Tony Eldridge's Blog, page 10

Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway PM: Favored to Win By MaryAnn Myers

This afternoon's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway is Favored to Win from author MaryAnn Myers. This is your opportunity to discover new authors and books each Sunday while having a chance to win a copy of the Kindle version of the books directly from the authors. All you have to do for your chance to win this Kindle book from MaryAnn is to leave a comment below.

















Description From Amazon.com

"The Greatest Thoroughbred Racetrack Novel Ever!"



Dawn never meant to hurt anyone. She never meant to live a lie; she never meant to fall in love. Sometimes things just happen.



As the mysteries and excitement of Thoroughbred racing unfold, so do the details of Dawn Fioritto's life and past. While covering a story for the local newspaper, Dawn becomes captivated by an enchanting old man and with life behind the scenes at Nottingham Downs. She returns under the guise of writing a novel. For two years, she comes and goes, employed as a groom in relative obscurity. No one knows who she is, or where she's been. She is an enigma, harmless and protected, in a racing world where one lives only for the moment, where yesterday is gone, and where there may be no tomorrow. Until the day, some starts asking questions....



Critically acclaimed author MaryAnn Myers has done it again! As with her previous page-turning novels, Call Me Lydia and Maple Dale, she will keep you spellbound well into the night. Give in to the magic, settle back in your favorite chair and enjoy.







Find MaryAnn's book on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1674095064

Find MaryAnn on Twitter: @MaryAnnMyers

Visit MaryAnn's website: http://www.sunrisehorsefarm.com/























Reviews

Amazon

Barnes And Noble









Message From The Author

I invite you to step into Dawn Fioritto's world and be a part of the excitement of Thoroughbred racing and Dawn's mysterious past, and possible future. As a trainer myself, captivated by the racetrack life, I leave no stone unturned. Who is she?



For your chance to win a Kindle copy of Favored to Win, all you have to do is leave a comment below. We will randomly choose a winner next Saturday.









Last Week's Winners:

Dead Spell By VBelinda Frisch: John Rowlands







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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

How to Sell to Libraries– Top 10 Strategies for Independent Authors and Publishers by Dana Lynn Smith

Today, we have a veteran expert to the blog back with us. Dana Lynn Smith shares her expertise on selling your books to libraries and tap into this billion dollar market. For more from Dana, check out her Kindle title listed at the end of this post.











How to Sell to Libraries– Top 10 Strategies for Independent Authors and Publishers

by Dana Lynn Smith



America's 123,000 libraries purchase nearly $2 billion worth of books annually, according to statistics from the American Library Association and the Book Industry Study Group. Nonfiction books are especially well suited to library sales. To sell fiction to libraries, it's helpful to have reviews in journals, book awards, or a strong local tie-in, such as a novel being set in the region.



Here are ten tips on how to sell to libraries:



1. Publish a library-friendly book. Library books take a lot of abuse, so libraries prefer books that are sturdy. However, given the choice between a hardcover and paperback edition, they may choose the paperback because it's less expensive. Libraries generally will not purchase books with spiral or other nontraditional binding, and they don't like books with "fill-in-the-blank" pages. Nonfiction books should have a good index and preferably a bibliography. Librarians also prefer to purchase books that are cataloged using CIP (cataloging-in-publication) data.



2. Get your book reviewed in a library journal. Library purchasing decisions are based largely on reviews in the major journals. It's impossible for librarians to keep up with the huge volume of books being published, and they value the screening process that the journals provide. Eligibility and submission instructions vary by publication, so read the requirements carefully. Unfortunately, the journals can review only a small percentage of the books submitted to them. If you aren't able to get reviewed in major journals, play up your other reviews in your marketing materials.



3. Make sure your book is available through major library wholesalers such as Baker & Taylor and Ingram. The majority of library book purchases are made through wholesalers, and some libraries won't order directly from small publishers.



4. Apply to work with a library distributor such as Quality Books or Unique Books, if you have a nonfiction book to sell to libraries.



5. Solicit testimonials from librarians to add to your marketing materials, and play up any awards the book has won.



6. Contact libraries in your area to inquire about programs for local authors, and contact libraries in towns you visit. Let the library know about your events or media coverage in the area, such as book signings, radio interviews, or newspaper feature stories.



