This just popped in my email a little while ago and I thought I’d pass it over to you all.  They are open to submissions now and best of all, it’s FREE!  In case you want to leave a small donation, they have a place for that, too. ;o)

Dear Author,

Since you have a book [or more than one!] that you’d like to promote, now is your opportunity to do so. The cost? FREE! 1st Author Interviews is a new site that is aimed at getting authors more attention. Whether your books are e-books or from a legacy publisher, ALL authors are welcome. Even if you’re already established, this is just another way to expand your readership base.

Here’s the link for the submissions, or use the one in the body of the email below. Oh, and please keep the excerpts free of profanity —this is a family-friendly site!

Feel free to forward this email to other authors! We want to showcase a wide variety of talented authors.

Please send ALL submissions to: 1stauthorinterviews@gmail.com

Use your BOOK TITLE in the subject line and copy and paste the information below.

Book Title:
Publisher:
Author:
Genre:
Kindle link:
B&N link:
Smashwords link:
Author’s website OR blog URL:
Brief summary: [up to 150 words]

Excerpt: [400 words maximum]

THE INTERVIEW:

Question: Why did you write this book?
Question: How did you come up with the title?
Question: How did you choose your genre?
Question: What inspired you to be a writer?
Up to 4 Bonus Questions! Here you can ask and answer whatever questions you want about your book. [300 words maximum].

Optional: You may include a small photo of yourself.

Please submit one interview per book title. Thank you!

Warm Regards,

K.J. Robinson
Site Owner

–
http://www.1stauthorinterviews.com

For Authors Seeking an Audience

1st Author Interviews is a unique website that allows you a chance to personally promote your book and allows your reading audience a chance to get to know you! You’ll attract more readers, giving them the opportunity to get to know you and your work better. You get your material out there in front of readers, literary agents, publishers and development executives from films, cable and TV. 1st Author Interviews is your first stop to getting your book promoted to that vast online audience. We offer this outlet to any traditional or self-published author, whether in e-book or print formats.

Sorry guys, this is only for chick writers!

Women Writers, Women’s Books at booksbywomen.org was launched on May 1, 2011 to highlight contemporary women writers and contemporary women readers.

“We welcome contributing writers who write about writing, who you are as writers and women (writing women), and what you are writing.”

All you have to do is click on the register link below the login box at http://www.booksbywomen.org/wp-admin and wait for your confirmation email.

Sounds like a great book promotion opportunity!

Garasamo Maccagnone studied creative writing and literature under noted American writers Sam Astrachan and Stuart Dybek at Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. In the mid 90’s Maccagnone decided to fulfill the promise of his writing career, by first penning the children’s book, The Suburban Dragon and then following up with a collection of short stories and poetry entitled, The Affliction of Dreams. His literary novel, St. John of the Midfield was published in 2007, followed by his For the Love of St. Nick, which was released in 2008.

Maccagnone expanded the original version of For the Love of St. Nick and had the book illustrated for a new release in June 2009. My Dog Tim and Other Stories is a literary anthology of the author’s best work.

Garasamo “Gary” Maccagnone lives today in Shelby Township, Michigan, with his wife Vicki and three children. At this time, he is researching the location for his second novel, tentatively titled, He Lay Low.

You can visit Gary online at www.garasamomaccagnone.com.

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

My Dog Tim: and other stories is a collection of short stories and one novel. The anchor story, which is the novel, is entitled, St. John of the Midfield. It tells the story of Bobo Stoikov, a youth soccer coach who was once one of the world’s greatest soccer players. He escaped communist Bulgaria to live the American dream. Once he arrived, he had no idea what was in store for him.

Some make the mistake believing this is a typical adolescent sport’s novel. It begins that way, but then takes an unexpected turn.

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

I contacted Cheryl over at Pump up your Book. She’s my guiding hand.

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?

In the case of my novel, St. John of the Midfield, I marketed heavily on a major soccer site called topdrawersoccer.com. Besides having a two or three banner ads on their site, they distributed marketing e-mails to their contacts of over twenty thousand people.

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

I like on-line marketing. I’m introverted. I’m not the type to show up for a reading.

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

Currently, I’m on Facebook. It’s been a nice tool, though I make sure I don’t overuse it.

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?

I don’t blog. I have a web site that is maintained by a friend of mine. She keeps the front page fresh by updating on a bi-weekly basis.

