Born and raised in Surrey, England, Cynthia Sally Haggard has lived in the United States for thirty years. She is the author of the Thwarted Queen series, which includes The Bride Price, One Seed Sown, The Gilded Cage, Two Murders Reaped and Rose of Raby. She has had four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer and novelist. Yes, she is related to H. Rider Haggard, the author of SHE and KING SOLOMONS’S MINES. (H. Rider Haggard was a younger brother of the author’s great-grandfather.) Cynthia Sally Haggard is a member of the Historical Novel Society. You can visit her at: http://spunstories.com/, https://twitter.com/ – !/cynthiahaggard, and http://www.facebook.com/cynthia.haggard.

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

Thwarted Queen is a saga of the Yorks, Lancasters and Nevilles, whose family feud started the Wars of the Roses. Told by Lady Cecylee Neville (1415-1495), the thwarted queen.

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

Gosh, I’ve done so many things it’s hard to remember. I think the first thing I did was to do Facebook ads.

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?

To date, doing giveaways on Goodreads has been the most effective. My book went from having zero interest to having hundreds of people joining the giveaway.

Do you do more promoting online or offline and which do you prefer?

I have done most of my promoting online so far. But I actually enjoy publich speaking and doing public readings, and would love to have more opportunities to talk about Cecylee offline.

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

Yes, I have used social networking. With Facebook, my impression is that only people who are already your fans get your posts. So, from that point of view it is not so good at reaching new audiences. Twitter, however, is another story, because most of the publishing industry is on it. I have worked very hard to get followers on Twitter, and currently I think I have about 1300 people following me.

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?

My blog and my website are one. You can find them at http://www.spunstories.com. I usually post at least twice a week. Mondays, I give advice on marketing and publishing. Wednesdays, I do craft book reviews, in which I try to understand from a writer’s perspective what worked (or didn’t work) in the novel I’m currently reading. On that scaffolding, I promote my novel as well, but try to limit my posts to when I actually have an annoucment to make. Last month was very busy as I had nine giveaways on Goodreads.

Do you recommend authors getting publicists to help them promote their books?  Do you have one?

I don’t have a publicist. I think this is a very personal questions, because it depends on how much money you have and how much time you have to market a book. If you can find a good publicist and can afford the cost, then I say go for it! I don’t have that kind of money, so I’ve given myself the whole of this year to become an effective marketer. I’m having to learn by trial and error.

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

You should start by telling all of your friends and family about your book, and asking them to spread the word. Then you systematically need to figure out which marketing strategy works best. And I would say beware of marketing plans that cost thousands and thousands of dollars, because it’s hard to earn that money back. I enjoy blog tours because they’re a very affordable way of reaching out to new audiences.

Thank you for coming, Cynthia!  We wish you much success!

Thank you for having me. I enjoyed talking with you!

C.Y. Bourgeois is a freshman author and an avid reader. After having spent countless enjoyable hours over the years reading other people’s narratives, she realized that she too has stories to tell.

C.Y. considers herself a native of Alaska, having lived there since the age of two.  She and her husband recently moved to northern Idaho where they now reside with their two dogs and three cats and where she is currently working on her second Shelby Leight novel, Visions of Mortality.

Her latest book is a suspense thriller (bordering on YA) called Visions of You.

Please visit C.Y. Bourgeois’ website at http://cybourgeois.authorsxpress.com/

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

Visions of You is a thriller set in Palmer Alaska in 1975.  It’s about a group of teenagers who lose a friend to a serial killer and become actively involved in trying to stop him.  One of the main characters, Shelby is stunned to discover she has the ability to communicate with her dead friend.  She also meets and falls in love with a young man, Paul, who has inherited a strange affliction from his mother.  She has to deal with that on top of coming to grips with her own, frightening, new-found abilities.  Visions of You dips the reader’s toes in the paranormal, but never completely jumps in and leaves normal.  It’s a fast-paced, believable, coming-of-age story with action, scary twists, some laughs, and a few tears.