7. Look into speaking opportunities at libraries, like lectures and readings. In some cases you can sell copies of your book at your event or even get paid a speaking fee. Sometimes these events are organized by the "friends of the library" or other similar volunteer groups.



8. Send direct mail to libraries, either on your own or through co-operative mailings. Address mail to the Collection Development Librarian for your subject area, and include a flyer with book details and a list of wholesalers and distributors that carry your book.



9. Consider donating a sample copy of your book to a few top library systems, to encourage purchases for branch libraries.



10. Exhibit at library tradeshows through co-operative exhibit programs such as those offered through the Independent Book Publishers Association, Combined Book Exhibit, and other organizations to sell your book to libraries.



















Excerpted from The Savvy Book Marketer's Guide to Selling Your Book to Libraries by Dana Lynn Smith. For more book marketing tips, follow BookMarketer on Twitter and get Dana's free Top Book Marketing Tips ebook when you visit her book marketing blog.























  



























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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Workshops Add Value to Your Book Marketing Plan By Wes Gilbert

Workshops are a very popular marketing tool for authors. Today, Wes Gilbert will share his marketing expertise with you on how you can use workshops effectively. If you ever thought about this path, then Wes has some suggestions that you'll want to read.





Before we get to Wes's post, I have a quick announcement.This week, D'vorah Lansky is hosting The Book Marketing Conference Online. This is a great opportunity to learn how to market your book from the experts. This year, I will be a participant and I invite you to check out the great lineup she has created for you.



Now, on to Wes's post... 







Workshops Add Value to Your Book Marketing Plan

By Wes Gilbert







Your book is written. Edited. Galleys approved. Publication is imminent. You have a marketing plan, and it's well under way.



You've kept the world informed with progress updates to your Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and other social media accounts. A press release is a click away from sending. You've scheduled a blog tour, radio interviews, and you'll be on local TV program in the wee hours of a Sunday morning. Bookstore readings will be here before you know it. You continue to blog on your own site, anticipating the launch.



It seems like you have all available avenues in line to help make your book a success. Or do you? What haven't considered adding to your book marketing plan?



If asked, most authors would have to say "writing workshops."



Marketing well means utilizing every opportunity to connect with people. Working together, different aspects of your plan provide a network of sales and promotion possibilities. Holding writing workshops are a great way to build direct relationships with the people who are your book's target market. Those relationships can build your credibility, mailing lists, further connections, and book sales.



Teaching or facilitating a writing workshop adds another valuable resource to your marketing methods. Your promotion of the event via tweets, blog posts, social media status updates, and more brings your book (and services) in front of readers and writers in your target market. And at the workshop itself, you are connecting with people who have chosen to be there, and who could become your most ardent readers, fans, or allies.



As an experienced writing workshop attendee, teacher, and facilitator, I can tell you it takes a bit of time and effort, especially when you're putting together your first one. Beyond that, it gets much easier, because you have the materials to reuse or revise, the experience of the process to measure and determine its success, and the additions to your marketing lists to bring more exposure to everything you're doing now, and in the future.



Here's a brief "how-to-overview" you can use to get started on your workshop.




Decide what kind of workshop best suits you (and your writing)- Start with your book. Is it a novel? Do a workshop on characters or revision. A non-fiction history of local artists? Ask one of them to help you do an art workshop and speak about her work in conjunction with your book. I offer services like editing and blogging for businesses, so I could easily hold workshops on working with editors or blogging effectively. You can also partner with another 'expert.' I prefer fiction, and I have a friend whose strength is non-fiction. If we collaborate, we can double our marketing list by promoting to those interested in multiple aspects of writing. Use your imagination, and you'll find you could use many topics to workshop related to your book.




Develop your workshop material- After you decide on the workshop, you can gather your resources. There's this little thing called the internet, and you can find material there to teach almost anything you want. (If you use anything from any website or physical source not your own, be sure to fully credit and/or ask those involved) It's a good idea to plan your material based on how long the workshop will run. If I'm doing a workshop on my own, I'll plan for a two hour minimum or four hour maximum time frame. You'll choose yours based on what you'll teach and how much time you think you can fill with interesting and effective content and interaction. Depending on how much material you have, that could be multiple days over several weeks.




