Thursday, February 10, 2011

Promotion!



Yeah, run away. Go ahead! But someday…you’ll have to face this monster and figure out how you’re going to master it. Even if you are seen as the messiah of some massive New York publisher, you’re gonna have to speak for yourself at some point!

Bwah ha ha!

Think about it. Think about how you’re going to connect to your readers, find them, attract them, flirt with them and seduce them. Sure, your book will hopefully do the bulk of the work, and if you’re extraordinarily lucky, your Madison Avenue contract will give you some help with all of this. But probably not.

So, consider carefully…do you know who will be interested in hearing about you and your brilliant work? Have you considered the demographics of your reader? How old are they? What do they like to do? Where do they hang out? Why will they want to read your book?

Hee, hee. Sweating yet?

My local RWA had a woman who specialized in marketing for women business owners at our Saturday meeting. (Casey is working on packages specific to authors at the moment, when you’re ready for some professional help, I have her business card.) She talked about the different aspects of social media and how to use them to talk to you reader. Got a lot of people in my local really thinking about their audience. And freaking out. (And me seriously considering how to fit her into my budget!)

Are your readers Twitter people? Are they Facebook aficionados? Blog lurkers? Bloggers themselves? Do they read book reviews? Magazines? Listen to podcasts? Attend pirate festivals? Like to sew? Costume?

I’m also taking a class on podcasting but doing terrible at it. I’m just not tech savvy enough to understand the software and how to use it so I’m pretty much lurking. I need someone to SHOW me. But I’m getting a lot out of the research into what a podcast is and how it’s used and… WHO I want to reach. (Didn’t help that I was at Mom’s the first week and the class started on my release day. And my husband, who is my tech support, was uncomfortable with all the free ware stuff and what it would do to my computer. Sigh.)



All in all, authors do need to know this stuff. It can make a difference between a publisher looking at you seriously and moving onto the next one. Unless you are the next messiah. Then it really won’t matter and you’ll be one of the lucky few who actually has a marketing budget. From your publisher. YOU should have a marketing budget regardless.

You’ll probably need to have a website in place. Have an online identity that people recognize. And have some idea where your readers hang out. What they want and how they will find you.

I made a list: My audience is babyboomers. Females. Possibly self-employed or near retirement, mid level income, artistic/crafts oriented. Self-sufficient. Some college, perhaps a lot of college. Coasties, east and west, maybe larger city dwellers in the heartland. Health, physically active and passionately interested in sex. They don’t believe in growing too old for anything. Are open-minded, see the world as a safe place…

My list goes on and on…

So, here is what I want you to consider today… And I know it’s Friday, so don’t sweat this too hard. Think about it as fun!

 

When you meet your reader…what will they look like? Where will they live? What do they believe in spiritually? Where do they hang out? How do they hear about your books? How do they contact you? How do you touch them? (Get yer mind outta the gutter!)

 

Readers? How do you want to be touched? (Yeah, you, too. Outta that gutter!) Where do you find your authors? Where do you hang out? You want to e-mail the authors you like, write them via publishers, meet them at cons? Enter their contests? Chat with them on Facebook? Follow them on Twitter?

 

Come on, help out us budding authors!

75 comments:

Hellion said...

My readers will look...open-minded. *LOL* They will live wherever the hell they want, but probably not in the Bible Belt. (Or not as many of my reader will live there.) Spiritually I hope they are like me: people of faith, yet open to the idea that I used Adam and Eve as "characters" in a book. Or Lucifer. (Some of the Bible Belt people aren't as forgiving about that.) They hear about me because my fabulous crew will word-of-mouth me all over the place, because they'll think my book is the awesomeoust, of course. I want to touch my readers mostly in their funny bone, but also I want them to go, "Yeah, I get where this character is coming from."

