Y'all, discoverability is harder than ever. With Twitter all but gone and publishing being --in a mood-- your favorite authors are floundering. We don't know how to reach our fans or find new readers. Telling someone about a book you love is a really big deal. That's the #1 reason people buy books! - ThreadSky

delilahsdawson.bsky.social • 478 days ago

Y'all, discoverability is harder than ever. With Twitter all but gone and publishing being --in a mood-- your favorite authors are floundering. We don't know how to reach our fans or find new readers. Telling someone about a book you love is a really big deal. That's the #1 reason people buy books!

Comments

halaylah.bsky.social•477 days ago

Oh, but the book I always recommend is by a 60-something white author who doesn't need social media exposure.

vivianeelbee.bsky.social•447 days ago

Yes, I feel this way too!

capnmarrrrk.bsky.social•477 days ago

I k ow I'm one person but I've spent well over $200 on book recommendations since I joined BSky

rowena42.bsky.social•477 days ago

I'm not sure I've picked up new authors from here yet. But I have spent the GDP of a small nation on new authors I found on Twitter over the years. I will always look for new stuff.

rowena42.bsky.social•477 days ago

Wait!! I did find someone new on Bluesky!! @haileypiperfights.bsky.social Cruel Angels Past Sundown and A Light Most Hateful!

capnmarrrrk.bsky.social•477 days ago

capnmarrrrk.bsky.social•477 days ago

Hi, we have book feeds here and and a book promotion feed
https://goodfeeds.co/search?q=book

amantineb.bsky.social•477 days ago

This is also why I have decided to open my website to feature interviews of anyone whose artistry deserves more than a social media platform ... My first two guests are to be @brionycollins.bsky.social and @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social - so please feel free to connect Delilah 🌺

thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social•476 days ago

Thankyou, Amantine.

amantineb.bsky.social•477 days ago

And small presses are dying under the soul-destroying pressure of it all too Delilah

davidmack.bsky.social•446 days ago

Too true. I have a new novel coming out in February and no effective way to spread the word. Posting on X is a mark of shame now, but here on BlueSky I have only 700 followers vs 8,100 on X. And if I try to pimp my book on Mastodon, I get yelled at. There's no winning.

alrutter.bsky.social•79 days ago

Do take some hope from the fact that engagement is better so far on BlueSky - those 700 followers are much more likely to be real people who want to hear about your book and help spread the word than the myriad bots that probably bulk your Twitter numbers.

v-ananya-author.bsky.social•477 days ago

It's true. And yea, Twitter did finally drown.

rshifman.bsky.social•99 days ago

I read The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste recently and loved it!

kellywellread.bsky.social•475 days ago

Follow and engage with Librarians! We recommend books all the time. The first one may not make a sale, but it might make fans of readers who will buy an author's books going forward. I have seen this happen over and over.

joconklin.bsky.social•475 days ago

I’m a re-reader and will often buy an author’s whole back catalog and future books if I fall in love with their work through a library loan! One of my dreams as an author is to see my books in public libraries 💜

kellywellread.bsky.social•475 days ago

This! Love to hear it. Especially to those who say libraries negatively affect author sales. We turn library readers into authors' fans all the time. I hope one day a book of yours *will* be in a library. Good luck and keep writing 📚

trtlpwr.bsky.social•475 days ago

I tell people about books like it’s my job! Oh, wait… 🤣🤣🤣

kellywellread.bsky.social•475 days ago

Best job ever!

sgwong.com•477 days ago

🩷🩷🩷

pottymouthpup.bsky.social•477 days ago

I love these threads because they give me authors/books to add to my Goodreads list. Plus I’ve read everything @NKJemisin has published except her Green Lantern graphic novel (if you are not familiar with/her work, you’re missing out on the most amazing world building & story telling that exists )

alexdis.dissky.com•477 days ago

Half the books I’ve read this year, and the primary reason I got back into reading (including your Star Wars titles) was BookTok.