Choose your venue- Where would you hold your workshop? Check out local venues like galleries, coffee houses, or arts centers. You may pay a nominal fee like 10% of gross, or perhaps be allowed to use their space for free (or consumption of on-site consumables). Some local colleges offer adult courses outside of their standard curriculum, which may be an opportunity for you.




Promotion, invites, registrations and cost- An invitation sent to your list (and social media) announcing the workshop is yet another way to get an impression in front of your readers, followers, customers, and/or clients. Facebook, Twitter, other social media can help get the word out. Think about other ways you market your book, and consider if those same methods fit in marketing your workshop. Promote via all channels that will reach your audience, including local online calendars and lists. Be sure to send it out a minimum of six to eight weeks ahead of the date (two months is a good first teaser contact).



Registrations are easier than ever. A Google search will lead you to online event services like EventBrite and others. As with venues, many are free or charge a small percentage, but the tools at your disposal with e-mail capture, automatic registrations and payments, and event tutorials can make it cost-effective. 
Set your price point to match what you provide. I go with around $10 an hour, which is reasonable for what I teach. $10 for two hours, plus event site fees, means a price of about $25. Unless you're putting on a full-blown day-or-weekend-long workshop for thirty or more (which you may be able to do down the road), expect this experience to pay off more in relationships and after-event sales than provide enough to pay the rent or phone bill. Which means you can also consider doing it for free. It's your workshop, you have to create it to make it what you need it to be.



Follow up- Send those e-mails or thank you notes to make a post-workshop connection while it's still a fresh experience (within a week at most). Thank them and give them further value by providing sample chapters, your presentation, an offer for books or services, or even something as simple as a list of writing-related links you like. Make it brief, but also consider asking them for a social media connection or to subscribe to your blog. Be sure to announce any future events like appearances, signings, special eBook sales, etc.



A few other things to consider in planning a workshop: add value for participants with handouts, or offer to e-mail them a freebie. Be accessible afterwards. People may have questions, and they like access to an expert (as you've just proven yourself to be). Consider filming the workshop and providing the video online or marketing it separately, using the materials you created.



Now go, and market your book and yourself via workshops. Whatever form it takes, be sure to make it fun and enjoyable for your attendees and yourself. The benefits of more relationships, more connections, and more book sales, are waiting.





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Wes Gilbert is a freelance writer and editor, published writer, writing workshop teacher, and former fiction editor. He's writing a mystery novel, ghostwriting another, and blogging for business(es) and pleasure. For services or to read other writings, visit wesgilbert.com. Contact for links or reprints at weswriter@aol.com

















  



























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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Seven Elements That Can Make or Break Your Site By Shaila Abdullah

Today's guest is Shaila Abdullah, author of Saffron Dreams and Beyond the Cayenne Wall: Collection of Short Stories. She is also the founder of My House of Design where she works with authors and small businesses on their website, marketing and branding needs. Today, Shaila will be discussing things you should and should not have on your website. (Make sure you see her generous offer to readers of this blog at the end of her post).



Before we get to Shaila's post, I have a quick announcement.This week, D'vorah Lansky is hosting The Book Marketing Conference Online. This is a great opportunity to learn how to market your book from the experts. This year, I will be a participant and I invite you to check out the great lineup she has created for you.



Now, on to Shaila's post... 





Seven Elements That Can Make or Break Your Site

By Shaila Abdullah





A website serves as an author's virtual calling card. You need a professional website, even before you get an agent. Experts advise that the minute you start thinking of book titles, reserve a domain and start looking for a designer.



A website is also your online home of sorts. Think of how much you spruce up your home when someone's visiting. Unlike your physical residence, your website is a place where visitors will be calling day and night––and unannounced.



If you're an author who has been on the fence about having a website for awhile, ask yourself these questions:


Do you want to attract more readers and sell more books?
D you want a fan base?
Do you want media to have an easy way to reach you?
Do you want readers and editors to know that you are an expert in your field?



