So my fiance wrote a novel and I have a question for science fiction fans.

Captain Airyca

Captain Airyca

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I haven't read a ton of sci-fi, so this is a question for any of you guys who do. Is there a forum, blog, or other online community that you participate in as a sci-fi fan? I would like to immerse myself more into the science fiction community so that I can learn more about how to get the word on his book out to the world.

We've self-published the novel - so its out on amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, the ibookstore, and you can get the book in paperback too. We'll even send you a autographed copy if you PM me :D So the initial steps are done, I'm just trying to work on the next step. I've read this book twice now, and it's so awesome. Those who read it also think it's excellent, so I know that lots of people will like it, I just am curious as to where these people hang out :)

Thanks everyone, also feel free to let me know what your favorite sci-fi novels/authors are, I'll add them to my "to read" list!

P.S. The book is only 99 cents on all e-book formats until the end of April if you wanted to pick it up for cheap!
 
As an author who has been published I must tell you;

Once you've self published, no one will touch you unless you sell an outragous amount of books by yourself [then they'll be in it for the money] but otherwise they won't touch you. this sounds trite and cruel but you have to see a publishers view; they spend hundreds of thousands on research, marketing, distribution, advertizing, etc etc etc - they don't loan you thta money lightly. A published book is very very proofed [usually several times], and you will be asked to make changed that you may or may not like because they think/feel/know this is what makes it marketable, and ergo,what will sell and make them money. Publishing yourself proves you will do it your way, and to some extent, not make compromises [or follow direction].

Now with that beig said, since you've published - getting the author directly invovled with the prospective fan base - forums, conventions [both book and sci-fi conventions], colleges and local enthusiast groups - will be the best thing to sell it. You have to tell people about it and you don't have a machine pushing it for you. you really can't ever do enough. you have to push it in every viable vehicle that is either sci-fi OR books.

Now understand I'm not trying to be cruel - just some honst advice. I hope it helps.
 
snow and steel said:
As an author who has been published I must tell you;

Once you've self published, no one will touch you unless you sell an outragous amount of books by yourself [then they'll be in it for the money] but otherwise they won't touch you. this sounds trite and cruel but you have to see a publishers view; they spend hundreds of thousands on research, marketing, distribution, advertizing, etc etc etc - they don't loan you thta money lightly. A published book is very very proofed [usually several times], and you will be asked to make changed that you may or may not like because they think/feel/know this is what makes it marketable, and ergo,what will sell and make them money. Publishing yourself proves you will do it your way, and to some extent, not make compromises [or follow direction].

Now with that beig said, since you've published - getting the author directly invovled with the prospective fan base - forums, conventions [both book and sci-fi conventions], colleges and local enthusiast groups - will be the best thing to sell it. You have to tell people about it and you don't have a machine pushing it for you. you really can't ever do enough. you have to push it in every viable vehicle that is either sci-fi OR books.

Now understand I'm not trying to be cruel - just some honst advice. I hope it helps.
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Honest advice is fantastic! We have weighed the pros and cons many times with the self publishing thing, and it was a hard choice to do so, however, it's nice to have a chance or control over our destiny to get the book out now. The novel is very proofed. At least the grammar/spelling ect. I think content editing may be something that if for some reason a publisher picked it up would be something we'd need to accept is going to happen.

I think identifying where our prospective fan base is going to come from is what I'm working on currently. Large audiences through forums and the internet is where I'm hoping to find a great group of people. I've got the facebook, twitter and social networking set up, the website is set up and ready to go, but gosh, more than just friends and family are going to have to visit it. I think you're right about the sci-fi conventions and local groups, I need to do more research. I am blessed to be in the pacific northwest, as Portland and Seattle both have large sci-fi fan bases from what I've heard, I just need to insert Cameron and myself into the community somehow :)

Thank you for your response! What book(s) have you published?
 
The Sci-Fi Channel used to have a discussion forum, The Dominion. That seems to be long gone. Even the name of the channel has changed.

You might find links on their current website, though: http://www.syfy.com/
 
I think I might pick your book up:) as far as my recommendation I think one of the better written science fiction books (I'm not saying its the best there is, just one of the best I've read) its called "death troopers" by Joe Schreiber...honestly the only book I've ever read about the undead that is any good:(

Good luck with you're book!!!

-niner
 
The only forums where I hung out were from a publisher's site. So, of course, only their own authors were promoted. After reading an excerpt from your book, I liked it and made the purchase. I wish you both success.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
Amazon has a sci-fi discussion board.
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Esav Benyamin said:
The Sci-Fi Channel used to have a discussion forum, The Dominion. That seems to be long gone. Even the name of the channel has changed.

You might find links on their current website, though: http://www.syfy.com/
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I will look into both of these options, Thank you!

9blades said:
I think I might pick your book up:) as far as my recommendation I think one of the better written science fiction books (I'm not saying its the best there is, just one of the best I've read) its called "death troopers" by Joe Schreiber...honestly the only book I've ever read about the undead that is any good:(

Good luck with you're book!!!

-niner
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I love zombie stories! I used to follow a zombie story that someone was releasing chapter by chapter on a forum a long time ago, So this might be up my alley!

Ray Settanta said:
The only forums where I hung out were from a publisher's site. So, of course, only their own authors were promoted. After reading an excerpt from your book, I liked it and made the purchase. I wish you both success.
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I've noticed a lot of forums are all authors promoting each other. I've been trying to check out goodreads.com, and some of the groups seem quality, but many are just authors promoting each other. Thank you for picking up the book though, I'd love to hear what you think!
 
Captain Airyca said:
I will look into both of these options, Thank you!



I love zombie stories! I used to follow a zombie story that someone was releasing chapter by chapter on a forum a long time ago, So this might be up my alley!



I've noticed a lot of forums are all authors promoting each other. I've been trying to check out goodreads.com, and some of the groups seem quality, but many are just authors promoting each other. Thank you for picking up the book though, I'd love to hear what you think!
Click to expand...

I think you'll like it:thumbup: now if I could just find my copy:grumpy:
 
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