Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Derailed by Lisa Marie
Title: Derailed
Series: Terminal
Blub:
Being the drummer in a band with his cousin as the lead singer and his best friend playing guitar is a dream come true for Desmond Charter. Not only does it give him what he's always craved, it gives him a direct pass to the ladies.Terminal is almost constantly on tour. Since the band doesn’t really stay in one place long enough, Desmond doesn’t have much time to get attached and set up roots, which is fine by him. While his cousin is busy finding love, Desmond is still living his life the way he wants to.
Desmond comes first.
Always.
Until he meets Lexi, a fiery redhead who has a sassy look and tongue to match.
Will Desmond change for the one girl who keeps his attention for longer than a minute? Or will he continue on his road to nowhere?
Genre:
Erotic RomanceWomen's Fiction
Romance
Links:
http://www.authorlisamarie.comhttp://www.amazon.com/author/lisa_marie
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9848187.Lisa_Marie
Detour by Lisa Marie
Title: Detour
Series: Terminal
Blub:
Terminal is the hardest working band in music today! Touring days, weeks and months at a time they are dedicated to their one of a kind fan base, The Sinners. Driven to provide the most memorable music experience to their fans, they remain available to them via their internet chat room. There's no band quite like Terminal.Siannon Hannack found Terminal and The Sinners when she was at her most vulnerable and needed all the support and love they could offer. After winning the golden ticket online, Siannon has the opportunity to meet Terminal in a unique backstage experience. When meeting Landyn Pierce becomes too much, Siannon's anxiety wins and she flees missing out on the chance meeting with the sexy rock god.
When finally returning to the chat room, Siannon receives a private message from Landyn offering her a second chance. Timidly, Siannon replies and her life of quiet and solitude changes to one of late night calls, anonymous texts, stalkers and love.
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Women's Fiction
The Monuments of Panda Johnson - Book One by Panda Johnson
Title: The Monuments of Panda Johnson - Book One
Series: Panda Johnson
Blub:
Do you fee like you want to read something just that little bit different? A sci-fi story that will make you laugh? The monuments of Panda Johnson is the book for you. Follow Panda, the toasted rice pudding sandwich loving alien and friends in their bizarre, funny and unique journey across the Universe, as they fend off forces of evil, clones, aliens and overly large cannibals in way too small silver bikinis. Will Alice, the fluffy headed, mutating transgendered, invisible rabbit adoring, potential love interest to Panda get her man? Can bambii, whose limited vocabulary, ever convey her true feelings to Blinknott, Pandas best fiend? See the overly large chested Misty harangue Dang, the ex-Ohm Monk who so desperately needs a wash and more socks. See them, and others fight against the forces of evil... Genevieve and Lord Overworn. Find out why there is a rubber duck on the cover. Can an interstellar warship really be powered by a record player? We say no! How good can a torturer with a stammer be? Just how does a tiger disguise himself in a Bakers? What does the Council of Ohm and missing socks have to do with Mlikht Nak de Tor? What does that even mean? And why is there a Seagull in a cardboard box? Puzzled? I sure hope so. The first of the Panda Johnson trilogy will leave you desperate for more.Genre:
Science FictionHumour
Links:
http://www.thepandajohnson.com/home.htmlhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Monuments-Panda-Johnson-Book-One/dp/1511849967/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435666674&sr=8-1&keywords=panda+johnson
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14120769.Panda_Johnson?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr
Friday, 24 July 2015
How Maxwell Grover Stole My House by C.E. Vance
Title: How Maxwell Grover Stole My House
Series: Maxwell Grover
Blurb:
What if every fear you ever had about your creepy next-door neighbor turned out to be true?10-year-old Zeke Langley has become the target of his nasty new neighbor, Maxwell Grover. For reasons known only to him, the unsavory stranger seems determined to make Zeke's life miserable and force his family out of their home.
Inevitably, Zeke and his best friend Winks set out on a journey to discover what Grover is hiding. What they find sends them down a road they never imagined ... and on a mission they may never return from.
Genre:
Adventure, Fantasy, Middle GradeHumour, Kid Lit
Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Book Review by K. Meador of Blood Master written by Kirsten Campbell
Book Review by K. Meador of Blood Master written by Kirsten Campbell
Blurb:
2052: Two-thirds of the human population have been killed by the Great War, the Clover Virus and the Death Plague. Only one man survived the Death Plague, an albino man named Griffin Storm. He’s the only albino in existence. No one knows what happened to the other albinos, but most believe the rumors that they were eliminated by the Guild Faction’s deadly experiments.Griffin is hiding out in Underground Atlanta. He has special abilities. He can manipulate crystal and glass. He uses these abilities for good, raiding warehouses and old buildings for food and medical supplies to give to the abandoned children that live in the Underground. While on a raid he meets Tassta Vinetti. She’s a resident of the legendary Brotherhood Fortress. Griffin is taken to the Brotherhood and chaos ensues as Tassta, her twin brother Penn and her Uncle Lerin Sanctobous keep their new visitor and his untold powers secret. They can not disclose that the only albino in existence is now at their fortress or they could all be in great danger.
