Chelle's comments (member since Sep 10, 2008)

Chelle's comments from the Published Authors group.

My worst review was for my book Forgotten:

"this book started out with a bang that fizzled out by the fourth chapter. it had a lot of potential but it was very slow reading and i felt like the author had a hard time connecting the characters and the reader."

I have 6 books out and a very helpful publisher - but I consider promotion to be a total team effort.

I am on several social sites AS A WRITER (which means be careful of your public image) - I twitter, I blog, I comment on other blogs. Every time your name gets out there and it connects to your books, you help to stir up interest. So use every opportunity to publicize your name - it's timely but often free.

Get a website which advertises your books - even if your publisher has a page promoting books. I have a separate author blog and author web-site. The website can be a freebie, or there are inexpensive ones out there.

Associate with other writers, be supportive (it is more professional).

Offer a FREE First Chapter download (my publisher does this for me and it really helps). You can do it yourself and either host it on your website or post on social sites that it can be emailed upon request.

Look for sites you can guest blog or post book promos - one such site is my Xanga blog, http://cce613.xanga.com/ Mondays are book promos, Wednesdays are Woman-in-Charge, Fridays are reviews and (some) Sat/Sun are guest posts (message me with your email and I will send you full details)

Final Sin

Chilling homicide investigation becomes personal; is it the best friend?

Hi Mark, thank you so much for doing this! I sent over some info on my latest release Final Sin.

btw, Please check out my blog at http://cce613.xanga.com/, I also invite writers to promote their books and/or reviews on that site.
~Chelle

Sheila wrote: "I'm having a problem with writers block right now. I look at the computer or my notebook and everything just leaves. Any suggestions? Is this normal?"

I have two methods that work for me - the first is write something else; if you have another project, concentrate on that - if not, write a letter to a friend, a shopping list, a "what would I do with lottery winnings" list, ANYTHING. It's like loosening up your writing mind.

My 2nd method is to put some good strong upbeat music on, something with a beat, and then I just let it "carry me" for a few minutes. Again, it loosens me up.

Hope it helps.

just to note, Amazon ranking today (12/4) at 11am is "Amazon Sales Rank: #36959 in Books"

Hi All, my name is Chelle Cordero and I have had an exciting year with Vanilla Heart Publishing - and so far 2009 looks like it is going to be great as well.

My books Bartlett's Rule, Forgotten and Within the Law were published this past year. My next novel Courage of the Heart (a re-release) is due out in early Feb 2009; and then my novel Final Sin will be published in the summer 2009.
All my books are available online through the publisher Vanilla Heart Publishing or Amazon.com

VHP just released a combo video about all 5 books at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZQKl_D9_j8

Please check out my author blog at http://chellecordero.blogspot.com and be sure to check out Which is YOUR favorite book cover? - Win a Book!

that was a great blog Jessica!

Hiya Zada!

Chelle
http://chellecordero.blogspot.com

I've been very lucky with my small press publisher; she is very supportive and helpful when it comes to marketing and promoting. But I am only one of a stable of authors and her resources are limited - she is also on the other side of the country.

Two solid reasons why an author has to be HEAVILY (even to 100%) involved with marketing and promoting their own book(s):
1- No one else has as great a stake in that book's success or failure
2- A reader is not curious about the publisher, readers want to know something about the author who penned the words they are reading.

Even the BIG NYC houses have issues with marketing for their newer and lesser known authors; again, resources only go so far. If there is enough money coming in, it may pay to hire a marketing company (hired by either publisher or author). But basically isn't that the same as merely taking responsibility for promoting your book?

Lilly,

Although I have gotten several emails from subjects on my site saying that their friends and others have read the promo, etc, for some reason there are very few comments. I know from the Xanga feedback info that I am getting hits - so I myself am perplexed.

I am not sure what the #"views" actually relates to since the feedback log shows higher numbers.

I do know that I googled a few subjects and my Xanga blog did indeed come up, so it is definitely being found.

Since this is no cost to you (aside from the minimal time it takes to send me a submission), why don't you give it a try?

Hope to hear from you.

Hi all - I post book promos and reviews on my Xanga blog (also Women in Charge profiles - great for the female author, editor or publisher)

Please take a look at the blog at http://www.xanga.com/cce613 to get an idea of what it is about.

You can get specific submission instructions at this post http://weblog.xanga.com/cce613/669234843...

And because I've been asked - this is free, I do it because I think every writer should help other writers out, I get a nice number of hits, my posts pop up on Google all the time and yes, the cross-exposure benefits us all.

Hi Shelagh and other members of the PA group,
My name is Chelle (pronounced Shelley) and I am happy to say that I became a Vanilla Heart Publishing author just this past year. I have Bartlett's Rule and Forgotten already out and two more books already in the queue, Within the Law & the re-release of Courage of the Heart.

I know that you will all understand... isn't it just the coolest to look at a book with your name on the spine! I think it is the most exciting thing to think of how many people read my words, it really goes to my head (LOL).

Thanks for welcoming me into this group.