Featured Articles
Memories and a prayer of blessing
Today, Dawn Brancheau is being buried by her family in Chicago. This weekend, the first whale shows were restarted in Orlando, Florida. The unusual part of it– her memorial is at St. Rita’s, a place I know well having gone there for family memorials since I was a child. Read more »
Popularity: 2% [?]
Questions for Readers/Authors
I’m working on my next Last Call Europe book Dog Sled at the moment, after that it’s back to the Hades Helmet world and beyond that Tartan and *holds head* soooo many project. I still have to write the next Pixie book (there’s like 5 books in the series) anyway but something tugged at my mind now that the LRC Awards are over. Promo and the impact on authors in contests and sales.
I have questions for you wonderful, lovely, patient readers. Answer a few questions and you could win a mini cooler bag of goodies and books that I got at the Authors After Dark Con and chocolate!
So here goes:
1) How much promo is too much? Example: Seeing an author’s name and promo for the same book every day on every loop you belong to -vs- Seeing an author’s name once and promo for certain time period.
2) How do you hear about info about your fav author(s)? Website? Newsletter? Publisher site? Yahoo group? Facebook? My Space? Ning? Twitter?
3) How do you connect with your fav author(s)? On a blog? Website? Yahoo/Google Groupe? Facebook? My Space? Twitter?
4) Do you vote when your author is up for an award or best book? (If voting is allowed)
5) Do reviews sway whether or not you’ll buy a book?
6) If an author wins an award, does that make you want to check them out if you haven’t already done so?
7) Do you read reviews? What if the review was from a big name author?
8 ) Does a publisher’s reputation make you want to buy books from them?
9) How much does cover art play into you checking out a new author? How much does bad cover art pique your curiosity about a book? Does bad cover art cause you to turn away from the book? Do you prefer photo cover art or digital (Daz, Poser, etc.)?
10) Coupons: Do you love them? Use them or would you prefer a discount in the first week of sales?
11) Do you check out publisher days on Yahoo Loops? Do you attended publisher chats?
12) Do you wait to buy a book when it’s on sale?
13) Do you enter contests hoping to win books? Do you read the books you win?
14) Authors: Promo companies love em or hate em or are indifferent?
15) Do you enjoy “cyber signings”? Public “live” signings?
16) Do you follow, or paticipate in/with, blog tours?
Popularity: 4% [?]
Who’s got the Heroines?
For a minute there you gasped then reread the title and realized the play on words, didn’t you? Lately, I’ve been finding myself reading some YA books and enjoying the characterizations there over some of the adult books I’ve read lately. Then I turn on my TV on demand to catch up on back episodes of Numb3rs and I find a heroine that just tickles my senses and gets my mind thinking. Rubies with a Glock Which brings me to my post on Amoketeers- heroines. Read more »
Popularity: 13% [?]
Hey you, what’ s your sign?
So a few of my friends and I were talking and the conversation turned to pick up lines. Here’s a question what’s the worst pick-up line you have ever heard?
My friends and I will vote and pick a winner.
Contest will be over Midnight EST. Jan 16th, 2010. Winner will be announced Jan 17th, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email.
Prize will either be print book or eBook.
Good Luck!
Se
Popularity: 6% [?]
Puppy Love
I’m late with my article, but there’s a good reason. I’m in love. In love with my new puppy. He’s not home yet, but in 6 weeks, he’ll be here. Right now, he’s being taken care of by a good friend in Texas. Shango is a husky- 18 months old and rescued by our friend who is part of a Malamute rescue group. He was out on the streets, going through who knows what– but now he’s learning to be social with people and dogs, learning to obey simple commands, and likes following people around. LOL Read more »
Popularity: 8% [?]
January Contest
January Contest
Use the Coupon Code FirstSnow10 at checkout at ChangelingPress.com for 5% off your order and for a chance to win 10 Changeling Credits.
Contest ends Midnight EST, Jan 31st. Good Luck.
Winner will be contacted via email.
Popularity: 8% [?]
The Marketing Game by Lena Austin
I have come up with something. I noticed how hard it was to gather simple marketing info and ideas. Hell, let’s face it, I’d much rather be peacefully off in another world than trying to figure out how to get folks to read my books!
So, I gathered up a list of things to do. But, it wasn’t enough. Then, something jelled yesterday morning while I moaned over my sore hands after an author chat. Each of these things on the list have a “value”. For example, doing an author chat will get you more sales than handing out a business card, but not as much as an ad in RT.
Then I looked at expense and feasibility. Like, who can afford an RT ad when they first start out? Riight. So, I came up with a points system very similar to a marketing scheme I was taught as a realtor. If each technique has a “value”, that could be a certain number of points. If all you can do are the small, inexpensive things, but you do a lot of them, couldn’t you eventually garner just as much “exposure points”? Well, yes!
I played with it a bit, trying to remember all that I’d done just before (and now long after) RTP was released. And I found that the more “points” I gathered in a given week, the more “exposure” and more fan mail I got! And that has translated into sales. Hmmm…it works.
