Authors On The Net

Found the Porn for Moms book trailer on the Chronicle Books website and had to share. It’s a simple, low-cost video that’s effective because it shows how people are reacting to the book. If you remember a few posts ago I blogged about being able to tell people is 140 characters or less not necessarily what your book about, but what people should expect from it, i.e. it will shock you, it will scare you, etc. This video does that:

And don’t forget to join our Wake Up Celebrity Author book contest. The deadline is September 15th.

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Richard S. Todd, author of Raincloud. A magazine writer and pop composer living near Toronto, Canada, Richard is a fervent champion for those fighting to overcome personal struggles and making choices to resist the perpetuation of racial isolation. Richard blogs frequently about his experiences self-publishing and in today’s interview, he shares his experiences and gives some good street-smart advice for authors.

Note: this is part II of a two-part podcast. In part I, Richard introduces us to his new book, Raincloud.

To buy a copy of Raincloud, click here.

Click here to download and listen to the podcast. Listen to Author Blasts show now.

http://authorsonthenet.com/audio/RichardToddonpublishingfinal.mp3

Note: depending on the speed of your Internet connection, this file may take a few minutes to download. You can also download the interview through itunes. To subscribe to this podcast, go to the itunes store, click on podcasts and search for “Authors On The Net.” Subscribe and you will receive our podcasts directly to your itunes.

Author Blasts is the Authors On The Net Podcast. If you are a member of AON and you have a book, we would like to interview you. Simply send us an email at info@authorsonthenet.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We are also interested in speaking with publishers, distributors, book designers, editors and other people who have a publishing or book promotion message.

When asked this question, most authors (myself included) will launch into a lengthy explanation about our book. But in today’s age of 140 characters or less, the best way to set the hook is with a short, dramatic statement.

Here are 10 possible ways to create interest in your book in 140 characters or less . . .

1. It will scare the hell out of you
2. It’ll keep you laughing to the end
3. This book will change your life
4. After reading my book, you’ll never eat red meat again
5. This might be one of the most shocking books of all time
6. My book can make you a millionaire
7. After reading my book, you’ll never buy another stock again
8. It has so many plot twists it’ll make you dizzy
9. You’re not going to want to read another book for a year
10. You’ll learn ten secrets the government doesn’t want you to know

These are just examples to give you an idea of how to create a short headline for your own book. Now let me give you a real-life example. I have co-written a book with Dr. William Guillory titled, “How To Become a Total Failure: The Ten Rules of Highly Unsuccessful People.” When we started selling this book in local book fairs, people would pick it up and laugh and flip through it and if I was present they’d ask me what the book was about.

At first I said things like, “It’s a transformational book that teaches people how to learn from their mistakes . . .” and I’d go on for 5 minutes. I never sold a copy with this approach.

I then started saying, “It’s 122 pages of dumb or stupid behavior Bill and I have witnessed over the years and most of it our own.” This simple statement usually prompts a response, especially if they are thumbing through the pages. For example, one rule in the book states, “Promise things you have no intention of doing.” People will read this and say, “Yeah, I’ve done that.”

The point is that my first approach was boring and even threatening in a way while my second approach was light, fun and engaging. Which by the way mirrors the tone of the book itself. Needless to say, I started selling more books with this second approach.

People have short attention spans and it’s critical to set the hook in the first sentence when asked what our books are about.

Today we have the pleasure of being a stop on Austin Camacho’s blog book tour. I asked Austin a few questions about his book and how he is promoting it. Here are his answers:

Announcing the release of Russian Roulette (buy at Amazon by clicking here), the fifth novel in Austin S. Camacho’s mystery series about Hannibal Jones, an African American private detective working in Washington DC.

Phil: What is your book about?

Austin: Like every good crime novel, this book is about deception. A Russian assassin threatens Hannibal’s woman to force him to take a case. He must investigate Gana, the wealthy Algerian who has stolen Viktoriya, the woman the assassin loves. Evidence connects Gana to Russian mob money and the apparent suicide of Viktoriya’s father. More deaths follow, each one closer to Viktoriya. To save the Russian beauty, Hannibal must unravel a complex tangle of clues and survive a dramatic shootout side-by-side with his murderous client.

Phil: Tell us about you.

Austin: On the surface I’m a public affairs specialist for the Defense Department who has written five detective novels in the Hannibal Jones series - Blood and Bone, Collateral Damage, The Troubleshooter, Damaged Goods and now Russian Roulette. I’m active in several writers’ organizations and teach writing courses at Anne Arundel Community College.

