Quit Watching Your Pot

This month, I have been focusing very little on advertising my book as I participate in National Write a Novel in a Month for the very first time.  Truthfully, my books sales have suffered.  But that doesn’t matter so much as I had very few sales to begin with.

What I have done in the way of marketing is plenty of giveaways.  I’ve had one  giveaway or another happening since mid-October.  So far, the giveaways haven’t produced many new sales, and they probably won’t, at least not until I get the next books in each series published.  But what they have produced are reviews, many from book bloggers who aren’t even accepting review requests, and also followers.

I checked in with my numbers today.  My facebook fan page has doubled in ‘likes’, as have my twitter followers and blog subscribers.  I’m sure the experts will tell you this is an all important step in building a fan base (well, duh).

Still, I was amazed at what happened to my numbers.  The old adage, ‘a watched pot never boils’ comes to mind here.  But I am admittedly obsessed with numbers, so I can’t not watch my pot for too long. 

Check out my latest guest post and giveaway at Alexia’sChronicles.  My advice to all of you Twain Wannabe’s?  Give.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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: