Recently on Facebook, after a brief tirade on the frustrations of marketing a book, a commenter asked me, “But you are promoting your book, right?” To which several choice phrases crossed my mind. The truth is, I’m trying to, but this seems to be a game without instructions—one I can’t afford to play.

A blessed and kind book promoter told me that I needed the essentials—a website, a Facebook page, and other social media outlets. So, I did what he suggested; I created the website and the Facebook page. The problem is…as a newbie, I can’t rely on an existing following to subscribe to my free social media page, let alone buy a book, or even read it for free on Kindle Unlimited. Square One, it’s nice to see you again.

(Anyone who has read my getting started post will realize that setting up my website was so frustrating that I actually left my venting about the process as my getting started as a joke.)

Why haven’t I used online websites that claim to promote the book? Because I’m broke. I’m not so broke that I would feel comfortable applying for a writer’s grant. I have lights and a roof above my head and food on the table. Even so, we are one tragic financial emergency away from probably having to declare bankruptcy. There is no petty cash to borrow from to pay. 

The only thing of true value that I can sell is one of my children. So, now I’m down to the point of deciding which ones get to stay and which ones get to go. The truth is that’s an easy choice to make. I’m selling the one that refused to read my book. 

But in all seriousness, I’m not going to pop down a large sum of money unless I am certain that there will be some benefits to reap from my decision. So what am I doing to market my book? Everything that I can think of that gets my name and book title in front of people’s faces, and even that isn’t enough. What I am not doing is giving up?