Month: March 2021

How to Promote Your Book on Instagram – A Practical Guide for Authors

Promote Book on Instagram

Successful sales businesses are being run on Instagram. With each passing day, Instagram is turning into a product showcasing platform. Essentially being a visual social medium, it allows for effective, market-oriented HD display of a range of products. Apart from being a complementary promotional space for big businesses, Instagram also serves as a virtual shop for home-based small start-ups. As creative as the uses of Instagram can get, we have some good news for all  authors reading this blog. You can use this platform for promoting your book as well. Instagram is very promising that way. Most of the accounts on Instagram are run as blogs. The users do appreciate and show love for the content they like. So, authors, get ready! We have listed down pro ways for you to use Instagram for your book promotion.

  1. Get Started With a Business Account

Most of the blogs on Instagram are made as business accounts. While your purpose is book promotion, it is advisable to create a business account. A business account offers a ‘shop’ feature as well. Using this feature, people interested in buying your book can reach the buying options in one swift click. Consider it a rule that Instagram promotions work best with business accounts. With a clear purpose of boosting book sales in mind, your business account will enable you to avail a range of options. Ready to promote your book through systematic efforts? Create a business account on Instagram and there you go!

  1. Devise a Content Strategy

You have a clear goal in mind; you want to promote your book to boost book sales. But there is a lot of competition out there. There are other authors working towards the same goal and utilizing the Insta space in pretty much similar ways. Here comes the importance of your content. Yes, the obvious content will include your book’s pictures. But imagine for a minute that there are no boundaries and you can let out your creativity in this virtual space at your disposal. Sync your book promotion strategies with an overall content strategy. Do share images of your book placed in versatile settings, but do not forget to complement this with a sneak peek into your lifestyle. Create posts about important literary events and holidays for example World Book Day, National Grammar Day, World Poetry Day, and even months like Library Lovers Month (February) or Read a New Book Month (December). Relate events, whenever you can, with your book and its themes.

  1. Connect With Your Community

Should we tell you a little secret about your book’s Instagram promotion? The secret is called ‘shoutouts’. Show some generosity and appraise the work of other authors. This attitude will help you connect with the writing community and other authors will also return the favour. This way, your book will reach their followers. In the online spaces, ‘reach ’and ‘engagement’ is the key. What happens when some content goes trending in the virtual sphere? It has actually reached the greatest number of people across the globe. Hence, promote your book by allying with fellow authors and work towards maximizing the reach of your book.

  1. Make Use of Influencer Marketing

While you are on Instagram, why not get the maximum benefit! Big following accounts rule the Insta world and are usually known as influencers. Get in touch with some influencers whose interests and posts are related to books and who are avid readers. A collaboration might work out and they might agree to talk about your book as either a post, a story or a small video. Again, this will add to the reach of your book. For a detailed guide, read our blog on book promotions through bloggers and online reviews.

 

If you wish to publish your very own book, submit your writing with us today and make it happen.

If you are confused about how to start your writing journey, have a look at our ‘How to Become An Author’ guide and find all the answers.

 

  1. Make Use of Ads Feature

The best thing about Instagram promotion is that you can run ads about the specific product you are selling. Since this is going to be a paid venture, keep a share in your budget for this particular book promotion strategy. This money will pay you off well, and don’t worry since it is a small amount of money that can easily be managed. Remember how ads pop in while you are scrolling through the stories and posts? You must be very well aware that these ads do catch our eye and we often end up checking the ad runner’s account. Such is the power of ads. So, advertise your book!

  1. Go Live

Insta Live feature is the best that could be introduced to this app. What a pleasure to talk to celebrities and your favourite bloggers! The stay home scenario has pushed a greater need for such live sessions. Make sure that your content schedule also includes a once in a while live session. Not just your followers but you, yourself, will also enjoy this communication. Talk about your book, talk about a bundle of other stuff and even before you know it, this fun session will help promote your book.