Inside I’m a philosopher and a teller of morality tales thinly disguised as mysteries or adventure stories. I’m also a husband and father, a flirt and a loudmouth, with a big heart and an even bigger ego. And I’m a hard-working marketing fool who wants every adult alive to read my novels. My manual, Successfully Marketing Your Fiction in the 21st Century is the result of those efforts.

I was born and raised in New York, spent my Army career as a broadcast journalist and now live in Springfield, Virginia with my lovely wife Denise and Princess the Wonder Cat.

Phil: Who is your target audience?

Austin: I started out thinking that hardboiled detective fiction was for young men. However, the great majority of my readers are women between 30 and 60 years old, so I now write for them.

Phil: What are the 5 top marketing tactics you would recommend to other authors?

Austin: My overall plan this year is to focus on creating buzz by working the internet. So my top marketing tactics are:

1. Blog Tour: This month I will appear on 16 of the best crime fiction and literary web sites (like this one) and the content varies – interviews, synopses, reviews by the blog owners, a real variety. The object is to make Russian Roulette part of the general conversation.

2. Reviews: the more the better. I sent books to the usual reviewers, but I also sent books to top Amazon.com reviewers. These people have a lot of credibility. The new twist was to offer a free advance copy to ANYONE who would commit to reviewing my book and posting their review in at least 4 places on line. Again, I want to raise awareness and generate conversation. Most of the amateur reviewers post on their own blogs but also on Amazon, BN.com, Dorothy L, Shelfari and other places readers look.

3. Video: I got a book trailer because it’s an easily passed calling card. But I also taped a promotional video for Russian Roulette in which I personally explain my book to the viewer. This personalizes me and helps readers connect with me. It hasn’t exactly become viral but it has gotten me a little better recognized. And I have posted these things EVERYWHERE!

4. Social Media: I’ve gathered an audience and post daily on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Gather, Friendster,Crimespace, Book place and Bebo. I also maintain a presence on Red room, Black Authors Showcase, Maverick Marketers, LinkedIn, Shelfari, and Goodreads. Aside from my own blog (Another Writer’s Life) I post on three group blogs – Criminal Minds at Work, Acme Authors and Make Mine Mystery. And did I mention the Hannibal Jones Yahoo Group? The idea is to stay connected with people and share your writing news.

5. Direct mail: I’ve never done the post card bit before, but to make it most likely to pay off I targeted the zip codes of the bookstores I’ll do signings in. And the mailing lists are of known mystery readers. Note that this is the most money I’ve spent on promotion and I have the least faith in its value but we’ll see how it goes.

I must tell you that I also went old school for visibility and got a couple print ads. After assessing my target audience I placed ads in Mystery Scene and Crimespree Magazine. Even if they don’t generate a lot of sales, they will be good for my ego when I’m at Bouchercon.

I also sent personal letters to each of the 47 bookstores in this country that specialize in mystery fiction informing them of the imminent release of Russian Roulette and respectfully asking (alright, begging them) to order a few copies. I even promised them a pizza party for their staff if they sell 50 or more copies. Yeah, I’m shameless.

As you can see, the top marketing efforts for me involve more time than money. When your book is ready to hit the shelves you need to think it through and do what will work for you. Keep good records so you’ll know what did pay off, and be careful of buying services that don’t come with guarantees.

GET the latest news about my novels at http://www.ascamacho.com
READ my blog at http://ascamacho.blogspot.com
JOIN the Hannibal Jones Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hannibaljones

If you want to learn more about running a complete social media book campaign visit The Author Platform.

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Richard S. Todd, author of Raincloud. A magazine writer and pop composer living near Toronto, Canada, Richard is a fervent champion for those fighting to overcome personal struggles and making choices to resist the perpetuation of racial isolation. Raincloud , his debut novel, tells the story of Jimmy Raincloud, who falls to a serial killer that is leaving a trail of bodies outside the tiny village of Sky Lake. The animosity that exists between Sky Lake and the white population of nearby Scanlon Creek threatens to escalate to terrifying proportions.

This is part I of a two-part podcast. In part II, Richard talks to us about how is promoting his book.

To buy a copy of Raincloud, click here.

Click here to download and listen to the podcast. Listen to Author Blasts show now.

http://authorsonthenet.com/audio/RichardToddInterviewbookfinal.mp3

Note: depending on the speed of your Internet connection, this file may take a few minutes to download. You can also download the interview through itunes. To subscribe to this podcast, go to the itunes store, click on podcasts and search for “Authors On The Net.” Subscribe and you will receive our podcasts directly to your itunes.