artfulskeptic.bsky.social•477 days ago

No one know me on this app yet but if you want a good fantasy heist by an underappreciated author rean An Illusion of Thieves by Cate Glass:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/an-illusion-of-thieves-cate-glass/6986527?ean=9781250311009&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiebound.org%2Fsearch%2Fbook%3Fkeys%3Dcate%2Bglass&source=IndieBound&title=An+Illusion+of+Thieves+%28Chimera+%231%29

arieswriting.com•477 days ago

Yeah, I've struggled so much trying to get my books out there, that I've mostly just given up. Which has affected my writing, because now there's this huge part of me that's like "Why bother, no one gives a shit anyway" and then the self-hate spiral begins and I binge watch baking shows.

babewiththepower.bsky.social•477 days ago

At least some Feeds specifically don't want authors marketing themselves, but people can certainly talk up books they're reading into the books Feeds here. I know I just got one released last month purchased by my local library system bc I saw a reader mention on a Feed. Just add appropriate emojis.

robocopfacts.bsky.social•477 days ago

Was Bigolas Dickolas Wolfwood the last hurrah of book twitter, I wonder

nebulousmenace.bsky.social•462 days ago

Reader reporting in: https://bsky.app/profile/nebulousmenace.bsky.social/post/3kerurreibl22

kevinpetker.bsky.social•478 days ago

I'm feeling that one!

I'm predominantly a game design "author" and my engagement has PLUMMETED lately.

Which, might not be *that* bad, but I'm trying to crowdfund for a physical release for one of my games and it is STRUGGLING.

kevinpetker.bsky.social•477 days ago

Here's the crowdfunder for anyone interested in strange and cool role-playing games and diverse Princesses:

https://itch.io/s/107243/princess-world-short-story-edition-physical-print

writing.ie•100 days ago

Use the 💙📚 here and readers will find you 😊

carolyngriffiths.bsky.social•477 days ago

Start telling us. There is a feed for literature

betsymiller.bsky.social•447 days ago

For someone who has never read your books, is there one in particular that's the best one to start with?

delilahsdawson.bsky.social•447 days ago

I've got over 25, so if you tell me what kinds of books you like, I can recommend one!

betsymiller.bsky.social•447 days ago

OK, I like speculative fiction--can be fantasy or sci fi. I sometimes read young adult. Here are some books I've read recently and really like:
Murderbot System Collapse Martha Wells
Sleep No More (October Daye) Seanan McGuire
The Kaiju Preservation Society John Scalzi

delilahsdawson.bsky.social•447 days ago

I would recommend the Wake of Vultures series under my alter ego Lila Bowen if you want a more supernatural feel and The Violence for a more literary but still speculative vibe. And if Seanan's Sleep No More is inspired by Sleep No More, you might like my sweet YA romance Midnight at the Houdini.

betsymiller.bsky.social•409 days ago

I'm reading Midnight at the Houdini and loving it! The Tempest, right?

delilahsdawson.bsky.social•409 days ago

One of the inspirations, yes!

betsymiller.bsky.social•447 days ago

Thank you so much!

kennef.bsky.social•99 days ago

I would also recommend wake of vultures, I read it a couple of years ago and I loved it.

mrscheidrich.bsky.social•437 days ago

I'm still trying to read, review and share where I can. My reviews have slowed a little of late, but I get how hard it is out there and it wasn't easy before!! With all the #mglit "changes" in the last year or so, it's made things that much tougher. I feel for everyone writing... ❤️

rapieress.bsky.social•475 days ago

Is your book in Goodreads and have you added a collection of quotes from the book to go with it?

missdefying.bsky.social•477 days ago

the more the world gets borked, the more i just want to review movies or books just to help my friends…and readers (i’m a librarian after all)

mrivera81author.bsky.social•477 days ago

I feel this!

dreid63.bsky.social•477 days ago

Thank you for saying this.

kithrup.bsky.social•477 days ago

So, I note this periodically, but: if you are a genre author, and you have a book that goes on kindle sale (which is to say, $2.99 or less, although I'll go to $3.99 occasionally)... let me know, and I will consider buying some for giveaway.

