this reason that I joined.  My most recent novel, I, Christine, never really took off, despite decent reviews from several bloggers, and I hated seeing it languish when I poured body and soul into it.  It's a good story of a fascinating, brilliant woman whose life and work is largely unknown beyond the ivory tower.  

So, where are we, a month or so in? Well, I've gotten used to talking to my phone and have learned a little about video editing.  With the help of a few generous indie author supporters (@MommaD, @alexandrashawauthor2, @oshanwaters4, and @A_Brew_Story, I'm looking at you!) I know have 186 followers, gaining about 10 new followers every day, and I've connected with several reviewers who have agreed to read and review Christine!  Yesterday I picked up @bethanys_bookshelf92, and when I saw she had twenty thousand followers, I had to ask, and yes! Although she generally reads and reviews fantasy, she's going to review Christine for me!  Even if 10% get the book, it'll be 2000 new readers.  This for a book that's sold maybe a few dozen copies.  Four other readers will also be posting their reviews to another 40,000 followers.  I also ran a Goodreads Giveaway of the ebook.  That cost some money, but if 10% of them review (Goodreads carries the freight on that one, prodding recipients to review) it'll be far more activity than the book's seen in probably a year.

Now, could it all disappear into the ether, among the thousands of romance, fantasy, romantasy, etc. published and promoted on BookTok every day?  Possibly, but I choose optimism.  And, with a healthy roster of followers, it'll be easier to promote my next book with a ready-made audience.  On we go, courageously into the 21st century!

 It seems I spend a lot of time explaining why I'm not keeping up with this blog.  To be perfectly honest, when I deep in writer's mode, I forget this even exists.  I'm sure I said in an earlier post that I much prefer writing to writing about writing, however...the world has turned, and things have changed.  One can't simply toss a novel up on Amazon and hope for the best.  There's too much competition out there, with millions of desperate authors clamoring for the attention of readers.

And so I return to the blog, so I can reach out to potential readers.  Word on the street is, some traditional publishers won't even consider you unless you bring along a couple thousand devoted followers/subscribers with a healthy social media footprint.  Okay, fine.  As is usual for me, I started researching, and quickly learned that one ignores the BookTok world at one's peril.  There are literally billions of users and millions of videos, and I don't know how many influencers out there reviewing books like crazy.

As of today, I've been on BookTok for 2 weeks.  At first, making videos gave me unpleasant reminders of teaching remotely during the pandemic--not that it's technically very difficult, but it felt a lot like whistling in the wind, wondering if anyone was listening.  I picked up a few likes, and a few followers...and then yesterday I commented on a video by indie author supporter A_Brew_Story, mentioning the difficulty I was having getting traction for I, Christine.  She responded with, "Message me, dear," and we were off to the races!

She's going to promote my book to her 28,000 viewers, and she was kind enough to tell me about a few other indie authors in my area.  I reached out to them, got some encouraging advice, and was put in touch with another indie promoter who will have me on her live feed in a week or so in front of her 20,000+ followers.  We've gone from zero to 100 overnight!  Yesterday I was about ready to give up and just write because I enjoy the intellectual exercise.  Today, it's a whole new world.