As a reader, I want to be touched in my funny bone mostly, but I also need a satisfying ending. And hot sex. I find my authors by friends or luck. I hang out in this awesome little bookstore called Village Books, who recommend great books. I also hang out on blogs, clearly. I do email authors I like, esp if I read a book that really spoke to me, to thank them profusely. (I refrain from emailing authors if I didn't enjoy their book--they don't need to know.) I've met Eloisa at a conference. And I enter her contests. *LOL* And I stalk my other authors on Facebook. :) I don't use Twitter. Facebook is live enough for me.

2nd Chance said...

Well, thank you, Cap'n. I imagine we'll have some readers in common!

I find Twitter hard to manage, and Facebook is really more my speed and, I think, my reader's speed.

Sooooo...how old are your readers? Do you think about doing a blog tour? Any ideas which blogs you'd ask to host you? Or will you tempt them all to the Revenge with awesome prizes and bling?

What will your website look like?

I do like how you plan on drafting all of us as your mineons... Of course, you've already worked your voodoo on me since I did pre-pitch you to people at RT... What have you been doing in those late nights?

(casting a crooked eye at ye...)

Hellion said...

I don't know how old my readers are. There are all kinds of readers. *LOL* However, since my heroines tend to be in their 20s and 30s, the readers would be within that range, give or take a decade.

Yes, I imagine I'd do a blog tour, assuming that I'm published when blogs are still even remotely relevant. Ha, no idea on what blogs I'd ask--that's a good one. And yes, I'd host one at the Revenge and try to bribe readers with books.

My website will be pink. Or maybe red. (I'm more a fan of the color blue in real life, but my writer self really likes red. Like a bordello. *LOL* But that's getting ahead of myself again--and shouldn't I write the book first? Or BOOKS?)

I really don't care to share my religious experiences, 2nd. *LOL* Being it's working so well now and I don't want you jinxing it. But nice try.

Marnee said...

Wow. Hmmmm.... My readers.

I'd imagine my readers are like me. I've always read the kind of book I'm writing, so the age probably starts somewhere in the adolescent range (when I started reading) and ends somewhere near when the eyesight gives out in hospice somewhere (as that's when I guess I'll stop reading).

What kind of reader.... I'd say high school graduates, some college or lots of college. Mostly women, though the occasional man (our Q proves that). But mostly women. Working women and stay at home women. Women with kids or not. I'd imagine anyone in the US except for devout Christians who may oppose the explicit sex scenes and/or out of wedlock sex.

My audience is pretty wide, pretty much all of the romance readership can get on board with what I'm writing, if they like the historical genre and they like a little bit of suspense.

How will I promote? Geez, I have no idea. I'll probably try to do blog tours and run contests. Do a newsletter. I will probably check out how some of my friends who are debuting have done it. Try to do some signings at conferences. Go to conferences. Maybe go to NYC for the Lady Jane's Salon. Try to meet as many as I can on line and off.

Facebook and Twitter are musts I think right now. Though I'm with Chance; Twitter seems a lot of high maintenance for me right now. But, when I'm lucky enough to get a contract, I'll take it on.

Donna said...

This is really great info, Chance. I'll have to give some more detailed thought to those questions.

I have actually gained a few potential readers from Twitter -- they like my sense of humor and go to my website, read my excerpts, and then let me know how much they liked it and can't wait to see the rest of it. :) While they're at my site, they read the blog, and get a sense of my writing style, so that works for me too.

I've already sketched out some ideas for my official website once I'm on the verge of my books coming out -- it will combine the historical and contemporary very nicely.

I'll be interested in what you have to say about podcasts. I'm not sure I'm ready to try that, but I try to stay openminded, cuz you just never know! LOL

Marnee said...

Oh, a website. I guess I'll have a website. There are a couple of website designers who do wonderful work. I'd imagine I'll grovel at their feet, beg them to design mine.

I have no idea what color. I'm not visual. At all. People should be happy my clothes match... usually.

2nd Chance said...

I know it seems like putting the cart before the horse. As writers we are told write whay you love, don't write to trends. But the realities of the modern world tell us we also have to wear two hats. And one of them involves marketing and promotion even before we sell or even finish a whole lot.

