Welcome to Behind the Pen, our new author spotlight series where we get up close and personal with the amazing writers in our community—and dig into what’s actually working for them when it comes to book marketing.
From clever promo strategies to lessons learned the hard way, we’re shining a light on the real-world tactics authors are using to reach readers, grow their platforms, and get results. You’ll also learn how they’re leveraging Written Word Media products—like Freebooksy, Bargain Booksy, and Reader Reach—to maximize visibility and build sustainable momentum.
Marketing indie books is rarely a straight line—but with the right mix of experimentation, persistence, and promo tools, you can build momentum over time.
In this edition, we’re featuring Charles Brass, a multi-genre indie author who’s turned overnight writing sessions and email promo stacking into a repeatable strategy for growth. From overcoming marketing hesitation to seeing tangible results through various promotions, Charles shares what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what he’s trying next.
Let’s dive in. 👇
✍️ Meet Charles Brass: The Night Owl Writer Playing the Long Game
Charles Brass writes science fiction and fantasy during overnight shifts as a hospital imaging technologist just outside Minnesota’s Twin Cities. With 11 novels, 3 novellas, and 4 short stories under his belt, he’s a prolific writer with a clear goal: get his books in front of more readers—one promo at a time.
“Marketing is the tool to get the word out about my excellent, potentially award-winning stories… even if it’s not my favorite part of the job.”
His writing routine is methodical: first drafts on a reMarkable tablet, dictated into WordPerfect, then finalized in Scrivener. That same intentionality now informs his approach to book marketing.
🚀 Marketing Strategy: Email Promotions and Consistent Visibility
Charles’s main strategy is rotating his books through email book promotion sites, focusing on exposure rather than instant sales. The platforms he uses include:
- Freebooksy
- Bargain Booksy
- Book Barbarian
- Fussy Librarian
- Book Runes / Book Sends
- KND / Book Gorilla
- NewInBooks & Subscriber Surge Giveaways
He typically stacks promos for a single book either all on one day or across a 2–3 day window, which generates the most free downloads.
“My largest free book promotion gave away 3,000 copies in three days. That generated two five-star reviews—not huge, but it’s a start.”
💡 Key Tactics in Play
- Email Promotions – His #1 visibility driver
- KDP Select Free Days – Used to align with promo timing
- Website & Newsletter – Maintained diligently as an owned channel
- Reader Reach – Testing Facebook ads via Written Word Media’s managed platform
- BookFunnel Teasers – Distributing free samples to attract readers
Though Charles doesn’t use social media, he still maintains a consistent marketing presence by maximizing these tools and focusing on what works best for his time and energy.
📊 Results: Modest Wins That Build Over Time
While he hasn’t had a breakout hit yet, Charles is seeing measurable results, with last month’s results looking like this:
✅ 10,000+ Kindle pages read
✅ 3,800 total orders (mostly free)
✅ $107 in royalties
✅ 2 new 5-star reviews
✅ Increased downloads of teaser content via BookFunnel
✅ A slight uptick in newsletter subscribers
“I’ve heard it takes a reader seeing your book cover seven times before they buy. So that’s the goal—repetition.”
Though reviews and subscriber engagement are still a work in progress, Charles is playing the long game—building visibility through repeated exposure and growing his backlist.
🔎 Challenges + Lessons Learned
Marketing Hurdles:
📉 Free downloads don’t always lead to reviews
📬 Giveaways often result in low-quality subscribers
❌ No breakout moment (yet)—just steady progress
Still, Charles sees each experiment as a step forward.
“Fortunately, I have the funds to experiment. I may pay someone to take over my marketing eventually, but for now, I’m learning and trying new things.”
🧪 What’s Next: Ads, Audiobooks & AI Tools
Looking ahead, Charles plans to test Reader Reach and Amazon Ads for one title in April. He’s also dabbling in AI-generated art (via Midjourney and DALL-E) to create covers for short stories and is considering building a home recording studio to produce audiobooks.
“I’m rewriting my first novel for a re-release with a sparkling new cover. Still having fun with my reMarkable Paper Pro, too.”
📚 Advice for Fellow Indie Authors
“Start small. Figure out what you enjoy, what works, and see if you can mesh the two. Be prepared to invest some money—and learn the tools that can help you.”
Whether it’s generative art, promo stacking, or newsletter growth, Charles encourages authors to treat marketing as a long-term experiment—and not get discouraged by slow starts.
✅ Charles’s Verdict
“Written Word Media helped me dip my toes into the promotion market. It’s a solid place to start. I plan to continue using the site for many years.”
📣 Ready to Build Your Next Promo Stack?
Whether you’re launching your debut or promoting the fifth book in your series, Written Word Media can help you reach the right readers—through targeted email promos, Facebook ads, and more. Schedule your next promotion today.