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

I don’t have a publicist. I suppose you have to earn that, or pay for it. I tend to invest mainly in my content, which, I believe, will stand the test of time.

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

Call Cheryl at Pump up Your Book. If you want viral notoriety, she’s a great person to work with.

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

Your book has just been published.  Or maybe it’s going to be published in the next month or two.  Regardless, authors are signing up for virtual book tours the moment they hear about the exciting ways they can promote their books with them.  There is no better vehicle to sell your books online so I don’t blame them.

I would like to provide a checklist of things to consider before booking your tour.  After all, you want you and your book to be in the most tip top shape, so here goes:

Book Marketing Buzz’s 28-point Checklist BEFORE Packing Your Cyber-Bags:

• Do you know which audiences you want to target?
• Are you aware the broader the scope of readers you want to target, the better the tour?
• Have you narrowed your key search words down to the most important and have figured out ways to use them in your interviews and guest posts?
• Have you compiled a list of potential blog stops for your tour along with email addresses if you are putting your tour together on your own?
• Are you making sure these particular blogs are updated frequently and have a full set of archives to make them search engine friendly?
• Can you provide author copies (unless the publisher takes care of it) to reviewers in time for them to receive the book, read the book and post the review by the given date both of you have agreed on?
• Do you have a professional author photo and can you provide your blog hosts with a jpg copy?
• Do you have a landing page (website or blog) where people can go to learn more about you and your book?
• Does your website or blog have clear enough directions on how to buy your book on the first page and are you providing a cover to entice them?
• Does your website/blog have contact information in case people want to get in touch with you?
• Are you keeping your blog updated with fresh content to keep it search engine friendly?
• Do you know how to craft a bio written in third person that includes your book’s title and website/blog url?
• Does your bio ramble or can you say most of what you have to say in one to three paragraphs?
• Are you prepared to learn more about you and your book than you did before the tour took place?
• Are you prepared for the workload that is involved when planning your tour – e.g. having to write several guest posts and fill out an umpteen amount of interviews keeping each interview fresh, different and non-boring?
• Do you have a few guest posts already written for when blog hosts ask for them?
• If not, can you come up with a few ideas beforehand so that when asked for a guest post at the last minute, you’re not pulling your hair out?
• Do you know what kind of guest posts bring in more reaction from the readers?
• Do you know what kind of guest posts bring in more sales?
• Do you know how to use the social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to promote your tour stops on a daily basis?
• Are you set up in google alerts to alert you on how well your publicity efforts are taking you?
• Do you know how to set up press releases to announce your tour or know of someone who can do it for you?
• Have you built up on your communication and organizational skills so you don’t become unglued?
• Have you built up your contact list (your followers)?
• Have you prepared yourself for negative reviews in case they happen and are you willing to accept them for what they’re worth?
• Are you willing to participate in your virtual book tour by leaving a comment at your “stops”?
• Are you willing to thank your tour host after they so kindly posted your interview, guest post, review, etc.?
• Are you prepared to SELL BOOKS?

If you have answered no to any of these, reconsider fixing those problems before you embark on an international virtual book tour.  It’s way better to be prepared and ready than winging it.

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Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. She has had twenty-five books published, both in fiction and nonfiction under different names and in different languages. Her novels have been optioned for book clubs and film. Her book Angel Lane was an Amazon Top Ten Romance pick for 2009. When she’s not hanging out with her girlfriends or hitting the dance floor with her husband, she can be found writing about those things dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

You can visit Sheila at her website (http://www.sheilasplace.com). You can also find her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts) and

Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Sheila-Roberts/76502579853?ref=ts)

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

Sheila Roberts: I am so excited about Small Change, my new book with St. Martin’s Press, simply because the theme is one that is near and dear to my heart: learning to live well on what you make. It’s a novel about three girlfriends helping each other conquer their financial challenges. It’s a fun read and, I hope, and inspiring one – good women’s fiction with a nice dollop of romance thrown in for good measure. I’ve also included some great money tips and even recipes for fabulous homemade gifts. Uh, did I mention I’m excited about this book? J

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

Sheila Roberts: Actually, the first thing I did was to sit down and make a promotion plan. I actually do this for every book and it includes everything from where I want to place ads to bookstores where I’ll hopefully do an event. (Of course, a budget is part of the plan, too, and I sometimes find I have to scale back just a little to stay in my budget. My ideas are often bigger than my bank account!) Tops on my to-do list is always a blog tour simply because this method of promotion is the best deal in town and you can meet so many new readers on the Internet.