I make no promises, of course, but I *will* consider it.

rozlovesfood.bsky.social•477 days ago

Not a genre author, nor the actual author, but this author is having a rough time currently. https://www.amazon.com/Bitterburn-Gothic-Fairytales-Book-1-ebook/dp/B088219S2F

kithrup.bsky.social•477 days ago

Five copies cached.

rozlovesfood.bsky.social•477 days ago

You wonderful human, thank you!

sallliss.bsky.social•477 days ago

Do it y’all! I think Sean is the patron saint of book giving

bandcgames.bsky.social•477 days ago

That's very generous of you! All my books are $2.99 and all I write is SF/F with other genres occasionally blended in. Here's my Amazon page. Thank you for your consideration. Backstage is by far my most popular book.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Joan-Wendland/author/B078C4Z4ZH?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

kithrup.bsky.social•477 days ago

I got 5 copies of The Clattering.

bandcgames.bsky.social•477 days ago

OMG thank you SO MUCH!

joycereynoldsward.bsky.social•477 days ago

I have some due to hit those price points at the end of November. And oh--need to change my Netwalk box set tonight for a sale running the 7th-13th. 7.99 for six books. Everything else--Federation Cowboy, Beyond Honor, and Broken Angel--are all 2.99 for varying dates starting Nov. 20.

joycereynoldsward.bsky.social•477 days ago

And thanks for doing this.

kithrup.bsky.social•477 days ago

I know a lot of people are hesitant to do self-promotion, but I really don't mind, and I *enjoy* helping make authors as well as readers happier.

princejvstin.com•477 days ago

And Sean is very good at this. And very generous

semperbufo.bsky.social•477 days ago

Lovely Assistant and Jackrabbit Messiah are regularly $2.99 each — no promises or obligations necessary, I just like new readers.

https://www.SilhouetteUniverse.com

kithrup.bsky.social•477 days ago

Lovely Assistant sounded fun so I got 5 copies to give away later!

semperbufo.bsky.social•477 days ago

Thanks! To borrow a phrase: "Share and enjoy!" (Emphasis on the enjoy part, though.)

orcwriter.bsky.social•477 days ago

The second book in my Grimnir Saga is on sale for $2.99, this month, in advance of book three's release in December. This was a pandemic book, and was largely overlooked by readers (trade reviewers loved it). Link: https://a.co/d/390ESGS

kithrup.bsky.social•477 days ago

I usually don't give out books in the middle of a series for somewhat obvious reasons. :(

authorizedmusings.bsky.social•477 days ago

you've already done Run With the Hunted a few times, which I really really appreciate (it's been on sale for 99¢, but the base price for the Run With the Hunted ebooks is $2.99 anyway)

semperbufo.bsky.social•477 days ago

And not just (>ahem<) favorite authors, but many, many authors you might quite like but have not yet heard of. (Wink, nudge, et al.)

anthrodiva.bsky.social•447 days ago

Big reason I tell people to friend me on Goodreads! I'm diligent about putting up my reads and starring them.

saraapplesauce.bsky.social•477 days ago

A coworker sent me an invite to a Silent Book Club, where people hang out in a coffee shop and all read their own books together and then talk for a bit at the end, so I’m hoping to get some good leads when I go at the end of the month.

adamwallenta.bsky.social•447 days ago

I used to get tons of engagement and sales from Twitter and made real life friends as well. Social Media has become anti-social and engagement is way down. My son and I publish our own book and have worked hard to connect with readers. It’s a challenge.

drtravislangley.bsky.social•447 days ago

Once upon a time….

adamwallenta.bsky.social•447 days ago

Yep

tagwritesbooks.bsky.social•477 days ago

I agree. I’m really having a tough couple of months. Despite releasing 2 new books in the past 6 months, I can’t seem to get any traction. I feel like I’m invisible…

robpierce2verbs.bsky.social•477 days ago

I sure don't. Hard enough to get hold of my publisher. Possibly based on sales of the last one they published, but dammit, tell me.

