How one author finds an audience. Part 1

Alex Kudera has been a book seller, a Toyota salesman, a busboy in Paris, and for many years, an over-worked adjunct professor. He's also a good friend, and I've long admired his tenacity, somehow writing and writing and writing despite his punishing schedule.

That's why I'm so happy he's doing well, teaching writing at Clemson University, and publishing his first novel, Fight for Your Long Day.

When I saw that Alex had created a Facebook profile for the main character of the book (which we'll talk about in the second part of this interview), I asked him if he'd talk a bit about how an author finds his audience (and sells books).

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MD: I don't know much about publishing, but I'm under the impression that authors are bearing more and more of the burden of marketing their books. What's your take on that development?

AK: Yes, that’s absolutely right. Even with the largest publishers, the author plays a huge role in the marketing of the book. J.K. Rowling and Jonathan Franzen might be exempt from this, but even these famous people make "appearances" and promote their books. (And of course, some famous literary celebrities sell books by not "appearing" anywhere.)

But whether you self-publish or work with a publisher, you can count on your own personal hustle being part of your success story. We should also remember that famous writers from different epochs were also self-publishing and publicizing. I’ve never factchecked him, but one of my favorite college professors told me that Mark Twain got famous by moving to Manhattan and starting fist fights. Wikipedia.org has a great list of all the canonical writers who self-published -- people like James Joyce and Walt Whitman (along with best selling contemporary writers like E. Lynn Harris) were self-published at some point.

But yes, no matter how you get published, you will be working to promote your title.

MD: Once you knew your book would be published, did you feel prepared to take on some of the responsibilities of getting the word out about it (and getting sales)?

AK: Yes. If you want your book to move, be prepared to create any interest you can. Friends and family could be your greatest asset, particularly if they read and like the book. They can help by buying the book, spreading the word, paying your rent (a joke!), and other kinds of publicity.  And like I said, unless you are J.K. Rowling or Stephen King, even if you’re published by a big house, you’ll be doing a lot of your own publicity. It’s difficult because most of us hold jobs to support the writing habit. If we’re lucky our work overlaps with our writing in a positive, non-exhausting way.

MD: You started your blog, United States of Kudera, a couple of years ago. Was that in anticipation of the publication of your book, to develop more of a following for your writing?

AK: Yes, at this point, it does relate to my effort to get published and sell books although I didn’t anticipate that when I first began the blog. Beginning the blog was a requirement for a year-long teacher training I participated in for teaching literature online. While my blog’s literary themes almost always relate to the contemporary literature course I teach, my entries are rarely on the course readings and students are not required to read them.

Actively blogging also connects to business writing classes I teach which include some coverage of new or social media -- the kinds of things you’re helping your clients with. I’ll show students much more sophisticated blogs in class to show them how business writing could even include blogging.

I do think actively blogging is a useful strategy to promote one’s work, and I know that the large houses are telling their writers this. But perhaps more importantly, connecting with more popular book bloggers (like www.headbutler.com or www.bookslut.com) can help tremendously. I’m sure there are similar bloggers in the world of arts and crafts.

At this point, as print news disappears and is replaced by web content, a mention in a major blog can be better than a review in a major newspaper.

MD: An excerpt of the book is available now on Atticus Books' site. Some authors will post the work in progress on their blogs, to whet people's appetite for the finished product, and to gage the reaction of their readers. Did you think about doing this?

AK: I’ve never posted an excerpt online, but yes, I’ve considered it. It is a viable strategy and one that my publisher has embraced. Authors, particularly self-published writers, should be wary of giving away too much online, but it is also of course a good way to hook the reader. There may be novels posted chapter by chapter on blogs that do receive pay via advertising, but I can’t give you any titles here.

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Read Part 2 of the interview with Alex here.

You can get Alex's book, Fight for Your Long Day, here or here.

You can hear Alex read from the novel on November 4, 2010 at Malaprop's, in Asheville, NC. If you're one of my Philadelphia friends, you can hear him at Moonstone on December 22 ($2 cover goes to charity) and at a West Philly venue TBA.