So an awareness of how to reach out audience/reader is just part of the package of what we're expected to do. I mean, I wouldn't sweat it right now, but to consider the someday is a good thing!

Religious experience, eh!? Well, I don't know about the rest of you pirates, but I'm making sure none of my toenail clippings or a stray hair ends up in the captain's cabin!

And why is there a square hole in me favorite bar shirt?

2nd Chance said...

Marn, that is the dream audience! No way to narrow that down to who might start out reading your books? Like...are they retired? Self-employed? Those who just wish they were retired and self-employed? If you close your eyes and picture that first reader in the bookstore, standing in front of the shelves and scanning titles...why do they pick your book?

The scared of life question might apply here...Do they find real life full of threat and danger and so need the escape? Do they find real life very friendly and respectful of who they are and they just like the imaginative escape of books...

Hey, I was asked these questions and it's illuminating when you start figuring it all out!

I don't follow a lot of people of twitter but I know what I do see makes me wonder about how it promotes books. I mean...you saw a pair of ugly boots? Oka-a-a-a-a-a-ay... Don't get me wrong, it seems a great place to meet and greet and just play, but promote books?

Maybe about ugly boots...?

(I'm serious, there was this whole, long, all day thread about ugly boots once...between writers, editors and all...)

2nd Chance said...

Donna - Okay, maybe my problem with twitter is that I don't know how to use my wit there... I'll think about it.

Well, Emily Bryan was able to use the whole witty historical thing and it worked. But you write two totally different genres...so you know you need to do twice the work on figuring out your demographic! And decide if the two should meet on your webpage or should you have two websites?

I met a lady at RT one year. She wrote her regular none steamy contemps, very non-controversial. And she wrote some really hot stuff. Two names, two websites. She did not want her two readerships to meet or be aware of each other!

I could see a story there...the webdesigners get the two updates for the site mixed up and she is unmasked!

2nd Chance said...

Marn - I imagine the clothes match thing is about two little boys wanting mommy to hurry... With luck you'll be able to do the website without that worry! ;-)

Donna said...

I'm not trying to persuade anybody to like Twitter. LOL

To me, it's a gathering place, much like it is here, where you talk about all kinds of crazy things, and you get to know other people. If I like somebody and get to know them, I'm more likely to buy their book.

It's just one method that I think will work for ME. And it's fun, and I enjoy all the new folks I've encountered.

2nd Chance said...

I love that it works for you and I wish I could pick your brain and figure out how to make it work for me!

I don't know, is it I don't devote enough time to it? Or to figuring it out? Or maybe my brain just isn't wired for it... I'll keep dipping my toe in and one of these days who knows!

It's one of those massive things that just seems so huge it makes me want to run away.

Donna said...

Where did everybody go? LOL

Chance, that's how I feel about Facebook -- it's too huge. I hope they quit tinkering with it one of these days. LOL When they do, I'll try to jump in, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. I'll do it because I need to, not because I want to. :)

I'm going to do a post on Twitter soon. But basically, to me it's a big giant chat room. I don't try to keep up with everything.

Like you said, do what works best for you, and for the audience you're after. We all have different books, different styles, so it makes sense we'll have different social media needs. :)

2nd Chance said...

Capcha ate my reply.

*glare

What I said, summed up... I do wish FB would stop making changes! And I wish Twitter wouldn't scare me by saying they are changing! I'm never gonna learn this stuff!

I think the crew is at the Friday Mardi Gras parade in downtown Tortuga. You know, the one that happends every Friday, featuring the naked hottie float...

Donna?

Donna?

Bosun said...

Sorry, kiddo woke up with an upset stomach so I gave her a couple extra hours. The big semi-formal dance is tonight and if she didn't go to school, she couldn't attend the dance. Needless to say, that was plenty of motivation to get well. So I just got to work.

Chance brought this up in emails and I shut down. LOL! It's not that I don't want to think about it, it's that answers aren't coming easily. You see, what I write is very mainstream, which can be good, but can be bad.