 

Austin Macauley Publishers has also made publishing your book easier than ever. Through an online submission form, you can get in touch with us and make a submission of your manuscript.

 

  1. Use Hashtags

To ensure better reach and engagement on your posts, using appropriate hashtags is a must. While looking for a particular thing or idea, people usually search for relevant hashtags to help them land on the right spot. If someone is looking for book suggestions, they might just put that hashtag in the search bar. Instagram will show all the posts with ‘#BookSuggestions.’ So, promote your book using the right hashtags. Compile a basic set of hashtags and then use a mix with additions and subtractions according to a specific post. For example, if you have shared an aesthetic picture of your book, never forget to use the hashtag ‘#BookPhotography.’

  1. Arrange Signed Copy Giveaways

An important pillar in your book promotion strategy is giveaways. Giveaways on Instagram attract a lot of people. You have your book to send as a giveaway gift. You can make it even more attractive by announcing a signed copy with a small note as the giveaway reward. Link your giveaway contests with festive occasions. Whenever you send a copy, ask the winner politely to share feedback once they are done reading your book. This way, you will have one more review to add to your Instagram book reviews. More people will be attracted to your account through the giveaway rules that you will set. For example, tagging friends, asking them to follow the account and the like.

 

All this said, let us conclude by saying that Instagram has a lot of potential in terms of promoting your book. Make use of what this app has to offer for free.

We wish you all the best!

Check our book collection on our website and keep yourself updated by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and Twitter. If you want to become a published author, send us your manuscript by clicking here.

 

 

Top 10 Booktubers You Shouldn’t Miss

Top 10 Booktubers

“There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature.”

P.G. Wodehouse

 

Since the evolution of web 2.0 in 2004, everything has become centred around user-generated content, especially  visual content. Many book clubs, storytelling sessions and book review discussions have moved  to the online world as well. Nowadays, people post photos of their latest reads on Instagram as well as  sell their books online.  Publishers like Austin Macauley tend to offer electronic book copies and cooperate with different YouTubers to review and expose  new releases. To view Austin Macauley Publisher’s latest releases, kindly click here.

There are 2.3 billion active, monthly YouTube users. This makes it the main channel for marketing books Here’s a list of the most entertaining Arab booktubers (video bloggers) who are worth subscribing to their channels:

Sami Al Batati – سامي البطاطي

Sami Al Batati, a well-known YouTuber from Saudi Arabia has  a YouTube channel of 275K subscribers. He is a writer and avid book reader who won at the famous IReadAwards in 2019. He’s concerned with reviewing books, and he is used to engaging with his book-centric audience. He also conducts  regular Q&A sessions on his channel named: Shadow of a book –  ظل كتاب. Sami’s channel is one of the most entertaining channels  about  book reviews and book marketing. In addition to being a YouTuber, Sami has  a huge following  on Instagram and Facebook as well, which keeps him accessible to all his subscribers and book lovers.

Betaa El Kotob – بتاع الكُتب

Betaa El Kotob is a Cairo-based YouTuber with 75.9K subscribers on his YouTube channel. He is well-recognized for reviewing trending books and giving a few book briefs. He has a strong fan base on Facebook and Instagram and acts on readers’ book recommendations.

 

Austin Macauley Publishers has made publishing your book easier than ever. Through an online submission form, you can get in touch with us and make a submission of your manuscript.

 

Akhdar – أخضر

If you don’t have the time to read a book a day, Akhdar is here to offer you a creative solution. Akhdar is an authentic book summarization YouTube channel. It summarizes books using animations to make it easy for you to read and cut down the time needed to read the book completely. Using vibrant visuals and animations, Akhdar has managed to have 1.14 million subscribers. Now, they are expanding to a mobile application to help the book lovers. They are also investing in those who want to give book reviews.. Akhdar started in Egypt and now expanding.

Salefni Ketab – سلفني كتاب

Salefni Ketab or Lend me a book is a YouTube channel with 67.5K subscribers and reviews Arabic novels. Seif Habashi, the YouTuber behind the channel, is not afraid to be himself. His content is completely authentic and professional.

