Promoting an Author - Case Studies

In Promoting an Author, I talked about a few ways that authors or publishers could promote novels (or short stories) using RSS and a blog. Business wire had a press release a couple of weeks ago (links below) that talks about how author Tom Evslin's book, hackoff.com, is being promoted as a blook (book in blog format) and serialized in podcast format. What's more, apparently the RSS feed for the podcast is configurable, letting subscribers decide on the frequency of delivery.

Now here's a surprise: the hardcover hasn't been released yet, but the promotion has already generated pre-orders through Amazon and, the press release claims, the blog is very popular.

Evlsin is not the only novelist releasing his book online. Cory Doctorow of BoingBoing fame, recently released his fourth novel online, simultaneously with the print edition. He's done this for each book.

While Doctorow does have his own podcast - where he reads from one of his stories at least once weekly, regardless of which city he is in - Charles Coxhead has created a special RSS feed at Surfarama for Doctorow's novel "Someone Comes To Town". The feed automatically starts you at the beginning of the novel, and sends a couple of pages a day. What's more, you can subscribe via WINKsite to get the feed delivered to your mobile phone.

The only drawback with Coxhead's feed is that it works with a limited number of feedreaders, none of which I use. He also comments that he's not sure that such a "scheduled RSS delivery mechanism" is suitable for serialized novels because of varying reading habits. He does say that the feed mechanism may be more suitable for training materials.

One of the commenters on Surfarama points out that Podiobooks.com also provides scheduled RSS feeds. The Podiobooks site requires that you register (free), then use "podcatcher" (free, several cross-platform choices), to use the feeds you subscribe to.

These are all very interesting ways that authors are being promoted online. I'm predicting that we'll see further innovative ways this year.

Links/Sources: Tom Evslin's blog, hackoff.com, BusinessWire - Podcast Edition of hackoff.com Mystery Now Available., BoingBoing, Cory Doctorow - CrapHound, Charles Coxhead - Surfarama - RSS For Serialized Content, WINKsite, Podiobooks.

Technorati Tags: rsscases, rss cases, feed promotion, podcasts, podcasting, author promotion

Hi,

I only just happened upon this post, but despite being late throught I'd correct one mistake in your reporting...

The feed I created for Cory Doctorows novel does work with any feed reader. It is a regular RSS feed, so as long as your feed reader can handle RSS 2.0 it is all good. I think you've been confused by the one click subscription chicklet which offers one click subscription to a variety of the most popular readers. This doesn't however prevent you using any other reader.

You might also be interested to know that when I first set this up the subscribe count climbed to 600+, but amazingly ever since all those folks finished reading the book (and unsubscribed), there's been a steady readership of c.200 people. I've actually changed my tune a bit, as there does seem to be some appetite for consuming fiction in this way.

Posted by: Charles at May 13, 2006 8:16 AM