Today is National Read a Book Day, and I plan on reading after accomplishing a great deal of writing. I tend to read in the evenings right before going to bed because I like to curl up under the blankets and be comfortable, so that’s probably what will happen later today.

What am I reading?

I’m currently reading is Green-Light Your Book: How Writers Can Succeed in the New Era of Publishing by Brooke Warner. While the author goes over traditional publishing and hybrid publishing, there seems to be (so far) an emphasis on self, or indie publishing. (Indie publishing is not to be confused with publishing with indie presses).

I’m pretty secure with Oliver Heber Books, as I’ve signed a three-book deal with them, although I don’t know what the future holds beyond that. But for now, I’m not looking at information for self-publishing. I’m reading this book to see if it has free marketing ideas.

Son of the Siren has been out over a year and some pretty incredible things have happened with it–getting an audiobook, getting a BookBub feature, and being featured at the Ingram Spark table at ALA–but it has yet to translate to sales. Son of the Siren just hasn’t found its audience, and, to put it bluntly, despite me funneling thousands of dollars into marketing, many people just don’t know this book exists.

I’m poor. My job situation has been spotty because when you adjunct, there are no guarantees classes will be available for you to teach. I just now ended months of unemployment, but I still don’t get my first check for a while. I don’t see how I can spend more money promoting Son of the Siren when my finances are so precarious. Part of me wants to give up, but I know that my publisher hasn’t given up on the book yet, so I feel I have to keep fighting the good fight to try to get it into readers’ hands. I’m just…out of ideas.

So far I really like Green-light Your Book. Its writing is very readable and conversational, and it feels like you’re having a one-on-one with an expert. And it is validating to read about how publishing has changed in that publishers are only investing in what they believe will be hits, and neglecting everyone else in their catalog. Well, that part isn’t new. The new part is how authors are expected to do a lot of the grunt work themselves of getting their work known. That’s the part I’m interested in. I’m not at that section of the book yet–I’m only 27% into it–but I’m eager to see what the author says about becoming a known entity and finding readers.

Need a book to read today?

A BOOK THAT WILL LIVE IN YOUR MIND FOREVER

SOMETHING SHORT BUT AMAZING

UNSETTLING AND MEMORABLE

CLASSIC ENEMIES TO LOVERS SERIES

FOR LOVERS OF FAIRYTALE MASHUPS

Those are my suggestions for you to read today for National Read a Book Day. I’ll see you next year with a new book I’m reading, plus new suggestions for you!