Means my competition is the big names. Means I don't have a niche or hook to hang my anchor on. Means I have to find something to make me stand out from the rest when the bottom line of my writing is ordinary people dealing with life. Not saying it can't be done, just saying I can't think of how to do it while I'm still trying to make the one MS I have better.

In other words, I don't wanna. :)

2nd Chance said...

Well, Bo'sun, I still maintain that your audience will already be there and waiting! You just have to slide in behind the established writers and follow their leads...

I'm not trying to force everyone to really deep think this...play with it!

Does your reader wear a hat? Mac or PC?

*snort

Look! There she goes, heading for the parade. Hope she has enough beads!

Bosun said...

Thank goodness I got in before the parade cut off the route to the peer. :)

I do believe my readers will be found on FB if I find them online at all. And they'll probably go to review sites, which doesn't bode well as I'm not a fan of reading reviews. LOL! I am hoping word of mouth will help me out, that's the most powerful promo tool.

A little buzz that spreads the word would be the perfect situation. Now I should probably read the comments.

2nd Chance said...

Oh, sorry about kiddo! I remember you saying this has been a few days thing...wonder if she caught something...

Don't forget to take pictures of her in the new dress!

2nd Chance said...

Kay, crew! I'm off for a physical therapy appointment! Be back in an hour...hopefully not much more!

Now, don't be scared!

Donna said...

LOL -- good one, Chance. Parade. Physical therapy appointment? Okay, I guess I've got an appointment too. *wink, wink*

Donna said...

Terri, hope the kiddo is feeling better. So many things going around right now. (Don't you get it now!) So are you looking forward to the dance as much as she is? :)

Marnee said...

I think I'm like Bo'sun. The stuff I write fits into the already established Historical Romance genre. The only thing a little different--that I could guess might make me stand out--is that my stuff has a little more suspense than the "traditional" historicals. And it might be just a little more sensual than some traditionals. But apparently that's a hot market right now. Hot means a big audience, I hope.

Bosun said...

Donna - I felt like crap when I woke up this morning too. I was worried we'd both gotten some stomach bug, which would not be fun. But crawling back into bed for a couple hours helped us both. I'm looking forward to the dance because I'll spend that 2hr across from the school at the library trying to learn all I can about boating. Should be interesting!

Bosun said...

Marn - Sounds you have exactly what's hot right now. Write faster! LOL! Kidding, I don't think that's going to change anytime soon.

I'm a Facebook person. I can get on Twitter for short spurts, but it's rare. Just not my thing. I agree with Donna and Chance, which site works for you is really about your hardwiring.

I am working on creating a beginner website. I figure if I'm going to start sending queries in March, I'd like to have a site to send potential agents to see, proof I'm serious about the business side of things. It's very basic but I've learned quite a bit already (thanks to Donna!!). I figure you have to start somewhere.

Bosun said...

One amendment to the last comment, I never considered the website thing until now. I agree with Hellie, everything in its time.

Donna said...

I think I missed some comments up there earlier.

Marn, I would love to go to those Lady Jane Salon things. It sounds so fun, especially the venue they have them in.

Chance, my historicals and contemps are witty and hot, so I plan to have them under the same name, and I wasn't sure until recently how to make the website work for both of them. But I had an idea pop into my head the other day that I like, so I'll go with that when it's time.

Terri, I was glad to help. And when you start querying is a great time to have a blog/site. Agents and editors DO check them out. :)

Donna said...

Terri, I thought you might be nervous about your child having a big dance. :) Someone on Twitter went through it last week, but looks like they both survived. LOL Hope you have fun with your research.

I've got to get back to working on some pitches. I'm almost there. . .boy, talk about hard on the brain tho.

Bosun said...

Oh, sorry, this is the third dance of the year and these don't seem to be a big deal. I mean, she's uber excited, as always, but she doesn't go with a date and from what I understand, they never play slow songs so that's not an issue. It's just a big party with lots of supervision. :)

I'll have more to stress about in years to come, I'm sure.

