Promoting on the internet can sometimes feel like a cold,
detached endeavor. There are scores of places to list a new
ebook, request a review or drop a press release. But most
contact with potential readers comes in the form of printed
words on a screen. While that's what you are trying to sell to
begin with, your printed words on a screen, a certain level of
intimacy is missing. Printed words carry the tone in the
reader's mind, their interpretation of the author's phrasing and
rhythm. That's all well and good but how do you create that
elusive intimacy with your reader that goes beyond the sound of
their own thoughts? Or entice new readers to "hear" your words
in your voice when they read?
For print authors--and sometimes e-authors--there is the author
signing. Of course, this is somewhat limited by area and tour
itinerary. Even so, most e-authors can't afford author tours and
the luxury of reading to their readers and potential readers is
limited.
So why not create a sound byte those readers can download,
either when they buy the book or before? Let them hear your
voice, so you are more than just a few printed words on a
screen. Become three-dimensional in their mind, get close up and
in mono.
Creating a sound byte is not difficult and in fact can be
constructed even on older computers. I created one using Windat
on Windows 3.11, but it can be done with sound recorder on later
Win versions.
You will need a microphone and a bit of practice reading to make
sure you do the best you can. I used a cheap sound machine to
put in a few crickets (roughly $20 at Walmart) because I was
reading a night scene. I call them evil crickets because the
scene involved vampires, but that's beside the point.
I would suggest picking a small dramatic passage, one you feel
comfortable reading. Shut yourself in a quiet room if possible
because it will take a number of "takes" to get it right and it
is amazing how recording can be a cue for the dog to start
barking. Size can be an issue. Wav files are fairly large--a bit
over a meg--for even a minute worth of reading. You can convert
it to Mp3 to save a bit on size. For mine I picked a very short
passage and got it to about 500k.
Once you have your sound byte, upload it to your webpage so
readers can download it and listen. Or ask your publisher to
place it as a download with your book listing on their store
site.
For those who would like to hear my Mp3 sample, surf on over to
www.atlanticbridge.com and check out my listing for THE DARK
RIDERS. Or alternately, surf to my personal webpage,
http://howardhopkins.com and download a wav sample.
About the author:
Howard Hopkins is the author of six horror and western ebooks
from Atlantic Bridge Publishing (www.atlanticbridge.net) under
his own name and more than twenty print westerns under the
penname Lance Howard. His novels can be purchased at bn.com,
www.amazon.co.uk and amazon.com and he lives in Maine.
