Meet my Promo Besties - #ShareTheLove Giveaway Hop #writerslife

We're Sharing the Love this week and surprise bombing bloggers and authors we adore with a little love! Hop by all of the blogs for chances to win great prizes at each stop and find out which authors and bloggers we think are so darn special!

Writing might be a solitary endeavor, but marketing and promotion certainly are not. Below are my promo "besties" who deserve a very loud shoutout for all they do.

Sloane Taylor will not only help you get the word out, she'll also help you cook dinner. Seriously, she is that awesome.

Sharon Ledwith not only has my back in every promotional effort, she also links to the most helpful professional articles on the web, constantly improving my A game.

Lizzie T. Leaf has a monthly Behind-the-Scenes interview column for Night Owl Reviews with industry professionals, which is a source of great information.

Emilia Mancini and Marci Boudreaux know publishing from every side and angle, and they're not only generous with their knowledge, they're a great inspiration, as well.

I've linked to all their blogs above for you to check out at your leisure. To enter to win a copy my paranoral Wiccan Haus novel, Psychic Lies, be sure to follow everyone on Twitter and subscribe to my newsletter.

Fiona must keep her ability to read minds during sex a secret from those determined to exploit her, especially a sexy truth-finding investigator who needs her psychic power to save his job.

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Return to Blog Hop here

Did you download your #Free @RomanceIsBliss Sampler yet?

"The devilishly handsome guy next door. The rugged fireman who shops at the corner store. The bartender with the amazing dimples... Ahh. Romance is in the air at Bliss with fun, fresh, flirty stories of modern women and every-day men finding their happily ever after in sweetest of places." --Bliss Imprint, Entangled Publishing

If sweet, small-town romance appeals to you as much as it does to me, grab this FREE sampler of excerpts and first chapters from every Bliss author since the launch of the line, as well as sneak peeks of our March titles that you won't find anywhere else! Plus never before seen deleted scenes from some of your favorite books. With over twenty wonderful Bliss samples just a click away, there's something for everyone.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iTunes

Also, don't forget to enter to win a promotional print copy of my latest Bliss book Love Him or Leave Him on Goodreads.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Love Him or Leave Him

by Sara Daniel

Giveaway ends March 16, 2014.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

.@MusaPublishing Warm Up for Winter Promotion #freebooks

Enter daily to win one of 17 promotional paperbacks
 

Outlaws by William Weldy

Only A Hero Will Do by Susan Lodge

First Frost by Liz DeJesus

Glass Frost by Liz DeJesus

Trusting Sydney by Helen Hardt

Taming Angelina by Helen Hardt

Treasuring Amber by Helen Hardt

2012: The Rising by Joanne Hirase

Typical Day by Gary K. Wolf

Obsession by JoAnne Keltner

Stained Glass byMindy Hardwick

Grape Bubblegum by Beth Bowland

Dragon Drop by Jerry Ackerman

New Girl by Joan B. Flood

The Fox's Mask by Anna Frost

Unforgettable You by Marci Boudreaux

Storm’s Fury by Nya Rayne

And one of 30 e-books:

3.99 by Richard Satterlie

100,000 Midnights by Aaron Smith

A Company of Thieves by David Pilling

A Place to Call Their Own by L. Dean Pace-Frech

A Reason To Stay by L.S. Murphy

A Sense of the Ridiculous by Heather King

A Willing Spirit by Cindi Myers

Alaska Heat by Vella Munn

An Incident on MSR Tampa by SS Hampton, Sr

Apple of My Eye by Elizabeth Botts

Baiting The Hook by Mary S. Palmer & David Wilton

Between by Clarissa Johal

Black Widow by Lena Austin

Bring Me To Life by Scarlett Parrish

Captain Westwood's Inheritance by Lynda Dunwell

Contingency Plan by Anita Ensal

Crazy Greta by David Hardy

Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis

Deep Into The Night by Tracie Ingersoll Loy

Dragon Revealed by Nulli Para Ora

Enchanted Realms by Eleni Konstantine

Forget the Misteltoe by Lizzie T. Leaf

Her Goblin Prince by Thalia Frost

High Stakes by Chad Strong

ICE blue by Susan Rae

Identity Thief by Milo James Fowler

Keeper of Directions by L.K. Mitchell

Kojiki by Keith Yatsuhashi

Little Bird by Liza Gaines

Looney Dunes by Anne Skalitza

Masquerade by Sloane Taylor

All entrants are eligible for Grand Prize Drawing January 31

Grand Prize 

Warm Up for Winter Basket

Snuggly Blanket

$20.00 Musa Gift Certificate 

Starbucks Coffee

Coffee Mug

Specialty Chocolates

 PLUS
 5 paperback books: 