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

I’ve been blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, I’m on Goodreads, and Amazon’s AuthorCentral.  I also purchased some ads on Facebook.

After that, what happened?

Things are still slow.  I’m going to put my book on Pinterest, and Dorothy Thompson of Pump Up Your Book is working with me to get VOY out in the virtual world.  I also have another book, a novella, The Concrete Gnome in the works.  It’s almost finished and I’ll be publishing it to the Amazon Kindle Direct Program.  Hopefully, if people enjoy reading that, they will want to read Visions of You as well.  I’m also writing Visions of Mortality, the second book in the Visions series.

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

They set me up with all the marketing websites and published my book to Kindle, Nook, and every other e-reader imaginable.

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?

Well, I’m a brand new blogger, so I really don’t have an audience yet.  I keep blogging, but I don’t think anybody’s reading it.  So, it hasn’t helped with sales…yet.  I’m going to keep on blogging and try to establish a niche, find a topic that will draw in some readers.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

I think social networking and online book tours are the way to go nowadays.  I’m planning on a couple of select brick and mortar stops, but being visible on the internet is essential.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

I’m working with Dorothy Thompson of Pump Up Your Book.  We’re taking Visions of You on a virtual book tour.  I tend to be a bit of a hermit and shy about promoting myself, but I’m really excited about working with Dorothy.

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?

Right now, word of mouth, whether it’s on Facebook or actually in person, has been the most successful tool for me.  Visions of You has some really good (5 star) reviews on Goodreads and Amazon and that helps.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

I haven’t had any book signings yet.  That’s something I’m working on.  I have my heart set on having one in Palmer.  I just need to get ahold of the bookstore to set it up.

Thank you for this interview, C.Y.!  We wish you much success!

Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you about myself and my book, Visions of You.

Caroline Alethia is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, on radio and in web outlets. Her words have reached audiences on six continents. She lived in Bolivia and was a witness to many of the events described in Plant Teacher. You can visit her website at www.plantteacherthebook.net.

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

Plant Teacher takes place in Bolivia from 2007 to 2008 during President Evo Morales’ much-contested consolidation of power. The book follows the lives of a community of Americans living in the country during that time.

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

When I looked into the economics of going through a publishing house versus self-publishing, it seemed like self-publishing was the way to go. Agents and publishers, in this day and age, expect you, in any case, to market your book yourself, and they take a large bite of the royalties. I have just begun an Internet tour of blog sites, and I think that this approach will become the model of the future. Most books are purchased over the Internet today.

After that, what happened?

After making the decision to self-publish, I built a website with many bells and whistles including a promotional video, book excerpts, a blog, and podcasts. Starting with just my circle of friends and their friends, I was fortunate that the book began selling right away and several people wrote strong reviews on Amazon. I also sought out Huffington Post contributor, Joel Hirst, who was favorably impressed and described Plant Teacher as “compelling” and “powerful.”

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

I turned to an Internet publicist to help me promote Plant Teacher. This individual has the inside scoop on the many blogs focused on books and writers, and she has arranged an “Internet tour” where I can reach my market, people who purchase books over the Internet, directly on their platform.

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 blogging makes a big difference, and website hits bear this out. Blogs are one of the key ways that many readers decide what books are of interest to them.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

I probably haven’t utilized this realm as much as I should. I envision a Facebook page for one of my main characters that remains stuck in time—before Plant Teacher begins. I have not robustly promoted this page yet, but I hope to grow it over time.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

Plant Teacher is currently being translated into Spanish. Once the Spanish-language edition is ready, I intend to promote it via Latino media in the United States. This is a growing and largely untapped market, and I think a story about modern Bolivia will resonate with Latino audiences.

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?