El Zatoona – الزتونة

El Zatoona means the olive in the Arabic language and it’s a synonym for the expressions, in a nutshell. It is a YouTube channel for book reviews run  by Michael Rashid, a bookworm dedicated to books and influencing young Egyptians by guiding them to read more. His YouTube channel has 1.42 million subscribers. He keeps on spreading positive energy that he became an icon for optimism in the Arab YouTube world.

Khair Jalees – خير جليس

Khair Jalees is a non-profitable initiative that aims to spread knowledge and integrate hobby of reading to all Arabic speakers. It does so by summarizing the best-selling and influential books and presenting them in a simplified way to the watcher using whiteboard technology. They also do podcasts and share their content across different digital channels. Khair Jalees is a channel of 281K subscribers and is based in the United Arab Emirates.

If you wish to publish your very own book, submit your writing with us today and make it happen.

If you are confused about how to start your writing journey, have a look at our ‘How to Become An Author’ guide and find all the answers.

Nedal Reads – قراءات نضال

Nedal Reads is a YouTube channel run by an active young girl who is fond of reading. She has managed to gain 253K subscribers who are completely overwhelmed with her impressive way of reviewing books. Nedal has many followers on social networks and runs a book club named Nedal Reading Book. Her channel provides her subscribers with recaps about the books she reads. Nedal always stays up to date with the newest and best books.

Eithar Al-dibs – إيثار الدِبس

Eithar Al Dibs, is a TEDx speaker, YouTuber and a social influencer  with  an active base on social media. She is on the road to gain as many subscribers for her rich content reviewing books on YouTube. Eithar is a dentist who is into reading and reviews books as  a hobby. She also creates short films. Her Instagram feed is a piece of art.

Menel Akher – من الآخر

Run by Mai Magdy, Menel Akher YouTube channel has 27.7K subscribers who wait for Mai’s weekly episode every Friday at 10 PM (UTC+4). Mai has a likeable attitude in front of the camera.  You can notice her Egyptian sense of humor quite easily. Mai is also active on Goodreads and has her listings and active book reviews on the platform.

The Novelist – الروائي

The Novelist is  a YouTube channel run by the Egyptian YouTuber, Amr, who is into Arabic and translated novels. Concerned with historical novels, book roundups, recommendations and reviews, Amr is considered one of the most talented book influencers to follow. The Novelist has 34.4K subscribers.

In a nutshell, making use of the current digital channels is a perk, and whoever makes use of them is smart enough to make use of the opportunity. Following the latest technological trends and adapting our habits to it, is a form of evolution. This evolution  can lead us to a smart world where knowledge is accessible by all and for all. This is why, Austin Macauley Publishers has invested in digital channels and has been engaging with different book influencers and book bloggers to stay on top after 15 years of active publishing. If you are an aspiring writer, submit your writing with us and pave way for your dream of becoming a published writer come true.

 

Austin Macauley’s YouTube Channel – Austin Macauley’s Instagram Page – Austin Macauley’s Facebook page – Austin Macauley’s Twitter Feed

 

 

How to Write an Engaging Sci-Fi Book: 7 Super-Tips to Follow

7 Tips to Write Sci-Fi Books

Have you ever read a science fiction book so good you wish you were a part of it, playing the lead role, solving mysteries or battling aliens from outer space? If yes, then all of that is the genius of the writer. They are the ones making those characters, the intricate plot you so want to solve. A well-written science fiction book makes you mesmerized, and it compels you to marvel at the story. A brilliant author creates revolutionary sci-fi characters like Darth Vader from Star Wars, a legendary villain, and Marty McFly from Back to The Future, a charismatic protagonist.

