In a presentation at BookExpo America, CreateSpace managing director Libby Johnson McKee demonstrated how to make a book using Amazon’s tool. During the presentation she stressed to authors that they must learn how to market their books. (After all, they don’t have the publishers there to do it for them).
“You know your book better than anybody,” she said. “There are all kinds of tools available for your to help you find and reach your audience.” McKee encouraged authors to use social networks and blogs to help find audiences and to connect with readers that might be interested in the book in their online forums.
McKee went on to push the idea of self-publishing, which sometimes has a bad reputation of vanity press books that traditional publishers didn’t want for a reason. Highlighting the fact that authors can read readers directly through online channels today, she gave examples of famous authors who have experimented with self-publishing, including Seth Godin and Jackie Collins.