Mark Malatesta, Book Marketing Strategist – Former Literary Agent
Mark Malatesta is a former literary agent, and the author of this book marketing strategies FAQ, with 250 Ways to Promote a Book. In addition to helping authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) market their books as a literary agent, Mark has helped 400+ writers get literary agents and/or traditional publishers. He is the founder of The Bestselling Author, LLC, an author coaching and consulting company established in 2011.
Mark Malatesta has served as the Marketing & Licensing Manager for the gift and book publisher Blue Mountain Arts, as well. And he’s worked with organizations in both Colorado and Florida to support family, friends, and caregivers of individuals with psychological disorders and developmental disabilities. During that time, Mark created and marketed a program to prevent child abuse, led multi-day seminars and workshops, and served as a live-in foster parent in a transition home for teens recently released from locked facilities.
Quotes About Book Sales, Marketing, and Promotion
Here are some of Mark Malatesta’s favorite quotes about book sales, book marketing, and book promotion. Read these inspiring quotes and remember: getting published and reaching readers isn’t luck—it’s a decision.
Book Sales
“Writing a book without promoting it is like waving in the dark. You know what you’re doing, but no one else does.” – Madi Preda
“Books are sold one reader at a time.” – Tim Grahl
“Focus on building readers, not just making sales.” – Joanna Penn
“A great book doesn’t sell itself; a great plan does.” – Unknown
“Sell the story behind your book, and you’ll sell the book itself.” – Unknown
“Readers don’t buy books; they buy experiences.” – Unknown
“A book worth reading is a book worth talking about.” – Unknown
“Your best marketing tool is the recommendation of a satisfied reader.” – Seth Godin
Book Marketing
“Marketing a book is like making soup. You throw in a lot of ingredients, stir often, and hope something delicious emerges.” – Unknown
“Good marketing makes the reader feel smart.” – Joe Chernov
“If you don’t market your book, no one else will.” – Joanna Penn
“Your book is your baby, but marketing is the village that helps it grow.” – Unknown
“Content is fire; social media is gasoline.” – Jay Baer
“Books don’t sell themselves. Authors sell books.” – Dan Poynter
“Don’t judge each day by the sales you make but by the seeds you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson (adapted for marketing)
“Your book’s success doesn’t stop at ‘The End.’ It begins there.” – Unknown
Book Promotion
“To sell your book, you have to sell yourself first.” – Seth Godin
“A book launch is just the start of the journey; the real work begins afterward.” – Unknown
“Promotion is not a dirty word. Passion and promotion are the recipe for success.” – Unknown
“The more you give, the more you get. Share value, and readers will follow.” – Unknown
“If readers don’t know your book exists, they can’t buy it.” – Penny C. Sansevieri
“Think of book promotion as matchmaking – finding the perfect reader for your story.” – Unknown
“Authors are entrepreneurs. Your book is your business, and promotion is your storefront.” – Joanna Penn
General Inspiration
“A book is a dream that you hold in your hands. Marketing is how you share that dream with the world.” – Unknown
“Your audience is out there waiting for your words; marketing is how you find them.” – Unknown
“Marketing isn’t about the stuff you sell; it’s about the stories you tell.” – Seth Godin
“The author who waits for success to find them will wait forever. Success is found in effort.” – Unknown
“Writing a book is the art; selling it is the science.” – Unknown
Mark Malatesta: Biography
Mark Malatesta is a former literary agent and former AAR (now AALA) member, who loves empowering writers and authors of all book genres. He specializes in helping writers discover how to best develop their books, and make them successful. Mark has decades of experience figuring out what publishers want, and how authors can position their books reach a broad audience. During Mark’s career as literary agent, he worked with authors of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books.
Mark then transitioned from agenting to author coaching and consulting, and he created the popular Directory of Literary Agents, Through his company, The Bestselling Author, Mark supports writers in querying literary agents and securing representation. He also helps writers develop book marketing strategies that resonate with readers as well as industry professionals. Mark has helped 400+ authors get offers of representation from book agents, including some of the Best Literary Agents at the Top Literary Agencies.
Mark Malatesta’s clients have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold millions of books. Notable authors include Nelson Johnson (Boardwalk Empire), which Martin Scorsese produced for HBO; Leslie Lehr (A Boob’s Life), which is being adapted for an HBO Max TV series by Salma Hayek; and Scott LeRette (The Unbreakable Boy), published by Thomas Nelson and now a major motion picture by Lionsgate, starring Zachary Levi, Patricia Heaton, and Amy Acker.
