Musa Publishing

I've never been approached by any promo people. And honestly, I can't see the point in even trying now, based on my past efforts.

anne.arthur said:

You guys also inspired me to check on my sales to date for both books, and I seem to be one of the lucky few.

Prodigal (published 10/11) - 533 copies
Frozen (published 3/12) - 574 copies

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You did rather well, Anne.

Jersey Chick said:

I've never been approached by any promo people.

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My contact with them was rather by chance, as I correspond with a couple of the principals on Twitter and Facebook, on an informal basis. They sent a couple of promo people my way, but I responded politely that it might be too late for my Bitches. I can't figure out that promo sheet anyway.

I still wish them luck and have no hard feelings.

livinglearningeating said:

I just submitted to them today. Anyone have any tips for a first time (I've been querying for years though) for who seriously considers new guys?

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Yeah. Leg it. Don't look back. Just run.

BenPanced said:

. It's great to see them so enthusiastic about their company but they've grown too quickly in such a short amount of time; as if to add to the chaos, they're launching a new imprint today. Only three titles, but I can't help but wonder if they're going to get the promotion they deserve.

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Another one? Seriously?

I was told by a promo person that one of my first novels with Musa, "Road Apples," was going to appear at some specially-arranged Internet even in June. Yeah. Still waiting. Heard the excuse that the "contact person at the site wasn't answering emails." That's ludicrous, because Musa just held a chat event at that site. The promo person is very dismissive, and fails to answer emails unless I threaten to post my questions on the author loop. I despise this evasive behavior, and would rather this individual come right out and state that Musa doesn't want to do squat with my books. I still get the impression it's backlash for posting my experiences on AW.

seun said:

Another one? Seriously?

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Yeah, they're jumping on the erotica bandwagon with a separate imprint, though several of the others include erotic content already.

An erotica writer friend told me erotica is probably the biggest seller with ebooks. If that's true, I can see why they're going for it.

Very understandable, if you examine human sexuality. We're an exclusively "behind closed doors" species, so reading about it, even fictionally, is titillating, and a sure sell. Erotica and Erotic Romance on an e-book reader precludes strangers from realizing what naughty pleasure the reader is engaged in. On the other hand, nobody cares if I'm reading Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel." *yawn*

Erotica's a good market, sure, but it's pretty well-served already. What will Musa's erotica have that readers can't find elsewhere? What will Musa offer to authors that they can't get from self-publishing their erotica?

I sent off an email to the promo specialist to let her know I only have one event in October and I'll be riding out the contracts until they expire without any further plans to promote my books. I told her that they've been out too long to generate brand new interest and any further efforts would be a waste of time when they should just concentrate on the new releases. I was expecting a hammering but she sent back a friendly reply that it's too bad we won't be working together but thanks for updating her and letting her know my plans kthnxbai. Without even trying to convince me of anything. Even telemarketers try three times before they finally accept "no".

Chumplet said:

My contact with them was rather by chance, as I correspond with a couple of the principals on Twitter and Facebook, on an informal basis. They sent a couple of promo people my way, but I responded politely that it might be too late for my Bitches. I can't figure out that promo sheet anyway.

I still wish them luck and have no hard feelings.

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yep. i'm just not that into promo. i haven't even glanced at any of the promo pack stuff on their site. i don't even go to their site. i'm so disconnected it's not funny. so, in essence, i cannot complain one iota.

I note that "The Reasons" lists among the Musa editor's top picks. Has that added any sales for you, KTC?

Maddie said:

I note that "The Reasons" lists among the Musa editor's top picks. Has that added any sales for you, KTC?

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No. Both my Musa books have nothing but excellent reviews...but nobody sees them. I'm far too involved to spend my life marketing them. Like I said, I really can't complain...I write something and then I'm done with it. It's the way I have always been. Next and the next and the next. My next two books are coming out through a bigger publisher...their marketing department seems vastly superior...I'll see how that goes. I know the author is supposed to take some of the burden of marketing...and I do interviews and blog posts and social media...but I don't really commit to marketing with the same gusto that I commit to writing. I love that my books get excellent reviews...maybe one day word of mouth will change sales, but probably not. The TOP PICK award did nothing....neither did the BEST NOVEL AWARD it was given by the Muskoka Novel Marathon.

I can't spend as much time marketing and promoting myself as I do writing, either, but I'll definitely do my bit. At the same time, I expect the publisher to do more. Otherwise, I could just self-publish and be done with it.

As I said a while ago, my second book didn't warrant a single Tweet or Facebook mention from Musa.

seun said:

I can't spend as much time marketing and promoting myself as I do writing, either, but I'll definitely do my bit. At the same time, I expect the publisher to do more. Otherwise, I could just self-publish and be done with it.

As I said a while ago, my second book didn't warrant a single Tweet or Facebook mention from Musa.

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I will agree with you there, Seun. When my books first come out, I do a little bit of awkward I-hate-to-do-this-but marketing. I tried including Musa in a few tweets about my releases...they never even retweeted...which perplexed me. Even when I had goodreads giveaways and I would include Musa in the link...they wouldn't acknowledge it in any way.

I did the usual tweeting, facebooking, blogging, interviews, blog hop and tried a giveaway (which didn't generate much interest). All the interviews came off my own back via writer friends and AW people. If I remember rightly, I got two reviews of my first book through Musa. My second might as well not have been published based on their lack of anything for it.

seun said:

I did the usual tweeting, facebooking, blogging, interviews, blog hop and tried a giveaway (which didn't generate much interest). All the interviews came off my own back via writer friends and AW people. If I remember rightly, I got two reviews of my first book through Musa. My second might as well not have been published based on their lack of anything for it.

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Yeah...I got one review that was Musa generated. And I only found out about it when a google alert sent it my way. The reviewer said that they got the book from the publisher. ALL other reviews, interveiws, etc...they were either by random readers or giveaways I did, etc. I guess, to an extent, word of mouth did work...in a very small limited way. Between my three books I have well over 100 reviews/ratings, etc...all of them good. I'm guessing people read past reviews and picked up the book.

To balance out my moaning, the covers were spot on and the editing (apart from the timescale involved cutting it very close to publication) was grand. Just a shame the marketing was feck all. I'm proud of those two books and really wish more had been done for them.

seun said:

To balance out my moaning, the covers were spot on and the editing (apart from the timescale involved cutting it very close to publication) was grand. Just a shame the marketing was feck all. I'm proud of those two books and really wish more had been done for them.

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I love my covers...especially for The Reasons. Sebastian cover is very retro, which is exactly what I wanted as the story takes place in the 70s with hippies. (-: And my editors were both amazing!

I hear ya. I just delete them now, unread.

I just get the digest and scan the topics at the beginning. If it looks like something I'm interested in (and lately, it hasn't been), I scroll down to the relevant section. Otherwise, *baleeted*.

The loop has been very quiet lately. It's the same few people posting each day. Has everyone else mentally checked out?

I also just delete the digest without really looking as most stuff doesn't apply to me anymore. And I agree that they should target the emails about cover art and other stuff to specific people.

And Ben, I think a lot of people have mentally checked out. I see a few people on Facebook who are big "rah rah rah" about the publisher but they are also people who have new books coming out as well. I'm glad they're happy with things. But as stated before, I'll be getting my rights back next December.