Marissa's Choice by Kadee McDonald

The Dominus Runes by Peter Lukes

Walking the Dog by Linda Benson

Love Lies Bleeding by Laini Giles

For his Love by Nya Rayne

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#CyberMonday #ebook Deals from @MusaPublishing and More!

Yep, you read that right. Cyber Monday has hit Musa Publishing. All books purchased from the site are 50% off. It's a great way to scoop up your favorite authors, and if you haven't started or need to get caught up on the Wiccan Haus series, they're all half off too!

Musa also has a free read going up each day for a 13 Days of Christmas special.

I also have my own Cyber Monday sale going on at All Romance ebooks. Haley's Man is currently 50% off.

What great deals to load up your e-reader or the e-reader you're gifting to that special someone in your life! Happy shopping!

#TuesdayToolbox - Publisher Promotions - #Free Cookbook from @MusaPublishing

One of the awesome things about publishing with a reputable publisher is when they engage in a promotion to bring traffic and visibility to themselves to boost sales of all their books...and by extension your books with them. There are many different ways of doing this.

Two months ago, Entangled Publishing had all the Bliss books (including Construction Beauty Queen and Love Him or Leave Him) featured as a Kindle Daily Deal.

Last week, Decadent Publishing had a blogging extravaganza and giveaway celebrating the publication of the 200th 1Night Stand. Two of my books--More Than a Fantasy and One Night with the Bride--are part of this uber-popular series.

Musa Publishing turned two years old this month. To celebrate, they are giving away a free cookbook to everyone who purchases a book from their site during the month of October. The cookbook is a collection of 80 tasty recipes provided by 39 creative Musa Authors! Simply add the cookbook to your cart. At checkout the savings automatically appears on your invoice.

Tuesday Toolbox - Free giveaways from authors...or not - @samcheever shares her thoughts

by Sam Cheever

Some authors like to give stuff away and some don’t. I personally know one author who refuses to give away copies of her books and just gives bookmarks and trading cards away at conferences. No bling for her. She’s not alone. Promotional items cost money, giving away books takes sales out of an author’s pocket. But what about the old business adage, you have to spend money to make it? Does it apply to creative businesses as much as traditional ones? I think it does.

Nobody can chart a direct effect from a promotional item to a book sale. It isn’t possible to identify a monetary result, because it’s not a direct transaction. It really isn’t even monetary. It’s emotional.

People love getting free stuff. They especially love getting clever and useful free stuff. And when they get something they really like they generally remember the person who gave it to them. That’s why I love fun promotional items. When I start researching a new item to take to conferences or give out to new fans in their goodie boxes, my first goal is to find something nobody else has thought of. I rarely give out bookmarks anymore. I have boxes and boxes of them in my closet as proof! When I give away a print book I include a Romance Trading Card because those are collectors’ items and they’re more fun. I load heart-shaped memory sticks with free reads, book trailers, and first chapters and give those away. They’re useful, they bear my website and tagline on their shiny red surface, and they contain lots of fun reading and viewing that will hopefully inspire someone to buy one of my books. It’s a win-win! For my Declan Sands books (MM romance) I found a tiny tool kit with four screwdrivers and a tape measure. Again, useful, and bearing my website and tagline in case someone decides he/she needs a great book to read while repairing their computer with the toolset.

I have knit caps with my website on them, book lights with twisty stems, mouse pad planners that double as notepads, and lots of other fun stuff. Call me Author Santa. Yeah, the stuff costs and I have no way of knowing if I’ll recoup my investment in book sales. But when people receive a goodie box or promo item from me they remember it and hopefully they’ll remember me. In fact, people often come up to me at conferences and exclaim, “Oh, you’re the one with the great promo stuff!”

