blog by Sabrina Fritts

When asked whom your book is for, most eager authors will proclaim, “Everyone!” While there is wisdom in your book that could likely benefit almost everyone, you are casting too wide a net. Imagine conveying a message that resonates with more than seven billion people. If someone could do that, we would have known world peace long ago.

Like you, your message is unique and has a specific audience that will love, adore and share it. The key is connecting to that specific audience and giving them what they want. If your book is for men and you are a man, that isn’t enough. You need to be engaged in the conversation men are having. What is at the forefront of their awareness? What are the main problems for which they seek solutions? What questions are they asking?

We had the delight of discovering that one of our recently published authors, Laurin Bellg, MD, a doctor who shares stories of near-death in the Intensive Care Unit, has gained national recognition for herself and her book.

She can trace the steps that led to her recent Today Show appearance that began while in the revision phase of her book. She joined the conversations in forums on near-death experiences (NDE) and learned the exact questions people were asking. She didn’t make assumptions based on her years of experience in working with patients, but rather connected with those outside her secure area of expertise, to find discussions on areas she hadn’t addressed but now could include in her book.

Those forums led to non-paid speaking engagements, before she was invited to be a paid speaker at a national IANDS (International Association of Near Death Studies) convention that caught the attention of Matt Lauer due to his fascination with NDEs.

Laurin is an excellent example of what it takes to show up, identify, and connect with your ideal audience. If you only assume to know the questions that are being asked, you will likely fall short of your intended target. Research and join forums on your topic and get engaged with the conversations in order to explore and provide the answers to the frequently asked questions.

Laurin shared her publishing and promotion insights and answered questions during our recent PublishNow (PN) webinar we’d like to share with you. As an added bonus, Natazha Bernie, another PN Author, opened the webinar with Breathe Write Now, a series of exercises that assist authors in connecting with their breath in order to allow writing to flow with greater clarity and physical ease.

If you’re interested in NDE’s or perhaps you’d like to show your gratitude to Laurin for sharing her knowledge, you can pick up a copy of Near Death in the ICU: Stories from Patients Near Death and Why We Should Listen to Them from Amazon.