Fact is the Guild is hunting Griffin. He is the only survivor of their deadly experiments and his survival will have dynamic consequences. The Guild believes Griffin will transform into a G.O.D., a Genetically-enhanced Omni Dimensional being. If he transforms, he will have inter-dimensional doors within his body, doors that lead to heaven and hell. Griffin will become a Blood Master and he’ll be able to control the demons from the Dimension of Blood.
Will Griffin save the children of the Underground from their tragic life? Will he transform into a G.O.D. and become the Blood Master? Only time will tell…
BOOK REVIEW:
I am not one to leave long reviews. As a reader, I either liked it or not. Few fall in the middle. This book is definitely a like!Set in the future, Blood Master took me on a journey that surprised me, as well as, brought me great entertainment. I was able to relate to all the main characters and followed the story without a problem. The details given in this book was well thought out and researched. I was drawn into a world where the future has met devastation and, yet, there is a plan about to unfold to bring forth hope and to reunite people by eliminating evil that is out and about.
Genre:Fantasy
Science Fiction
Monday, 20 July 2015
Kieran the Pirate by Cleo deLancey
Title: Kieran the Pirate
Blurb:
Kieran has a problem. He wants to be a scary pirate, but only has a pirate hat. His extended family helps him by using ordinary items found at home: a cardboard sword, turned down rubber boots, a winter scarf for a sash, a stuffed bird, a felt eyepatch...When reading this easy reader with your children, enhance their prediction skills by asking, "What does a pirate wear?" or "What else does a pirate need for his costume?"
Ask them if they have an auntie, grandmother, brother, cousin etc and what their names are to help them establish titles of family members.
Help them learn the lines in the book that are repetitive so as to feel like successful readers. They can predict the next item of the costume by connecting to the clues in the illustrations.
Play a dress up game to act out the book (you may want to prepare ahead of time).
DOES Kieran become a scary pirate?
Enjoy the humorous ending!
And enjoy the lively illustrations by artist, Denis Proulx.
Genre:
Children'sKid Lit
Early Learner Picture Book
Links:
https://cleodelancey.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/cleodelanceyauthor
https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=295574061&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CleodeLancey/posts
https://booklaunch.io/Cleo/5455d06aea42439e50a87210
http://www.pinterest.com/cleodelancey/
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/profile/A19M8XTUP9YZIP
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9858792.Cleo_deLancey
@AkashaCleo
Sunday, 19 July 2015
Jessica Wren's Review of Ndura: Son of the Forest by Javier Salazar Calle
Title: Ndura: Son of the Forest
My review:
A native of Spain, Javier Calle is fluent in English and speaks some Swahili. His novel Ndura: hijo de la selva was originally written in Spanish, published in Spain, and has won an award for young adult literature in Spain. I read the English version, Ndura: Son of the Forest, a survival thriller that will keep you turning the pages.
The protagonist, also named Javier, is traveling home from an adventure trip in Africa with his friends, Alex, and Juan, when the plane is shot down by guerillas. Javier is (presumably) the lone survivor of the crash, but finds himself stranded in the middle of the jungle with inadequate resources. He must use his brains, his instincts, and his few resources to survive.
Told in first person journal-style, Ndura gives a detailed account of Javier's day-to day actions, which includes finding food, water and shelter, protecting himself from wild animals and insects, and trying to find his way back to civilization. It also includes-and this is one of my favorite parts-the range of emotions that Javier goes through: grief for the loss of his friends, homesickness, anger, survival guilt, pride at developing new survival skills, and gratitude and friendship towards the friendly tribe of Pymies who briefly host him. The plot is exciting and thrilling enough to keep you turning the pages, and Javier is a character you really start to care about.
Another one of my favorite parts was the fact that the author clearly put a lot of time and effort into doing research for this book. The reader will get to learn about various flora and fauna native to the African jungle, the culture and society of the Pygmies, and to a lesser extend, the state of political affairs in various African counties. Senor Calle even includes a list of tips for surviving in the wild. I thought that was cool. The ending is complet
One caveat: The English translation is imperfect ely unexpected and will leave you with a haunting mental image.and awkward in places but is understandable. Please don't let that keep you from enjoying this treat of a novel. Thank you, Senor Calle, for your contribution to the literary world.