Being an exceptional science-fiction writer requires inquisitive imagination, engaging plot development and extraordinary writing skills. Here, we will be sharing seven tips to enhance your writing skills to write a sci-fi read:

  1. Question Everything in Your Book

Every author has a particular way of planning out how to start a book. Some like to create a world initially and then fill it with characters. Some work on their character’s arc before focusing on the larger picture. You might be tempted to go with either of them. But in fact, it would be preferred to begin with both in parallel. Create your character arcs as you develop your world. Question everything about the characters and the world. Why is my hero sad all the time? Why is my world ruled by Martians? The more you answer your own questions, the better your plot and characters would develop.

  1. Take it One Book at a Time

This point needs to be noted if you are thinking about writing a science fiction book series. You must focus on one book at a time instead of worrying about what to do with the sequel. Develop your narrative logically in a way that maps the whole storyline together. Set small milestones for your book and develop characters, their motives, allies and foes with each stop (if necessary). Stop worrying about your next book because the readers are only interested in the book they would be reading currently.

If you wish to publish your very own book, submit your writing with us today and make it happen.

 

  1. Make the Characters and Story Relatable to the Readers

The best science fiction books have one thing in common: relatability. It shouldn’t mean your characters and story have to be stereotypical and monotonous. The characters should be innovative, have flaws and are not too overpowered. They should still connect to us, in some way or another. The readers can invest more into the book this way, and it makes for a thought-provoking read as well. The best sci-fi book characters like Dave Bowman from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Bo Dennis from Lost Girl, are all likeable and relatable characters.

  1. Unravel Your Main Lead’s Personality and Motives

Show the readers your main lead’s traits, motives and personality. A motive builds a path for moulding a strong main hero. This will, in turn, make for a good sci-fi book. Describe your hero’s every action. If he’s suffering from hysteria, what was the reason behind it? If your character wants to rob 100 million dollars from the bank, what is his motive? Be elaborate, use splendid adjectives and write with flair.

  1. Consistency is Key When Writing Science-Fiction

Consistency is essential when writing a science fiction novel. The gravest sin you could make while writing a sci-fi book would be to deviate from the rules set by yourself. Everything that flows in your story should make sense. You could develop the personality of your characters, change their motives halfway through, or even create alternative worlds if the storyline permits so. But you cannot insert illogical subplots and give irrational justifications for it. Stay within the rules of the universe your book is set in.

If you are confused about how to start your writing journey, have a look at our ‘How to Become An Author’ guide and find all the answers.

 

  1. Explore Different Places in Your Story

Nobody wants to read a sci-fi book set in the same mundane world as their own. Readers look forward to reading the opposite of that, they want to get mesmerized and awe-struck by the sci-fi world. They want to be swept away into the realms of sorcery and madness. Try creating a world a reader has never seen before. Remember Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? I bet you’d never heard about a chocolate factory as huge and remarkable as that. Writing a sci-fi book depends on your imagination. Who knows, you might be the next J.K. Rowling!

  1. Write a Jaw-Dropping Climax

The best science fiction books blow their readers away with a brilliant climax. The climax is the midpoint of the book filled with tension, drama, speculation and thrill. As a reader, the climax is the most remembered aspect of the novel. For a sci-fi book, it’s even more important because the story has already gripped its readers and they are hungry for an impactful end. Some of the best climaxes keep you in a dazzled state for weeks. If the end of the book makes its readers go “WOW,” this means you’ve successfully written an impactful science fiction book.

 

We hope you learned something new to enhance your writing skills from our list of tips to write a sci-fi read. Good luck with writing your latest sci-fi book!

Catch our newly released books on our website and keep yourself updated about our books and authors by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you are an aspiring writer, submit your writing with us and pave way for your dream of becoming a published writer come true. Austin Macauley Publishers has also made publishing your book easier than ever. Through an online submission form, you can get in touch with us and make a submission of your manuscript.