Like it not, many editors look up authors online before they even sign them up. Yet, when it comes to websites, so many authors choose to go with unprofessional or mediocre looking sites. Hiring a professional pays off in the long run. When choosing a website designer, make sure they have an impressive portfolio. You do not want a designer who delivers cookie-cutter solutions. A professional web designer provides clients with a series of questions geared to their particular genre, book, and personality before providing an estimate.



Seven things all authors should have on their website




A professional bio
Description of work and information on buying
A media kit with a few professional photos
A few excerpts (incentive for visitors who come to the site)
News and events section highlighting book reading/signing events, media mentions, etc
A sign up form to collect contact info of interested readers
An easy-to-find contact section



Seven things no author should have on their website




Content with grammatical and spelling mistakes
A bio that makes you sound like Jack or Jill of all trades
Photos from your last family reunion
Distracting animation, loud music, blinking text, and annoying rotators
Your unpublished writing (If it has not seen the light of day yet, it's better to leave it out)
A corner where you badmouth publishers and agent who rejected or upset you
A long list of external links that increases your site visits but draws traffic that is useless for you



Remember, your website should have a look that highlights only your best.











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Shaila Abdullah is an award-winning designer and author and has created numerous websites, marketing materials, and email marketing campaigns for authors. She can be reached at shailaabdullah@gmail.com or http://www.myhouseofdesign.com. Marketing Tips For Authors readers qualify for a 10% discount on their first project.







  



























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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway AM: Dead Spell By Belinda Frisch

This morning's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway is Dead Spell from author Belinda Frisch. This is your opportunity to discover new authors and books each Sunday while having a chance to win a copy of the Kindle version of the books directly from the authors. All you have to do for your chance to win this Kindle book from Belinda is to leave a comment below.















Description From Amazon.com

17-year-old Harmony Wolcott is slowly succumbing to the haunting darkness of a forgotten memory. Afraid to ask for help or admit what's happening to her and around her, Harmony looks for the truth while trying to escape what it's done to her family.



Dead Spell is about a ghost with a past and a girl that would die to forget it.







Belinda's Blog: http://belindaf.blogspot.com/

Belinda's Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/belinda.frisch



Reviews

Amazon

GoodReads

The Wheel and the Star

















Message From The Author

17-year-old Harmony Wolcott is slowly succumbing to the haunting darkness of a forgotten memory. Afraid to ask for help or admit what's happening to her and around her, Harmony looks for the truth while trying to escape what it's done to her family. Dead Spell is about a ghost with a past and a girl that would die to forget it.



For your chance to win a Kindle copy of Dead Spell, all you have to do is leave a comment below. We will randomly choose a winner next Saturday.







From Our Sponsors



Get focused. Read books.



















Time to publish your thoughts? www.taleist.com











  



























--------

Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Create a Following with Interesting Writing and the Rankings Will Come By Kyle Michael

Image via Wikipedia
Today, we have a returning SEO expert to give us a little more advice on how to adopt SEO practices into our blog posts. Today, Kyle Michael will be talking to us about incorporating great content into the post and how to use evergreen content effectively. At the end of the post, I've linked to Kyle's other SEO posts he's done for this blog. He's been with an SEO company before being snatched up by a national corporation that is now utilizing his SEO skills, so he knows what he's talking about.



Before we get to Kyle's post, I wanted to remind you about our two books that you can win during this week's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway. The Stumpwork Robe By Prue Batten and SHOES HAIR NAILS By Deborah Batterman are this week's books. All you have to do for a chance to win these books from the authors is to leave a comment on their posts.



Now, on to Kyle's post...





Create a Following with Interesting Writing and the Rankings Will Come

By Kyle Michael



In the world of SEO, the focus tends to be more concerned about keywords and copy that is as optimized as possible. So writing that is geared towards search engines more than readers is likely the result of a great deal of copy that is turned out.



The truth is the focus of your writing style should be to create something that people want to read and will find interesting. In return, you will have more people than enjoy reading your writing and want to return to your website. Well written and engaging content will yield more shares on social network. The subject of your content should be interesting enough to get someone to click through and should be well-written to keep the reader coming back for more content.



