Marketing in the Dark: My First Steps as a New Author

Writing Galaxy’s Child was one of the most fulfilling creative experiences of my life. After decades of carrying this story in my head, finally putting it on the page gave me a sense of purpose and pride I didn’t expect, but also a new challenge:

Now what?

I’d love nothing more than to keep writing full-time. I already have the second and third installments in the trilogy mapped out, and trust me, I can’t wait to share them. But writing alone doesn’t pay the bills. So, like any new author, I now find myself in unfamiliar territory: the marketing world of independent publishing.

I’ve spent most of my career in the tech world. I know how to pitch and promote cloud-based IP telephony with my eyes closed. But selling a novel? That’s a whole new beast. I’m completely new to this artistic environment, and I’ll admit it, I’m working in the dark.

That said, I decided to take the most logical steps I could think of:

✅ 1. Build a Website

The first thing I did was create this very website. It gives me a place to share blogs, connect with readers, and most importantly, let people know where to buy the book. It also offers a glimpse into who I am as a person, which I think matters when you’re asking people to invest in your stories.

✅ 2. Publish on Amazon Kindle

Several writers advised me to stick with Amazon Kindle exclusively, at least to start, and that’s exactly what I did. It’s where most readers go, and the platform makes it easy to offer digital, paperback, and hardcover editions all in one place.

✅ 3. Launch an Amazon Ad Campaign

This past Saturday, I began advertising through Amazon’s platform. I created a campaign with 100 carefully selected keywords and set bids ranging from $0.10 to $0.50 depending on how relevant I thought each word was. So far… no results. I know it’s early, but the marketer in me is already wondering:

Am I being too cheap? Should I raise my bid amounts? Or just wait a little longer?

Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments, honestly, any feedback would be welcome.

✅ 4. Expand to Social Media

This blog will also be shared across my creative Facebook page, my Twitter (X) profile, and Instagram. I’ve learned that engagement is key, but I’m still figuring out what works and what doesn’t. It’s trial and error at this stage.

💭 Looking Ahead

I’m open to ideas. If you’re a fellow indie author or a savvy reader with marketing insight, I’d love to hear from you. What helped you grow your audience? What was a waste of time?

Because at the end of the day, all I really want is to keep doing this, to write, to create, to tell stories that inspire and entertain. If I can find a way to make that sustainable, well… isn’t that the dream? Doing something you love so much, it doesn’t even feel like work?

Let’s see where this journey takes us.

Starting this week, I’ll be posting new blog entries twice a week, every Monday and Wednesday. If you’re enjoying the journey so far, I invite you to stay tuned and follow along. You can find each new post right here on my website, as well as on my Twitter, Instagram, and my Facebook page dedicated to my creative work.

Thanks so much for your support, it truly means the world to me.