 

Celebrate International Women’s Day by Reading Four Empowering Books

4 Empowering Books to Read on Women’s Day

“Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.” – Hillary Clinton

 

International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on the 8th of March, every year. It’s a day to commemorate the achievements of women in social, cultural and economic spheres of life. International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on women empowerment, where women can make their own life decisions and break down all the barriers to their personal and professional growth. As Michelle Obama once said: “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” It won’t be flawed to say, if given an opportunity, women can achieve anything, even if it’s conquering the world.

Best Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day

  • Raise your voice in the workplace. Make sure women receive a fair share of benefits and support at work.
  • Gather your friends and arrange a movie screening. You can select a movie which encourages gender equality and promotes the advancement of women.
  • Play a role in supporting women-owned businesses. Encourage others to do the same as well.
  • On this 8th of March, read a book by female authors that raises awareness about gender disparity and fosters girl power.

Austin Macauley Publishers has always been a strong advocate of women empowerment and gender equality. Austin Macauley promotes women to come forward and publish their books, which provides them with a medium to raise their voice.

Here is a list of books from our resilient and influential female authors who have truly been a source of inspiration for many!

 

Nothing and Everything All at Once

Book: Nothing and Everything All at Once

Author: Sabrina Marie

Sexual assault is an extremely traumatic and disturbing moment in one’s life which nobody deserves to go through. This book is about a sexual assault survivor and her road to recovery. Moving from present to past, this book gives an inside view of the important decisions she took on the way that helped her move on. Sabrina Marie’s book heals those women who have gone through sexual assault and encourages them to find the lost courage again. To buy this book, click here.

 

 

 

The Trials Of Allura

Book: The Trials of Allura

Author: Dina El Shammaa

Inspired by a true story, this modern-age story revolves around the life of Allura, a middle eastern woman, living a mundane life. The transformation which changes her, from being introvert and vulnerable to being bold, resolute and full of fire, is spectacular. How many trials and tribulations did Allura had to go through? Buy this empowering book to find it out.

 

 

 

 

Khalid’s Promise

Book: Khalid’s Promise

Author: Amna Ibrahim AL-Badwawi

This book narrates the various stages in the life of Amal, an Emirati girl belonging to a conservative family. From coping with her mother’s and friend’s loss to her father’s marriage to a foreigner, she has experienced the worst of times. Khalid’s Promise takes us through Amal’s university life and her marriage to Khalid who became a rock in her life. To find out more about Amal’s journey through a cloud of despair to salvaging her happiness, buy this book here.

 

 

 

From The Heights Of Heaven To The Depths Of Despair

Book: From The Heights Of Heaven To The Depths Of Despair

Author: Grace Lagos

Kacey is a free-spirited girl who longs for freedom like her Australian friends. She likes to socialize with people, but coming from a conservative Greek family, restrictions are put on her. Her mother wants her to get married to a Greek boy as soon as possible. Kacey falls in love with an Irish boy and runs off with him. Catastrophe strikes Kacey when her husband, Jack, suffers a fatal heart attack. Will Kacey stand the test of time? Will Kacey side with her husband or will she choose her children above all? To find out, buy this book here.

 

 

On this day, let’s all strive to raise awareness about women’s equality and lobby for increased gender parity. We hope you would enjoy these empowering books from Austin Macauley Publishers’ female authors on International Women’s Day! Austin Macauley encourages female authors to publish their books and supports women empowerment.

Happy International Women’s Day!

To stay updated with the newly released titles, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you are a writer yourself and want to be heard, why not submit your manuscript to us and make your dream of becoming a published author come true.

Organize Your Bookshelf: 9 Cool Ways to Sort Your Personal Library

9 Cool Ways to Sort Your Library

It can be pretty daunting if you’re planning on how to organize your bookshelf for the first time. Many people spend loads of their time cleaning and setting up their houses. But when it comes to organizing bookshelves, they run out of ideas. The purpose of organizing a bookshelf is to help you find the book you are looking for swiftly.

