Things You Should Know- RWA!

I *HEART* RWA!

I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to join. But for a while, I wasn't sure the cost was worth it...and I really didn't have extra cash to be throwing around. But finally I did give it a try and it was like a breath of fresh air. Exactly what I'd needed. I found home.

The ladies in my local RWA chapter are why I joined. The main organization is fantastic, but it was the local chapter that would make or break it for me. I have another writers group that I belong too, but there really isn't anyone like me, who writes what I write. And when you write a genre that can be misunderstood and often disrespected, it really helps to unite with people who also write it.

This week there was an article in Buffalo Uprising about my local REA chapter. Buffalo Uprising is a publication dedicated to showcasing Buffalonians and their successes. Please check it out!!

Buffalo Uprising

Promo promo promo...I need new ideas!

I blog, do blog tours, blog hops, guest blogging spots, interviews.

I Twitter and Facebook.

I have Goodreads and Amazon author pages.

I did a Goodreads ad.

I do online chats (when I can remember).

I participate in online contests and giveaways.

I've organized a Street Team and sent them all kinds of materials to hand out.

I did a local book fair.

I do local open mic nights.

But so far, none of this has given me the sales figures I desire. I need to do more. I want to do more. I just don't know what. I am out of ideas. But I won't be that media whore who blitzes everyone all day with "BUY ME!" posts. Not my style. And from everything I've read, it's not cool anyway.

What am I missing? Are there some great marketing ideas I have missed?? Remember I am a struggling author...so if it takes money, I probably can't do it.

Help! Please!

Giving away the milk for free????

Lately I've been wondering what the best way is to reach readers and get them to buy your books.

I'm on Twitter, I blog, I Facebook. I occasionally visit Goodreads and Amazon message boards and groups. I participate in blog hops. I run contests.

I recently did a reader survey to find out what entices readers (read it here) and most readers told me they get most book recommendations from friends. Makes sense. If you love a book, you tell the world. So I've assembled a Street Team and will be shipping out promo packets in the next few days. Hopefully that's a step in the right direction.

But recently I was told readers have found new authors by free Kindle reads. Who doesn't like free??? Just about anyone will give a free book a chance. No loss if they hate it. But if they like it, and like the author's style and voice, will they go out and buy their other books? This is what I'm wondering now.

What do you guys think??? Has anyone done this before??? I am not self published...so I'm not sure it's even possible for me to give my book away for free on Kindle.

Anyone got a Street Team?? I do!!

I am so super excited about this!!!!!!

I heard about a Street Team a while back and thought it sounded like something cool to do. Something new....a different way to reach readers. So I gave it some thought, and through the wonderful Facebook, I knew I had an easy way to contact friends who lived all over the country. So I set to work contacting them! And I put together a small group of friends- 6 women- representing CA, MA, FL, TX, MO, and OK. So excited to get started!!

I ordered a bunch of promotional materials- postcards, rack cards, magnets, stickers- all inexpensive or free (LOVE Vistaprint!). Waiting for those to arrive and then I will send them off to my friends to distribute to their friends and family, hand out to coworkers, tack up on community boards and at the library. I put together a press release too, so they'll be getting those to take into book stores.

And in exchange for their help, each will get a signed copy of my book and in the future, if they would like to continue helping me out, will receive advance copies of my books and other fun stuff.

Has anyone else done a Street Team?? What are you doing? Any advice???

And before you click away....DEFINITELY go check out Shannon Messenger's AWESOME giveaway to celebrate her book deal!!

Happy medium between Modest and Whore?

Maybe "whore" is a little much..but I was hoping to grab some attention here!! LOL!! This kinda is a continuation of yesterdays post.

I am a very modest person...or at least I try to be. It's just not in my nature to brag about myself, my accomplishments. I mean there are some people I tell...like my mom. She always wants to know everything that happens to me, my kids, etc... But it's my mom. Of course she wants to know.

Part of why I keep most things to myself is because I think of others and if I think certain news will possibly hurt someone's feelings or make them sad, I would rather just keep it to myself. Like a while back. We were getting close to our Disney trip. We were excited. I love talking about all things Disney World. But one of my friends was going through a rough time financially. So I felt it wrong to talk about my upcoming vacation. I've also been going to the gym for almost 2 years, so I've lost weight, toned, etc... But I won't brag to my friends about it. I know they're all struggling. And I'm not perfect..so I don't feel like I can brag even if I wanted to.