I just grin and offer them something else from my red velvet bag. ‘Cause I’m selling fun and smiles…hopefully I’ll even sell some books!

Happy Reading Everybody!

Bitten by Paranormal Romance gives Cupid a
4 – A Pack Howl!
"This is a delightful and sexy story of competition not only in the office, but between a cupid and a demon."

Long and Short Reviews:
"Cupid Only Rings Twice was a very cute story that was short but entertaining.”

This Valentine’s Day, Rori’s gonna meet an honest to god Cupid. And he’ll use more than arrows to win her love.

Rori Foster is too beautiful to find love. Men just can’t seem to look past her exterior to recognize the human being inside.

Unfortunately he’ll have to save her from the bad intentions of a cocky Love Demon first.
But Damios is determined to protect her. Even if he loses her in the process.

To read more or purchase Cupid Only Rings Twice please click the vendor's name.

Musa Publishing | Nook | Kobo |
Sony | ARe | Kindle | Amazon.uk
| Amazon.ca

Sam Cheever writes mainstream romantic suspense and fantasy, all heat levels; and Declan Sands for M/M romantic suspense and fantasy. Her books are fast paced and fun loving. Not one of them will solve a single world problem, but you definitely won’t be bored while reading them!

Sam’s published work includes 40+ works of young adult, romantic suspense, and fantasy/paranormal. Her books have won the Dream Realm Award for fantasy, been nominated and/or won several CAPAs, were nominated for Best of 2010 with LRC and The Romance Reviews, and won eCataromance’s Reviewer’s Choice award. She is published with Ellora’s Cave, both Romantica and Blush; Changeling Press; Electric Prose Publications (her own imprint), Musa Publishing, and Red Rose Publishing.

She lives on a hobby farm in Indiana with 11 dogs, 2 horses, and one husband.

Learn more about Sam Cheever on her blog Eclectic Insights. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter. You can also find Sam on Goodreads.

#EroticRomance #ShortStory Haley's Man #FREE Now through Labor Day!

Haley's Man

When Haley Miller posts on a sexual fantasies forum that she wants to have an orgasm while surrounded by her friends, one reply stands out. Intrigued and desperately aroused, Haley prepares for the orgasm of her dreams. But when she arrives at her friend’s house, she learns that the man of her dreams, Seth Gardiner, is back in town. Now she must decide if she wants to go through with her plans for public pleasure or go after her dream date with Seth, or risk losing them both.

Buy Link:

Amazon

Free! Now through Labor Day! Don't miss your final chance to download and read Haley's Man for free on Amazon!

Tuesday Toolbox – Pinterest for Authors

I resisted joining Pinterest when it first broke onto the scene. I’m a word person, not a picture person. But promotion is about connecting with readers in their comfort zone and where they’re receptive to you. I also couldn’t ignore all those “Pin It” icons that were showing up everywhere, making it easy to add a pin to my boards.

At first I just pinned my book covers and covers from other authors I love, along with some outdoor pictures that I found inspiring. But then I realized that I could do more.

I have lots of ideas in my head of what my characters, their settings, and important objects look like, but descriptive writing is not my strength. Pinterest gives me a place where I can show readers a really good visual by repinning other people’s pins, and hopefully the people I repin from might be inclined to check me out. Maybe they’ll even be intrigued by what they see or remember my name.

I’m currently developing a couple multi-book series, and I’ve discovered Pinterest is a wonderful tool for connecting these books, both in my creative mind and for readers. For each series, I created a Pinterest board for all the books and characters in the series to mingle together.

For example, on my “Small Town, Big Dreams” Series board, I have the two pictures you see here. I also have pictures of Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon to represent Matt and Veronica from Construction Beauty Queen. I also found an awesome Halloween costume of a construction couple. In addition, I’ve posted some pictures that tie in to my upcoming release Love Him or Leave Him. Surprisingly, the pins of an abandoned bowling alley that I posted are quickly becoming my most repinned items. I’m catching the attention of people I never would have connected with otherwise.