Genre:
Young AdultPsychological Thriller
Links:
Here is the Spanish version: http://www.amazon.com/Ndura-Spanish-Javier-Salazar-Calle-ebook/dp/B00LPINOUY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars by C. L. Schneider
Title: The Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars
Series: The Crown of Stones (Trilogy)
Blub:
Magic doesn’t wound the same as a sword. The story of Ian Troy continues in Magic-Scars, the second installment in C. L. Schneider’s riveting epic fantasy trilogy, The Crown of Stones.Captured by his old enemy, King Draken of Langor, Shinree magic user Ian Troy was sentenced to prison. Tortured and drugged, robbed of his will, his memories, and his magic, Ian was made to do unspeakable things. Rescued, as his body slowly rids itself of the drug, Ian realizes he has returned to an unfamiliar world gripped with fear. In the wake of his fall, those he cared for were left to their own grim fates. Draken has seized control of the realms and named himself High King. His brutal rein has sparked a desperate rebellion that Ian now finds himself a part of. His one task: recover and repair the Crown of Stones, in hopes it will tip the balance in the revolution that is brewing. In pursuit of the reason behind the artifact’s strange loss of magic, Ian is driven to release an explosion of retribution and power that leaves him irrevocably scarred.
Struggling to reconcile the man he has become with the man he once was, Ian strives to understand the growing number of magic-scars adorning his body. He searches for the truth behind his link to the Crown of Stones and uncovers shocking secrets buried for generations beneath the sand. To become the weapon the resistance needs, he must assume responsibility for his magical inheritance. But can he curb the destructive appetite that comes with it?
The price of Ian’s magic and his addiction have never been higher.
Genre:
FantasyDark Fantasy
Links:
http://www.clschneiderauthor.com/http://www.amazon.com/author/clschneider
https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomCLSchneider
Insight Kindling by Chess Desalls
Insight Kindling
Series: The Call to Search Everywhen
Blub:
Calla faces charges against her for changing the past. Her use of the Travel Glasses resulted in the creation of two writings that affected the lives of Edgar, the inventor of the Travel Glasses, and Valcas, their prior owner. Now Calla must explain her actions before the Time and Space Travel Agency. The hearing does not end well. The travel commissioner finds Calla guilty as charged and forces her to choose between two harsh penalties. Despite the risk of becoming lost herself, Calla accepts a dangerous travel mission that may help her find her father. She teams up with a group of talented travelers. While working with them, she soon discovers that she has a special travel talent of her own. Pursued by the sentient being of white light that’s been tracking her father’s bloodline, Calla fears her newfound talents may not be enough to protect her and her teammates before they complete their mission. Insight Kindling is the second installment in The Call to Search Everywhen serial series.Genre:
Young AdultTime Travel
Links:
https://chessdesalls.wordpress.com/http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Desalls/e/B00K6JHLM0/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8183466.Chess_Desalls
Travel Glasses by Chess Desalls
Title: Travel Glasses
Series: The Call to Search Everywhen
Blub:
Calla Winston’s mobile devices sit in a corner of her room, covered in dust. Weeks ago, she shared photos and laughs with her best online friend. Now, after having felt the sting of betrayal, she prefers being hidden and friendless. She equates privacy with security and technology with pain.Then she meets Valcas, an otherworldly time traveler who traverses time and space with a pair of altered sunglasses. When an ethereal being knocks Calla to the ground near her family’s lakeside cottage, Valcas uses the Travel Glasses to help her escape. He offers his further protection in exchange for a promise. Intrigued by Valcas and the possibility of time travel, Calla accepts. That is until she learns that his search for her was no mere coincidence.
Calla sets off on her own, taking the Travel Glasses with her. Torn between searching for her estranged father and reuniting with the rest of her family, she tracks down the inventor of the Travel Glasses in hopes of discovering more about Valcas’ past and motivations. The Travel Glasses take Calla’s mistrust of technology to all new levels. But without them, she’ll never make it back home. With Valcas hot on her trail, Calla hopes to find what she’s looking for before he catches up.
The Call to Search Everywhen is a serial series of novel-length installments. Travel Glasses is YA fantasy filled with metafiction and other literary twistiness. It's a thought-provoking narrative about trust, relationships, reality and illusion.
Genre:
Young AdultTime Travel
Links:
https://chessdesalls.wordpress.com/http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Desalls/e/B00K6JHLM0/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8183466.Chess_Desalls
Saturday, 18 July 2015
Jessica Wren's Author Spotlight and Review of Atomic Aardvark by Ryan Guy
Review
Title: Atomic Aardvark
My Review:
Ryan Guy, author of Atomic Aardvark, is a familiar name among the community of young-adult indie authors. Via his website, atomicaardvark.com, he features YA authors and even gives out copies of the books he features. Additionally, he is also a co-moderator in the Author Promo Co-op group, where he chooses the YA Book of the Month.I read Atomic Aardvark after hearing from several friends that it was hilariously funny. I wasn’t disappointed. Marissa Mallory (‘Sirena’) has taken a job as a waitress at Aardvark Pasta to gain independence from her father, a junk food tycoon. The restaurant’s mascot is an aardvark named Aardy, to whom Marissa has become attached. She is also chatting with Conley (‘Ennui’) via social gaming and the two have plans to meet in person. A series of comical events prevent this meeting, the main one being a meteor that has landed in the Precipice, a giant drop-off that Marissa’s father uses as a dump site. Long story short, the combination of something within the meteor and the toxic waste give Aardy and an ordinary skunk later named Surly supernatural abilities, including the ability to communicate with humans. When Surly comes up with an absurd plan to kidnap Marissa, it is up to Conley and Aardy to rescue her.