It is important to have an attractive, interesting website that fairly captures the tone and spirit of your book. Potential readers will go there to make a decision on whether or not to buy your book, and what they see on those pages needs to be enticing to them.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

I am planning to go all the way with Internet promotion. I have a full-time job that is very satisfying to me, and I think I can balance promoting Plant Teacher with continuing with my day-job by relying on blogs and Internet promotion.

Thank you for this interview, Caroline. We wish you much success!

Jessica Chambers has been inventing stories even before she was old enough to hold a pen. She has a passion for writing contemporary novels packed with emotion, complex relationships and often a touch of mystery.

Visually impaired from birth, Jessica currently lives with her family and Staffordshire bull terrier in the English town of Windsor. In addition to devouring fiction of all genres, she loves watching TV quiz shows and admits to being extremely competitive when it comes to a game of Trivial Pursuit.

Her latest book is Dark is the Sky.

You can visit her website at www.jessicachambers.co.uk.

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

Of course! Thanks so much for having me here. I think of Dark is the Sky as women’s fiction with an edge, blending emotion, complex relationships and mystery. Twelve years after tragedy tore their family apart, the Camerons are reuniting for the first time since that fateful day. They hope that they will at last be able to put the past behind them and lay their ghosts to rest, but of course, nothing is ever that simple! Some wounds run too deep to heal, and some secrets are too destructive to remain hidden. As the web of hostility and deceit begins to unravel, and the truth about what really happened on that long ago summer’s afternoon finally emerges, family ties are tested to the limit.

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

Besides bombarding family, friends and anyone else unfortunate enough to be in my address book with ridiculously overexcited emails? Well, I’m no expert when it comes to marketing, so the first thing I did was to find out as much about self promotion as I could. There’s tons of helpful advice online so that even a novice like me can put a marketing plan together, and that’s exactly what I did.

After that, what happened?

In the midst of finally taking the plunge and joining social networks, chiefly Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, I received my revisions from the publisher and the dreaded editing process began! Actually, it was all far less painful than I anticipated. I belong to an online critique group, a wonderful collection of both published and aspiring authors. With so many discerning eyes to help me, I was able to turn my rough draft into a polished manuscript, and this hard work certainly paid off later on.

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

All Things That Matter Press is still a relatively small publisher with a limited budget, and no one ever made any secret of the fact that much of the responsibility for marketing would be down to me. However, everyone at ATTMP has been enormously supportive, constantly providing new marketing tips and ideas, and always sharing my reviews and other news on the publisher’s own blog. I’ve certainly never felt like I’m on my own.

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’m quite a private person, so blogging isn’t something that comes naturally to me. Nor, as with so many marketing strategies, is it a quick fix. It takes months of regular posting, at least twice a week, to gain a readership. I’ve been blogging on and off for a year or so now, but it’s only during the past couple of months that I’ve really started to take it seriously. So, to answer your question, I can’t say it has been instrumental in my book sales as yet, but it’s a platform to build on for the future. I’m in this for the long haul!

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

Perhaps not so much in terms of direct sales. It has, however, been invaluable when it comes to connecting with others in the book industry, whether it be fellow authors, reviewers or publishers, and this has opened up far more marketing opportunities than I would otherwise have had. I admit I do love the retweet function on Twitter, and how what you have to say is so often shared far beyond your own followers.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

I’ve just created a book trailer, which was enormous fun to put together. I’m also working on getting reviews, and have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback Dark is the Sky has received so far. Now that my book is available here in the UK, I’ve had some promotional postcards printed and am going to talk to the local libraries about ordering in my book. I’m even discussing the possibility of recording a podcast with a fellow author, but that needs some more research. On top of all this, I’m writing the next novel. There just aren’t enough hours in the day!

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?

Oh, without a doubt, it would have to be my book trailer. I only uploaded it to YouTube recently, but already it has received some great comments and impacted on my sales. I just think video is such a creative way of introducing readers to your books. For anyone who’s interested, you can check out the trailer for Dark is the Sky here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fgrT4eiYS0

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

Well, what with me being based in the UK and my publisher in the US, all my promotion thus far has been done online. I have heard though that book signings and other author events can be extremely successful in terms of sales and building a readership, so I’m certainly considering organizing one in the future. Always assuming, of course, that I can get over my shyness!