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?

Sheila Roberts: I love doing book signings (mainly because I’m a big ham and I enjoy having a captive audience J ) but online promotion is probably the most effective thing I do.

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

Sheila Roberts: I do online promotion, ads, some radio and TV, book club visits, and bookstore appearances whenever I get the chance. I actually prefer meeting people in person, but I also enjoy online socializing. I’ve met a ton of great people online.

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

Sheila Roberts: I do have friends on Facebook and Tweeps on Twitter. I certainly don’t have a huge following like many people. I always joke with my web guy that I’m going to take over the world. But I’m finding that taking over the world is a slow process J

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?

Sheila Roberts: I blog on my website. I feel it’s a good way for people to get to know me as a person. I don’t blog every day but I try to keep things fresh both on the blog and the rest of the site. Visitors can find a new recipe and blog at least every month along with book excerpts and a contest, of course, as well as news of “Sheila sightings”.

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

Sheila Roberts: I think using a publicist is a great idea. Maybe not on your first book but at some point. Publicists, like agents, are experts in their field and have contacts that we writers don’t have. Yes, there are some things you can do yourself, but I think most writers reach a point where they need help.

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

Sheila Roberts: Promote on the Internet. Meet people on Facebook and Twitter. Get a blog tour going. Bottom line: word of mouth is still one of the best ways to promote your book, and the best mouth to get that rolling is yours!

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

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I found a really interesting article called “32 Ways to Use Facebook for Business” at WebWorker Daily. There were several reasons I liked it, but the main reason was how Facebook can be used as a highly effective business tool. Authors need to keep in mind that their books are their business and any way we can find to promote them is all right in our books. One thing I think authors overlook (I had one of my clients clam up after I asked them their twitter and facebook urls. “I don’t know how to get one,” was the response for Facebook) and now, my author friends, you can get a vanity url which will lead everyone to your facebook page. The link is http://www.facebook.com/username/. Mine is www.facebook.com/thewriterslife if anyone wants to hook up with me or www.facebook.com/pumpupyourbook if you’d like to join our Pump Up Your Book Fan Page. I strongly recommend all writers and authors to visit Facebook (as well as Twitter) and learn how you can not only promote your books at both places but learn what networking with others is all about first hand.

Another interesting article I found was “5 Ways Companies Used News Trends for Business Success” at Mashable. What it is basically telling you is to make your promotions more news worthy and less promotional which we are all told to do when promoting or marketing our book. It’s useless to even waste our time with “Buy Me!” antics, but if you could somehow relate your book to news worthy items, then you just might have something there. How? Read how 5 businesses are doing it and follow suit.

And I believe the most interesting article was author Libba Bray’s interview with Skype where she discusses her “virtual book tour.” I know most people have read about this before now, but it bears repeating because this is a really great way to promote your book. We do something similar at Pump Up, but it’s more or less a vidlog. Vidlogs are where authors talk about their books and which are posted up at YouTube, among other video sharing websites such as Yahoo Video, Google Video, Veoh, VSocial, Blip…dozens upon dozens of places in which to do this. Readers tend to love seeing their favorite authors talk about their books as opposed to reading about them. One particular favorite vidlog we have done was with Kelly Epperson sitting on Santa’s lap with her book in her hand. Wasn’t Santa so accomodating?

That’s it for today. See you in the blogosphere!

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I’m going to keep it light and simple.  Make me laugh and I’ll follow you anywhere.

In my Pump Up Your Blog e-group last Friday, The Cajun Book Lady was telling us about an author who guest posted at her blog that morning.  His name was Brian O’Mara-Croft, author of Lost in the Hive (PublishingWorks) but before I go any further, I have a thing or two to say about humor.

The way to this woman’s heart is make me laugh.  I don’t care if you have to dig deep within your tough macho exterior to find that little kid you once were, just humor me.  Make me forget the tons of work I have piled up.  Make me forget the deadline for said pile.  Make me believe that there are authors out there who know how to write a damn good guest post.

I believe that when an author is trying to sell his or her book, you’ve got to stand out.  When you’re filling out all those interviews and writing all those guest posts, you don’t want them all to look like one big repetitious blur which you really can’t help.  I suppose there isn’t too many different variations of what is your book about, but it helps to find some way to be unique.  Different.  Nine times out of ten, humor is the ticket which brings me back to Brian.