Author Blasts is the Authors On The Net Podcast. If you are a member of AON and you have a book, we would like to interview you. Simply send us an email at info@authorsonthenet.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We are also interested in speaking with publishers, distributors, book designers, editors and other people who have a publishing or book promotion message.

I’m sharing an email I received from a good author and mentor friend of mine, Christopher Harding. I’m sharing for two reasons: 1) to let the community know about his new book and 2) to share how Chris approached his fan base. I liked the use of questions in the second paragraph and his overall “soft” approach while making a direct call to action.

From Christopher Harding:

Hope all is well with each of you.

I’m taking the opportunity to let friends and family know that I’ve just (or as some might say, “finally,”) published my latest book, “The Saint of Malibu Shores.” Given the age we’re in, it’s published in e-book format (download as a PDF or as a Kindle book to your Kindle, iPhone or iPod).

The book came to me as I contemplated the idea of what would happen if a person appeared in our world today who was a Messianic or Christ-like figure? How would people react? What kind of political and social interactions might take place? To make it more personal, I drew from the experiences of a friend of mine who allowed me to use her story as a foundation of the storyline.

To be sure, the story is controversial and somewhat provocative, but ultimately the message is one that invites all of us to take a deeper look at our lives. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

If you’re so inclined and would be game to help me get the word about the book started, please visit either:

http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/the-saint-of-malibu-shores/7245214

or Amazon (download the Kindle format for Kindle, iPhone or iPod Touch) at:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_kinc?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=The+Saint+of+Malibu+Shores&x=11&y=22

Both formats of the e-book are selling for just $7.99.

If you’re not in the position or of the inclination to buy the book, that’s perfectly fine.

If you are, I’d love your feedback (http:/www.saintofmalibushores.com) and be truly grateful if you felt inclined to pass on this info and your recommendation to your friends and colleagues.

This is just one of the ways that Lila and I are working to generate a positive ripple effect while stimulating our own micro-economy. We would also love to know what you’re doing as well so, please let us know of the visions you are pursuing so that we can continue to find ways to support one another’s dreams and well-being.

All the best,
Chris

I just discovered www.freado.com, a place to make a widget to make it easier to share your book on social media sites. The widget allows readers to flip pages and get a very good feel for a book before they decide to buy. Here’s what my widget looks like:

If not, you can find a lot of videos, podcasts and blogs by people who attended. Click on the link below to listen to a podcast with publicity expert Rick Frishman:

Rick Frishman BEA Podcast

In today’s article, Judy Leblanc tells how she gradually became a celebrity author. After spending a lot of time promoting her book, she began to have people contacting her. This is one key result we want as we promote our books using social media and other methods - people coming to us and not us banging down their doors. Here’s a quote from her article:

Then a funny thing happened. I began to get emails from people asking me if I would send them a copy of my book to review, a media kit or in some cases, even an interview. Not only that, I began to get invitations to attend book signing events, not from our traditional book stores, but from associations, or conferences. I also find it a lot easier now to call local bookstores to ask for a book signing. The great news is that they usually say yes, and as uncommon as this may seem, they don’t seem to have a problem with ordering a few extras to keep on the shelf.

How to Market Your Book on a Shoe-String Budget
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Judy_Azar_Leblanc]Judy Azar Leblanc

Who said strike-three and you’re out? Here’s how I beat the odds of going from a POD published author to a Multi-Award Winning Author with good sales, successful book signings, and a high internet profile.

I’ve been writing ever since I can remember; but my real enjoyment for it came to me when I was in college. Later, during the “career” years of my life, I wrote proposals for the US Government. After many years of being told what and how to write, I was so tired of writing, that I said “when I retire, I am going to throw away my ‘red’ pen and NEVER WRITE AGAIN”! Well, that lasted about 10 years. Then one day when my husband and I were living in a small beach town in the middle of Baja Mexico, I got the itch to start writing again. I said to myself, “now I can write what I love to write about and not what I’m told to write about.” That sounded like so much fun. Little did I know that it would be the beginning of a brand new career in not only writing, but in Marketing!

After I finished my first book, I struggled to find a publisher, especially while living in a foreign country that had not yet heard of computers or the internet. After spending a few years of sending copies of the manuscript via “snail-mail”, I did manage to get it published and that is as far as it ever got … published.

However, by the time 2006 rolled around, the small town I was living in finally got connected to cyberspace, and vualla 16 years later the outside world was now at my fingertips, my fourth book was now finished and I was actually able to go on-line to look for a publisher! But, because I was still living in a foreign country, my new challenge was “how in the world was I supposed to get the book marketed”? That was the beginning of my dependence on Google, and the birth of my on-line book-marketing. At first, I was completely lost and had no idea even where to begin.