Take a peek at my Pinterest boards. I’d love to hear which pins are your favorites, what you’d like to see added and how you think I could make my boards even better.

Sinful Sirens Blog Hop Giveaway!

Haley is the most sinful siren I've written about to date. She's brazen. She knows what she wants sexually, and she's not afraid to demand it. But don't take my word for it. I'm offering her story FREE on Amazon for five days from May 16 through May 20, 2013.  Please be aware: Haley's Man is a steamy erotic romance with very explicit love scenes.

Everyone who downloads a copy and leaves a comment below telling me how you helped spread the word on Facebook and Twitter about the Haley's Man free promotion, I'll award one random winner a copy of Zane's Art, which was given 4 starts by Fern from Long and Short Reviews who had this to say: "With a smoking hot sex scene you might not want to share with your grandma..."

Now that's a Sinful Siren!

 Haley’s Man

Free May 16, 2013 - May 20, 2013 only from Amazon

When Haley Miller posts on a sexual fantasies forum that she wants to have an orgasm while surrounded by her friends, one reply stands out. Intrigued and desperately aroused, Haley prepares for the orgasm of her dreams. But when she arrives at her friend’s house, she learns that the man of her dreams, Seth Gardner, is back in town. Now she must decide if she wants to go through with her plans for public pleasure or go after her dream date with Seth, or risk losing them both.

Tuesday Toolbox – Going Free with Haley's Man

I’ve talked about the powerful promotional tool of giving away free books via blog hops and on Goodreads. I’ve also talked about the promotional tool of giving away free short storiesto allow readers to sample your work. 

For self-published authors, offering a book for free through one of the multiple e-reader platforms has the potential to get your book in the hands of more readers and create awareness of your author name than any of these other giveaways. Offering a book for free can be done in different ways. If the book is on Smashwords, you can generate a coupon code that customers can enter. Some authors, such as Marie Force, have had great success in making their book free on other platforms and getting Amazon to price match, effectively making it free on a near-permanent basis.

I’ve decided to offer my self-published book free by enrolling in Amazon’s KPD Select program. In exchange for giving Amazon exclusive distribution of my book for 90 days, I can do a five day free promotion. The thinking is that the more books I give away, more readers will discover me, love my writing and pay real money for my other books. The other hope is that the free book will sell at a higher rate after the promotion than it did before because it’s now been noticed and has a boost in ranking.

Some people have had phenomenal luck with this type of promotion. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them when I tried it with my children’s chapter books. So why am I trying it again? This time my book is situated in a genre (erotic romance) where readers are more accustomed to discovering new authors digitally. I have a big backlist of titles to capitalize on. I contacted nearly two dozen web and social media sites that alert their followers to free e-reads to enlist help in spreading the word. And finally, I have nothing to lose. If the promotion doesn’t work, I’m no worse off than I was before.

Haley’s Man will be free on Amazon for five days from May 16 through May 20, 2013. I’m asking for everyone who is willing (and comfortable with it) to download a copy and help me spread the word. Please be aware: This is a steamy erotic romance with very explicit love scenes.

I’ll report back in a future toolbox on the success of the promotion.

 Haley’s Man

Contemporary Erotic Romance Novella
Free May 16, 2013 - May 20, 2013 only from Amazon

When Haley Miller posts on a sexual fantasies forum that she wants to have an orgasm while surrounded by her friends, one reply stands out. Intrigued and desperately aroused, Haley prepares for the orgasm of her dreams. But when she arrives at her friend’s house, she learns that the man of her dreams, Seth Gardner, is back in town. Now she must decide if she wants to go through with her plans for public pleasure or go after her dream date with Seth, or risk losing them both.

Embrace Your Steamy Side

I wrote the original version of Haley’s Man for a super-hot publishing line that subsequently quadrupled their word count requirements. The story developed into such a fun sexy fantasy that I couldn't bear to keep it hidden on my hard drive. This is the steamiest book I've ever written and will never receive my grandmother's prim-and-proper seal of approval. I'm okay with that. I enjoy writing the occasional erotic fantasy to compliment my less spicy romance novels. If you're looking for white-hot heat in your reading material and/or in the bedroom, Haley’s Man will deliver.