So I go over and read the guest post he wrote for The Cajun Book Lady and I knew right there this was someone who could sell icicles to the Eskimos.  It. Was. Hilarious.  It was hilarious because of the way he approached his guest post.  Read it here and let me know if you have the same reaction I had.

Did you read it?  Now you see what I mean?

Of course, his book is humor which is great – he uses his genre to his advantage.  And. It. So. Works.

So I left a comment even as busy as I am which is a terrible reason not to leave a comment but at least it’s honest.

Now here’s where the story gets interesting. That very same morning, I get an email from the author of the guest post thanking me.  Thanking me. Why did he thank me?  Because…he knew…this was how to become a networking whore. I say this tongue in cheek because I know Brian would appreciate this cute little nifty phrase.

And to sum things up, the repercussion of his thoughtfulness led him here.  I asked him to guest post for me because I didn’t want The Cajun Book Lady to have all the glory of having the best guest post on the block.

So without further ado, I give you…Brian O’Mara-Croft…with tips on how to really sell books.

A First-Time Author’s Rocky Path

by Brian O’Mara-Croft

For an entire year as a preschooler, my wife Patty changed her name. Without seeking anyone’s blessing, she decided to answer only to “Cecil” (or, more formally, to “Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent,” a beloved TV character of the time). When I heard this story, I gasped—not because Patty wanted to reinvent herself while barely invented, but because her choice seemed a trifle whacko for a child battling sibilance (or, as she would have said, thibilanth).

This morning, as I sat to relate my brazen efforts to promote my upcoming book, I recalled Patty’s story, and it made me think.

I call myself an author. But, until Lost in the Hive hits shelves in June, I’m really just “Theethil” reborn—a notion of an author, an author-to-be.

The folks at PublishingWorks encourage me to keep up the ruse. For Lost in the Hive to sell, people need to know about the book, even though it’s not yet a book—and know about the author, even though I’m not yet officially an author. If nobody knows … nobody buys.

As a new author, I lack a solid “platform”. This is editor-speak for, “You’re no David Sedaris.” For most authors (and especially for those insane enough to write humorous personal essays, as I do), a lack of platform translates into a lack of a writing future. To survive, I must pull a P.T. Barnum, a Houdini. I need to create buzz based on a promise, to craft clever smoke and mirrors that will draw potential readers to the edge of their seats, yearning for the eventual reveal.

What have I been doing so far to move myself from unknown to über-author, from Cecil to Sedaris? Well, I’ll tell you. Will these things work? Only time will tell.

1. I flirt with “real” authors

With few exceptions, most writers struggled to get their names and their books known. The more compassionate in this group recall this fresh hell and, like parents (at least those without crack addictions), wish a better life for those who follow. So, before the ink dried on my contract for Lost in the Hive, I started reaching out to other authors (mostly on Twitter and Facebook). Most have been happy to share advice and/or horror stories, will introduce me around and talk me up, and will even find ways to include me in activities and events in which they’re participating. These favors come with an unspoken understanding: (a) since they’ve scratched my back, I may one day be called upon to scratch theirs, and (b) if I’m one of the lucky few to make it big, those backs will itch like a sonofabitch.

2. I make fun of myself

For the past several weeks, I’ve been directing clips for a YouTube trailer to promote Lost in the Hive. My book is self-deprecating and humorous (I hope), so my angle is to take shots at both the book and myself. I’m opting for a faux-testimonial approach, where “readers” share accounts of how my book changed and/or ruined their lives.

The advantages of a tongue-in-cheek video trailer are: (a) online videos are viral—like STDs and nasty rumors, they get passed around; (b) if you employ friends as “actors” in your video, they want their family, friends and friends-of-friends to see their star turn, so they pass the video around; and (c) even people who aren’t avid readers enjoy movies, so they may buy your book on a whim before they realize, “Hey, I never read. He tricked me.” Think about it: while most books are better than movies based on those books, a great many books were unknown until the movie version came out.

3. I’m a social media whore

Like iPhones and ill-fitting pants, I’m everywhere. I’m active on my personal Facebook page, and comment on the walls of other authors and comics. I maintain a Facebook fan page for Lost in the Hive. My generous friends use the “suggest to friends” feature on the page to tell their friends, who tell their friends, and so on. Some will even post a message on their personal Facebook wall, encouraging others to become fans and to pass the word along. Will all of these visitors and fans buy my book? I don’t know. But, at a minimum, they’ll know it exists, and that’s a start. How did I get friends to do this for me? First, I’m a real friend to them (my backyard is full of bodies). Second, I asked.