Thank you for this interview, Jessica!  We wish you much success!

Susan Spence has always been intrigued with life in the west in the 1880s. She researched historical accounts and first-person narratives as she prepared to write A Story of the West. A lifelong resident of the west, she currently lives in Montana on an old sheep shearing station with lots of furry critters and one partially furry critter. This is her first novel, and she is busily working on a sequel due out in late spring.

You can visit her website at www.writing-ranch.com.

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

A Story of the West is set during the early ranching days in the American West. True to the difficulties of living on the frontier, it tells the struggles of not only overcoming daily hardships, but also the greed of others. The main character is forced to decide if his life is worth living after getting caught up in events that effectively ruined his life.

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

I self-published, so I haven’t had that experience. The first thing I did when

I completed the self-publishing process was to order a hundred paperback copies. Since I hadn’t told anyone what I was doing, I got to surprise my family and friends when, out of the blue, they received a book in the mail with my name as the author. Then I went out and peddled the rest of them.

After that, what happened?

I had a little bit of success. As a local author writing about the area’s history, there was some interest. I did a few book signings, some at book stores and a couple at fairs. One that I did fairly well at was the local museum. That was cool because the money they took in helps preserve the history of this area.

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

The self-publishing company I used did nothing to promote my book because I didn’t pay for that service. They tried to get me to, but all they offered was to list my book amongst thousands of others at book fairs, where it was unlikely to get noticed. It seemed like a waste of money.

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 blog mainly for enjoyment. I think it’s helped a little, but my followers are mostly people who are interested in my lifestyle. I’ve often thought that I should do more writing for my blog, but since I like photography also, I post photos and tell stories around them. I might start another blog with a literary theme to appeal more to readers.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

I sold a few books through facebook, but am no longer on it. I can’t imagine myself being a twitter person. If that type of networking is needed to become famous, I guess I never will (laugh). Recently I’ve come across two lists of book review blogs. I went through them and queried the ones who seemed they would be interested in reading A Story of the West. From that I sent off at least a dozen copies for review. I’ll have to wait and see, first of all, what they write, and then the overall effect on sales.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

At this point I am using only my blog and website.

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?

The local angle, even though it’s limited, has created the most interest so far. People who live here, as well as visitors, are curious to read A Story of the West because it’s part of the history of this area and because I’m their neighbor.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as book signings?

I did a few book signings, and for the most part enjoyed them. I don’t know what is considered successful as far as numbers sold, but I did sell some books. The problem I had was convincing bookstores to give me a chance, even when it cost them nothing. For the ones I did set up, I hung flyers, sent out press releases to local news media and whatever else I could think of. I can reach a lot more people online, but interacting with people and signing copies of my book for them is really rewarding.

Thank you for this interview, Susan!  We wish you much success!

You’re welcome. Thank you for the good wish and for having me.

Christopher Cloud began writing children’s fiction after a long career in journalism and public relations. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1967 with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist for newspapers in Texas, California, and Missouri. His work has appeared in many national publications, including Time Magazine. He was employed by Sun Oil Company as a Public Relations executive, and later operated his own PR agency.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Cloud/144889658941239

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

A Boy Called Duct Tape tells the story of Pablo Perez, a 12-year-old kid without much going for him. His classmates have dubbed him “Duct Tape” because his tattered, discount-store sneakers are held together with…you guessed it, duct tape. He can’t escape the bullying.

Pablo’s fortunes turn, however, after he finds a $20 gold coin on the river bottom while swimming near his home. Pablo later buys a $1 treasure map at the county fair. The map shows the route to the legendary “lost treasure” of Jesse and Frank James. Pablo can’t help but wonder: Is there a link between the map and the gold coin? He, his sister, and cousin are determined to find out.