Haley’s Man will be free on Amazon for five days from May 16 through May 20, 2013. Download a copy and help me spread the word. Please be aware: This is a steamy erotic romance with very explicit love scenes.

 Haley’s Man

by Sara Daniel
Contemporary Erotic Romance Novella
Free May 16, 2013 - May 20, 2013 only from Amazon

When Haley Miller posts on a sexual fantasies forum that she wants to have an orgasm while surrounded by her friends, one reply stands out. Intrigued and desperately aroused, Haley prepares for the orgasm of her dreams. But when she arrives at her friend’s house, she learns that the man of her dreams, Seth Gardner, is back in town. Now she must decide if she wants to go through with her plans for public pleasure or go after her dream date with Seth, or risk losing them both.


Bio: Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. On the personal side, Sara is a frazzled chauffeur, chef, personal assistant and slave to her children. She's crazy about country music and the drama of NASCAR. She has her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband. She is the author of nearly a dozen romance novels, novellas and short stories. For a complete list of titles, visit her website: www.SaraDaniel.com

Tuesday Toolbox - Six Sales Points for Authors by Sharon Ledwith

For today's Tuesday Toolbox, I have promo queen Sharon Ledwith on the blog to share with us her "Six Sales Points for Authors." Take it away, Sharon!

There are a lot of authors out there today competing for readers’ attention—readers that you’ve worked so hard to obtain. Some do a very good job, make a lot of money, and stick around. They build satisfying publishing careers that last for decades. Other authors try to wing it and burn out. What’s the difference between a successful author and a wannabe author who just dawdles on the borders of success? Owning a great website? Having a damn good marketing plan? Creating a social media plan for each book release? Good luck? Whatever the answer, often the key to a successful career in the publishing field can be attributed to one or all of these time-tested sales points:

If it doesn’t work, fix it. Let’s face it—some sales strategies work better than others. The trick is to reassess what you’ve been doing. If you’re not producing the sales you’d like to see for a certain book, then chances are you need to correct and fine-tune your methods. For some authors this may mean retooling their blurb or tagline or change the cover. For others, it could be giving their website or blog a fresh new look.

Listen and learn. A number of things factor into book sales. One of the most important is your target audience—who you are writing for. Ask yourself, how are you fulfilling your readers’ needs? What must you do to continually hook their attention? For starters, you have to be willing to walk that extra mile by getting to know and understand your readers. You do this through social networks (Facebook, Twitter), workshops, book signings, school and library visits, book clubs, and online communities such as Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Show enthusiasm. Enthusiasm builds bridges. Panic tears them down. One thing an author has going for them is their unique voice. You use it in your books, so use it to sell them. Readers know when an author resonates with them. Be invested enough in yourself, as an author, to give your readers a fantastic story they’ll never want to end. Then write another one.

Sell yourself, on yourself. The power of positive thinking works wonders. Motivation builders such as podcasts, CDs or self-help books can help reinforce the super salesperson in you. Be specific with your goals and rewards, such as if you send out ten review requests in a day, book a pedicure or lunch with a friend. Write notes reminding yourself that you are a ‘Bestselling Author’ and ‘You can do it’, then leave them around your desk. After all, seeing is believing.

Create a sales plan to suit each book. Every book you write is one of a kind. Sales tactics for one book may not work for the second book. That’s when you get creative and take chances. Giveaways are always a fan favorite. Experiment with each book until you get a sales formula that works for you. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes helps, so if you can afford it, hire a publicist or a marketing consultant. The bigger the investment, the bigger the payoff.

You give, you receive. “What goes around, comes around” is a hard adage for a lot of authors to relate to, but it is nevertheless a vitally important point. And it’s a no-brainer. I tend to share a lot of useful information that could help my author peeps with their sales or marketing strategies. This comes naturally to me. Pass along opportunity when you can. It’s a wise investment—one that any author will never regret making.

Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.

To read an excerpt of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, please click HERE.

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon Link
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, The Last Timekeepers, available through Musa Publishing. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.