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Ah, the elusive New York Times bestseller list. It’s like the holy grail of book publishing, and every author dreams of seeing their name on it. But how can a romance novelist, in particular, turn their book into a New York Times bestseller? Well, my dear reader, I’m glad you asked. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Write a Steamy Romance Novel
First things first, you need to write a romance novel that will make readers blush. You want them to feel like they’re reading something scandalous, something that they wouldn’t want their grandma to catch them reading. But don’t just rely on sex scenes to carry the story. You need to create compelling characters, an engaging plot, and a unique setting.
Step 2: Get a Great Cover
As much as we like to say “don’t judge a book by its cover,” let’s face it, we all do it. Your cover needs to catch the eye of potential readers and make them want to pick up your book. A great cover should be eye-catching, on-brand with your genre, and stand out from other romance novels on the shelves. If you’re self-publishing, invest in a professional cover designer. If you’re going through a traditional publisher, make sure to give input on your cover design.
Step 3: Build Your Platform
If you want to be a successful author in today’s market, you need to have a platform. That means building an online presence through social media, a website, and email marketing. You want to create a community of readers who are excited to hear about your upcoming releases and will be your cheerleaders when it comes to promoting your book.
Step 4: Get Advance Reviews
Before your book is even released, you want to start getting reviews from early readers. This will help build buzz around your book and increase its chances of making it onto the New York Times bestseller list. Reach out to book bloggers, bookstagrammers, and anyone who has a following in your genre. Offer them an advanced copy of your book in exchange for an honest review.
Step 5: Launch Your Book with a Bang
The first week of your book’s release is critical. You want to make sure you have a strong launch plan in place that includes a book tour, online book parties, and any other promotional events you can think of. The more buzz you can create during this time, the better your chances are of making it onto the New York Times bestseller list.
Step 6: Keep Promoting Your Book
Even after your book has been out for a while, you need to keep promoting it. That means continuing to engage with your readers, doing book signings, and seeking out any opportunities for media coverage. The more exposure your book gets, the more likely it is to make it onto the New York Times bestseller list.
To achieve bestseller status on the Times, not only do you have to sell at least 5,000 – 10,000 copies in one week, but these sales have to be diverse sales.
That is, you cannot sell 10,000 books to a pre-existing list of followers through a personal website or thousands from only one marketplace like Barnes and Noble.
Rather, these sales must flow from retailers across the country and in different geographical locations—everything from Big-Box chains like Barnes and Noble and Walmart, small independent book stores, E-commerce giant Amazon, university bookstores, etc.
In conclusion, becoming a New York Times bestselling romance author is no easy feat, but it’s not impossible. With a steamy romance novel, a great cover, a strong platform, advance reviews, a killer launch, and ongoing promotion, you just might see your name on that coveted list. So get to writing, and who knows, you might be the next E. L. James or Nicholas Sparks.
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