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I get new readers every day from the internet and particularly from this site. My books aren't viewed as cutting edge, so I don't benefit from all the 'cool new' author lists, though I'd disagree with many who assume they know what to expect from my series. Nevertheless, the internet has been an amazing source of publicity for me. My publisher doesn't advertise extensively so this is a venue that's particularly important.
I'd love to read an article about authors who have internet presences. And I'd love to read what people think the myspace phenomenon will ultimately lead to.
In the meanwhile, I do believe that advance copies supplied by publishers to 250 strategic reviewers and readers, along with a PW review gives any author a big leg up. It's hard to make significant sales if your books aren't eventually purchased by the brick and mortar stores, and that's how it happens. I'm not sure that word of mouth here reaches the computers of the buyers at B & N, though I could be wrong. Usually their buys are program buys via the publisher's distrubutors.
Some authors who have great reps on the web, like my friend Matt Stover, are hard to find on the shelves, sad as that may be. He writes amazing, action packed, intelligent books, and how many here have read him? And he's a name you didn't even mention Al'Kael. (along with me, of course)
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