Ask the Author: Laura Murray
Answered Questions (7)
Laura Murray
Jeff, I am so sorry for my delayed response. Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. I have found in my experience that it really depends on the type of book you have.
I would definitely try to get it in as many places as you can. If it costs you time/money, you need to evaluate if you think you will get a return. Sometimes, you need to invest a little to get people to see your book. A lot of people go to bookstores and will buy a book because they like what they see, even though it wasn’t the intended book to buy. I should know. I always go in for one book and come out with ten! So, I think getting your book into a store is great! Just make sure to balance it with any costs you may incur.
Get people to read your book and leave comments. The more comments and ratings you have the better. I am currently involved in a book launch for a friend of mine. The big thing they are having us do is to get the word out through social media and through comments/ratings. The more exposure the better. Create book specific hashtags and have friends help you get the word out.
Unfortunately this is not an easy topic. Really think about your book and its audience. My first book, “Nigerian Genocide” has a very specific audience. People will generally not want to buy this book unless they are interested. The types of people who are interested will search out my kind of book. So having that book in a bookstore won’t help me as much as making my book available for purchase online and worldwide. (Most of my sales for that book are from abroad). I also make more money by self publishing this type of book.
However, a book I am writing now will benefit more from having a publisher attached to it. It will broaden my ability to reach the right people. Having this book in a bookstore will help greatly! So I hope to be able to do that.
really think about your audience and what you can afford in time and money. Make your decision that way.
I welcome any more questions you have. Again, sorry for the incredible delay in answering. Short story, lots of technical issues the past few months. Back on board now!
:)
I would definitely try to get it in as many places as you can. If it costs you time/money, you need to evaluate if you think you will get a return. Sometimes, you need to invest a little to get people to see your book. A lot of people go to bookstores and will buy a book because they like what they see, even though it wasn’t the intended book to buy. I should know. I always go in for one book and come out with ten! So, I think getting your book into a store is great! Just make sure to balance it with any costs you may incur.
Get people to read your book and leave comments. The more comments and ratings you have the better. I am currently involved in a book launch for a friend of mine. The big thing they are having us do is to get the word out through social media and through comments/ratings. The more exposure the better. Create book specific hashtags and have friends help you get the word out.
Unfortunately this is not an easy topic. Really think about your book and its audience. My first book, “Nigerian Genocide” has a very specific audience. People will generally not want to buy this book unless they are interested. The types of people who are interested will search out my kind of book. So having that book in a bookstore won’t help me as much as making my book available for purchase online and worldwide. (Most of my sales for that book are from abroad). I also make more money by self publishing this type of book.
However, a book I am writing now will benefit more from having a publisher attached to it. It will broaden my ability to reach the right people. Having this book in a bookstore will help greatly! So I hope to be able to do that.
really think about your audience and what you can afford in time and money. Make your decision that way.
I welcome any more questions you have. Again, sorry for the incredible delay in answering. Short story, lots of technical issues the past few months. Back on board now!
:)
Laura Murray
That's a hard one. I rarely have writer's block. That's probably due to the craziness of my life. On the off-chance it comes around, I find that talking it through to my husband helps a lot. For me, vocalizing my frustration leads to vocalizing my thoughts, and eventually those thoughts come around to progress with where I am stuck.
Laura Murray
You never know where your journey is going to take you! I started out thinking I was going to write a children's book. That turned into a book on Christian persecution! I love how my skills for the government were able to be used for God's purpose! And now I am writing blog devotionals and sending out monthly reports on persecution as well as writing a Bible study!! There are so many twists and turns! I find it exhilarating!
Laura Murray
If you feel God's prodding to write, just do it! There are a million ways to get that writing out. Find someone who has done it already and seek their wisdom. Don't worry yourself to the point that you lose your initiative and don't put too much weight in other's thinking. The way others think is important, but not more important than what God is telling you do.
Laura Murray
I am currently working on Midnight Moments in Proverbs. It will be the first in a series of books. These are Bible studies that can be done at your own pace and can be as in-depth as you want them to be. Plenty of extras to deepen your knowledge if you so choose. Things like archeology, videos of me explaining things, music, art, and more. I want the studies to be user friendly and for the reader to get as much as they can while fitting into the time that they have.
I am also producing Monday Memes on my blog every Monday. It's a chance to take social media into the world of Scripture. I am enjoying this immensely.
I also am starting to produce a monthly email (may turn out to be an eMagazine) on the persecution of Christians. this subject has always been close to my heart and I want to bring attention to it.
I am also producing Monday Memes on my blog every Monday. It's a chance to take social media into the world of Scripture. I am enjoying this immensely.
I also am starting to produce a monthly email (may turn out to be an eMagazine) on the persecution of Christians. this subject has always been close to my heart and I want to bring attention to it.
Laura Murray
I feel like God sends inspiration to me. Usually, the inspiration comes a little out of nowhere. My inspiration for my current book came while I was pondering on the book of Revelation in my bed!
Laura Murray
The book I am currently writing is Midnight Moments in Proverbs. The idea came to me as I was in bed and my family was sleeping. You see, I'm a night owl and I do my best thinking at night. It occurred to me that most devotionals and Bible studies are about preparing for your day in the morning. It has always been hard for me to do that. I do so well and have such great quiet time with God at night, when my mind is at its sharpest. I spend my time reflecting on my day.
As I toyed with these thoughts throughout the next few days, I realized that many of the religious people we learn from, all left journals reflecting on their lives. In fact, these reflections are often what we look to in order to obtain more understanding about them or about their thoughts on Scripture. Yet, as Christians in today's world, we rarely spend time reflecting.
So, Midnight Moments was born!
As I toyed with these thoughts throughout the next few days, I realized that many of the religious people we learn from, all left journals reflecting on their lives. In fact, these reflections are often what we look to in order to obtain more understanding about them or about their thoughts on Scripture. Yet, as Christians in today's world, we rarely spend time reflecting.
So, Midnight Moments was born!
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