Authors on the Web: changing the book marketing status quo. (book bytes).

Gone are the days when authors promoted their books only when a new one was being released--the obligatory book signings at superstores or the independent neighborhood bookstore and press interviews. Marketing plans are fine, but that's not all there is to do nowadays. The next phase of book marketing is online promotion, where authors can flog their books year round on their websites, before they're even released. Some authors communicate directly with readers via email and other venues on their sites and direct readers to their choice of online booksellers with links to Borders.com, Amazon.com, Theblacklibrary.com or Cushcity.com. That kind of online promotion helps an author maintain a loyal readership through dry spells that inevitably arise between books.

Author Karen E. Quinones Miller found her website crucial to the promotion of her first book, Satin Doll. She published the novel on her own and didn't have much of an advertising budget, so she turned to the Internet. Not knowing anything about HTML or website production, she purchased a book and taught herself to build a site. "It was important to me to get the word out, so I sent out emails promoting the book on my website, www.karenequinonesmiller.com. There, folks can find more information about Satin Doll, including purchasing information. I was selling copies on the site, as well as directing readers to Amazon.com and Theblacklibrary.com."

Quinones Miller also printed flyers and bookmarks to hand out, and always made sure she printed her URL on the material. After all, she had to market the site in order to market her book. In the end, she wound up selling 24,000 copies of Satin Doll in eight months before striking a deal with Simon & Schuster, who purchased Satin Doll and published her latest novel, I'm Telling.

Erotic fiction writer Zane found a large readership for her first novel, The Sex Chronicles before it was even published. "When people ask me why my books sell so well, I tell them it's because I literally gave away my work for free for more than two years. When I started my site and e-zine, I had no intention of becoming a published writer." But the popularity of her erotic fiction and her love of writing convinced her otherwise.

"Most authors want to see dollars from day one, and many don't expect to make any sacrifices," she says. "The bottom line is that you get out of something what you put into it." Zane's subsequent novels, Addicted and The Heat Seekers, were published by Pocket Books.

But just because a site exists doesn't mean someone will visit it. Quinones Miller had the right idea in featuring her URL on her flyers and bookmarks. But once folks know it exists, what will keep them coming back? The content, of course.

Author Donna Hill developed her websites, www.bedtimeconfessions.com and www.donnahill.com because, she says, "with technology so readily available and instantaneous, I think it has been immensely helpful in staying in touch with my audience while continuing to build it."

She offers lots of information on bedtimeconfessions.com, a site devoted to her new release, An Ordinary Woman, that keeps surfers coming back for more. The site features message boards, an advice column, a "Write Your Own Story" feature, articles, and an excerpt from An Ordinary Woman, posted well before the book was published. In addition, Ms. Hill has another site, www.donnahill.com, on which she offers a "What's New" column, an event calendar, and an online book club, "ReadersnFriends." Omar Tyree offers plenty of content on www.OmarTyree.com. He includes an excerpt from Leslie, his new best-seller, his event schedule, articles, photos and an online form that readers can use to purchase books directly from him.

Of course, to communicate with readers even more, some authors post their email addresses, and send out emails announcing the release of a new book or the posting of a new feature.

With so many writers already having the new marketing down pat, what's next? Well, don't be surprised if one day you receive alerts from authors on your hand-held PDAs or cell phones. Stay tuned....