I had already been duly warned against POD-publishing. You can’t get reviews, you can’t get shelf space, and you can’t get respect. Being naïve, I decided to completely ignore those warnings and just looked straight ahead. I signed up for book reading clubs, book marketing sites, and every single newsletter that pertained to books, authors, writing or anything that remotely looked like it was for authors or about books. From the information given on those newsletters, I was able to find several book reviewers that I could email and asked if they would like to review my book.

As they responded and the book reviews came in and were posted, I was able to make some marketing flyers to use for promotion. Once the reviews were built up, I was then able to start emailing the book sites that allow authors to promote their books. Most of the sites are no charge, while others charge a minimal fee of anywhere from $10-$25.00 for the inclusion. From there, I began to ask for author interviews at most of these sites. Because of the great reviews that the book received, and the positive response to author interviews, my confidence was built and I was now ready to start entering the book in the book contests. Each time the book would win an award, or would get an awesome review, I would send out a press release about it.

By this time, I had collected enough promotional material about the book to build a media kit which included flyers about the book awards, press releases, brochures, and the book, and more importantly ~ I was back in the USA!. Now I was able to look for places that gave television and radio interviews, then I either emailed or called them to ask if I could send them a media kit. This helped because as the responses came, I was able to make another promotional flyer to add to the media kit.

Then a funny thing happened. I began to get emails from people asking me if I would send them a copy of my book to review, a media kit or in some cases, even an interview. Not only that, I began to get invitations to attend book signing events, not from our traditional book stores, but from associations, or conferences. I also find it a lot easier now to call local bookstores to ask for a book signing. The great news is that they usually say yes, and as uncommon as this may seem, they don’t seem to have a problem with ordering a few extras to keep on the shelf.

I also try to attend most of the annual book festivals, book fairs and conferences throughout the area; and, now that the foundation is in place, the media kit and web page built, I am able to have the book represented at different book fairs throughout the country as well as some of the international book fairs.

I hope this is an encouragement to you, as I discovered that marketing your book is like building a house. A house is only as good as its foundation; and like a house, once your book has a good foundation, the rest is easier. It all takes time and effort. In the age of internet, the kind support from many good people, word of mouth, and with the unlimited resources of web marketing, you can do it too.

Here is a short list of some of the sites that I use for marketing tips, publishing tips, writing tips, places where you can get your book reviewed, contest listings, free author listings, free author interviews, and some great marketing newsletters. I hope they are as helpful to you as they have been for me. http://www.armchairinterviews.com

Award Winning Author Judy Azar LeBlanc was born in Raton, New Mexico, was raised and educated in Albuquerque, and is an Honored Member of the Cambridge Who’s Who, Toastmasters International and the East Texas Writing Guild. Her fourth and favorite title is Many Faces to Many Places. Judy is internationally published in the FONATUR Tourist Magazine, sponsored by the federal government of Mexico and is featured in the Xulon Press publications entitled God’s Rainbow Book, Praise Reports, and How I Met my True Love. Visit her website at http://www.manyfacestomanyplaces.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Azar_Leblanc http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Market-Your-Book-on-a-Shoe-String-Budget&id=2425406

To learn more about promoting your books online, be sure to visit us at The Author Platform.

To help authors generate more interest in their books, WakeUpCelebrityAuthor.com has launched a Social Media-style book contest where fans vote for the next BarnesandNoble.com best-seller

Long Beach, CA (PRWEB) June 8, 2009 – As the publishing industry continues to change, authors are taking the job of promoting their books in their own hands. The good news for authors today is the emergence of social media and that they can use Web 2.0 tools to connect directly with their target audiences. WakeUpCelebrityAuthor.com seeks to give recognition to authors who enthusiastically promote their books and will make the author with the most votes by September 25, 2009 the next BarnesandNoble.com best-seller.

Traditional book contests call for authors to submit their books for evaluation based on writing style, content, relevance and other criteria. But having a well-written book at the right time and for the right audience is only half the challenge of creating a best-seller. The other half of the challenge is getting recognized in an over-crowded marketplace and getting people to talk about your book.

“Writing and publishing a book takes one set of skills,” said Phil Davis, co-founder of WakeUpCelebrityAuthor.com. “Promoting a book requires a completely different set of skills. Authors today are using Web 2.0 technology like Blogs, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter and Blog Talk Radio to connect directly with their target audience. We want to recognize these efforts and also put a little fun into an activity many authors find to be a bit overwhelming.” Read the rest of this entry »