Much of publishing (and any business) is a matter of making the right connection with the right person at the right time at the right place. You can’t make that connection working alone in your office at your computer or curled up with your legal pad writing your story.

The successful writers continue to learn and grow in their craft—and also to grow their audience or tribe or platform.

It’s rare that I hear the author blame the real culprit: themselves. It’s hard to admit but it’s the first step toward selling more books and understanding who bears the true responsibility for selling books—the author.

I’ve found most authors have the wrong mental picture of the process. Instead of a sprint, publishing is more like a marathon. Slow, steady and consistent action will get you your audience and success.

From my 25+ years in publishing, I’ve observed that selling books does not occur without the author taking action.

You have the greatest passion for your book so you need to show that passion and create an email list and different ways to connect with your readers.

Book buying studies have proven a reader has to hear about your book multiple times before they reach into their wallet and purchase a book. The number of exposures to your book is somewhere between six and twelve times before you collect a sale. A key part of your platform building process as an author is to give readers multiple exposures to your book and the availability.

Sell through multiple channels. Readers like plenty of choice when they go to purchase their books. Your book should be available in a variety of formats such as every type of Ebook paperback, hardcover and audiobook.

Publishing in magazine is an under-used route for authors to reach readers. As a former magazine editor, I understand the power of reaching the audience…With one article, I have reached millions of people.