Mark Malatesta’s insider perspective on publishing, combined with his approachable style, have made him a trusted resource for authors at every stage of their writing journey. In addition to being the create of this popular How to Promote a Book Idea Guide, Mark is the host of Ask a Literary Agent, and his articles have appeared in publications including the Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents and the Publishers Weekly Book Publishing Almanac.
Anecdotes of Successful Book Marketing, Promotion, and Sales
The following anecdotes show that successful book marketing involves creativity, persistence, and leveraging unique opportunities. Find inspiration in these stories to create your own personalized strategies to market your book successfully.
- J.K. Rowling’s Magical Word-of-Mouth Phenomenon
When Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first released, Rowling tirelessly promoted her book at schools and libraries, building a grassroots following among children. As the buzz grew, word-of-mouth recommendations skyrocketed, turning the book into a global sensation. - Andy Weir’s Journey from Blog to Blockbuster
Andy Weir initially published The Martian as a serialized story on his blog. His readers provided feedback and edits, and the community grew passionate about the story. When he self-published on Amazon, sales exploded, leading to a traditional publishing deal and a movie adaptation. - Amanda Hocking’s E-Book Revolution
Struggling to land a traditional publishing deal, Amanda Hocking self-published her paranormal romance novels on Kindle. Her direct engagement with fans on social media and her affordable pricing strategy ($0.99 per book) helped her sell over a million e-books and secured her a $2 million publishing contract. - Tim Ferriss’s “Launch Week Experiment”
For The 4-Hour Workweek, Ferriss reached out to niche bloggers and podcasts instead of mainstream media. He personally connected with influencers in his target audience, offering value and insights. This focused strategy generated massive buzz and made his book a long-standing bestseller. - Colleen Hoover’s BookTok Breakthrough
Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us became a sensation thanks to TikTok’s #BookTok community. Fans shared emotional reactions, and the authentic buzz led to a surge in sales years after its initial release, proving the power of social media communities in modern book marketing. - Mark Dawson’s Mastery of Ads
After struggling with sales, Mark Dawson turned to Facebook ads to market his self-published thrillers. By targeting readers who enjoyed similar authors, he significantly boosted sales and became a bestseller. Dawson later created a course to teach other authors his ad strategies. - E.L. James and the Fifty Shades Social Strategy
Initially released as fanfiction, E.L. James self-published Fifty Shades of Grey. She built a loyal following through online forums and social media engagement. Her innovative use of platforms like Twitter and Goodreads generated organic buzz, transforming her book into a bestseller and movie franchise. - Hugh Howey’s Reader-Centric Strategy
Hugh Howey released Wool as a self-published e-book and invited reader feedback. His responsiveness to fans and consistent updates kept readers engaged and led to a word-of-mouth phenomenon. This success resulted in a print-only publishing deal, allowing Howey to retain his e-book rights. - Ann Patchett’s Community Connection
When Ann Patchett released This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, she toured independent bookstores across the country, emphasizing the importance of local bookshops. Her personal approach helped her book gain strong support from indie booksellers, boosting its visibility and sales. - Rupi Kaur’s Instagram Empire
Rupi Kaur self-published her poetry collection, Milk and Honey, and used Instagram to share short, evocative poems paired with striking visuals. Her relatable and shareable content resonated deeply, creating a devoted fanbase and leading to over 3 million copies sold worldwide. - John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars Video Series
Green leveraged his YouTube channel, Vlogbrothers, to promote The Fault in Our Stars. By building a relationship with fans through authentic and engaging videos, he created a loyal community that eagerly anticipated his book, leading to a #1 debut on bestseller lists. - Seth Godin’s Pre-Launch Community Building
Before launching Tribes, Seth Godin created an online community around the book’s core theme of leadership and connection. He invited readers to contribute stories and share ideas, making them feel invested in the book’s success. This strategy helped it become a bestseller upon release. - Margaret Atwood’s Crowdfunding Innovation
For The Happy Zombie Sunrise Home, Margaret Atwood collaborated with Naomi Alderman and released the story on the Wattpad platform. She later used crowdfunding via Unbound to publish it, demonstrating creative ways authors can finance and market their work. - Dave Ramsey’s Bulk Sales Strategy
To promote Total Money Makeover, financial advisor Dave Ramsey offered bulk discounts to companies and organizations. He bundled books with his live events and courses, creating multiple revenue streams and ensuring high-volume sales. - Michael Hyatt’s Platform-First Approach
Michael Hyatt built a loyal audience with his blog and podcast before releasing Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. By the time his book launched, his audience was primed to buy, ensuring strong initial sales and long-term success.