crystalberry.bsky.social•477 days ago

Spoutible.
Didn't need an invite to get on there 😑

theecatservant.bsky.social•477 days ago

Spoutible sucks.

crystalberry.bsky.social•477 days ago

Wrong 🤣

theecatservant.bsky.social•477 days ago

If it's wrong why you on here 😂 ? I used to like Spoutible until they attacked me for talking about poverty.

crystalberry.bsky.social•477 days ago

I'm on all the apps, trying to find what works. I'm just disagreeing with you about those two, that's all. They work for me. Attacking you for talking about poverty is wrong, very wrong. I'm not one for fighting, and I'm sorry that you had to go through that.

theecatservant.bsky.social•477 days ago

Nah. You're cool. I just woke up in a mood today.

crystalberry.bsky.social•477 days ago

Threads is another one

theecatservant.bsky.social•477 days ago

Threads sucks 😂.

crystalberry.bsky.social•477 days ago

Wrong 🤣

theecatservant.bsky.social•477 days ago

😂 whatever. You have a blessed day.

picturedragon.bsky.social•447 days ago

And if the person you tell is your local bookseller then they'll share that with other readers looking for recommendations!
(Honestly I just recommend spending a few minutes with them talking back and forth about books anyway, you'll both get good info about what to read next)

uptoolatereading.bsky.social•99 days ago

I have been recommending Guillotine constantly since I recommended it

delilahsdawson.bsky.social•99 days ago

Oh, thank you for that!!

uptoolatereading.bsky.social•99 days ago

*Since I read it even. You're welcome!

gpike.bsky.social•477 days ago

As an artist who has *always* been overlooked, I stand in solidarity with my coworkers who are losing a lot more than I ever did from not being seen. ;_; this sucks.

dariociriello.bsky.social•468 days ago

Yep.

dsilverbell.bsky.social•477 days ago

Maybe the new Lists feature on Bluesky, don't know if it could work on other clients though, could be used to curate lists of authors without resorting to custom feeds.

kevdog.bsky.social•477 days ago

I found so many authors and books on Twitter. For this and many other reasons, Elon can eat a bag of dicks.

briannajean.bsky.social•477 days ago

Published my debut right as Twitter was dying and its in a niche genre. It's been a fun time. Have to funnel some creativity away from writing books to getting people to read them.

betsymiller.bsky.social•447 days ago

What's your book about?

briannajean.bsky.social•447 days ago

Broad strokes: universe went into quarantine after a nanovirus was accidentally released at the end of a far reaching war. First book follows the crew of the Circumstance, a mercy ship, as they prepare for that quarantine knowing they can never go home again.

betsymiller.bsky.social•447 days ago

Can you add something to your BlueSky bio like the title of your book to make it easier to find your work?

briannajean.bsky.social•447 days ago

I thought I had already done that but apparently I just thought about doing it.

Thanks for the reminder!

spiderbill.bsky.social•477 days ago

I was a bookseller for 21 years and then a web designer with author clients for another 20. Engagement is harder now than ever but with book groups appearing here, on Mastodon, and Spoutible there is some hope. It's going to take cooperation between authors and with readers to make any difference.

kayoticreads.bsky.social•477 days ago

I am a small book reviewer and book blogger. My focus being on midlist, small print, and indie pub works. My platform is growing slowly. And I'm still figuring it out.

But I feel like this is what I can do. Since insta sucks big A, and TikTok takes a lot of work. There is little else to do.

rencarlisle.bsky.social•477 days ago

Hi Kayotic. Can I reach out to you about my novel, Ardent Tears?

kayoticreads.bsky.social•477 days ago

Of course!

behindthepages.bsky.social•475 days ago

I recommend Indie books to my local book club each month. :)

dahosek.bsky.social•477 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/dahosek.bsky.social/post/3kdk2g74dgt2x

shaz1a.bsky.social•477 days ago

I know I'm late to it but I read Demon Copperhead, which was amazing and has stayed in my thoughts a couple of months later

jennifermach.bsky.social•477 days ago

I just finished The Poisonwood Bible for book club, so I'm even later to it––I hear Demon Copperhead is also very intense. Might need a palate cleanser between the two.