Quantum said...

If I was marketing a novel, the first thing I would do is chat up Janga and persuade her that its good enough to write a glowing review on her blog.

Next, remembering that the reading public don't know me from Adam, I would spend a lot of time on the title and abstract, attempting to create a stunning impact. The pseudonym is also important. I think that I might go with Prof Quantum Phase.

Finally the cover picture is absolutely vital. For most readers that is the first point of contact and must be designed to seduce the reader to come under the covers.

More generally, visit lots of blogs and comment, ensuring that your blog name is a link to your website. Also have some catchy phrase to include at the end of your comments.

Good idea to include some free stuff on the website so that potential readers can sample your fiction.

I always check the bio for new authors so make sure that you are an extremely interesting personality.

If I actually publish a novel then I'm sure I'll have lots more ideas! :lol:

Donna said...

I just saw this post about promoting e-books -- kinda interesting:

http://1stturningpoint.com/?p=5925

2nd Chance said...

Donna! You casting aspertions on me? (Or is that at me... I never can get that right.) (Probably have the word aspirtions wrong, too...)

Arm is now all achy...achey? Well, it is ouchy.

But I'm back!

Marn, I'd look at snatching readers from the suspense aisles...now, how to do that!?

2nd Chance said...

Donna - I'd love to hear how you worked out putting both genres on the same page! Can't wait!

2nd Chance said...

Bo'sun...a few extra hours sleep sounds like what I need, too. Tomorrow!

I think having a website, even if it just points to the Revenge and your pirate persona is a valuable asset. It shows you are a presence in the world of social interaction...and never too early to do at least that much...

If nothing else, do the research into the name you want to write under before you try to launch a website and found out she's a stripper in Florida or a porn star in Italy...

2nd Chance said...

Q - I'll need to get an intersting cover shot...though I could get Robert Quill to do a fascinating sketch of me instead...

I like the shot I put on my website since it shows me at the wheel of a tall ship...

And entice Janga, eh? Not sure she'd find my pirate/time travel/fantasy/erotic novel up her aisle...but I could nag her some...

Janga! Oh, Janga!

(Blame Q, he put me on the idea...)

Bosun said...

Since I've already purchased my domain name, I'm pretty sure there no strippers or porn stars with my name. It's not porny, really. I don't think.

BUT, were a stripper with my name to appear and come seeking the domain, I could be persuaded to sell, if the price is right. LOL!

Sounds like Q has a damn good plan!

2nd Chance said...

Yup, Q is a man of science and so he is bound to have a plan!

2nd Chance said...

Thanks, Donnaroo! I'm gonna bookmark that page and do some brainstorming on which trigger would suit me and my books...

Quantum said...

Forgot to mention the book signing.

If possible, turn up on a horse dressed as Lady Godiva (or pay someone to do it!) and advertise well in advance.

Guaranteed to give you a flying start.

Someone over here once rode a horse through the streets of Coventry dressed as the lady, and created a sensation, with pics in the national press!

Her motivation was political....but the principal is the same. *grin*

Use the pic as a cover for your book.

I would buy out of curiosity if nothing else! :wink:

Marnee said...

Marn, I’d look at snatching readers from the suspense aisles…now, how to do that!?

That is a wonderful question. I just joined the RS chapter of RWA last week and I'm hoping to figure it out.

RS is a bit different. Darker than historicals. More action packed. I like that about RS. But a lot of RS is a little too dark for me. I want to do the suspense, but I don't think I want to scare quite that much. And I still want the lush, sensuality of the historicals I love.

So, that's what I'm going for.

Maybe something I can accomplish through a good website, an interesting newsletter/contest kind of thing, and some interesting blog topics? Anyone else have any suggestions?

Marnee said...

I still haven't decided on a pen name. I like my first name and I don't think I could answer to anything else. I hardly remember to answer to Marnee, honestly.

