A Few Things I Haven't Tried

No, I haven't wrestled a potential buyer to the ground until they cry uncle and promise to buy my book!




Nor have I held a gun on someone and threatened to shoot them unless they ordered my latest release.


And I certainly haven't resorted to kidnapping and ransom.


But I have been plugging along at writing and promoting since 2002. Someone smart told me that long before you book becomes published, you need to get your name out in the public's eye. I maintained and promoted a website long before my manuscript became a novel. I also used a tag line in my email signature to advertise my coming release. I ordered business cards with my website and email and left them in various places.

Since then I've done everything humanly possible to encourage readers to try my work. I belong to every 'strangely named' group associated with writing, I blog, I tweet, I plurk, and sometimes I want to scream and yell. I've given away countless numbers of downloads, in hopes that recipient will be so impressed, they'll make a public appearance on Oprah and recommend my book. I've even sent Oprah a copy of my short humorous, but never heard back. I'm certain it got as far as the round file in her aid's office.

I've joined critique groups to enhance my skills, traveled to Nashville to share ideas with other authors, started an author's group locally, but got dissed by a mainstream author who never heard of Internet Publishing. Has she been in a cocoon?

The stigma associated with e-publishing has got to lift eventually. For whatever reason, there are throngs of people who believe that if you are published by an e-pub, it's only because they'll publish everything submitted. There are those who will, and they have given the legitimate houses a bad reputation. Readers need to appreciate that most of us have jumped through hoops and fought frustration to get where we are. I'm pretty darn proud of my accomplishments, whether or not you can find my books in a real store or not. Dang it! I'm a published author and I dare anyone to defy it.

I'm resorting to everything I can thing of at this point. My latest trick was putting MY bookmarks in Nora Robert's books in Walmart. I keep expecting a knock on the door from the book police, but so far so good. I hope Nora doesn't mind. I also left a few post cards featuring my book covers and a blurb in the pockets of clothing in various department stores. Doctor and Dental offices, banks, and waiting rooms where people gather is always a good place to deposit promotion items. People love pens! I have a ton with my name, website, and my tag line, Spice Up Your Life With Ginger!

So...I'm hosting this today, looking for new and LEGAL ways to promote and market my work. Cheap is always good, because money is an issue for all of us. So...readers....what can we do to snag your attention?

A Pause for A Chuckle with MaryAnn Miller

As we talk about the serious business of promoting -- and honest to God I have no idea what works and what doesn't - I thought it would be nice to inject a little levity.

I've done lots of signing events and spoken for civic groups, writer's groups, and at conferences, but the toughest audience was at a senior center connected to a nursing home. The activities director had assured me that there were lots of avid readers among the residents and they would love to meet an author. I was scheduled to follow the late-afternoon Bingo game when folks would already be assembled and willing to stay since dinner would immediately follow the talk.

I knew I was starting to lose them when a gentleman sitting up front asked if I was ever going to get the glass of water he’d asked for an hour ago. Then three women got up and left, muttering loudly that they must be in the wrong place since dinner wasn’t coming yet and it was past time.

In an effort to salvage something – anything – I abandoned my prepared speech and tried to engage the rest of the audience on a more personal level. I asked if they liked to read. One woman said she couldn’t read but she liked to sing. I told her that was nice, and she asked if I’d like to hear something. Before I could respond, she launched into a lusty version of You Are My Sunshine.

The other residents cheered when she was finished, so I took the hint. We spent the rest of the hour in a sing-along.

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Maryann Miller is an author, editor, and part-time farmer living in East Texas. Her latest books are One Small Victory and Play It Again, Sam. Visit her at her Website and her blog.

Welcome, Kayden McLeod

Dear Readers:

In my infantile journey into the world of e-publishing I’ve learned so much, mainly because of two of the best sources I’ve ever come into contact with since I decided to become an author. They are also the best promotional tools I have. First is my Publisher Eternal Press, along with the incredible helpful authors and staff that answer my endless and growing list of questions. Second is my Publicist Dee Owens of Personalized Marketing, who guides me in any direction I take. Together, they have made this new and sometimes scary world manageable and clear-cut.

For those of you who were interested, I definitely recommend researching representation. With the right person(s), it’s worth every penny.

In our world of online fiction yahoo groups are our bread and social networks are our butter. However having said that, there is a fine line to walk between informing readers, and just annoying them. When one deals with yahoo groups, being aware of exactly what the moderators want is very important and often overlooked, i.e. the group rules. Spam promoting these groups are also very aggravating, and I’ve found I dislike rereading the exact same promo over and over in every group I belong to, as much as the reader’s I’ve spoken with. This draws negative attention to one-self and it’s quite self-defeating in the long run. For this reason, I try to change it up as much as possible.