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

Retaining a good publicist will go a long way toward finding a home for your novel.

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?

A Boy Called Duct Tape features Latino characters, and it only makes sense to target literary bloggers who reach the Latino community.

Do you do more promoting online or offline and which do you prefer?

Online.

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

Yes, I am promoting A Kid Called Duct Tape on Facebook even as we speak. Publicity is fickle. One never knows where the Publicity God will take you after a posting on Facebook. It’s all about exposure.

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?

Until recently, I wrote an Op-Ed column for the Joplin Globe. I write fiction four or five hours every day, and I simply don’t have time to write a blog.

Do you recommend authors getting publicists to help them promote their books?  Do you have one?

Absolutely, and yes, I have one. A good publicist is worth his or her weight in gold. It’s all about having the right media contacts. Speaking for myself, I am swimming in uncharted waters. A good publicist can help me chart a more successful course. In the end, however, you must have a good story. A good story will always find a home.

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

It’s all about target audiences, and a writer should isolate these markets. A Kid Called Duct Tape, for example, has a primary audience of Latino boys between the ages of 9-13, and a secondary audience of middle-grade readers, in general. Isolating literary blogs that reach your target audiences would be my best advice.

Thank you for coming, Christopher!  We wish you much success!

I started writing when I was nine-years-old. I used to write short stories on my dad’s notepads. One day he read one and he said to me, “You are a writer.” It stuck. My dad is still my biggest supporter and he is also my mentor in many ways. I went to college at The University of Southern California. My parents though didn’t think that “creative writing” at USC was a major that would likely be lucrative in the long run, so I figured I would be logical and look at writing in the journalistic field. God (the Universe), etc. had a different plan for me. Soon after I graduated from USC I gave birth to my first son. He was six weeks premature and he had some health issues, which caused me to decide that going into a career at that time would not benefit my son. So, I stayed home with him and I wrote my first book. That first book is tucked away in a box somewhere because it’s pretty darn bad, but it gave me the confidence I needed to know that I could start, write, and finish a book. From that point on, it took me twelve years to become a published author and several manuscripts. It has been a wonderful and amazing process, and although many challenges have presented themselves along the way, I have never quit writing. It is my passion!

My other passion is Horses. These amazing animals are very dear to my heart and I have been known to take in “strays.” My daughter and I are very active in the horse world. My daughter is involved in pony club and three day eventing.

I enjoy work with other writers when I can , especially kids. I designed a program for young writers to help them learn how to write short stories and picture books to writing complete novellas for older kids. I have mentored several students now and it’s a joyful experience to see young writers and their creative minds at work. It is something I am working on expanding with some local teachers in my area.

Family and friends are extremely important to me. I am the proud mother of three amazing kids who have always supported me and are just great, awesome human beings (yes, I know I sound like every mother in the world about their kids, but I really mean it). My husband is my best friend and a very patient man, which is a real positive—he is married to a writer after all. We also have three dogs, a kitty, and eight horses.

When not writing, riding, or being a taxi-cab driver for my youngest, I try to find time to do a little yoga, meditate or cooking. I love cookbooks and cooking!

A.K.’s recent release is Daddy’s Home.

You can visit her website at www.michelescott.com/books/ak-alexander.

Welcome to Book Marketing Buzz, A.K. Alexander (Michele Scott).  Can we begin by having you tell us a little about your book?

The book is about a killer who is seeking his “perfect family,” by stalking single moms and their kids. When things don’t work out so perfectly he kills them. Holly Jennings is the investigator on the case and being a single mom herself the case becomes personal. She is also working on her own inner demons as she finds herself determined to catch the bastard.

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

I was traditionally published by one of the big 6 for several years. I now do everything myself, which has worked out very well. The first thing I do to promote any book is send out my newsletter to my readers. Once they are engaged, they tend to spread the word.

After that, what happened?