But a last name. Maybe if I could pick a last name that sounds like a suspense kind of thing....

Marnee said...

And maybe if I can cozy up to some successful authors who write good Historical Romantic Suspense, sort of see how they did it and try to do that.

Caroline Linden, my mentor, writes great historical romantic suspense. So, that's a start. Maybe when I get closer I can lean on her a little and figure how she does it too....

2nd Chance said...

Q - I could plan a pirate invasion...of something. Ah, if I had the cash I'd hire the local re-enactors to invade something...that would work!

Bosun said...

That was "gel" not "get". It's simply not my day.

Bosun said...

I love that you're going to "lean" on her. LOL! Should garner you some answers. Or a restraining order.

I'm not sure you need s suspense kind of name. Look at Cindy Gerard and Karen Rose. Not exactly scary, intimidating names. But they're stuff is very scary and suspenseful, from what I hear. Don't you have the Ferris name in your family? I kind of like Marnee Ferris.

Maybe sit with it, write it a few times, toss it around and see if it starts to get.

Right now, I intend to write under my real name. Any presence I've created on the web is tied to Terri Osburn and for straight contemporaries, it feels like it works. Plus, I have the same issue you do. I doubt I'd answer to something brand new.

Marnee said...

Should garner you some answers. Or a restraining order.

LOL!! :)

Ferris is a family name. I go back and forth with it. Same with Joseph, as a lot of times I'm on blogs as Marnee Jo. I kind of like that too.

And I think Terri Osburn is a fine name. :) :) It'll look great on book covers.

Bosun said...

Thanks, Marn. I hope so.

Marnee Joseph doesn't roll off the tongue for me like Ferris does. But that's just me, of course. Two first names together has always thrown me off, no idea why. It's a personal impediment. LOL!

Marnee said...

I've got time. :) Maybe it's that I want something more romantic. I don't know. We'll see.... :)

Bosun said...

You could always go with Gunner. LOL!

2nd Chance said...

Sigh. I just lost another comment.

Anyway! Marnee Jo sounds like you write cozy historicals or Americana. Ferris sounds exciting and hints at the boardwalk...the spinning of a ferric wheel stuff. IMHO.

How to steal away some suspense readers... Well, I always think of Emily Bryan's author tagline...light-hearted romance...implying the bits of comical she included.

You almost need to push the idea of the not so dark historical suspense... The hours before midnight version... Instead of the clock stricking midnight and doom is upon us...

I had a great line and then the computer ate it. I'll see if I can remember it...

Donna said...

I like romantic suspense (Cindy Gerard, Roxanne St. Claire, Stephanie Tyler), but I don't think of them as scary. In fact, I can't read stuff that's scary. LOL Maybe this is okay because I know it's going to have the HEA?

Okay, back to Twitter. They're having an editor chat right now, and I want to see how they answer the questions they're getting.

2nd Chance said...

I have this vision of editor's eventually limiting pitches to 140 characters...

Donna said...

This is awesome -- there are probably 6 or 7 editors, taking questions from people, in real time. Talk about instant access!

Bosun said...

Chance, you got me to hop over to twitter. #hopeyourehappywithyourself

2nd Chance said...

Me? Hell, I tried to find where Donna is and have no idea how to get there or follow anything. Don't blame me!

Donna said...

Go to the tab that says "Search", and type in #askeditor -- it will pull up all the tweets that have that hashtag in it -- that's how they do tweet chats. :)

2nd Chance said...

Found it and wow...head is spinning keeping track of who answered what!

Bosun said...

I can't think of a single question. Huh.

Donna said...

I only asked one question -- but it was hard to think of anything. LOL

And it comes with practice, Chance. :) It's tricky at first. If you use New Twitter, there's a little icon that looks like a word balloon at the edge of the tweet -- if you click on it, it shows the conversation, so you know what question was asked.

2nd Chance said...

There's a new twitter?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Bosun said...

LOL!

I thought of one! Now I almost feel like part of the group. Though we'll see if anyone answers.

