The Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Hi there all – I'm trying to boost sales with a few marketing strategies, including giveaways.  Wha-whaat?  Increase sales by giving away stuff – for free?  Hells to the yes!

This one is hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer I have 10, count them, 10 free e-books to giveaway for my Vampire Short Story, Gleaming White, in honor of Halloween.  And, if the winners leave a review on Amazon by November 15^th, 2011 and provide me the link, they will receive a free copy of the second book in the series, Streaks of Red, to be released in November.  Disclaimer: There is adult content in both short stories!

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post between October 24^th and October 31^st.  10 winners will be chosen at random and will be contacted by November 3^rd.  

PLUS, you can gain another entry by 'liking' my page on Facebook or Amazon (two extra entries if you do both).  Just leave a comment to this post with your e-mail address, and be sure to let me know if you 'liked' me on Facebook, Amazon, or both so I can account for your extra entries. 

Now go to I Am A Reader Not A Writer and enter the rest of the 400+ giveaways.  Good luck and Happy Halloween!

I am done stalking reviewers...for now.

Spent the last week sending out rounds of review requests to book review bloggers; got some interesting responses.  First, I will reiterate – taking the time to add a comment specific to their blog, or connecting with them in a personal way, will be 4.287 times as likely to illicit a response (I would know – I did science).  I have a list of book review sites for you other Twain Wannabes under my resources section; I'll add to it occasionally.  Keep in mind these are mostly fiction, fantasy-type bloggers.

Figuring out something personal to say may take some time, but it will be worth it.  If you can't find a connection – they probably wouldn't be interested in your book anyway.   

Check out this response from a reviewer (click on image to enlarge):

 Yes – this made me angry; this is the first time I got a response suggesting I pay for the review.  I immediately wrote a response, making very good use of my 'four-letter-word' vocabulary.  Then I...wait for it...wait for it...deleted what I wrote.  Instead, I sent this:

And got this in return:

Not sure if the radio show will actually happen.  I will of course blog, tweet, facebook and throw it in your face any way I know how if it does happen.

In addition, my cover art will be featured on some blogger websites, and I have set up some promotions on Goodreads within a few fantasy reader groups.  I am hoping within the next half year, I'll see some sales as a result of all this work.  It could happen...right?

In the meantime, I will leave you to revel in the glory and awesomeness of my review request for Water:

I just coined a phrase, maybe...

A few ideas on how to create book buzz (if that is already not a coined phrase I want a nickel every time someone says it), or at least ideas on how to drive traffic towards your blog/website/Amazon links besides the dreaded review requests:

• Offer to do an author interview for book review bloggers
• Frequent author and writer forums, offering advice, ideas and solutions (sometimes leaving your links are forbidden or frowned upon, but you can at least get your name out there)
• Participate in blog hops (check out the lower right hand side of my blog – Indie Author Blog Hop)
• Participate in other author's blogs by leaving comments and enter their promotions.  Like I am doing now: check out Kristen Lamb's blog, and her book We Are Not Alone  
• Make sure you are linking all of your social media sites together via RSS feeds, links, tweets, etc.  Also, make good use of QR codes.
• Create author business cards and don't be shy about handing them out!
• Enter contests (flash fiction, cover art contests, etc.)

 Have more ideas?  Please comment on this blog!

Side note: Just spent the last weekend writing a prequel to my short story Gleaming White, to be released soon.  I've never felt more productive!