The entire book is a bizarre and humorous comedy of errors. The randomness of it is the best part. Although it is intended as a comedy, Guy does address some more serious issues (albeit in a comical manner) such as environmentalism, corporate responsibility, identity theft, and over-dependence on technology. This is a highly recommended and enjoyable read for all ages.
Genre:
Comedy
Young Adult
Maybe Forever by Kim Golden
Title: Maybe Forever
Series: Maybe...
Blub:
Is the honeymoon over…?Now married with two children, Laney and Mads are finding their life together isn’t as simple as it used to be. While Laney struggles with motherhood, Mads is so focused on chasing success that he loses sight of promises he’s made.
Better apart…?
When frustration gets the better of her, Laney takes the kids and goes to the US, hoping to find solace with her aunt Cecily, a former school teacher who now teaches yoga and meditation in Florida.
Can Laney and Mads find their way back to one another...or is it too late?
Genre:
Romance
ChicLit
Women's Fiction
IR Romance/Women's Fiction
Links:
Maybe Tonight by Kim Golden
Title: Maybe Tonight
Series: Maybe...
Blub:
Mads Rasmussen has had enough: of being a sperm donor, of feeling disconnected, of being alone.Then someone walks into his life in a most unexpected way...
Maybe Tonight is a novella that gives a glimpse of Mads's life just before and after he meets Laney in Maybe Baby. It's a novella about love and what happens when it takes you by surprise.
Genre:
Romance
ChicLit
Women's Fiction
IR Romance/Women's Fiction
Links:
Maybe Baby by Kim Golden
Title: Maybe Baby
Series: Maybe...
Blub:
Imagine finding out you could never have a baby with the man you love...Expat American Laney Halliwell finds out the hard way when Niklas tells her he had a vasectomy before they met and isn't interested in reversing it. Why should he? They've got his kids from his first marriage and an enviable life in Stockholm.
What if you fell in love in the most unexpected way...?
But Laney wants more. So when a friend suggests she look into an alternative sperm bank in Copenhagen to find a potential father for her baby, things don't go exactly as planned. Especially when Laney meets Mads and finds herself falling in love.
Genre:
RomanceChicLit
Women's Fiction
Ice by Jessica Wren
Title: Ice
Blurb:
In Minterville, Georgia, the residents live in relative seclusion, partly to keep crime out of their small, tranquil community, and partly to prevent the world from finding out about The Minter, a form of telepathy that interconnects them and gives them a sense of unity.Then The Minter, which cannot function in the presence of evil, stops working. Mayor Tom Watson suspects that two families who had recently moved to town have ties to Manuela Escribano (known as the Ice Queen), a prolific drug lord who, unbeknownst to the rest of Minterville, has a deadly score to settle with Tom. No one, including Tom, has any idea how deep the Manuela's desire for revenge runs, until one Friday morning, twenty women disappear. When Manuela sends in a video detailing her diabolical plot to get revenge against Tom and the community that has harbored him for thirty years, Minterville must come together as one to rescue the women before time runs out. They must act quickly, or innocent people will die and their beloved community (and along with it, The Minter) will be destroyed forever.
Genre:
Psychological
Thriller
Paranormal
Links:
Keystrokes by Lisa Marie
Title: Keystrokes
Blub:
What if you won the opportunity of a lifetime?The chance to go from nothing to something practically overnight?
Farrow Connoley is practically a celebrity – online.
She runs a successful blog, with thousands of followers.
In reality, she leads a boring, unremarkable life.
Entering a contest, one lonely January night, brings about changes she dreamed of,things she never thought possible.
Like meeting Kasen Wells, a reluctant movie star, struggling with the fame he never wanted.
Craving an easy going, normal life, will he walk away from it all?
Should Farrow embrace her fifteen minutes, or cling to the mediocrity of her everyday existence?
Or will fate intervene, making their choices for them?
Genre:
Romance
Contemporary Romance
CK Dawn Reviews Atomic Aardvark by Ryan Guy
Ryan Guy author of Atomic Aardvark
Links:
Website: http://www.atomicaardvark.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atomicaardvark?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/that_rye_guy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25118066-atomic-aardvark
Beneath His Darkness by Renee Dyer
Title: Beneath His Darkness
Series: Healing Hearts Series
Blub:
If I could describe my world in a color, it would be black.My heart is black. My mind is black. Everything is black.
