Marketing and Promotion

As a child I knew I wanted to be an author. I would daydream about writing my novels on a typewriter out of the back of a van that was parked beside the banks of a rushing river. In those long evenings I didn't have to worry about how people would learn about the books I wrote. There weren't hours spent setting up tours and what not. I was just an author.

That was a great dream and while I still have hope that I'll end up writing next to a river, I've learned that dreams are often different from reality. The publishing world is evolving and now an author also has to double as their own publicist. So I've gotten together a few marketing tips I've picked up.

Social Media

With Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and an assortment of never ending social networks for you to explore you're sure to find a spot somewhere. Of course there is a right way and a wrong way. Instead of just posting endlessly about why readers should buy your books it's better to interact with your followers and fans. Post interesting articles that are relevant to your genre. Find groups of readers and talk about other books your enjoy. It's slow going but in time you'll build up a following of your own.

Free Listings

I don't mean your book is going to be free so list it with as many "free book listings" as possible. That's nice, but there are places you can list your book for free. Places like Goodreads, BookLikes and Library Thing are perfect for categorizing your books and getting them out there for readers to find. There are also places that are genre specific that put books in front of targeted readers. For romance authors sites like WantonReads and Pretty-Hot will post a bit of information about your novel and you as the author.

Local Interest

If you're only published in an eBook format, like myself, you may think that networking in the offline world is pointless. It is hard. You don't have a hard copy of your novel and people don't pay as much attention, but it is doable. Have some bookmarks printed out and keep them handy in case you run across someone interested in your novels. You can also look into local book clubs. If they're reading a book your interested in reading then jump on board and interact. Don't push your novel, but if anyone asks offer a bookmark.

These are just a few things I've learned about marketing and promotion. There are tons of other things that can be done to get a novel out there, but it all takes time and there is no magic wand. I'm still learning and the publishing world is still evolving. If anyone has any tips or interesting marketing methods feel free to share ideas in the comments.

Peace and Love

My Sexy Saturday: Are You Sexy?

Time for another #MySexySaturday post. As you know these posts are 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs snippets from stories and this weeks theme is Are You Sexy? I've chosen a bit from my first published novel, Witch Hunt. In this snippet you see Aidan's reaction the first time he sees Rei.

Once you've read this little snippet make sure to hop on over to some of the other great blogs for more snippets.

Witch hunt Snippet:

When he saw her standing down there with her pale skin glowing in the firelight, he had decided to settle in and watch for a while before interrupting. She was a rare creature of beauty standing boldly in nothing but the gifts nature had given her. She looked like a golden goddess praying to the stars. Staring down from a low-lying ridge, Aidan, in his shape as a large gray wolf, watched her stretch up from her toes all the way to her fingertips. He lay on his stomach, front paws folded under his muzzle. Her short dark hair drifted lazily in the cool breeze. The firelight caught teasing hints of scarlet highlights in her hair, creating a glowing halo around her face. He was just starting to admire her full, perky breasts and lovely flat stomach when a surge of energy shot through his body like a shock.

 

 Buy Links

Amazon

Nook Store

All Romance Ebooks

That's all for this week my wonderful readers. Peace and Love!

Review: Trancing The Tiger by Rachael Slate

This is the first book I'm reviewing for the 2015 EBook Reading Challenge.

Trancing The Tiger (a Chinese Zodiac Romance) by Rachael Slate

Delve into a world steeped in tradition and superstition…
After her parents become infected with the Red Death, Lucy Yeoh flees to Malaysia seeking answers. Everything in this closed-off section of the world is paradise—from the lush tropical climate to her sexy new neighbor, Sheng…who just might be delusional. He claims the Plague God unleashed the Red Death and only a circle of Chinese Zodiac spirit animals can cleanse the Earth. Even more, he insists she’s one of them: the Rabbit. Long furry ears and fluffy bunny tail included.

He’ll show her how to fight to save the world…
As the Chosen of the Tiger, the burden of restoring balance to the world has fallen onto Li Sheng’s shoulders. When he discovers that the ally he’s long awaited, the Dragon, is actually just the Rabbit, Sheng is quick to dismiss Lucy. If only she’d stay dismissed. Lucy’s Rabbit refuses to cooperate, undermining the authority of his Tiger at every turn…and seducing him to the limits of his darkest desires. He’s not supposed to want her. Not when he needs the spirit circle complete and she’s their weakest link.

