Book Marketing Buzz

In my debut novel, you will meet Candace, Queen of the Amazonian planet Kush who is used to fighting battles, giving orders and subservient men. From birth she is taught the art of war and that men are the enemy. What she hates more than a man is a domineering man! Unfortunately for her a subservient man is NOT in her future!

With a body as powerful as a god’s, the heir to the Akkadian throne is far from subservient. A man of honor, Ares is all masculine dominance!When war tears their planets apart the two are faced with entering into a marriage contract in order to save their kingdoms and their people. 

Forced into a marriage neither wants, at every turn the two warriors clash as they battle for dominance. But what begins as a marriage of convenience quickly turns into something more as they fight their growing passion and hunger for each other.  The ultimate challenge comes when they are forced to forsake their old beliefs for a chance at a future together.  

My promotional plan for any book that I publish focuses on primarily targeting online audiences, those that read e-books, but also everyday readers of erotic fiction and mainstream romance. I realize that many authors forget that after their book is complete and accepted for publication that their real work truly begins, because promoting the book requires twice the effort spent on writing the book. The plan listed below is the one I implemented for my self published debut novel Enthralled.

Before the Release  

1) I first announced my upcoming title on my website and generated a buzz on lists that I am a member of which include-Passionate Ink, Erotica Readers and Writers Association, The Sweetest Taboo-An Interracial Fiction Message Board. 

2) Once I had the final proofs of my manuscript I submitted my novel to Night Owl Romance and Just Erotic Romance Reviews to obtain reviews.

3) I then listed myself and my novel on Authors Island and Night Owl Romance for a full year. 

4) I then purchased promotional features such as Author Spotlight Packages for a period of one to six months from the following online sites: Coffee Time Romance, Love Bites, and Passionate Ink Book Notes.

5) I then purchased a quarter page in Romantic Times Review under the Debut Author Spotlight.

6) I also produced bookmarks, magnets, and notepads that included my pen name, a picture of the book cover, and my website address. I asked small local bookstores such as Caribou Books in Washington DC to distribute to their customers. I also left some bookmarks at local libraries and mainstream chain book stores such as Borders and Barnes and Nobles (with permission of course). 

7) Finally, I promoted my book by giving away some of the bookmarks, magnets and notepads, along with a copy of my book and a gift basket in a Reader’s Contest at Authors Island.

After The Release

1) Once my book was released I signed on with Pump Up Your Book Promotion to do aone month virtual book tour.

2) I submitted my novel for additional reviews from The Romance Studio, Romance Reviews Today-Erotic, and Romance Junkies Reviews

3) I also increased my guest blogging on sites such as Romancing the Blog and participating in several author chats, or visiting as a guest and mentioning my book  

4) Listed my book on online e-book stores such as e-bookmall.  I also begin to work the Amazon.com author features trying to increase traffic to my book.

In the future I would like to continue these promotional strategies but also incorporate the following strategies:

1) Purchase an ad in the Romance Writers Report.

2) Submit a pitch letter to targeted periodicals

3) Generate a mailing list from the email addresses left in my guest book on my website and send out a newsletter announcing my upcoming releases.

4) Purchase promotional spots on additional web sites such as: Literary Nymphs, Between Your Sheets and The Romance Studio

My final word on this is that I was told by a writing mentor that in order to sell one book you need to publish more! 

With that said, I have been actively working to publish another novel by December through a traditional e-publisher.  My goal is that having another book in circulation will generate a greater buzz around BOTH my books; therefore, driving up sales on both of them.

Nadia Aidan is the author of ENTHRALLED: ARES & CANDACE: THE DIVINE SERIES – BOOK ONE.  You can visit her website at www.nadiaaidan.com.