You’ve done all the work, your book is published and you had a successful launch. But, you’re not seeing the sales you envisioned. All too often this is true for new and seasoned authors alike. The result is you get disillusioned and are ready to call it quits. But, don’t give up quite yet. After all, you really are just getting started. I mention this because I just had an author the other day after four months tell me they were throwing in the towel. I told them that as their publisher I wasn’t ready to do that and so he decided to keep his baby active just not to promote it.

I waited a couple of days and sent him a quick email letting him know I was in the process of updating his files and asked him to take a look at them. After a couple more days I got back in touch to find out how it was going and was told to proceed with the files as is and order him some more books.

I tell you this to make you aware that if you are thinking the way he was thinking, you need to step back and take a breath and refocus on your ‘why’. It’s not always about the numbers early on, it is about the belief in yourself and your work.

The truth of the matter is that it takes three years to see a modicum of success. Usually, momentum hasn’t even begun to build until almost a year down the road. If you think about it, you don’t even get your first commission check from Amazon or your publisher for two to three months after your first sale. So, after four months of time and money investing you have barely scratched the surface.

What I mean is consider things like author readings, speaking engagements, and keeping the buzz with social media going.

• Create a new graphic that you could share with a tip from your book
• Pick a character and write a character interview for your blog
• Expand beyond the story line and ask your readers what they want to know about your character

The good news is that if you take the time to talk to your readers and fans they will tell you what they want to hear or know. With that information in hand, as a writer you should have the ability to provide them with answers and keep the conversation alive around your book or its content.

As an example, for my Weird & Wacky Holiday Marketing Guide I now provide a free Bonus Marketing Idea every month on my website, http://www.HolidayMarketingGuide.com to help my readers beyond what the calendar of ideas itself contains.

If you can afford to, be sure to submit your book for awards and continue to seek reviews as both will keep the buzz alive and give you reason to talk about your book. Besides, both of these tools have been proven to be essential to your book sales bottom line.

What are you doing to keep the buzz alive and your excitement candle burning brightly? Let me know in the comments below. We all can learn from each other, so don’t be shy.