I have a list of things that I do with each book and I am not sure what works the best, but I do them all and the combination seems to be the key. I create a book trailer, I blog, I social network, I do virtual blog tours, and I work with other authors to cross-promote. The most important thing I have found is having a relationship with the reader. I answer e-mail I receive and I am truly interested in that person. I tend to cultivate friendships with my readers and have ongoing dialogue with them. The readers are truly what makes the writing so great to do.

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

Back in the day when I was traditionally published, I still did all of the marketing myself. Unless you are one of the stars in the publishing house you can’t expect a lot from them. I did get some book marks few times.

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 blog when I have something I think may matter to the readers. I think blogging creates a loyalty from readers. I don’t know if it sells books all that much but it does allow the communication between the readers and yourself. It is those readers that then turn around and tweet, etc about your books. It’s word of mouth multiplied by the masses.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

I think it is very effective but you can’t always be shoving books in people’s faces. You have to also be open and willing to share bits and pieces of your life.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

Book trailers, advanced reads go out, Bookrooster.com, BookDaily.com, Pump Up Your Book tours, and working together with a network of other authors.

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?

Write a great book, then put it out there. I can’t choose one thing. I really can’t. It is a culmination of things and it is a lot of hard work. However, I do think a great website is still your primary marketing piece. The other would be excellent covers!

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

Booksignings have never been huge for me. I have done some promotional contests, and release parties and they tend to generate some sales, but not tons.

Thank you for this interview, A.K. Alexander!  We wish you much success!

Thank You!

Valerie Stocking was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and wrote her first short story when she was five.  When she was eight, she won a short story contest in Jack and Jill Magazine.  She wrote her first play at the age of ten.  In 1966, when she was twelve, she and her mother moved to a small town in Florida where they lived for a year.  During this time, Valerie experienced difficulties with the public school system, tried a Seventh Day Adventist school briefly, and then dropped out altogether.  It was her experiences during this year that inspired The Promised Land. Later, she would finish high school, graduate from college and earn a Master’s degree in Cinema Studies from NYU.

For nearly 30 years, she wrote and edited in various capacities, including copywriting, newspaper articles, and short stories.  She wrote nearly 20 full-length and one act plays over a ten year period, which have been performed throughout the U.S. and Canada.  She edited books for audio, abridging over 100 novels in a 6-year period.  In 2010, she published her first novel, A Touch of Murder, which is the first of what will become the Samantha Kern mystery series.  It was nominated for a Global eBook Award in 2011 for Best Mystery.

Valerie lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her dog and cat, and is working on her next novel.

You can visit her website at www.valeriestocking.com.

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

Sure!  The Promised Land is about a 12-year-old girl’s coming of age in a small southern town in 1966.  She and her mother have just moved there from a Connecticut suburb, and of course it’s culture shock.  The girl befriends a biracial boy with explosive consequences.  The book also deals with the inadequacies of the public education system, and adolescent drinking and drug use.

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

I made a list of all the people I wanted to send advance copies to.  I also contacted Dorothy Thompson of Pump Up Your Book to query about a blog tour.

After that, what happened?

Once the book came out, I sent the copies to the people on my list.  And I contacted Dorothy right away.

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

They developed and sent out a press release.  They also made a large number of promotional bookmarks for me.

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’ve been blogging on a regular basis (twice a week) since last November.  It really isn’t enough time to have developed a large enough audience to say whether or not it has helped book sales.  I have been looking at the numbers, tracking the people who are reading, and it’s still a small audience, but it seems to be growing.  On Mondays, I do a potpourri of subjects: I talk about my writing, about the 1960’s (a connection with The Promised Land), and paranormal activity.  It seems that most people enjoy the paranormal stuff more than the other things.  I am going to be writing a paranormal thriller soon (I hope!) so I’m doing and writing about research in that area.  On Thursdays, I have a serialized mystery going, called “Color Me Dead.”  It’s a Samantha Kern mystery (she’s the detective in my first novel “A Touch of Murder”).