scienceyael.bsky.social•477 days ago

I read Demon Copperhead recently and it was very powerful, especially having spent a couple years of my childhood very much in Appalachia. Poisonwood Bible soon (yes after some palate cleansers…)

shaz1a.bsky.social•477 days ago

I'm also reading Poisonwood Bible right now

shaz1a.bsky.social•477 days ago

I definitely palate cleansed! Made me smile when she mentions copperhead snakes in PB in passing. DC is now one of my fave books

jennifermach.bsky.social•475 days ago

Palate cleansers are in at the library!

shaz1a.bsky.social•474 days ago

I haven't read either of these authors before, will try! I went the murder mystery route instead

jennifermach.bsky.social•474 days ago

Ooh, which one? For TJ Klune, I heartily recommend The Wide Cerulean Sea. For Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

willhancock.bsky.social•475 days ago

It was a good year for me and Barbara Kingsolver. Was blown away by Demon Copperhead, incredible voice and incredible story. So I then picked up Poisonwood Bible and read that, also incredible but yes sort of rakes you over the coals that one.

jennifermach.bsky.social•475 days ago

So true! The last BK book I read was Prodigal Summer, which had a part in me deciding to have a kid...who is now in college. For Poisonwood Bible, I have to say I found the dad (and to some extent Rachel) a little bit of a caricature. Also I'm still trying to figure out what species poisonwood is.

tlbklaus.bsky.social•477 days ago

We have a good books/shows/movies thread on my work Slack 😎, and post what we’re reading

richardfadams.bsky.social•477 days ago

Must admit I never get any discoverability about my work. Ignored before during and after Twitter no matter how good it is .

embersidhe.bsky.social•477 days ago

well put! My mother has been trying to get the word out about her book and its really challenging.

calizaybak.bsky.social•477 days ago

Adrian Tchaikovsky's The City of Lost Chances is good.

daniskitchen.bsky.social•477 days ago

I've loved everything of his that I've read but hadn't heard of this one!

calizaybak.bsky.social•477 days ago

It's my first of his and I'm a fan, his use of language is what has got me hooked, it's somehow sharp and blunt at the same time.

daniskitchen.bsky.social•477 days ago

Children of Time is a pretty big investment of time, but very worth it if you're looking to check out more of his stuff

travistgr.bsky.social•477 days ago

I started a book share with some friends recently. Getting introduced to quite a few good novels and authors I haven't heard of before!

jodywallace.bsky.social•477 days ago

If we are authors who struggled before this shift (which I am), right now it feels like I shouldn't even bother being an author :(.

beasbooknook.bsky.social•99 days ago

😞

truestorydesu.bsky.social•477 days ago

I kinda miss the writing community on Twitter. Bluesky is pretty great but it isn't as big.

dr-randolph.bsky.social•476 days ago

If you are interested in a Sci-fi technothriller that is hard to put down I highly recommend this!

https://www.amazon.com/Thane-Aaron-Randolph/dp/B0CGQ1ZT49/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3MGFUQDBVO3O2&keywords=thane+Aaron+Randolph&qid=1696202285&sprefix=thane+aaron+randolph%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1

temporalfugue.bsky.social•477 days ago

I'm still mesmerized by @erinmorgenstern.bsky.social The Night Circus. Read it, and immediately read it again. Just fantastic.

alierakieron.bsky.social•477 days ago

Ironically, text based social media is the weak place to market text these days.

jrbbooks.bsky.social•477 days ago

Although I select for a library, I regularly add notes on new books to my personal Facebook page. I'm not a big name so I never had much reach on the dead bird app or on this one, but my friends are readers and they like my posts. They'll tell two friends; and so on; and so on; and...

swirlosquirrel.bsky.social•477 days ago

I have a whole series of such posts that I’m continuing to bring over from The Bad Place™ which are hash-taged #RecommendedReading and #BSBC (Blue Sky Book Club) to help with finding them.

Hope that helps!

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply