Elrena Evans is a White Rose author for The Wild Rose Press. Together with Literary Mama Senior Editor Caroline Grant, she is co-editor of Mama, PhD: Women Write about Motherhood and Academic Life (Rutgers University Press, 2008).
So you’ve written the book. You’ve gotten an offer, you’ve signed the contract, you’ve edited yourself cross-eyed. Now all you have to do is wait for publication day.
While you’re waiting, this is the perfect time to start thinking about publicity—the bridge that will span the gap between you and your readers, the tool that will bring your book to your buyers. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Create a website for your book, whether you buy a new domain specifically for the book, or simply make a dedicated page on your author website. (What? You don’t have an author website? Stop reading this, and go make one. Now!)
The website can be as simple or elaborate as your web skills allow. Make sure not to forget the basics: your book title, purchasing information, and your events schedule. Post the cover image of your book, a photo of yourself, and consider posting an excerpt from the book (check with your publisher about how much you can post online), the table of contents, early reviews, etc. Decide whether you want to maintain a blog about the book, with regular updates about how you wrote the book and how you’re marketing it, or whether the site will be more static. Once you’ve created the website, spread the word! Comment on writers’ websites and related blogs, send the URL to your local newspapers’ book reviewers, radio shows, and of course, tell all your colleagues, friends and relations.
2. Consider making marketing schwag – postcards, bookmarks, magnets and the like—to distribute to friends, neighbors, the UPS woman, the school crossing guard. If you already have a cover image, ask your publisher for permission to use that (be sure to credit the cover designer!) If you don’t have an image yet, you can still make some splashy giveaways plastered with your book title and the URL of your book’s website (see #1). It’s easy to set up a CaféPress store to sell these items, or make postcards and magnets at your local copy store.
3. Consider making a book trailer that you can splash up on YouTube, your book’s website, your author website, and all the social networking sites (see below). Some publishers will even put trailers on their webpages, and Amazon allows you to post videos as well.
Making a book trailer isn’t necessarily the daunting task it sounds like—it can be as simple (or as elaborate!) as you like. If you Google “book trailer” you’ll get about 1,040,000 hits, enough to give you some inspiration to get started. As with the website, think about your target audience: what do you want to tell them about your book? What mood do you want to evoke? Will you do that primarily with pictures, text, video, or some combination? Don’t be afraid to experiment—nobody needs to see anything until you have a finished product.
4. Network: online. Create a page for yourself and/or your book on Facebook, Red Room, Twitter, and BookTour. All of these sites make it easy for you to post your events schedule, images, and videos. You can cross-link from one to the other (so you don’t have to create original material for each), but make sure to keep each one updated, as you’ll find different readers at each site.
5. Network: in person. Go to your local bookstore(s) and libraries and introduce yourself. Say you’d be interested in coming in to do a reading, signing, or other event, and see what they say. If you write in a specific genre, ask if the store has a book club devoted to that genre—could you come in as a featured speaker? Could your book be on the reading list? Consider going to book club meetings to get to know the people who attend.
6. Once you’ve set up a reading or other in-person event, get ready to publicize your event. Announce it on your website, your book’s website, all the social networking sites you joined, and any author chat groups or listservs you belong to. Hang flyers in your local libraries, coffee shops, etc. Most bookstores will do their own publicity, but it never hurts to ask what you can do, both in-store and beyond, as well. Prepare all your schwag—postcards, magnets, bookmarks, buttons. Practice your reading ahead of time, and don’t forget to smile.
7. Don’t get discouraged. Bookstore and library events aren’t always well-attended. Between the two of us, one has done a reading where the bookstore forgot she was coming, and the other a reading where the only person in attendance was her mother-in-law. Keep smiling (aren’t you glad you practiced?). Thank the bookstore or library for having you in, regardless of the turnout, and ask if there might be another time you could come back. They’re likely to say yes.
8. Budget. Publicity can be both expensive and exhausting, and you need to decide at what point enough is enough. Are you reaching your readers? Do you feel like the benefits are outweighing the cost? If you were lucky enough to get an advance on your book, is there any of it left? Most importantly: are you enjoying yourself, are you having fun? Do you have enough time left to live your life and/or write your next book?
9. Write your next book.
~
About Mama, PhD: Women Write about Motherhood and Academic Life:
This is the book we needed when we entered graduate school and the academic job market. We wanted to know that blending family life with life in the ivory tower might be possible; we needed to know that others were attempting this tricky balancing act.
Balance, as every working mother knows, is not a static state, perfectly still like an old-fashioned scale. The dancer in arabesque or the yogi in vrksasana are both perfectly balanced, every muscle aware and engaged. Their bodies are vibrantly alive as they continually assess and shift their poses, working and changing to hold a position that gives the illusion of stillness. This version of balance, this constant, alert, focused negotiation, is the lifelong process of mothers in the academy, and everywhere—working
out as we go along how to be whole people.
Excerpt from the introduction to Mama, PhD: Women Write about Motherhood and Academic Life . For more information, visit www.mamaphd.com.
Oh wow! I was so excited to see NovelTea Next Door had been reviewed again and given a 4 ½ book rating from LASR!! It’s a terrific review.
Grant seems like the suave, sensible albeit cocky spy we all love to fantasize about. He made me laugh along with him as he stealthily intercepted the Chinese take out guy and taught Juliet how to pickpocket. He has many cards up his sleeve and I would love to see all of them. Juliet is a darling. Her simple nature and quick brain won me over in minutes. Their relationship has a solid base and a refreshing feel. The sparks can definitely be felt between them and the conversation is never stilted.
Even though everything happens at a fast pace you never feel rushed as your heart is pounding along with lead pair’s as they are madly dashing after the bad guy. Not even once did I complain about the first person perspective as I normally do; it just seemed fit for a story like this. I love the way the plot balanced the romantic relationship and the proceedings in the case. I must admit that their moves made me a little nervous at times as I was wondering whether they would make it or would get caught. The flow never got interrupted and I never left my seat before the adventure ended. Ms. Green knows how to end a book to keep her readers wanting more. NovelTea Next Door keeps you on edge and interested the whole time. The NovelTea Series has all the right ingredients of a winner series. I just hate that I have to wait to find out what happens next!
Thank you Bluebell! 
You can read the entire review at the LASR website.
I’m happy to introduce to you a fellow suspense writer at the Wild Rose Press, Katie Reus. She had a new release come out today: Trust No One. Hello, Katie!! And welcome!
What drew you to the Romantic Suspense genre? Are there some authors who have influenced you in this genre?
Reading is an escape and I love digging into an action packed romantic suspense. I love getting away from my regular (thankfully normal) life for a couple hours. Linda Howard will probably always be my favorite author of romantic suspense. She’s the queen of writing sexy alpha males who aren’t too macho that they’re annoying. I’m also a fan of Roxanne St. Claire, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Iris Johansen.
Some great authors there. I enjoy Linda Howard too. Of all your books which one was the most memorable to write and why?
So far, Unseen Danger (which is still looking for a home) has been my most memorable because it’s the first paranormal I wrote. It’s also the first manuscript I wrote with the consistent comments of a new critique partner and she really helped me to dig deeper into my characters.
What kind of research have you done for your books? Anything out of the ordinary?
I pick my husband’s brain anytime I use weapons, and/or weapon terminology. He’s a retired Marine and he’s been very helpful in keeping certain aspects of my writing accurate. For one of my current WIPs, there are a couple scenes involving boats so in addition to massive reading and research, I’ve been drilling my dad for correct boat terminology. It’s just small stuff, but I think the small things really count when weaving a believable story.
It’s great having family members with that kind of insight and information. I know it has helped me with my writing of government agencies. Give us the details on what is the ideal hero to you?
In short, a man who puts the heroine before all others. At the end of the day, she’s the most important thing to him. I don’t care if he’s an alpha or beta hero, as a reader, I just have to know he’d sacrifice anything for the woman he loves.
Oh, yes I have to agree. Great definition of a hero. Any advice for aspiring authors?
- Write every day if you can, even if it’s for just a few minutes.
- Don’t take rejection personally. Writing is a tough business.
- Be professional at all times, you never know who’s watching.
- This is obvious, but write what you love, don’t write according to trends.
How can readers find out more about you and your books?
Visit my website www.katiereus.com or my blog, www.katiereus.blogspot.com, or visit the Desert Island Keepers blog, where I’m also a contributor www.dikladiesrule.blogspot.com
Here is an excerpt from Katie’s New Release: Trust No One.
“Robert?” When he didn’t answer, she pushed open the bathroom door.
A small gasp escaped her. Instead of finding Robert, Dane leaned against the marble top vanity wearing nothing, not even a towel. He was shaving and stopped mid stroke to look at her. Surprise registered on his face although he didn’t attempt to cover up.
“I’m so sorry, I should have knocked.” Calista struggled to shut the door. Her foot caught once before it finally slipped into place. Leaning on the wall for support, her entire body shook as she ran a ragged hand through her hair. What was wrong with her? She had seen naked men before, especially in show business.
Wiping sweaty palms on her jeans, she called out. “Where’s Robert?”
Seconds later, the door opened, but at least he was covered. Barely. A towel hung from his trim hips, but with his bare chest exposed, she found it increasingly harder to breathe.
“Sorry about that. They don’t have any more rooms available until tomorrow morning. I booked the last two rooms for you, but Robert said I could stay here until then.”
“Oh, of course. No, that’s great…I just wanted to let Robert know that I’d be late for dinner.”
Despite the even temperature in the room, she could actually feel the heat spreading up her neck and cheeks. Sometimes she hated being a redhead for that very reason.
“I’ll let him know.” The corners of his lips curled up.
Not exactly a smile, but she was under the impression he was laughing at her.
“Okay.” She stood there for another moment, blatantly staring at his half-naked body.
Great Excerpt and a great place to leave us. If you want to read more of Trust No One, visit The Wild Rose Press. It is available NOW! Thanks for being here today, Katie!
Starting in September, Coffee Time Romance is starting a month long event. My contest can be found in the ‘Suspense’ section of my ‘Cindy K. Green Forum.’ Check over there and the fun begins. Thanks for stopping by and playing with me. Have a Happy Fall. http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=624
I’m giving away ebooks and other prizes. All you have to do is participate during September.
I’d like to welcome my guest today, Inspirational author, Emily Brevard and her wonderful book, Coming Home. Thanks for being here, Emily. Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself.
Hello! I’m Emily Brevard. I write inspirational romances, stories that reach into the heart and, I hope, the soul. Stories of faith and romance. When I wrote COMING HOME it seemed as if the story just took root in my heart and developed a life of its own. I live in a small Texas town very much like the one in the story so it was easy to capture the spirit of the community and transfer it to paper. The pastor is so much like our own pastor he asked if he should copyright himself! LOL! I wanted my heroine to have faced challenging experiences that tested her faith and for a while, even made her lose it. Her struggle to regain it, with the hero helping her, came from some real-life experiences.
Writing the book was a spiritual journey for me, too, and allowed me to look into myself and examine how strong my own beliefs were. I had so many messages I wanted to convey that I really had to sort them out and decide what was important. To me, the key points were Jenna’s tormented soul and Jake’s love for her that was so strong it was a lifeline she could cling to when she faltered. And I wanted people to come away with the feeling that you can’t ever really lose your faith, just your way. And the right guide can lead you back. That’s what Jake was for Jenna.
I’m currently working on a sequel called REACH FOR TOMORROW, about a young man falsely imprisoned who lost his faith, and in his search for the truth he, too, finds a guide who can lead him back to his faith and to love.
COMING HOME is published by The Wild Rose Press and is available from them in ebook and from Amazon in print. Learn more about Emily at her website http://www.emilybrevard.com/.