I spend a lot of time—too much—on Twitter (omara_croft) and TweetChat. I follow many writers, booksellers, publishers, agents, comics and actors. I retweet their comments (a great way to seem funny or sharp by stealing others’ material with their blessing), and reply with comments I hope they too will retweet. Most times, nothing happens; once in a while, something does.

On TweetChat, I participate in various discussion groups, like #bookmarket and #litchat. I make evocative comments, and some participants follow me (not as many as I’d hoped, but I keep plugging away). Most people want to know you if they think you have something to say (especially if it’s about Twilight).

4. I steal others’ ideas

If you’re an author (published or aspiring) who doesn’t know me personally, you chose to read this not because you love me or find me especially attractive, unless there’s something very wrong with you. You’re reading because you hope I’ll share something you can use to promote yourself. Please, go ahead; use me. I’d use you. Along the way, I’ve picked up many good ideas from others.

On Twitter alone, I follow SMforWriters, AuthorTech and bookmarketer, all of whom offer wonderful tips, tricks and links to get your name and work out there. For example, a quick scan of SMforWriters’ Twitter page this morning yielded a goldmine:

• How blogging can help land a book deal
• How writers can use Twitter to maximize efficiency
• How to use social networking without losing author mystique (whatever that is)
• How writers can build a “brand” on search engines

When I can break myself away from Twitter, I Google “author self-promotion”, “how to attract Facebook fans”, “book marketing” and “quick ways to get absurdly wealthy”, just to see what others have tried and tested. All but the last one bear fruit.

5. I seduce readers of my genre

If you’re a writer and you haven’t joined Shelfari, take a quick break now and join. I mean it. Don’t worry…I’ll still be here when you get back. Avid readers love talking about what they’ve read, and also love hearing about good books they might read next.

On the site, I study members’ positive reviews of books by authors who write books similar to mine. I then invite the reviewers to be my friends. I include a note like this: “I enjoyed your review of Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs. I, like you, am a fan of his writing. His work inspired me to write my own upcoming collection of humorous essays, LOST IN THE HIVE. I’m hoping to connect with other readers and writers who enjoy this genre. If you’re curious about my work, please take a peek at my blog at lostinthehive.blogspot.com. Thanks for being my friend.”

This isn’t trickery. I believe people who enjoy these authors will also enjoy my book. If they don’t, I’ll look like an asshole and they’ll tell everyone. (Hmm…should I be doing this?)

Within days, I had more than 100 friends. By looking at what they’re reading, and studying what they liked and disliked, I learn a lot about what types of stories hold the greatest appeal, and can use this information to improve my own writing. What’s more, I can keep my new online friends up-to-date about my upcoming book release.

6. I blog…a lot

I maintain a blog (lostinthehive.blogspot.com) that shares a name, and irreverent style, with my upcoming book. I write as often as I can. On occasion, I post a timely or relevant article on some issue I hope will appeal to a large audience—like, er, this one.

On BlogCatalog.com, I discuss my blog, the issues I explore on my blog, and the process of blogging; if I say the right things, people pop by for a look, and some stay. I re-posted one of my blog stories on Broowaha, an online newspaper made up of blog entries. I let people know, via my Facebook fan page and Twitter, that I’ve posted a new blog entry. When I send emails to people, I include the information about my blog (and my book) in the signature line. When I visit others’ blogs, I leave comments that are outrageous, and drop subtle hints about my blog. Everyone does this; nobody seems to mind.

7. I thrive on symbiosis

I live in a small suburb of Chicago. Oswego is small enough to boast only one independent bookstore, and not big enough to attract a big-box store like Borders. I know Joe and Leah, the owners of Old Towne Books & Tea, quite well. I participate in their Writers’ Club. I’ve been working with Joe on a podcast interview.

I use the skills from my day job—graphic design—to help them out with branding and promotional items. I do this for free—well, almost for free. In exchange for my services, I include a blurb for my book on most materials I create. Joe knows I’m looking out for myself. He’s looking out for himself. And if in the process of looking out for ourselves we can look out for each other, even better. If you have a skill outside your writing, think about ways you can apply that skill to help your book promotion efforts.

8. I’m shameless

Yeah, I said it. I’m shameless. This is my dream, and I don’t want it to die. I have two other books in the works that yearn for happy futures.

