Rie Sheridan Rose has been writing professionally for the last ten years or so — though she has just added the “Rose” on the end. After putting up with her for the last eight years, she figured her husband deserved the recognition. Prior to last year, her work appeared under “Rie Sheridan.”
In that decade, she has published 5 novels: The Blood that Binds, The Lute and the Liar, The Right Hand of Velachaz, Sidhe Moved Through the Faire, and The Luckless Prince. She has also published 1 short story collection (RieVisions), 2 chapbooks of collected stories (Tales from the Home for Wayward Spirits and Bar-B-Que Grill and Bruce and Roxanne Save the World…Again), and five poetry collections (Straying from the Path, Dancing on the Edge, If My Sandcastle Drowns…Can I Live With You?, Take Out from the Writer’s Cafe, and By Candlelight) as well as contributing to several anthologies.
Her stories have also been published in The Eternal Night, ShadowKeep and Verge ezines, as well as the EOTU and Planet Relish websites, and her
poetry has appeared in the print magazines Mythic Circle, Dreams of Decadence, and Abandoned Towers as well as the Electric Wine and Tapestry ezines.
She has also written the lyrics to several songs for Marc Gunn. Their Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits CD is due out in August.
Rie lives in Texas with her husband Newell and several cats, all spoiled rotten.
She can be found at www.riewriter.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rie-Sheridan-Rose/38814481714
Welcome to Book Marketing Buzz, Rie. Can we begin by having you tell us a little about your book?
The Luckless Prince is the story of Prince Roland and his squire Stefan. Bored and restless at home, Roland convinces his father to let him go downriver on a trading expedition, but from the moment they join the traders’ raft, they find themselves with more adventure than they ever bargained for. It is a quest fantasy full of swordfights, romance, elves, magic, and more. There is something for everyone, I think.
What is the first thing you did to promote your book once your publisher accepted your manuscript?
Announced the acceptance on Facebook. I posted the news that evening after returning from the convention where I learned of it. Then, I continued to post information about the progress of the production – bits about the editing process, the first cover image, the final cover flat, anything to keep people interested until I could announce the availability.
After that, what happened?
I set up a page on my website for the book, posting an excerpt and hosting a short contest to get some “audience participation”. I ordered postcards for convention tables. I set up this virtual tour. Anything I could think of to get it before people.
What did your publisher do to promote your book?
The publisher has posted the book on their blog and website, sent out review copies, and entered it into an award contest.
What’s your opinion on blogging? Do you see that it is helping sell your book or is it not making much difference in terms of sales?
I think it has made some difference and it would make a great deal more if I were a consistent blogger. This is a skill I am trying to improve upon. I am still a rather haphazard blogger. I think that it is a tool that provides a great opportunity to increase sales if correctly managed. Someday, I will be that good.
I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool. Do you find it is or isn’t?
Definitely. On the day that I posted the Kindle and Nook links on Facebook I had several comments from people that I don’t think had ever bought one of my books before saying that they had purchased their copies.
Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?
I will be attending several conventions later this year to serve as a panelist and promote my book(s) through networking and hand sales. I am also working to set up a signing at my hometown bookstore while my writing partner is trying to get us one at his local bookstore.
If you had to pick just one book marketing tool that you’ve used to promote your book, which would you say has been the most effective?
Definitely networking. It stands to reason that the more people you interact with, the more books you will sell. Even if you don’t sell them a copy directly, they may mention it to someone they know who will be interested. Growing your circle of acquaintances gives you a larger potential fan base.
What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?
I’ve done several booksignings, and consider them a vital marketing tool, because even if you don’t sell many books, the people that stop by and talk to you have now met you, and will be more likely to remember your name the next time you have a new release. I also love doing conventions, because you get to interact with the fans on a more direct one-on-one basis and build relationships that often will translate into sales down the road. The more someone recognizes your name, the more likely they are to buy your book – or the next one.
Thank you for this interview, Rie! We wish you much success!
Related posts:
Posted in 
Tags: 