I let darkness take over when I was sixteen. That’s when my world fell apart. That’s when I learned Tucker Stavros took my life away from me. I’ve spent years allowing the darkness to comfort me; letting it take my emotions and box them up. Why do I need emotions anyway? They only make me weak. I need to be strong for what needs to be done.
What needs to be done, you ask?
That’s simple. Destroy Tucker. Bring him to his knees. Show him how it feels to lose everything.
Well, that was the plan, until Cammie Richards walked into my life. Now there are gray areas — slight color bleeding through the black. What happens when she looks beneath my darkness and sees the monster lurking there? Will she run away or try to save me?
How do I tell her I can’t be saved?
Genre:
Romance
Contemporary Romance
Links:
Eyes Wide Open by Renee Dyer
Title: Eyes Wide Open
Series: Healing Hearts Series
Blub:
Adriana Monroe had her life planned out. She was going to marry Alex, have a house full of kids, and spend as much time as possible with their friends. But, life had other plans. Life stole Alex from her and Adriana grieved his loss so badly, when she had the chance to love again with Tucker Stavros, she couldn’t do it. She was broken and felt her love for Alex would break Tucker, too. So, she walked away.Now, her heart is shattered and she’s mourning the loss of both men.
Tucker Stavros has lived his life looking for love. After losing his mom at a young age and being abandoned by his dad, the only love he’s known is from his Grams. His relationships have been disasters. He’s never felt that spark… until he met Adriana Monroe. Everything changed for him the second he saw her smile. He didn’t care that she was grieving. He didn’t care that she was broken. He saw himself in her lost eyes. He would have done anything to make her his. Just when he thought they were becoming something special, she walked out of his life, crushing his heart.
Now, he’s alone, afraid he’ll never find anyone that makes him feel the way he felt for her.
Tragedy strikes and Tucker and Adriana find themselves thrown together once more. Will she continue to protect him by staying away, or will she find that her heart will take what it wants? Will Tucker shy away from her, or will he run to her and show her why they belong together? Will they hide from each other, or will they walk into the unknown with their Eyes Wide Open knowing that in order to heal, you have to first be broken?
Genre:
Romance
Contemporary Romance
Links:
Waking Up by Renee Dyer
Title: Waking Up
Series: Healing Hearts Series
Blub:
For Adriana Monroe life couldn’t get any better. She has great friends, her photography business is booming and she married Alex, her childhood best friend. Life is perfect. It’s a fairy tale really.But one night changes everything for her.
Suddenly she’s alone. She’s afraid to trust and afraid to love. Most of all she’s afraid she’s broken beyond repair. Nightmares torment and haunt her every time she closes her eyes.
Will she ever be the same?
For Tucker Stavros it looks to the outside world like things come easy for him. He’s gorgeous, rich, famous, has a hot girlfriend. Hell, he’s a movie star. If women aren’t trying to get with him then men are wishing they are him. What they don’t see is the broken child hiding behind the smiles he fakes for the cameras. They don’t see the man who wakes up drenched in sweat from his nightmares from a past he can’t escape.
Betrayal sends him running.
A chance encounter throws Tucker and Adriana together. They try to fight their attraction for each other. They feel they’re too broken for the other.
Will they continue to suffer in the hell of dreamland separately or will they find that Waking Up to real life together can be so much sweeter?
Genre:
RomanceContemporary Romance
Links:
http://reneedyerauthor.wix.com/reneedyerromancehttps://www.amazon.com/author/reneedyer
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7529668.Renee_Dyer
Mr Westacott's Christmas by Michael J. Elliott
Title: Mr Westacott's Christmas
Blub:
Bernie Westacott is facing another lonely Christmas with only his pet budgie, Mr Perkins,for company. His wife died nearly six years ago. This, however, will be a very different Christmas for Mr Westacott. Firstly there is the arrival of a Christmas card from his long dead wife, then there is the strange present under the Christmas tree that will provide the answer to Bernie's lonliness. Find out why this story has recieved a five star rating from every reader.Genre:
MysteryDrama
Links:
https://thewritersemporium.blogspot.comhttps://amazon.com/author/mjelliott
Friday, 17 July 2015
Standard #1: Use Social Media Wisely. More is Not better
As mentioned,
one of the biggest mistakes that many new authors make is to over-promote on
different social media platforms. This is not only unhelpful, it can work
against you. Social media can be a powerful promotional tool IF used correctly.
