We recently connected with Laura Drake and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. Do you manage your own social media?

I manage my own. As an author, I see myself as a product I’m selling. I’ve changed genres and readers follow me, I believe, because the voice is the same whether the story is romance or Women’s Fiction, or horror for that matter. And if that is true, how could anyone else promote me effectively?

There is huge pressure on authors to have a presence on social media. But many do it only because they have to – and I don’t think that will engage people, which is the ROI you’re looking for.

Also luckily, the platform I enjoy is also where my audience is – Facebook. There is also discussion about a page vs. a profile – many authors want to set up a page, then use their profile for their family and friends outside the writing world. I’ve never seen that work, because a ‘page’ isn’t personal. People know a page will try to sell them something, and won’t engage with it. I have a page, but it’s pretty static – I use my profile to engage my writing audience. But I maxed out my ‘friend’ limit pretty quickly, so I started a group: Laura Drake’s Peace, Love & Books. The only rules are, no meanness, no politics and no spiders! I post snark, coffee memes and ‘inquiring minds’ questions that encourage the members to get to know each other, and it’s become a thriving community!

Whatever you do, enjoy it, because people can tell if you don’t.

Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an author of 15 novels – Western Romance and Women’s Fiction. My first book, The Sweet Spot, won the 2014 Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best First Book (Romance equivalent of the Oscars.)

After 11 romances, I ventured off into Women’s Fiction, and have found my place in deeper, heartfelt emotional stories of women overcoming damage and pain to live fulfilled lives. I may take you to dark places, but I will never leave you there – I want a happy ending as much as anyone, because I’ve been to dark places myself.

My goal is to touch those going through a bad place – remind them that things can change for the better, even if you can’t see a way through right now.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

My career was as a CFO (corporate bean-counter.) It paid well, but was high-pressure and not a love match for me. Then I got an idea for a novel that wouldn’t go away. I decided I’d write the book just to get it out of my head. So I began getting up 2 hours before I needed to get ready for work (3am) downed enough coffee to be able to think, and wrote for those hours.

I love that time, because the house is quiet, and I can focus before all the day-to-day things clog up my head. I did that for 3 books, and I finally sold the third.

I’ve since retired from the day gig, but am still writing. I don’t do well with free time, so writing is the perfect vocation – keeps me busy and thinking all the time. I’ve put deadlines behind me, and now I’m having fun, playing with words.

I love it!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My resources are my experience and knowledge from my career as a CFO. Many writers struggle with budgets (if they even use them), and fall for the next ‘shiny new thing’ in regards to marketing, social media, etc.

I don’t. I’m always aware of the ROI for anything, be it money or my time. For example – authors tend to flock to the newest social media site – thinking THIS one will move the needle of their discoverability as a writer.

I analyze – why are the members ON that site to begin with? Instagram for example, is all photo/video based. If you’re a photographer, or an artist, that’s where you should be. But pictures aren’t going to sell my books, or convince someone to read them. And 10,000 likes won’t buy me a cup of coffee.

To be successful, I need engagement. That’s why I’m on Facebook almost all the time. I can engage others in a discussion there.

Before you put any time or money into marketing, be honest with yourself about what you stand to gain by investing. If it turns out that it’s just because you think the shiny new thing is pretty, okay, but go in with your eyes open, and you won’t be disappointed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lauradrakebooks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauradrakebooks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lauradrakespeaceloveandbooks
• Twitter: https://x.com/LauraDrakeBooks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCexKC_mroN5YluFQ2pDJjHw