Ricci Wolman, founder and CEO of Written Word Media, blogged about Top Ten Publishing Trends Every Author Needs to Know in 2018. Four predictions appeared most relevant to a recent discussion among Montana Women Writers:

• Authors will continue to grow ebook share
• More Indie authors will achieve success
• Marketing will become more expensive
• Authors must go ‘direct to reader’

Photo: Brook Cagle via Unsplash

Each published author in our group goes directly to readers in one form or another:

• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest
• Blogs
• Email newsletters and promotions
• Book signings and readings
• Speaking with book clubs

Obviously, social media is a godsend for authors like us who live in remote parts of the country. We do our best to connect in person with local book clubs and special interest groups, but we live in northwest Montana in a county the land size of Connecticut with a population of 100,000.

Our book club exposure is limited. Or so we thought.

Photo: Mike Coleman

We propose connecting with book club readers directly through social media. Skype and FaceTime will allow even those of us living in Montana to participate in discussions all over the world. Read one of our books, and then invite the author to your book club meeting.

Some of us have added book club discussion questions and personal contact information in the backs of our books. You can also find our individual author information on Montanawomenwriters.com, our individual author websites, or simply email me, and I’ll forward your request to the author you wish to contact.

Get to know us, and happy reading!

Ann Minnett