Unfortunately, too many writers (especially newly published writers) shoot
themselves in the foot using social media the wrong way. Most writers have been
guilty of this at one time or another and, to be fair, there is no clear
dividing line between promotion and spam. Furthermore, your friends/followers
will have differing levels of tolerance. All authors who I talked to agreed
that over-posting (to the point where it may be considered spam) was
ineffective and annoying. Here’s why, and what you can do to fix it:
1. 1. It just plain doesn’t work-There
are thousands of different “book pimping” groups on Facebook. And it may seem
logical to join as many as you can, but don’t. Before you join a group, scroll
through the feed. Is there productive conversation going on? Are the posts
getting attention (based on the number of likes and comments from other
members)? If so, go for it. Or, is the feed one long list of promos that no one
seems to pay attention to? If that’s the case, pass it up. It’s probably not
going to help you, and to post in such a group too often may make you look
desperate. As a general rule, don’t
self-promote on Facebook or Goodreads more than once per group (unless
requested by your street team for sharing convenience) or more than once a week
or so on your regular wall. These same rules apply to Google Plus.
On
Twitter, the game is slightly different. Tweeting your book every five minutes
is not likely to increase your sales and may cause you to lose followers.
Hashtags are ineffective unless a lot of others are using and following them as
well. Tweets tend to get lost in the massive Twitterverse. My advice: have a
single pinned post about your book that your followers can retweet, and
otherwise, use good judgment when you tweet. Paid tweeters have varying results
and are certainly worth a shot if you feel like trying them (See my comments
below about paid advertisers).
Instead
of plastering any social media platform with book promos, use them in
conjunction with your street team to cross-promote.
2. Excessive self-promotion is annoying to your friends and followers-People’s tolerance varies, but some people will block you for this. If they didn’t buy your book the first 50 times, they probably aren’t going to on the 51st. Most authors are guilty of this, but the easy fix is to use good judgment, follow the rules of the group, and tweet wisely. There is no defining point between self-promotion and spam, as mentioned earlier, you’ll have to use your judgment. If you think you’re over-posting, you probably are.
2. Excessive self-promotion is annoying to your friends and followers-People’s tolerance varies, but some people will block you for this. If they didn’t buy your book the first 50 times, they probably aren’t going to on the 51st. Most authors are guilty of this, but the easy fix is to use good judgment, follow the rules of the group, and tweet wisely. There is no defining point between self-promotion and spam, as mentioned earlier, you’ll have to use your judgment. If you think you’re over-posting, you probably are.
3. By focusing on yourself, you’re
passing up wonderful opportunities to network and cross-promote with
colleagues- By ignoring others and only focusing on yourself, you’re sending
the message that you aren’t interested in interacting with others, which will
make them think you’re unfriendly. People are more likely to recommend you and
work with you if they like you. Instead of posting about your book, post about
other authors’ books (although this can cross the line into spam territory if
done excessively as well-once again, use good judgment). Participate in group
discussions. Ask questions about things that concern you. You want to show the
world that there’s a real person behind the book. Choose groups wisely; look
for signs of drama and trolling
(name-calling, off-topic conversation, etc.) and spammish posts (ads for
anything other than books). This is a sign that the group is not being
supervised, and plus, the trolls will turn on you soon enough. Being involved
in an Internet fight will do no good for your reputation. Facebook and
Goodreads groups that actively encourage cross-promotion and free,
writing-related discussions while discouraging excessive self-promotion are a
wonderful way to meet new authors. It’s probably wise to join 2-3 groups that
make you feel welcome and comfortable and be an active participant. Leave any
group where you’ve been inactive for six months or more, where you feel
unwelcome, or doesn’t help you; You’re just receiving unwanted notifications
for no good reason.
4 4. Any time spent on social media,
for valid reasons or otherwise, is time taken away from writing-Maximize time
spent on social media to your advantage. While taking a “brain break” is good
and even beneficial, make sure you’re keeping up with your writing as well. The
single biggest factor in writer success is to continue to produce quality works
that people want to read. There’s nothing wrong with goofing off on social media.
Just keep it to a minimum if you have a book you’re working on. If you’re
interested in assistance managing your social media accounts, several authors
have recommended hootsuite.com and roundteam.com
What
DOES work:
1. Cross-promotion
and street teams.- As author Krissy Belden explained, a street team is “a group of people, sharing promotion for your book,
commenting on blog postings, and sending "teasers" and links around
on your behalf. They do the promotion work for you.” You get
to concentrate on writing while the street team does the work. Street teams can
be formal or informal, large or small. The key is to select a street team who
will work with you and to treat them right. Author Jen Winters puts it this
way: “a street team is a
group of your fans (can be large or small) that you use to promote your
work.these people should be the first to know what is going on with you, the
first people you turn to to promote your work on Twitter or Facebook. Because
they work for your benefit for free it is essential you reward them with
benefits such as contestant gift cards, advanced reader copies, and other such
benefits.” You want to have as many people as possible to shout your name to
the four winds, but you don’t want to get so overwhelmed that you forget to
thank the people who helped you or cannot properly reward them. Don’t make any
promises you can’t keep. In my opinion, it’s best to start out small with
street teams. You can always add more to your team as needed. Jen, who writes paranormal fantasy, reports
she has had success in cross-promotion because, in her words, “I promote
EVERYONE. What’s good for you is good for me.” For more information about
street teams, read this excellent blog post by Karin Tabke: http://writerunboxed.com/2008/06/11/what-exactly-is-a-street-team/
In
a nutshell, you promote someone (on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or anywhere
else) and they promote you back. It’s a win-win
However,
there are some things to be mindful of when it comes to street teams and
cross-promotion.
a. This goes against what was posted in the blog, but never
ask your street team to do anything unethical, including attacking another
author or re-shelving books in bookstores. Author Jamie Jeffries explains it
best, saying, “Guess
who the bookseller is going to send an angry letter, at the very least?