From what I understand, it can take several years to build a blog, in terms of audience.  So I am going to keep writing, and be patient.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

I have become active on Facebook and Twitter since November, talking about my blogs and my progress with The Promised Land. It’s a great way to get the message out to a lot of people.  I am on LinkedIn, but don’t do much there.  I’ve been adding friends to FB a lot, though.  And I’m getting positive responses.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

I’ve sent out review copies to a number of people, including a woman who interviewed me before on a radio station in the Four Corners (NW) area of New Mexico.  She told me to send anything else I wrote to her, and said she’d like to interview me again.  In addition, an interview I did for the local NBC affiliate here just aired yesterday.  It will be available for general viewing on my website soon.  I’ve done 2 open mic readings, and a book signing here in Santa Fe.  The big reading/signing here is going to happen April 19, at Collected Works bookstore.  I’m going to be putting out flyers for that, and also contacting a local radio station about interviewing me.  So I’ve been busy!

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?

Facebook.  I can get the message out to a lot of people, numerous times, and it doesn’t cost anything.  Twitter’s good, too, but I find the length limitations frustrating at times.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

I love book signings!  I enjoy talking to people, despite the fact that I’m very nervous right beforehand.  However, before a person will come to a book signing, they have to know about it.  So advertising it is key.  It’s not going to sell mass quantities of a book, but it adds a personal touch that I like.

Thank you for this interview, Valerie!  We wish you much success!

Thank you!

Gordon Gumpertz brings fiction readers another exciting action/adventure experience in his new novel RED HOT SKY. This is the author’s second book, following his highly acclaimed novel TSUNAMI.

In addition to writing novels, Gordon has won gold and silver awards in national and regional short story competitions. He is a member of the Authors Guild, the Palm Springs Writers Guild, a UCLA graduate, and an instrument-rated private pilot. He keeps his website current by blogging on natural disasters and natural phenomena.

Gordon and his wife Jenny live not far from the San Andreas fault, where the Pacific Plate thrusts into the North American Plate, building increasingly high levels of faultline stress which, the seismologists say, may soon produce the Big One.

Visit his website at www.tsunaminaturaldisaster.com.

Website | Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

About Red Hot Sky

CO2 buildup in earth’s atmosphere reaches a tipping point. Global weather destabilizes, turns chaotic. Ice storms, dust storms, floods, blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes pummel the earth nonstop. A secret computer model reveals that the frantic weather will peak out, and transform world climate into an alien environment devastating to human survival.

Scientists Ben Mason, Claudine Manet, and Bertrand Short are developers of the computer model. Ben and Claudine are lovers as well as lab partners. While they work frantically to head off the approaching catastrophe, a disgraced Russian general hacks into their model and sees earth’s bleak future as his opportunity for ultimate world power.

Ben, who had left the CIA to develop the computer model at the national lab,  is reactivated by the Agency and sent on a perilous mission to block the rogue general’s plot. Claudine, not realizing that Ben is on a secret mission, misunderstands his absence, putting their relationship on thin ice.

Claudine is placed in charge of a massive NASA project that, if completed on time, could stop the approaching doomsday climate change. But her project is stalled by bureaucracy. Ben is on the run in hostile territory. The climate change calamity steadily approaches.

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

Red Hot Sky is a story about what happens when CO2 buildup in earth’s atmosphere reaches a tipping point. In this scenario, global weather destabilizes, turns chaotic. Ice storms, dust storms, floods, blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes pummel the earth nonstop. A secret computer model reveals that the frantic weather will peak out, and transform world climate into an alien environment devastating to human survival.

Scientists Ben Mason and Claudine Manet, developers of the computer model, are lovers as well as lab partners. While they work frantically to head off the approaching catastrophe, a disgraced Russian general hacks into their model and sees earth’s bleak future as his opportunity for ultimate world power.

