FRIDAY FLICKS: Eagle Mountain Writing Workshop

The Eagle Mountain Writing Workshop is coming up tomorrow! That's September 9, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Learn more here!

Idea Creations Press will be teaching a class entitled: 5 Key Qualities of a Terrific Book Trailer.

YA Mystery

My newest book! Come and see me!

Over Easy?

Just finished the first draft of Over Easy, book 4 in the Susan Cramer Mystery series!

What that means for you?

It's time for you to pick up books 1, 2 and 3!

Book 4 will be out in the Spring of 2017, and there's not a moment to lose!

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FRIDAY FLICKS: Tails of Sweetbrier by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

Today I have two Flicks to show you from the same author:

Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

ENJOY!!

Get the eBook at Amazon

Book Marketing is Making a Shift

Used to be, getting blog reviewers for your book was easy; about as easy as writing a letter to your grandmother and getting a response. But things have changed.

Just since last year, I have noticed many bloggers who also review books shifting gears a bit. Many are now doing author interviews and showing off new releases. There just isn't the time to read an entire book and place a review on Amazon.

What's easy is getting the author to send you all of the material for a terrific question and answer interview. All that's needed then is a bit of copying and pasting of the material.



And the promotion is done.

I am all for promotion, however it looks, but I am finding in more and more difficult to get the reviews that still are the number one (online) way to sell books. What this means to me is that I have to work all that much harder at getting the reviews, and still manage to get the author interviews and other free promotion I need done, and this takes extra time.

The good news is that if a reviewer likes one of my books they may be interested in reviewing another, but if this is your first book, times are hard, and getting those reviews in may cause you to wish things were back to the 'old' days.

Having said that, I think it's important to take a look at all the new great things that people are doing to sell their books. Just last week I was a part of another author's first book release. She took most of the time on Facebook doing contests and talking about her book for her day book party; I was given an hour of her day to promote mine.

It's an interesting idea, one that I may try again. We didn't get loads of responses, but I figure this was partially due to the fact that she was a new author, and I was the only other author a part of the day. Perhaps more authors scheduled would help, especially those with a name for themselves in their particular genre?

I have seen #hashtags take a leap in interest along with doing your own book trailer. Another thing I am enjoying is connecting with readers and authors on Facebook and LinkedIn, who want to swap reviews, or have a group that allows you to post the book you need reviews for.

Still, what I am seeing the most of are author and character interviews, and I can tell you quite honestly that usually these (on my site) get the most views out of everything I post. So that should tell you something.

If you have great way of finding reviewers, please let me know. One of the best things I have learned is that working with other authors brings results, even if it's primarily readers who haven't 'yet' bought your book.

Kathryn

FRIDAY FLICKS: PD Workman

Our first Friday Flick!

Please send yours along either by responding to this post or shooting me an email at: kathy@ariverofstones.com.

And PLEASE keep in mind that this is a family friendly site. I will only post family friendly book trailers. Thanks!

http://pdworkman.com/my-books-2/stand-alone/

Friday Flicks: Send Me Your Book Trailer

This idea came to me just this morning. Wouldn't it be great for authors to be able to share their book trailers on a given day? No reviews, no interviews, just a short little movie to inspire other writers and readers?

Let's try it.

I'll start with one of mine today. You may have already seen it, you may not, but I'd LOVE to get some comments on it! Also please send my flick on to your social media friends if you LIKE it! I will do the same for you when your time comes beginning a week form today. That's the 22nd of August.

Drop me an email or respond to this post with your email and I'll get right back to you!

Keep in mind that this is a family friendly spot so make sure you send only those trailers that your children would be able to watch! And thank you in advance.

AUDIO IS NOW RELEASED!

Market Your Book With Flair: 5 Ways to be Remembered

Almost anyone can market their book, if they are willing to get out there and talk about it.

But what about marketing with style? With flair?

Marketing so that others remember you is not always easy. There is so much competition, so much vying for attention, that it seems almost impossible for an author to get noticed; especially a newly established one.

So what should you do?

Do an unusual book signing. I have almost sworn off bookstores. Not that they aren't nice in the sense that folks are coming in to buy a book and there you are signing yours, it's just that most bookstore signings are boring.