Excerpt From Coming Home:
She tried to wipe the scowl of irritation from her face.
“My mother isn’t home right now,” Well, aren’t I just the warm and fuzzy person. Color me charming.
“Hello to you, too,” he grinned. “I walked off with two of her folders last night and happened to be driving by the house. She mentioned you work from home, so I took a chance you might be here.”
“Has my mother’s been promoting me again?”
Jake was momentarily speechless at the apparent look of bitterness on her face. “Excuse me?”
“Never mind,” Jenna waved her hand dismissively.
He tried on his lopsided grin again. “Is it all right if I come in? I promise I’m not armed.”
Jenna felt the flush of embarrassment crawl up her neck, and she stood back to let him enter. “Of course. Please. I guess my mother was right. I seem to have lost all my manners.”
“I think your manners are just fine,” He put his briefcase on the bench in the hallway and removed two thick folders, handing them to Jenna. “She’s sure to miss these. They’re everyone’s notes we collected last night, plus the suggested outlines for the focus groups. I must have picked them up by mistake with my stuff.”
“Thank you for bringing them by. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
Now go away and leave me alone. Please.
But Jake McConnell didn’t look like he was in any hurry to leave. He leaned against the stair railing, hands in his pockets, interest sparking his eyes.
Thanks for being here today, Emily. I’ve always loved the sound of this book and you’ve reminded me that I need to get myself a copy. 
Wow I can’t believe it! NovelTea Next Door is TWRP #5 best seller and #1 in Suspense. I don’t know how long it will last but it’s exciting!!
Want to read the Prologue and first chapter?? Click over on the book title there on the right.
Latte Lounge Chat
August 27, 2008
Please join the following authors from 9am to 9pm Eastern time. We’ll
be sharing excerpts, covers, trailers, and each author will have a
contest. Contestants have until midnight of August 27th to complete
their entries. Each author will draw their winner from the emailed
entries and contact the winner no later than Saturday August 30th at
midnight Eastern Time.
The Theme is Fall into a Good Book. One of the contests we are holding is for the readers to find leaves on your websites. Such as the one here in this post. Can you find all the ones on my website. HINT-the others are located in the My Books section. Have fun looking and please come on by the chat. http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=703
9:00 – Linda LaRoque
10:00 – Hywela Lynn
11:00 – Laurel Bradley
12:00 – Miss Mae
1:00 – Aithne Jarretta
2:00 – Beth Trissel
2:30 – Cindy Green
3:30 –Sandra Kay
4:30 – Toni Sweeney
5:00 – Linda Banche
6:00 – Mallory Mitchell
6:30 – Jennifer Johnson
7:00 – Liadan Brodie
7:30 – Kiss Carson
8:00 – Shada Royce
Please welcome this week’s guest, Kim Watters. She has books released through Avalon Books and The Wild Rose Press. Today she’s come to tell us more about her Inspirational Romantic Suspense title: Web of Deceit. Don’t you just love the cover? It depicts the tone of the story so well. Welcome Kim! Thanks for coming by to talk with me today.
Hi Cindy. Good to be here today.
To start off, why don’t you tell us a bit about Web of Deceit.
Web of Deceit is a book about homecomings and second chances at love that revolves around a gun smuggling operation. The heroine, Faith, returns to her home town after her husband disappears. She’s not certain if he is dead, which comes in direct conflict with her faith when she discovers old feelings for a friend. The hero, Adam, is an old-time friend of both Faith and her husband, Steve, but he’s in the picture in more than just a friend capacity. He’s been asked to keep an eye on Faith to see if her husband, who’s wanted by the ATF, makes contact with her. Faith has no idea of her husband’s extra curricular activities that eventually cost him his life.
I love the conflict of the plot!
This book is Romantic Suspense and Inspirational. What brought you to combine the genres and how hard was that to do?