Ben, who had left the CIA to develop the computer model at the national lab,  is reactivated by the Agency and sent on a perilous mission to block the rogue general’s plot. Claudine is placed in charge of a massive NASA project that, if completed on time, could stop the approaching doomsday climate change. But her project is stalled by bureaucracy. Ben, his cover blown, is on the run in hostile territory. The climate change calamity steadily approaches.

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

I published Red Hot Sky with CreateSpace. My first promotional step was to feature the new book on my website, www.tsunaminaturaldisaster.com.

After that, what happened?

My next step was to contact Dorothy Thompson at Pump Up Your Book. We agreed on a two-month informational campaign to help increase traffic to my website.

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

Took the two steps above.

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’m a blogging believer. Most of my sales come from my website where I blog on natural disasters and natural phenomena. Red Hot Sky and my first novel, Tsunami, are both featured in a separate panel, along with excerpts, reviews, and information about the books and the author.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

I’m just learning how to promote using Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube. I have high hopes, but too early to tell.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

I’m using Pump Up Your Book to help increase awareness and demand.

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?

My website.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

In promoting my first book, Tsunami, I found giving talks as the featured speaker at clubs and organizations to be the most effective way to sell books. Sitting at a desk at a regular book signing is not very effective for the hours invested.

Thank you for this interview, Gordon!  We wish you much success!

Born in the City of Angels, raised on Walt Disney, and inspired by the dreams of both, Kathy Holmes grew up in southern California halfway between Disneyland and the beach.

Tantalized by the tropics since Adam Troy set sail on the Kon Tiki in James A. Michener’s “Adventures in Paradise,” she traveled to tropical destinations such as Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Asia Pacific. Eventually, she moved to Florida where she wrote and secured representation for Real Women Wear Red. She also wrote for Walt Disney World and the Orlando Sentinel.

After living in Las Vegas for a few years, Kathy, her husband, and their three Burmese cats have moved back to Florida and are now living halfway between Walt Disney World and the beach in Central Florida.

Her latest book is Letters on Balboa Island.

Visit her on the web at www.KathyHolmes.net.

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

Here’s the blurb:

When Rosalie Martin was seventeen, she knew two things that were true: You couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a man in a military uniform in Southern California in the early fifties. And sooner or later, men would leave. But that didn’t stop her from trying to find a man who would stay. And before she knows it, she has not only one man on her hands, but two.
So when she breaks one man’s heart to spend her life with the other man, she is forced to live with a secret. And when she can’t forget the man she left behind, she builds a secret life on Balboa Island. But when letters surface on Balboa Island, she realizes she may have chosen the wrong man. So when fate gives her a second chance to make a different choice, will she risk it all and tell the truth? Or will she continue to live a life of many lies?

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

Although I have publishing credits with small presses, about half of my work is published as an Indie author. I’ve been building my marketing/promo skills over the past several years through blogging and other social media such as Twitter.

After that, what happened?

I contacted the queen of Virtual Book Tours, Dorothy Thompson of “Pump Up Your Book.”

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

This book is one of my Indie novels, so I’m taking on the promotion responsibility.

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?

Well, I’ve been known to say that “I was born to blog.” It really suits me and I would blog whether it helped to sell books or not. You can’t really know what works – I just say do what feels right for you and continue to tweak your efforts as you go.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool. Do you find it is or isn’t?

I tried Facebook but it didn’t really work that well. For one thing, most of my “friends” were either friends, family, or other writers who were there to promote their books – lol! I find Twitter much more useful because you reach a wider audience and can use hashtags to help your promo pieces get noticed.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

I’m so impressed with Pump Up Your Book Promotion book tours, that I can’t imagine going it alone. It’s so wonderful to have somebody to work with in helping to market a book.

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?

While it’s too early to know because the book tour is just getting started, I would imagine it will probably be the virtual book tour.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

Most of those have been rather informal at the request of the reader, so I don’t have a lot of experience with them.

Thank you for this interview, Kathy. We wish you much success!

My pleasure!