Great writing leads to more fans, more fans means more people coming back to your site everyday to read your work, more returning users means more buzz created from links, tweets, Facebook shares and now, Google +1s. The more traffic and buzz you can create for yourself on social media the less self promotion you have to do for your site.



Your content should be optimized for keyword content when the connection is natural and within the copy. People want to read content that is interesting and has an engaging headline. Write compelling headlines to draw people to your content.



Keep in mind that not every post you write has to optimized for SEO. If you write a great piece of content that doesn't work particularly well for SEO then don't force it. You may see it as a wasted post or a missed opportunity, but if you can optimize two out of three posts or even a third of your posts, you can still begin to drive traffic to your site.



Consider creating pages on your blog to keep your best content fresh and readily available. Once you write a post for your blog, it begins to go stale because it is dated. If you have content that you want to be relevant for an extended period of time, create a link to a page with your best piece on your home page. For example, if you write a great post on "The Ultimate Guide to SEO", you don't want that piece to get buried in your blog. Create a page with a title like, "John Smith's Ultimate Guide to SEO." Every person that visits your page will likely click on that link and share the article if you know what you are talking about and you have the article at the front and center of your site.



These are evergreen resources that you can build your site brand around. You can continue to update your SEO page with industry trends and new advances. Your original piece becomes a piece that could have been buried; now it becomes an integral part of your site and the brand of your site. If you know enough about a topic, you can become the internet authority.



Your content is definitely important but you should also give your readers the tools to share and pass along your content. Optimize your blog posts with Facebook, Twitter and Google+1 share buttons. You should have these three buttons at the bottom of each post. When the reader is done, they just click the share button and they have posted a link to your blog for all of their twitter followers, Facebook news feed or Google plus account. It's as easy as that.



By Kyle Michael



Check out Kyle's other posts on SEO:

Content Creation is Vital in Successful SEO

Using SEO To Get The Biggest Bang For Your Buck

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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Online Relationship Marketing For Authors By D'vorah Lansky

I'm excited to introduce you to our guest today, D'vorah Lansky. D'vorah is a book marketer and the author of Book Marketing Made Easy. She's on tour to promote her new book, which I will review next week, but today is a scheduled stop on her tour.



Next week, she is hosting The Book Marketing Conference Online. This is a great opportunity to learn how to market your book from the experts. This year, I will be a participant and I invite you to check out the great lineup she has created for you.



In today's post, D'vorah gives advice on how authors can build online rapport and relationships with their readers. I'm thrilled to introduce you to her today.



Online Relationship Marketing For Authors

By D'vorah Lansky



Relationship marketing is a new term for a time-tested practice. People want to do business with people whom they "know, like, and trust". Growing up in a family of retailers, it was a common practice for us to do business with people we knew "in the business" or with people who were referred by people we knew. Old-school marketing focuses on clever or salesy ways of convincing people to buy what you are selling, relationship marketing focuses on creating a connection with your audience so that they come to know, like, and trust you. Sell them on you, not on "your stuff."



There are a wide variety of ways that you can practice relationship marketing online. From developing an online hub with your blog, to sending greeting cards to people who purchase your books or enroll in your book related programs, to producing videos as a way for people to see and hear you, to developing a strong social media presence, relationship marketing can be your secret to success by setting you apart from your competition and helping you to create a strong community of raving fans. By building a relationship with your audience, you will sell more books and become known as an expert in your field.



As an author, building relationships with your audience will not only allow you to sell more books, but will increase your following. When people come to know you and see that you offer quality and value, and that you care, they are going to want to know you and they are going to want to buy your books and participate in your programs.



Develop a Competitive Edge by Building Relationships with Your Email Subscribers



Your most important online asset is your list of email subscribers. These are people who opt-in to receive something from you in exchange for their name and email address. One of the most important things you can do to achieve success online is to build a solid relationship with your email subscribers. This can make the difference between a one-time sale and making a customer for life.



Here are a few ways to strengthen rapport with email subscribers:





Keep in touch often with people who have subscribed to your email list. Do not email them only when you want to promote a product. Share tips, ideas, and recommended free resources as well as the occasional promotion of a product or program that would be of interest to your audience.


Ask about their needs and concerns. Use questionnaires and get them involved. Ask them what they need and what they would most like to learn more about.