Remember that whatever your street team does in your name comes back to
you--and they are usually just enthusiastic fans who want to help you. They
don't know the inner workings of the publishing industry.” You have to remember
that anything done in your name is going to reflect back on you. If your street
team is doing something iffy while promoting you, it’s your butt that’s going
to have teeth marks, not theirs. So do not ask or encourage this type of
behavior from your street team, don’t look the other way if you know someone’s
doing something they shouldn’t, and immediately dismiss anyone who is not
acting in your best interests. On this same note, do not allow any author to
talk you into doing something out-of-bounds. They will get found out, and you
wouldn’t want your name associated with them.
b.Do not agree to promote material that you
don’t like or found personally offensive just because you feel you owe someone
or you need their help. Your lack of enthusiasm will show, so you aren’t doing
the author any favors. If someone promoted you but you don’t feel you can give
an honest endorsement of their work, you can repay them in other ways, such as
a gift card. You need to kindly but directly tell them why you can’t promote.
If they refuse to work with you again, that’s their right. There are plenty of
others to take their place.
c. Don’t get so over-involved with cross-promotion
in any form that you don’t have time for writing. Some web presence is
essential, and what you decide on will depend on your personal preferences,
your comfort level, and your time commitment, but writing should always come
first. look for signs of drama and trolling (name-calling, off-topic
conversation, etc.) and spammish posts (ads for anything other than books).
This is a sign that the group is not being supervised, and plus, the trolls will turn on you soon
enough. Being involved in an Internet fight will do no good for your
reputation. Facebook and Goodreads groups that actively encourage
cross-promotion and free, writing-related discussions while discouraging
excessive self-promotion are a wonderful way to meet new authors. It’s probably
wise to join 2-3 groups that make you feel welcome and comfortable and be
active participants. Leave any group where you’ve been inactive for six months
or more. If you haven’t needed them in that time, you probably won’t and
meanwhile, you’re just receiving unwanted notifications.
2. Book
Bloggers: Author Kim Cresswell shared this list of excellent book bloggers: http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/.
And these aren’t your only choices. Many other writers, readers, and reviewers
you meet will be glad to give you a spot on their blog. When many of these are
done at the same time (called a blog tour), this can be an extremely effective
form of promotion, especially when you reach out to bloggers with a large
following. You should open up your blog as well to other authors you’d like to
promote. Politely email the blogger at the email address provided. Address the
blogger by name (“Dear Mary” instead of “Hi!”), politely request a review, and
ask which format he/she would prefer the book. Allow the blogger plenty of time
(around 3-4 months if you need it by a certain date). Some bloggers have
certain submission rules, so make sure to follow them. Don’t assume that the
blogger will accept your request. If he/she declines, politely thank him/her
and move on. If the review is accepted, you will generally be expected to
provide a copy of the book. My advice is to be wary of bloggers who ask for
money to guest-blog you. They may give you the promotion without reading, and
while this may seem like an easy way out, in the long run you really want
people who are going to promote you from the heart. Plus, any form of paid
endorsement, not just on Amazon, is technically against FCC regulations. Best
to keep everything above-board. http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/.
ALWAYS thank a blogger after he/she promotes you, or if you can, promote them
back.
3. Radio
interviews, Youtube channels, and podcasts-Many authors I’ve talked to reported
an increase in sales after an on-air interview. Author Kelly Marsden recommends
ArtistFirst Radio (http://artistfirst.com/)
and has reported an increase in sales after an interview. She points out that
many readers who don’t frequent social media will listen to these interviews.
You can always start your own YouTube channel or podcast for you and your
street team to use. Just remember that it may take a while to get a solid
following. Audio broadcasts are an excellent avenue for cross-promotion as
well.
4. Paid advertising-there is mixed
consensus on this. Some say don’t waste your money, and others swear by certain
paid promo groups. Author Jessa Jacobs has given her personal endorsement for
Give Me Books (https://www.facebook.com/givemebooksblog).
