There's nothing pretty about the oceans of self-promotion required to get a novel noticed. The waves of wallpapering social sites with notices of your new release might result in fresh attention from the readers you hope to engage, but many times it only serves to get an understanding nod from other published authors who've been doused by the same huge wave.
I've noticed more and more expensive gifts are being offered on authors' blogs/websites to potential readers willing to leave comments or jump through a few contorted hoops to win a signed copy of their novel along with these impressive gifts. This tells me it's not enough in some cases to just give away a copy of the book. Because of the competition in a particular genre, special additions must be available to spur interest.
For those of us who have trouble promoting our work, and not because we don't like it or deem it worthy to be read but because focusing attention our way somehow seems distatsteful to us, we paddle around in the shallows giving a mere mention of our book here and there, begging for a review or blurb without pressing anyone. When our meager efforts produce little results, we feel the churning waves engulf and threaten to drown us.
Deciding what is effective in promoting a novel is perhaps the biggest challenge. As a veteran reader and now an author of several novels, few efforts by authors seem trustworthy in producing sales. The most successful method – at least it seems that way to me – is to gain the favor of three or more prominent review sights, those who influence a wide variety of readers. You know when they're satisfied enough with your novel to give it a good review, a lot of readers will take their advice and look for your book.
Word-of-mouth is touted as the best way to sell books, but it can also be one of the slowest. Some readers are notorious for keeping their opinions of books to themselves and others don't do social networking. The quandary for all authors who have yet to establish themselves on bestseller lists is this: What really works?
Father, you know what works. You know what you want from each one of us. What you expect is obedience. Please help us to hear your directions and walk in your ways. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 
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