Send them an occasional gift. It could be in the form of a free report, a relevant checklist, a chapter or two of your book, an audio recording, or access to a relevant video.


Share your knowledge. When you impart something of value to your subscribers, they will see you as an educator, listen to what you have to say, and value their relationship with you.


Provide them with recommendations for products and services that can benefit them. On occasion, provide your subscribers with information about products or services that you highly recommend and endorse. These can be products that you produce, free programs available online, or products on which you earn an affiliate commission.


Weave Relationship Marketing Through Your Online Marketing Campaign



There are many ways to strengthen the connection between you and your audience. Find ways to be of service and to add value to your message. Share your knowledge and expertise via free content as well as through programs that people pay for; you will be helping people who can benefit from your message. Provide your audience with a variety of ways to connect with you and be authentic and caring. Demonstrate that you care about people first and making money second, and your business will grow.







D'vorah is the author of Book Marketing Made Easy: Simple Strategies for Selling Your Nonfiction Book Online - Visit her book blog and check out the full virtual book tour schedule at: www.BookMarketingMadeEasy.com.



D'vorah offers programs for nonfiction authors interested in growing their brand and their book sales through online book marketing practices and strategies. You can purchase her book on Amazon at: www.BookMarketingMadeEasy.com/amazon

















  



























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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Review: Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide To Self-publishing Success

[image error] Today, I'm reviewing a new book by authors Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson called, Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-publishing Success. Today, Tuesday July 19th, the book is also part of their Best Seller For A Day campaign. After you read the review, head over there to see how you can win a Kindle from these authors.



When I completed Dollars & Sense, one thing came to mind... Wow, this is the most complete book on creating and launching a self-published book that I have come across to date. Anytime I see the word "Definitive" in the title, I almost always find that the author is reaching to use that word legitimately. This is one book that stakes a strong claim to that word.



The three authors share their combined experience in an exhaustive book that reads like a tutorial and seminar combined into one easy to use tool. Starting from the time before your book is published, through the launch, Dollars & Sense helps you every step of the way.



This book guides you through the editing, formatting and launch of your book. It discusses the cover and categories that will help your book stand apart from the others. It also talks about garnering review by letting you know where to look for them and how to approach reviewers.



Dollars & Sense then goes into detail on how you can create a solid marketing plan for your book and looks at everything from integrating social media into your plan to working with paid advertising. It discusses a sensible pricing strategy for your book and what you need to keep in mind when you price your book. Did you know that there is a "no man's land" when it comes to pricing your Kindle title? This book will tell you what it is and why you want to stay away from it.



Dollars & Sense has three main sections:



1. Producing a Professional Product

2. Creating a Social Media Platform

3. Selling Books



Each section could easily be peeled away and sold as a stand alone product. The section on crating a social media platform itself is one of the best works I have read on how authors can integrate social media into their platform. In fact, their Twitter chapter in my opinion is worth the price of the book alone.



This book is packed with so much advice and instruction, it's unlikely you will be able to read and use it in one pass. It's definitely a reference book that you'll go to over and over as you bring your book to readers. Kudos to Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson for creating, in my opinion, one of the best and most exhaustive books on the subject. It indeed, deserves the word "Definitive" in the title.



Remember, today, Tuesday, July 19th, head over to their Best Seller For A Day page to see how you can win a free Kindle.











About The Authors



[image error] Amber Scott bio:

In between naptimes and dishes, Amber Scott escapes into her characters' addictive lives. She often burns dinner, is a sucker for chocolate and still believes in happily ever after. She makes her home in hot Arizona with her two children, husband, and one day, two cats.



Contact info:

amberscottbooks@gmail.com (for readers)

amberromances@yahoo.com (for main contact)

Twitter: @amberscottbooks

Weblog: http://amberscottbooks.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/AmberScottBooks









Carolyn McCray bio:

Carolyn McCray is a social media and sales consultant to indie authors and publishing houses alike. Her own controversial thriller, "30 Pieces of Silver" hit the #1 spot on the Amazon "Men's Adventure" list, (beating out the likes of Clive Cussler), and all four of her indie published books are Kindle Bestsellers.