They are certainly worth a try, but my advice is to start out small, and test
one paid reviewer at a time with no other promo to see if it works. The only
way to determine if a paid promo will work for you is to try it. It’s better to
get personal recommendations from other writers you trust. A few caveats: (1)
paid reviewers may give you a spike in sales, but your long-term goal is to
have a fan base. Don’t rely on them too heavily (2) different advertisers have
different guidelines and submission requirements. Read these before signing up
(3) You will have to sign up well in advance of your desired promotion date (4)
paid advertisers are not allowed to leave you a review.
5. Word-of-mouth and personal
recommendations-This is the hands-down best way to win new readers. People who
like your book will hopefully recommend you to their family and friends. Street
teams function as advocates for your book, but nothing beats a personal
recommendation. It just has to be genuine; otherwise, as mentioned earlier, the
lack of enthusiasm will be obvious.
The main point is that “book spamming,” is a waste of time
and can ultimately backfire. However, I asked some other authors if there are
occasions when a little extra self-promotion (within reason) is acceptable. The
vast majority agreed that it’s OK to post a little extra (key word: “a little)
when: (a) you are running a free/discount special of your book (b) the period
pre- and post-launch. (c) occasionally, to renew interest in an old title (d) if
there is a purpose to your post other than a sales pitch (for example, to
announce an especially cool review or to respond to a genre-specific topic of
conversation).
Additionally, in conversation with the groups, authors have
told me that that following are NEVER acceptable:
1.
Using
another person’s group or page to self-promote unless given permission to do so.
2.
Tagging
another person for the purpose of self-promotion without permission.
3.
Private
messaging a person more than once to make a sales pitch.
4.
Bugging
a person who’s agreed to do a review to check their “progress.”
5.
Becoming
rude or belligerent when a person declines your offer or can’t meet your request when you want.
6.
Hijacking
a discussion topic to promote.
7.
Crashing
another person’s promotional event.
8.
Doing
anything that’s generally agreed to be unethical, immoral, or illegal (or encouraging others to do so)
So, what if you’ve already broken a rule? Are you doomed?
No, of course not. We’ve all done at least some of these
things at one time or another. No need to beat yourself up. Just learn from
your mistakes and move on. Hey, we understand, and we forgive you. I myself
have violated every single rule on this manual a time or two (or
three…thousand) and probably some others I don’t even know about. We understand
that you only want to get the word out about your book. We’re just here to let
you know there’s a better way, one that will result in more sales for you and
better relations with your fans and colleagues.
How can you handle an errant author?
If you see someone else violating industry standards, there
are some steps you can take.
1. First,
reserve judgment. People aren’t trying to be annoying. They really don’t know
else to do. Remember, you were a first-timer once, too, so try to have some
compassion.
2. Deal
with the situation before it gets out of hand. It’s natural to want to avoid
confrontation, but silent approval of inappropriate behavior benefits no one.
It’s better to deal with the issue than to allow an author to continue behavior
that might damage their careers or cause them to lose readers.
3. First,
talk to the author directly, gently, and PRIVATELY. If possible, give the
author a chance to save face. For example, you can say (via PM), “You probably
accidentally posted to the wrong group, but just a reminder that posts are
limited to once a month.” It’s not necessary to reprimand the author, but at
the same time, don’t dance around the issue and hope the author “gets” it.
4.Try
using humor to alleviate the situation. (“Could you limit posting to once a
month, please? I’m starting to get “Ice, Ice, Baby” stuck in my head”).
Smiley-face emoticons and a “LOL” sprinkled in may let the author know you
aren’t trying to be confrontational.
5. If this
is a group issue, designate one person to speak with the author. That way, he/she
can correct the problem without feeling like the group is ganging up on them.
Use a “group intervention” only if this technique fails.
6. Reiterate
that the author is still welcome to participate in regular group discussions.
7. Suggest
an alternative when possible (“we are doing a blog tour in a month, and we’ll
be glad to put you on the list.”)
8.If the author fails to respond, you’ll have to be firmer (“Posts are limited to once a month, please.”)
8.If the author fails to respond, you’ll have to be firmer (“Posts are limited to once a month, please.”)
9.Your
third-and final-warning should be hard-core (“Constant posting interrupts the
flow of discussion. The rules of this group say that members are limited to one
post a month, and unfortunately, I have no choice but to remove non-compliant
members.”)
10. Use drastic measures-banning, unfriending, etc.-as a
last resort when an author refuses to respond to lesser methods.
For the sake of
time and simplicity, this chapter discusses professional behavior on Facebook,
Goodreads, Google Plus, and Twitter. There are many social media platforms
available. For advice on etiquette within other social media platforms
(Pinterest, LinkedIn, and others), ask an admin or another author you trust.
For more
information, Jamie Jeffries has recommended The
Coffee Break Guide to Social Media for Writers: How to Succeed on Social Media
and Still have Time to Write by Amy Denim. http://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Break-Guide-Social-Writers-ebook/dp/B00GPJOB78
Oh, and don’t worry
about anything: be patient and give your book time to catch on. You’ll be fine.
Just keep writing.
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