Even though my first release isn’t until December 2009, it’s never too early to start getting your name out there. With the knowledgeable guidance of my Publicist, I’m creating short stories to post both for my website (currently under construction) and giveaways. I wholeheartedly believe this is a great way to promote when you’re new, because it’s gives reader’s a shot to see if you’re worthy of their money and time. Both are something of a commodity in this era, and it may prove to be one of the clinchers that makes or breaks a sale.

And the only way a reader will know if they would like my novels, is to read what I’ve written. That’s my logic, so that’s what I’m doing. I guess in a way, I’ve created a way to take that one step further, to entice my possible readers with my latest short story and vice-versa. Suspicious Circumstances has taken inspiration from both of my up and coming releases with Eternal Press, Deadly Fetishes and Jezebel’s Article. All three are Erotic Paranormal. This one is chocked full of insights and teasers into both new books, and the project was far too much fun to end, so I made it into a series. This will be the first of the free installments of Sara’s Story.

Please, feel free to drop on in and leave a comment on my blog, or you can join me on Twitter or Facebook as well. Links to both are on my link list:

Kayden's Blog

Thanks for reading my ramblings…

Kayden McLeod

The Weird Turn Pro - Angel Martinez

It’s a Hunter S. Thompson saying, one of his best: When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

I think about that a lot these days in the bizarre land of promo. There are people who go to college, study hard and spend their entire lives trying to figure out just what exactly will catch the consumer’s interest. Here I am trying to figure it out on instinct and…weirdness. There’s a point to this, never fear.

One thing I’ve found doing promo for my books is that the author who does self-promo has to find some way to stand out, some unique approach, item, look, feel or offering. (No, not virgin offerings, please, let’s not step over the line here.) For instance, I have two not-so-run-of-the-mill blogs: Erotic Spice and Writer’s Habitat. The first is a free series of erotic stories, a soap opera with my novella Aftermath as the springboard. The characters reappear, develop, grow, more characters are added, and so on. Fun, steamy, and free - people like free. The second is for young and just-starting-out writers who need some help with the basics, a how-to blog on topics ranging from dialogue punctuation to synopsis writing.

Do all the usual things people insist on – the social network sites, the forums and loops, the website, the contests, but make sure you stand out and always be on the lookout for that little bit extra. Such as:

• Prowl around for free advertising. Some review sites give reviewers the option to trade reviews for ad space. Some sites will hold contests of their own for various reasons. Some have ad space available for peanuts (OK, no, don’t try and buy an ad with legumes, use a credit card, but you know what I mean.)
• Find something unique to offer your readers. Something fun or educational, something they’ll remember you for.
• When you send out your excerpts, promos, contests, don’t be afraid to be a little flashy and shout a bit. It’s promo. It’s OK.
• Grab up those opportunities others might chicken out on. Go on an online radio show. Do a library reading. Do some guerilla promo (leaving business cards in various places, e.g.)

Most of all, be you, your quirky, unique author self. We write, therefore our brains are a little warped. Use it to your advantage.

If you’re interested in my writing, I live over at Red Rose Publishing these days. Finn, just released in July, is on sale now. Finn’s Christmas is due in December; Lioness on the Knife and the much anticipated re-release of Aftermath should be next year as well as my SF series, “Anchorage” written under Sandra C. Stixrude.

Come visit my website! Happy Promo! ~Angel

Don't Miss This Wednesday!

It is my great pleasure to host some very talented people for another terrific blog-a-thon this Wednesday, August 5th. This time, we are all discussing promotion because it's such an integral part of what we do. We hope you'll stop by and offer suggestions, and perhaps answer the greatest question of all: WHAT HELPS YOU DECIDE TO PURCHASE A BOOK? That's the burning question and we all want to know. Feel free to chime in.

Tomorrow, you'll be hearing from:

MaryAnn Miller
Anna K. Lanier
Margaret Tanner
Tricia McGill
Katie Hines
Kayden McLeod
Ron Berry
Lisabet Sarai
Raven Starr
Antonia Tiranth
Donaya Hammond
Janis Susan May
Megan Rose
Marie Rochelle
Joan K. Maze
Angel Martinez,
and of course, yours truly. You didn't really think I could sit back and shut up, did you?

Remember, one lucky commenter will be the winner of a free download of Tender Return.