Instead of stacking all the books randomly on the bookshelf, you should organize your books in a way that looks pretty. It should provide easy access to the book you want to read. Organizing bookshelves should not put you in a conundrum or riddle your brain. Choose a design that matches your surroundings, and above all, clicks your heart. It doesn’t matter if you arrange your books alphabetically, by genre, or by colour. Just make sure your bookshelf looks sleek and has easy access.

Whether you’re organizing your books for the first time or you’ve done it plenty of times, don’t worry about it. These refreshing ideas will help you organize your books in a better way. The organization of your books should be in a way that matches your style and works best for you.

 

  • Organize Your Books in Alphabetic Order

This is the most boring way of organizing your books, though it’s the most commonly used one. You can arrange your books alphabetically by title or by author. This method is useful if you own a large number of books and want to locate a book in an instant. It will give you a mini-library vibe right in your house.

  • Separate Your Books by Genre

You might have a great library of books ranging from different genres such as:

  • Romance
  • Fantasy
  • Science-fiction
  • History
  • Crime
  • Mystery

Separating them by genre is useful when you want the right book for your mood. If you want to unwind after a hectic day or, you’re travelling to the mountains, you’ll know where to find the perfect book.

  • Organize Your Books According to Colour

This the most aesthetically pleasing way of arranging your bookshelf. You don’t have to go crazy looking for the perfect colour match. Instead, you can group the books having the same colour shade. A visually appealing bookshelf not only makes you feel happy but encourages others to have a quick read as well.

If you wish to publish your very own book, submit your writing with us today and make it happen.

If you are confused about how to start your writing journey, have a look at our ‘How to Become An Author’ guide and find all the answers.

 

  • Chronological Order

Place the books according to the publishing date, or in order of the events that occurred. Although this takes a lot of time, bookish people are going to love it as they can easily locate books on the same subject. Another way would be to shelve them chronologically by the date you’ve read your books. This method will come in handy if you have a massive collection and want to remember which book you read first.

  • Set Your Books According to the Four Seasons

Does your bookshelf have four rows? If yes, then set your books according to the four seasons. Label each row as Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. If a book contains beaches or cosy holiday towns, stack them on the Summer shelf. If a book is about Christmas eve or New-Year Night, put it on the winter shelf. This method would provide a much-needed nostalgia to your evening reads.

  • By Language

This one is for the multilingual readers out there. This could be your go-to style if you like reading books in different languages. Maybe you have a good collection of English, Arabic and French novels. You could organize your books starting with the language you enjoy reading the most. Follow it by the second most read, and so on.

  • Organize According to Size

It might be weird to look at books of every size stacked together on the bookshelf. Books arranged by size make your bookshelf look pretty and neat. Maybe you want to read that Marvel comic book of yours, or you’re in the mood for a Shakespearean melodrama. You would know where to find that book.

Austin Macauley Publishers has made publishing your book easier than ever. Through an online submission form, you can get in touch with us and make a submission of your manuscript.

 

  • Arrange According to Your Priority of Future Reading

What’s the point of having a bookshelf full of books you have already read. For a bibliophile, the TBR list never comes to a halt. They always have books on their shelves in line to be read. You might be looking forward to reading that particular book you have your eyes hooked on. So arrange your bookshelf according to the order you would be reading your books in the future.

  • Combination of ways!

If you own a plethora of books, and are at loggerheads, incorporating different styles in your book-organizing could be the way to go. This would make it easier for you to organize your bookshelf. Eventually, you would be able to set your books in several ways rather than just sticking with one.

  • Start your bookshelf with all the fiction titles.
  • Next, put all the books you received as presents or bought on sale on the second shelf.
  • On the third shelf, put all the books based on their colour.

We hope you all have a wonderful time arranging your bookshelves! Listen to your heart and let the organization flow smoothly. Also, never be afraid to tweak your bookshelf every once in a while. Changing now and often would keep your bookshelf fresh and modish.

To all the book readers out there, check our book collection on our website and keep yourself updated by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and Twitter. If you are an aspiring writer, submit your writing with us and pave way for your dream of becoming a published writer come true.