Carolyn is also the founder of the Indie Book Collective, an organization with over 5,000 members which is dedicated to helping authors utilize social media to the fullest to sell their books. The Collective offers free workshops, a live advice radio show, innovative programs such as Blog Tour de Force & Bestseller for a Day, and so much more to its members.







[image error] Rachel Thompson bio:

Rachel Thompson (aka RachelintheOC) is the author of the consistently 5/5 star reviewed humorous and at times, poignant, collection of essays, A Walk In The Snark (released 1/2011), which recently hit #3 on the Amazon Humor/Parenting & Families Kindle list (beating out the likes of Jenny McCarthy!), after just a few months of release and has consistently stayed on the Amazon Top Humor Lists.



In May, 2011 A Walk In The Snark hit #1 on Smashwords Entertainment Bestseller list also.



Rachel is also one of the cofounders of the Indie Book Collective, an organization with over 6,000 members which is dedicated to helping authors utilize social media to the fullest to sell their books. The Collective offers free workshops, a live advice radio show, innovative programs such as Blog Tour de Force & Bestseller for a Day, and so much more to its members.



You can find Rachel most days on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, giving daily tips on the IndieBookIBC Twitter stream, contributing posts to the IBC blog or her own popular blog, giving free social media workshops for writers, promoting her current book or working on her next book, The Mancode: A Survivor's Tale. She lives in the OC aka Orange County, CA (home of Disneyland). Somewhere in there this redhead in a sea of blondes fits in being a full-time wife and mom to her two young children and just one husband. She loves coffee, dirty martinis, and sleep.



Rachel and the IBC were recently profiled (April 13, 2011) in the Huffington Post Books section regarding social media and ePublishing.











  



























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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Free Book Marketing Conference July 25th-28th

I have some exciting news! Next week, July 25th through July 28th, D'vorah Lansky, Best selling author of Book Marketing Made Easy, is hosting The Book Marketing Conference Online. This is a great opportunity to learn how to market your book from the experts. This year, I will be a participant. There are three modules surrounding this year's conference:



* Developing Your Author Platform

* Book Launch Secrets

* Make Money With Your Message



Take a look at the experts D'vorah has lined up for this exciting event:



Joanna Penn

Shelley Hitz

Roger C. Parker

Judy Cullins

Lisa Robbin Young

Lou Bortone

Jennifer S. Wilkov

Shel Horowitz

D'vorah Lansky

Tony Eldridge

Stephanie Chandler

Kristen Eckstein

Terry Whalin

Donna Kozik



Register for this free, live event and read more by visiting The Book Marketing Conference Online site. Thousands of people are expected to attend so make sure you are one of them. I look forward to meeting you online at this exciting event.





  



























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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.

Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway PM: Shoes Hair Nails By Deborah Batterman

This afternoon's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway is SHOES HAIR NAILS from author Deborah Batterman. This is your opportunity to discover new authors and books each Sunday while having a chance to win a copy of the Kindle version of the books directly from the authors. All you have to do for your chance to win this Kindle book from Deborah is to leave a comment below.









Description From Amazon.com

The settings of these stories - 1980s New York City, 1950s Brooklyn, Las Vegas, an exurban town post-9/11 - are as diverse as the rich palette of characters drawn with heart, humor, and sensuality. With a sharp sense of the telling detail, Deborah Batterman weaves narratives around the everyday symbols in our world and their resonance in our lives.





Find Deborah's book on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/deborah.batterman

Find Deborah on Twitter: @DEBatterman

Visit Deborah's website: http://deborahbatterman.com/























Reviews

Amazon

A Broken Laptop

BigAl's Books and Pals

B. Morrison's Monday Morning Book Blog









Message From The Author

Stories are what we live by. Getting beneath the surface of everyday symbols, too often trivialized, is the heart of SHOES HAIR NAILS.



For your chance to win a Kindle copy of SHOES HAIR NAILS, all you have to do is leave a comment below. We will randomly choose a winner next Saturday.









Last Week's Winners:

Thin Blood By Vicki Tyley: Jim Crigler

Saving Bluestone Belle by Strawberry Shakespeare: Kristi Burchfiel





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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.