To spruce things up I have a book signing party at my home. For my upcoming book, Sunny Side-Up, I will be having a luau at my home complete with music, dancers, food, and books. For Scrambled, I had a scrambled egg breakfast signing.

Use Animoto for your book trailers. What intrigues you the most when you hit upon a new website and/or Facebook posting? Is it the text or the video that most draws you? Even with readers, your site will get more hits and more lasting interest if you provide a video on your front page and write an occasional post with a book trailer.

To make the most of your book trailers, have a website/blog that is updated at least 3 times a week. Even more is better. Make sure your blog is professional in appearance and reflects you and your books. Make sure it is easy to use. Get out of your own head and post topics of interest to others instead of just marketing your book every day.

Get the reviews you need, the interviews that are offered on other sites; in a nutshell, work your online marketing like there's no tomorrow. Every day, along with your writing, do some marketing. Balance these two pursuits. And keep them balanced and moving forward no matter the roadblocks.

Think of creative ways to do an interview. I've started one on my site where I interview the main character of a book. I have been dabbling with interviewing the antagonist. IF YOU'RE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE, EMAIL ME AND I'LL SEND YOU A LIST OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY YOUR BOOK'S ANTAGONIST.

Finally, get out there and market! Sitting behind your desk only produces so much connection. Get out there and market your book whenever you can. Make it easy on yourself by keeping a few copies of your book in your car. Make sure you have postcards made up with your book cover on it. And be prepared to answer questions about your book because you will be asked.

Being remembered is a little like meeting someone for the first time and recalling who they are because of something intriguing they said or did.

An author remembered is just like that.

Marketing Cover!

Good news!

We're nearing the publishing of Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2014.

There have been some last minute needed changes, and a bit of tweaking to the cover, but all in all the changes have been a success.

I should have everything edited by this weekend, so expect to see a new book on my site as well as on Amazon within the next couple of weeks!

Here's the book cover:

I would LOVE to know what you think of the new cover!

Kathryn

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013 Needs Reviewers

Do you want to get your hands on an electronic copy of Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013?

 

FOR FREE?

Release date: March 21, 2013

Well, I'm in need of some book reviewers!

Here's what you need to do if you're interested:

• Write me back here, telling me of your interest. I will get a pdf out to you within the day. (The book is a short read: under 50 pages).
• I'm not looking for experienced reviewers, but I am looking for writers who need help with marketing their book(s). You can be a new or established writer, but you have to also be in the market for learning more about getting the word out about your book.
• I need reviewers who are willing and able to post their reviews on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com. Goodreads is nice as well. If you have a blog, and can post it there, that's even better.

If this is you, please let me know.

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013 will be released on March 21. Without getting ahead of myself, there will be some fine deals during that time too, but keep in mind that if you decide to review my book, you'll get a nice head start!

One more thing!

You're not comfortable doing a review? Here's what I'll do. If you take a picture of yourself reading one of my books--and that means any of my books--and send me a photo of yourself reading one of my books,  I'll send you a free advanced copy! But March 20th is the deadline. Send your photo to: kathy@ariverofstones.com and I'll send out your pdf copy! That's all. Just be prepared for your photo to show up somewhere soon on my website!

I'm getting excited to share even more inexpensive marketing tools! If you read my book last year, Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2012, you found some great ideas. Be prepared for an update, including more links!

I'm excited to hear from you!

Kathryn

Marketing Your Book on a Budget

Today's post will be short but I wanted to let you in on a new booklet I'm working on that should be out in the next couple of months.

UPDATE: Release date March 21! Paperback $5.98, eBook $1.99.


If you've read "Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2012" then you should have a heads up on what is currently happening with book marketing. If you haven't, consider getting the 2013 edition; if you have, know that the 2013 edition will be giving you even more.

If you've wondered about reviews, book signings, interviews (both radio and blog) book trailers that won't cost you a dime to produce, social media, contests, free advertising and more, you'll want to check back.

The first time around, "Marketing Your Book on a Budget" was produced in Kindle form only for .99 cents. I have since discovered that there are many readers who also prefer the paper version, so expect to see this addition in the next few months.

Once you've purchased one copy of the book through Amazon, (and you let me know per instructions at the end of the book) you'll be on the list and I'll send you updates every year without you having to purchase another book!

So keep in touch!

Happy writing!

Kathryn