Funny thing is this book didn’t start out as a suspense. A good friend of mine who writes inspirational suspense challenged me to write it. I took a sweet story that one of my publishers rejected (with reason) and started asking some questions of my characters, and that’s what it evolved into. I asked what would bring Faith and Adam closer together? What would keep them apart? What different type of twist could I put in the book to keep people guessing until the end?
I didn’t find it difficult to combine the two genres because I was able to use my faith journey and incorporate it into the story.
With all that this story entails, I’m sure a lot of preparation went into writing this book. Can you give us some insight into your research?
Boy, that’s a fun question. I did a lot of research for this book. I have folders full of articles and pieces I’d read along the way. I did most of it on-line in the way of finding articles on gun-smuggling and internet sites where you can buy guns etc. I talked with the information officer in the
Thanks for sharing a bit about Web of Deceit with us, Kim? Could we trouble you for an excerpt?
You’re welcome, Cindy. Thanks for having me here today.
Excerpt:
“No. I don’t wanna get out! I wanna go home. I wanna go back to San Diego
Backing out of the passenger side door, Faith Callahan stared at her six-year-old son, and ran a tired hand through her hair. She knew this transition wasn’t going to be easy, but she hadn’t expected to see the open hostility in her son’s eyes or the staunch defiance in his posture.
She lowered her head momentarily and prayed for strength as she fingered the small, gold cross on the delicate chain around her neck. God had never let her down before. He wouldn’t do so now, even if she hadn’t been as attentive these last few months as she should have been.
“Matthew, we can’t go back. There’s nothing left for us there. Now please get out of the car like the gentleman that you are. Grandma Helen’s not expecting us for another hour so I thought I’d show you around.”
“No.”
Wilting under the heat of another sultry
One day, Faith supposed, she’d find the humor in the situation. Today though, the long drive, the rising temperature, and the weeks of stress and sleepless nights had done away with every ounce of patience she had left.
“Matthew Stephen Callahan, please get out of the car.”
“No!”
Her son kicked when she reached in again. After his sneaker-encased foot connected with her left arm, Faith backed off. She looked around. Fortunately, the unseasonably warm temperatures had kept most of the locals inside, so no one witnessed the incident, or her inability to control her son.
“It looks boring here. I’ll bet they don’t even have cable. I wanna go back to
The desperation and uncertainty in Matthew’s voice almost broke her heart, making her question her decision to return to her childhood home.
For a moment.
She’d asked God for a sign a few weeks ago. Then she found an old box of Steve’s things in the hall closet. Trophies and pictures of Steve, Faith, and their friend Adam, from high school were stored inside. It didn’t get any clearer than that. Days later, their condo went on the market, and Faith packed their bags and headed for home.
Home. Peace settled across her shoulders as if an invisible weight disappeared. Faith had to believe the good Lord knew what he was doing. If only he would work a miracle for her son.
One last question – What other projects do you have in the works?
I’m excited to say The Wild Rose Press has just contracted another story for their Sweetheart line. Scales of Love will be released sometime in the fall. I’ve also contracted a Free read with The Wild Rose Press and I’ll announce that release date to on my website.
To find out more information on my books please visit www.kimwatters.com
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter while you’re at it.
Thanks again for having me Cindy.
Happy to have you Kim.
Time is running out!
Just a Reminder that The Wild Rose Press is holding a contest for a Free Sony E-book reader. The contest will be coming to an end very soon. (August 31st ) As a participating author in this venture I though I would point out that every time you purchase one of my books – or any of the other participating authors - simply email your order number to: SONYREADER@thewildrosepress.com . Make sure you have a current email address and/or include your contact information so we can find you if you win.
First review for NovelTea Next Door from WRDF – a Black Seal – Fantastic - Stays on Shelf. It is equivalent to the 5 star review! Woo-hoo!!
Although part of a series this book can stand alone. Ms Green leaves the ending open for the next book, however she does wrap it up enough for the reader to find satisfactory closure.
I can tell you I was quite nervous about the first review…well, this sequel as a whole. The first NovelTea was so well received; I wasn’t sure how this second one would rate. I’m thrilled with this fantastic review.