She’ll show him a love worth fighting the world to save…
Sheng’s enemies draw closer, and not everyone wants Lucy alive. Together, they’ll have to navigate a treacherous world where a line between duty and their hearts has been drawn between them. They must either sacrifice one, or find a way to surrender to both.


The Review

When I found Trancing The Tiger on Amazon I was a little more than just interested in reading it. I love paranormal romance, but I love an outside the box idea even more. This book gave me some great romance with a great cultural addition that I don't find in mainstream paranormal romance often.

The characters were well developed and thought out it did take, but it did take me a while to step into their shoes and connect. The plus side was that the twists and turns the story offered kept me on my toes and gave me a feeling of a developing connection as the story went along. For me this makes me want to read the next novels in the set, which is a great feeling to be left with.

These characters are not shapeshifters. Instead a Zodiac animal spirit co-existences with the character. In Lucy's case the Rabbit lives within her, becoming part of her personality. There are some physical characteristics that change when the character embraces their spirit animal.

The romance of the story was captivating. I found myself cheering Sheng on as he fought with his own feelings of disappointment and connection to Lucy. I also loved that Lucy chaffed against the dominate/submissive connection that the Tiger would have with the Rabbit and the other spirit animals. Lucy is a very independent woman who knows how to survive and has a clear view of right and wrong.

I'm looking forward to reading more of the stories by Rachael Slate and will be keeping an eye out for the next book in the set.

Peace and Love!

Full Moon New Releases (April 2015)

It's time to spring into a few new books! Grab your iced coffee or a glass of wine and sit down to one of these new releases!

The Story of Son by J.R. Ward

 First released in the anthology Dead After Dark, dive into this hot novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward. Available for the first time ever as a standalone ebook, get lost in the sinful pleasures of a vampire so obsessed with one woman, he will relinquish her blood, if only he can have her heart...

Held captive by a dark, seductive vampire with an unworldly hunger, the beautiful Claire Stroughton fears her life as a lawyer has irrevocably taken a turn for the worse. But when this deeply sensual-and highly dangerous-vampire convinces Claire that his desire for her is stronger than his lust for blood, she is compelled to give everything up to him, body and soul...

Coming April 14th from St. Martin's Paperbacks.

Ghost Seer by Robin D. Owens

There’s just something about Clare. Apart from the ghosts…

When her eccentric aunt passes away, no-nonsense accountant Clare Cermac inherits more than just a small fortune. She receives the gift of communicating with ghosts. While Clare may not believe in spirits, it’s hard to overlook the shadowy talking dog appearing on her bed or spectral cowboys tipping their hats to her in the streets of Denver. And when she locks eyes with sexy—and living—Zach Slade, there’s certainly no ignoring him either.

A former deputy sheriff, Zach is leaving a painful past behind in Montana for a new life in Denver as a private investigator, a job that has him crossing paths with beautiful Clare. Not that she minds. After the restless ghost of a Wild West gunman demands her assistance, Clare finds herself needing Zach more and more—and not just for help.

 Released April 1st by Penguin Publishing Group

Shadows of Fate by Angela Dennis

Redemption lies beyond the veil between truth and lies.

Shadow Born, Book 1

After witnessing her husband’s brutal murder, Brenna Baudouin lost control of her Shadow Bearer powers and wreaked havoc on her home world. Her penance: one hundred years policing hordes of supernatural misfits that spilled onto the Earthly plane after a cataclysmic war.

She’s on a routine exorcism run when she learns she’s been assigned a new partner. But there’s something about this Shadow Bearer that sparks her suspicions. Particularly when people closest to her start turning up as piles of ash.

Gray Warlow holds tight to the glamour that allows him to get close to the woman on whom he plans to wreak vengeance for betraying his people. Yet as he skillfully manipulates his way past her distrust, he begins to see her not as the heartless monster he was led to believe, but a strong, vulnerable woman.

As they work to put together the pieces of a killer’s macabre puzzle, an attraction deeper than blood and bone flares between them. And they must reveal their deepest secrets to avoid becoming the final targets.

Warning: A thrill ride of supernatural proportions. Contains violent battle scenes, nail-biting suspense, crazy hot sexual tension, and enough twists and turns to make your head spin.

Coming April 8th from Samhain Publishing, Ltd.