Building a Comparable Author List to Create a Book Marketing Plan

Amy Collins, President of New Shelves Books, says that a comparable authors list is the absolute key to publishing. She does not believe that it’s an overstatement to say that this is the most important part of publishing a book. Building your comparable author list should be done before a book is even written. This list is not about the authors—it’s about their readers. You want to find existing communities of readers who are already eager to engage with you and your work. In this video, Collins goes into the logistics of market research, which is now easier than ever because readers are on social media. You no longer have to schedule focus groups, invite people to the meeting, curate lists of questions, and provide snacks. Planning a focus group is as simple as creating a Goodreads account. Writers have immediate access to their communities, and the importance of this cannot be overestimated. Listen to Collins in the clip below to discover how to create a comparable authors list. Be prepared: it may change the way you write, edit, market, and publish your books.