Carol, the VP of marketing at my publisher, told me, “You should be willing to jump through a flaming hoop of dogshit to sell your book.” I agree. I would jump through a flaming hoop of gasoline to sell my book. I will blog, tweet, chat, email, perform, debate and proffer sexual favors (okay, maybe not) if it means more people will help my writing journey.

Now that the secret about my shamelessness is out, I would also ask you, as you read this, to “Stumble” this story, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and tell your friends. All of them.

Oh, one more thing: would you please buy my book?

When it exists, that is.

Brian O’Mara-Croft is the author of Lost in the Hive (PublishingWorks, June 2010), a collection of humorous real-life essays. He lives in a suburb of Chicago with his wife Patty, five children and no pets (by his choice and theirs). He also maintains a blog, at http://lostinthehive.blogspot.com, in which he talks too much about the private lives of his family and friends. Lost in the Hive is available for pre-order from publishingworks.com.

I was  dutifully surfing the net working on tours  last night when I came across a blog post at Marketing Christian Books about a nifty website where you can keep track of your buy button at Amazon.  Seems one day it’s there and the next, it might not be, which translates to lost sales if someone were to want to buy your book that day.

The site is called Who Moved My Buy Button and will automatically tell you when your buy button disappears and when it reappears.  How. Cool. Is. That.

So, being the nosy one, I went over to check it out.  Why not -  I’d love to find out if for some odd reason my buy button gets eaten up by the 900 lb. gorilla as my publisher likes to call it.

I clicked the sign up button and nothing happened.  Perhaps it’s still in the beta stage but here’s what I got off the website:

It happens without warning, always. Just ask the authors in the U.K., well published by major houses, who woke up to find their Buy Buttons had gone missing. No “pardon the inconvenience” e-note from Seattle, just a quiet severing of ties with a few million customers. It’s happened here in the U.S., too, more times than you know. See, the folks at Amazon have a headlock on the online book world, and they tend to get carried away. That’s why we developed WhoMovedMyBuyButton.com. We’ll keep an eye on your Buy Buttons, checking daily to make sure they’re safe. If they’re AWOL, we’ll let you know by e-mail. We’ll also let you know when they return.

This is a good thing, no?

I don’t know if anyone noticed, but Book Marketing Buzz has a new look.  The picture on the left shows you what we used to look like in case you forgot.

I have a wonderful wonderful lady who has helped me change over from the generic wordpress template to a more professional one.  I’ve got lots of templates on my dashboard to the point that if I’m not happy with this one, one or two clicks, and I have another one.  And – I’m still finding them to load on here.  I’m a happy camper now.

But it was in the middle of our redo when I got a frantic call from her.

“I lost your archives!”

Seems that HostGator told her that wouldn’t happen and they were very, very wrong.

And of course she was very very upset.

But you know, I didn’t panic.  I immediately went to my old wordpress dashboard and there was Book Marketing Buzz right there – with archives intact.  Only the thing was, I would have to reload them.  Talk about a relief.  I don’t know who was more happy – me or her.

But I love this woman.  For a small fee, you tell her what you want and she’ll set you up on a spanking new blog with all the bells and whistles.  Leave a comment below and I’ll get up with you on who she is.

The point being – I am slowly adding the archives of the old Book Marketing Buzz to the new one so if you’re a newcomer, this isn’t all we have by far.

Now if you’re wondering why I chose to go self-hosted which would cost, I’ll tell you.

Not only do you not have to depend on the generic templates they give you at Wordpress, there are plugins up the yooza that are perfect for what I want to do with this blog.  I can now add javascript, which means I can add codes to my template here that I couldn’t do on the free Wordpress template site.  I have a very cool plug-in that lets me submit my latest blog post to sites such as Yahoo Buzz, Twitter, Facebook – lots and lots of places – and I just love my new tweetmeme button which makes it so easy to announce my latest blog post at Twitter.

I still have so much more to add and between my work with Pump Up Your Book and getting these blogs in shape, it’s a race to the finish line, but stick around, I have new ideas coming up!

–Book Marketing Buzz

During tough economic times when U.S. consumers are trying to cut back the indulgence they can’t seem to live without is books.

Three-quarters of adults questioned in an online poll said they would sacrifice holidays, dining out, going to the movies and even shopping sprees but they could not resist buying books.

Visit Reuters to read rest of story

That’s sure comforting to know. Me? I’d sacrifice holidays if I had to but it seems that’s where the biggest amount of spending goes. How about you?