328: Book Marketing for Busy Writers — Interview with Carol VanDenHende

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carol VanDenHende. Carol is an award-winning author who pens stories of resilience and hope. Her debut novel Goodbye Orchid recently won the American Fiction Award for urban fiction, the Pinnacle Book Award for multicultural fiction, and was listed by Buzzfeed as one of its 12 Most Anticipated books this fall. Carol is also a speaker (as well as one of my writing conference buddies) and she often speaks on author brand, visual identity, and marketing plans. With an MBA with 20+ years' experience in marketing and strategy, Carol knows what it takes to market your book (even if you're a busy author) and she has applied many of these strategies to the launch of Goodbye Orchid. One secret to Carol's good fortune? Her humorous husband, fun-loving twins, and rescue cat, who prove that love really does conquer all. In this episode Carol and I discuss: How her book Goodbye Orchid is really about hope and resilience.  Why focusing on your message as a writer is the best way to self-promote, even when self-promotion might feel inauthentic. What people often miss about the hard work it takes to be a successful author. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/328