A true Southern woman who knows that any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, Christa Allan weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.

Walking on Broken Glass (Abingdon Press, Feb. ‘10) is her debut novel. She contributes to Exemplify and Afictionado, the e-zine of American Christian Fiction Writers. Her essays have been published in Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover’s Soul , The Ultimate Teacher, Cup of Comfort, and Chicken Soup for the Divorced Soul. Christa is the mother of five adult children, a grandmother of three, and a teacher of high school English. She and her husband Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana, where they and their three cats enjoy their time between dodging hurricanes.

We asked Christa a few questions about how she markets her books.

Book Marketing Buzz: Welcome to Book Marketing Buzz, Christa. Can we begin by having you tell us a little about your book?

Christa Allan: Walking on Broken Glass tells the story of Leah Thornton, a woman whose life looks pretty from the outside; she seems to “have it all.” But appearances can be deceiving because she’s a mess. She drinks to numb her pain and, until her friend confronts her with the truth, she thinks no one else has noticed. Leah admits herself to rehab, and the novel-told from Leah’s point of view-follows her through her recovery as she attempts to discover who she really is and what she’s willing to sacrifice to find out.

Book Marketing Buzz: What is the first thing you did to promote your book once your publisher accepted your manuscript?

Christa Allan: Does wildly screaming count? Unfortunately, no! My first step was to work with Rob Eagar of Wildfire Marketing. he helped me zero in on my novel’s value to readers, my tag (“Stories of Unscripted Grace”), how to redesign my website, suggestions for a speaking and writing platform, and other strategies for debut authors.

Then I yakked it up on social networks, my blog, and anyone who breathed.

Book Marketing Buzz: 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?

Christa Allan: At this point, blog tours have provided opportunities for a wide range of virtual “appearances.”

Book Marketing Buzz: Do you do more promoting online or offline and which do you prefer?

Christa Allan: My novel released February 1, so I’m still in the throes of promoting. Honestly, I’ve not had time to evaluate where I spend more time. My first thought is that perhaps, at least for now, it’s about the same. Online I promote through social networks and blog tours. Offline I’ve written and sent out a number of press releases, have booksignings, send out postcards, elicited endorses and influencers to help spread the word…

Both types are overwhelming! I like the personal contact from signings and workshops. But there’s no way to beat the potential of the virtual world to connect with people I’d never have an opportunity to know.

Book Marketing Buzz: Do you use social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to promote your books and have you had any success with it?

Christa Allan: Absolutely! As a teacher in the same parish for over seventeen years, I’ve found Facebook an invaluable tool to connect with former students. Many are now married with children, and they’re spread from sea to shining sea. Qite a number of them are actively promoting my novel.

My Twitter posts automatically show up on Facebook, so that’s a bit of a timesaver. I love Twitter precisely because tweets are limited to 140 characters, and I can speed scroll through them. I think Retweets (where some tweets my tweet!) have the most potential for promotion because my message is reaching followers beyond mine. And who knows how many times that can be retweeted!

Book Marketing Buzz: Do you own a blog and how often do you update it? Did you set up your blog solely to promote your book and what is its effectiveness?

Christa Allan: My blog, Fictionary, is devoted to book and product reviews, and blog tours.

My website is devoted to promoting my novel and personal blogs. Lately, my personal blogging has dwindled; I’m not so pleased with myself that it has! Juggling full time high school teaching, grading papers, marketing a book, traveling for booksignings has been challenging. It seems like every time I get one arm of the octopus in the box, another one pops out! My oldest daughter, my organizational whiz, is whipping me into shape. The first plan of attack is to update my website for promotional purposes; for example, we’re putting together a press kit, schedule of my signings and speaking engagements, and links to interviews.

Book Marketing Buzz: Do you recommend authors getting publicists to help them promote their books? Do you have one?

Christa Allan: I don’t have a publicist because hiring one wasn’t an investment I could afford. Though I do have to say, after everything I’ve experienced in marketing my novel, I think a good publicist would be worth every penny! Abingdon Press, my publishers, have been extremely helpful in coordinating efforts with book stores, answering questions, and generally making themselves available to help wherever they can.

For my next novel, I’m putting funds aside now, and I hope to be able to invest in a publicist.

Book Marketing Buzz: If an author prefers to do it alone rather than hire a publicist, where should they start?

Christa Allan: I think if someone is serious about publishing, a website and social networking need to happen even before the book is sold! Get yourself out there in the virtual world early. People are much more tolerant of what I call “shameless self-promotion” when they know you’ve been around for a while.

Open yourself to promoting other writers. It’s not only a great way to learn about what works and what doesn’t, it’s a way to build relationships that could help later.

Book Marketing Buzz: Thank you for coming, Christa! We wish you much success!

Christa Allan: I appreciate the opportunity to be here. Thanks so much for having me on the Buzz!

You can visit Christa on the web at www.christaallan.com.