It's the same with my writing successes. I know so many writers who are struggling and just can't catch a break. I know how I felt every time I read about someone's newest achievement when I was struggling. (And there are many days now where other people's good news still hurts because I am not as far in my journey as I'd like to be right now...but that's a whole 'nother post.)

BUT then there is the other side of me that needs to be the "whore" and put myself all out there for the world. I NEED to get my name out there, my books, my blurbs...I need to generate traffic to my website so people will read the excerpts I posted that will hopefully entice them to want to read my books. Being quiet and reserved will not sell books.

So how about you??? Are you a bragger?? Or do you keep quiet?? Are you somewhere in the middle?? Got any pointers for me?? :)

And PLEASE share the link for my survey....Readers only...no writers!! Survey

Is it best to be everywhere??

As everyone knows....or if you don't know....pull up a seat and listen close....authors need to do about 99% of their own promotion these days. Unless you're Stephen king or JK Rowling....

But the rest of us need to put our names and books out there...entice readers to spend their hard-earned dollars on our book. Social media has made this relatively easy. There are so many places to put your face and books: Facebook groups and author pages, Twitter, blogs, Goodreads, Yahoo groups, LinkedIn, and a million other places.

But what is best?? Where should you spend your time? Is more better?

I am lucky enough to stay home and not work outside of my home. I have one child home with me and another who is in school full day. I get a decent amount of time each day to work and network. But I still have many interruptions and responsibilities. So it's not always all that great. I do what I can. But that means I have to limit the time I spend doing Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, etc... I could spend hours and hours each day doing that. But that means I get little or no time to actually write.

And what about the working writer who has to do the 9-5 all day and only has a couple hours each evening to do all their writing related things???? They can't spend all of their little time networking and promoting. Or they'd never have anything new to promote.

So my question today is...does it really pay to have your face and hand in EVERYTHING out there???

I do what I can...I think I'd rather do a couple things, and really do them right, than try and visit a million places each day. But I have days where I feel like I'm not doing enough. that I should be doing more. But then my work in progress suffers. There's only so many hours in the day and I can't neglect my family (and I don't want to). And as much as I would loooooove it...I cannot survive on an hour of sleep.

Lastly today, if you can help me out...I have gotten my survey up and running!!! Yay!! It is for readers ONLY, not writers, so please please please send the link to anyone you think may help be willing to help me out!! I will be posting the results here on my blog in a few weeks!! I think the info will be very valuable for all authors!! Survey

Blog tour...sounds like fun!

Before I started blogging, I had heard the term "blog tour" a few different times and wondered what the heck it was. I knew what a blog was...but a tour???

Now I am all over blogging and I get it. And it sounds pretty cool!! I found this fantastic blog post about blog tours....very informative!!!

I love to see writers helping writers...supporting each other....getting the word out there in the blogosphere. As we all know, promoter is just another hat we wear as authors. And if I can help some of my fellow blogger buddies, than I most certainly want to do that!!

So, does anyone out there have a book coming out soon or anything else they'd like to promote???? I'd love to do some cross promoting!!!!

Promotion.....what do you think about it???

Promotion, promotion, promotion!!!!

Writing a fabulous book and finding an agent and publisher is no longer all a writer has to do to succeed. Once the editing is done and the cover designed....we as writers need to take marketing and promotion into our own hands. Well, actually.....you should probably start way before that....build a "platform".

I started building my platform before I received my book contract. I got myself on Myspace as a writer-something separate from my personal account, as well as a Fan Page on Facebook. I tried the Twitter thing but at first it didn't really appeal to me. I gave it a second chance and I'm enjoying much more now. I started this blog back in March of 09 as another way to get myself out there and network. It did however, turn into much more...something I wasn't quite expecting. I started to make friends and found great support and camaraderie.

So for some further promotion...for me and also a great place for other writers and romance readers to go.....gotta check this out!! Coffee Time Romance is a great site: book reviews, chats, interviews, contests, free short stories. You can even make an ecard with a romance novel cover to send to your girlfriends!!!! How cool is that????

Coffee Time Romance also has a Youtube page with tons and tons of great book trailers (yours truly is featured under Chick Lit and Contemporary!) Please check it out and share it with your romance-loving friends!!!

And don't forget about my Karma Story Contest!! It's open till Friday!!!