Vanished by Joseph Finder - New Media Phenomenon

Let's talk about new media and book sales. Recently Joseph Finder [Photo Credit: Amazon.com] showed up as one of my Twitter followers. Now, I do not consider myself gullible, but I found it fascinating that a New York Times Best Selling author found me on Twitter. I started reading his tweets and realized he had a new book coming out in August called "Vanished".

Recently, he tweeted about an offer that for some reason or other I found too enticing to pass up. If you pre-order his book and then send him the receipt, prior to an August date, he will send you a signed paperback of one of his previous books, a signed book plate, and a comic book, based on some character in his new book, Vanished. It was all too intriguing especially since I am taking this New Media Marketing Class and trying to get a grasp on how powerful social media can be for marketing. (Note: I did have a Barnes and Nobel gift certificate sitting here just waiting to be spent.)

Anyway, I pre-ordered the book (it does sound like a great mystery) and sent in (all through my Twitter link) my request to take advantage of the special offer. We'll see what happens and once I read the book, I'll update this post and let you know how I liked it. And to think some people think Twitter is just a big waste of time. Doesn't seem to be for Joseph Finder ....

New Media Benefits Authors With Their Debut Novels...

It is absolutely amazing the impact new media has had on the book world. The ease, and availability of self publishing and on-line promotion platforms, have opened huge doors for passionate, self-promoting, first-time authors to enter a previously, well-guarded, gated arena.

Some say an author's best book is their first; although Alison Morris, in her Shelftalker Blog states, "Maybe it's time we scrapped the stereotype altogether." Morris argues that it might be true for authors of adult literature that their first book is the best, but children's and young adult literature authors improve over time. Nevertheless, I think it's safe to assume that all first time authors, regardless of genre, have more opportunity to get a shot at success in today's new, high tech, world than they had previously.

New media makes it possible for authors to create elaborate websites, blogs, facebook pages,and the list goes on, to promote their books, and themselves directly to their audience. Live interviews can be heard over the web, or on podcasts. All of this innovation enables a wealth of first-time, often young, authors to make it into bookstores, and even skyrocket onto bestseller lists with their debut novels.

These valuable, often primary, resources created by, and about, novelists are treasure troves for reading groups. Research is incredibly easy to do compared to, even 20 years ago, when you used to have to go to the library to dig through microfiche to gather any news to share with your fellow book club members.

To illustrate, here's a list of books, by first time authors, along with their official website addresses, that make a great reading list for a new book club:

• The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry - http://www.lacereader.com/;


• The Help by Kathryn Stockett - http://www.kathrynstockett.com/;


• Still Alice by Lisa Genova - http://www.stillalice.com/;


• A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - http://www.robertgoolrick.com/;


• The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee - http://www.janiceyklee.com/;


• City of Thieves by David Benioff - http://www.cityofthievesbook.com/.

Future posts will contain more information about each of these books, and the authors, so let's start reading! We want to get the discussion going ....

Special thanks to my fellow book club members who helped compile this list of books, by contemporary authors, guaranteed to lead to wonderful conversations.