I know Author A has limits on her budget. (Don’t we all??) Author A has a book coming out in June, let’s say. She can’t afford an ad, but she can afford one author gift basket. She already has her cover art, so she runs out and gets that printer kit where you can make tee shirts, then goes to a craft store and finds a basket, some Easter grass, and a few bath products. Total cost: $50. Blows her monthly budget, but that’s the best she can do.
April-
Makes 3 tee shirts to hand out to friends, and reserves one for an author chat. 10 points each, 30 points)
Emails TRS Blue and gets an author chat set up for early July (knowing these things are set up in advance) Points are counted after she gives the chat.
Spends time posting on 5 reader loops every week (5 points each, 25 points/ wk, total 100 pts)
Sends out a newsletter (5 points)
Gives out 50 business cards (1 pt each, 50 points)
total for April: 185
May
Posts on the reader loops (100 points)
Posts an excerpt on the loops (5ptsx5=25 total points)
Updates her website (5 pts) and posts the excerpt (5 pts)= 10
Hands out 25 cheap freebies (bookmarks she made on the computer or at Vistaprint) 125 points
Puts her contact info on her signature line of her emails and sends out 100- 100 points
Sends out her newsletter (5 points) with an excerpt (5 points)- 10 points
total for May- 370 points
June-
Posts on the readers’ loops (100)
Excerpts on loops (25)
Announcement on website, with cover art (15 points)
Hands out the rest of her bookmarks (250 points)
Her contact info is still on her signature, still 100 emails 100)
Newsletter with excerpts, announcements (10 points)
Holds the author chat (20 points)
Gives away the basket (10 points)
Gets 5 reviews for next month’s newsletter, website, and signature file
total for June-530
In July, she has reviews, 2 more chats, a signing (using burned CD’s), is featured in the local newspaper, holds a contest on her website, and can afford a small banner ad on Fallen Angels. (That’s in addition to the signature files, the loops, business cards, and the newsletter)
See how it becomes a marketing machine with a little effort and some time? I’ve bounced this idea off a more experienced author and an editor. You can make a spreadsheet and assign points according to feasibility and “exposure”. It is a simple, self-motivated, and flexible system. (i.e., I can’t design a website to save my soul. for instance. To make up for it, I contribute to newsletters and hold a lot of chats.)
I’ve already been called a marketing machine. I have to be. I don’t have Nora Roberts’ name recognition. So, I’m outrageous and out there, on the loops, in the newsletters, tweaking my signature line, teasingly posting excerpts, and handing out what freebies I can afford.
But, I’m not the machine. I am fueling the machine with my time, and (hopefully) lubricating it with what money I can spare. I’ve set my weekly point goal high at 100 points a week.
What’s more, this is a game you can play with friends. Throw a few bucks into a “pot” and say that whoever gets the most points at the end of a specified time gets the cash to spend on something not normally affordable.
The big point is to do something. You can’t be the princess in the tower singing, “Someday My Prince Will Come” if the poor fellow doesn’t know you’re there. The smart princess spends an hour or two putting out the word she exists so Prince Charming can find her easily.
Lena Austin
http:/www.lenaustin.com
Popularity: 19% [?]
Happy Holidays! Got Ink?
I wish everyone a Happy Holiday and may your New Year be prosperous and filled with joy and happiness!
Okay, so the Got Ink part of my post. Do you have a tattoo? Would you like to get one?
I already know I want at least three tattoos, one on both my wrists and this cute guy on my back:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/hoboken%20penguin/hubertina1966/hobokenpenguincubes.jpg?o=2
Not that exact picture. I’m sure you’re wondering why, right? Well, that’s the cartoon I watch that makes me feel better if I’m having a crappy day. Plus I love penguins. *Grin*
Moving on, I’d consider getting the Sanskrit symbol for Voice above my Chakra point on the back of my neck:
http://healing.about.com/od/chakraimages/ig/Chakra-Symbols/Throat-Chakra.htm
Being able to speak and voice your opinions and such is very important. For so long I never really expressed myself. This is a reminder to me that I have a voice and I have to use it. My opinions matter, at least to me they do.
And lastly this:
http://www.tattoosymbol.com/kanji/kanji-love.html
The Kanji for Love (Ai). For those of you who watch Naruto, you know that the character of Gaara has this etched into his forehead. I am a fan of the character but that isn’t the reason why I’d get the tattoo. Love is very important. And to love and respect one’s self is very important. Depression can really drag love for one’s self down and make a person feel unworthy. This reminds me that depression is only aspect of myself and that love is still there inside of me somewhere.I have an idea of where I’d like it be, but I won’t be telling. LOL
So what do you think?
If you have any tattoos can you share what they mean to you? And if you want to get one, what would it be?
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Selena
Currently listening to:
P!nk- Funhouse
Three Days Grace- Life Stars Now
Anouk- Three Days in a Row
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHh-b0bDMyM
Florence and the Machine- Howl
Currently Reading:
Simple Need by Lissa Matthews
Current Release:
Vampiropolis (Collection) at Changeling Press
Coming Soon:
Prairie Dawgs: First Snow
Love’s Immortal Pantheon Vol. 3: Orion’s Star
Blood Claim: Tainted
Strange Hollow: Seducing a Wallflower
Popularity: 20% [?]