Donna said...

Good question, Terri -- I wanted to ask if there was interest in any contemps besides the small-town ones they mentioned.

Chance, "New Twitter" has been around for a few months. LOL

Bosun said...

Thanks, Donna. I'm hoping someone answers in the next few minutes before I have to leave work.

Bosun said...

It's just an upgrade on the site. You should see the option at the top of your screen. You're probably using it and don't even know it.

Donna said...

Terri, it might take a little while -- it seems to be sluggish over there right now. But they seemed to be pretty good about answering.

2nd Chance said...

Yeah, so...I haven't been keeping up. I admit it. I usually launch Tweetdeck but it went all spanish on me for some reason today... Don't ask!

Bosun said...

I've got four minutes, maybe six. LOL! I'll check back in when I get home and can hopefully find the answer. How long will they do this? An hour?

Donna said...

I think it's usually 2 hours, only because it takes time to answer everything. They started at 3. And you can always go back to see what they said by looking up that hashtag (or you can save it under your searches, to make it easier to look it up later). So even if it's not in real time, you can see their answers.

2nd Chance said...

Well, one editor answered, but it wasn't terribly helpful. I mean...what the hey, I suppose they can't be specific because then they'll be buried under that specific storyline all coming in at the same time!

"I'd like to see aliens fighting zombies..."

Suddenly, it's invasion of the zombie fighting alien MSS!

Donna said...

LOL, Chance -- true. I wonder if they just don't know until they hear a pitch, or see the manuscript.

2nd Chance said...

It's like porn... "I'll know it when I see it" really isn't much of a guideline for a grant. Then you see it and you hear the shriek in your head "THAT is porn!"

Though in a good way if you're an editor looking for something that interests you.

Uh....right?

2nd Chance said...

Well, the dog is probably ready to eat the seat cushions in the van... I need to get her out and about. Check in later!

Bosun said...

One answer is better than none! Though I've no idea how to apply it. LOL! Off to the dance in T-20 mins. I hear they had to move it to the larger gym because so many bought tickets. Guess I'll be sitting in line for a while.

Hellion said...

I know it's too late to answer, but yesterday was a busy half day. I had a few tasks I had to get done before I left at noon; as it was, I didn't leave until 1 pm. Then I picked up meds, returned a movie, and went to my massage--which was HEAVENLY. So my night was all about lounging about going, "I feel awesome."

Although I prefer Facebook to Twitter, I don't use Facebook in the way authors do. People post status updates--and I generally don't do that. I have NOTHING to update. My status usually includes: It snowed again. Or: I slept till noon, ate a ton of junk food, and watched Eclipse for the 100th time. Who could possibly care about that?

As an author, you can't give status updates of "This book sucks. I'm tired of writing it." So there would be at least 9 months of me being totally silent and then I'd have status updates of "It's done; eventually it'll be in print."

I understand the value of both places; and there are authors who do great at it. But most of the writers I read aren't into status updates either--and that's just fine. *LOL* Just so long as I get that newsletter reminding me when the book is coming out and where they can get it--that's great. That's all I need.

Hellion said...

As for Marn's new last name--I think she should pick a name that would put her alphabetically next to her favorite suspense author or the author she thinks she's most like. So when people come by to buy THEIR books and they ask what she writes, she can say, "I write books similar in vein to so and so" and they'll gladly buy her books as well.

2nd Chance said...

Well, with FB don't you think it's about community? I know newbies you posted things like, "So stuck on this sagging middle! Ready to cry." and authors came out of the woodwork to offer advice. And so they made contact, gave people a chance to help them and several made some valuable friends!

If you let people in on the process, they'll be anticipating the book, looking forward to how you overcame obstacles and feel part of the book. So when it comes out, they'll be chatting about it and be interested.

Honestly, Hel, with your premise, you'd have a lot of people waiting!

And the pick a name so you'll be near someone you like and hope to ride off of is a good strategy!

Man, I want a massage!