Tony Eldridge's Blog, page 13
June 26, 2011
Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway PM: A Heart Held Ransomed By Stephan Skotko and Teila Tankersley
This afternoon's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway is A Heart Held Ransomed
from authors Stephan Skotko and Teila Tankersley. 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 Stephen is to leave a comment below.Description From Amazon.com
A True Story of a Man who lost it all only to discover the truth was worth fighting for......... This is his story
Accused of sexual abuse on the basis of recovered memories, Steve describes his personal anguish and fight to expose the truth. The charges against Steve were eventually dropped and the case thrown out of court.
With his name cleared, he is now stepping up to the plate and is sharing his experience in hopes of saving others. He exposes the madman who destroyed their lives and the questionable therapeutic techniques that were used.
Steve has spoken with other families that were betrayed by this unscientific repressed memory and what he reveals in the pages of this book are shocking, but above all they are factual.
This book has it all suspense, courtroom drama and ritual abuse a book that proves truth is stranger than fiction.
Teila Tankersley joined the crusade and it is her desire to see individuals using this therapy barred from ever counseling again. Teila has written several articles exposing the lies about recovered memories. She has a heart for the women and children who have been fed these lies.
Are your memories safe? Read this book to see how to safe guard your memories and your sanity.
Find Stephen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_207825919252744&ap=1
Reviews
Amazon
Message From The Author
"Please pass it on or refer the book to any you feel will benefit from it."
For your chance to win a Kindle copy of A Heart Held Ransomed, all you have to do is leave a comment below. We will randomly choose a winner next Saturday.
Last Week's Winners:
Faithful Deceptions By Melissa Ohnoutka: Marcin Swierczynski
Children of Dreams by Lorilyn Roberts: Amanda Stephan
From Our Sponsors
Ebook Friendly - discover Kindle ebooks in a distraction-free environment. Tips, news, bestseller lists and more.
Time to publish your thoughts? www.taleist.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.
Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway AM: Sea of Shadows By Jeff Edwards
This morning's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway is Sea of Shadows
from author Jeff Edwards. 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 Jeff is to leave a comment below.Description From Amazon.com
For fans of Tom Clancy, Joe Buff, and Dale Brown...
OUT GUNNED... OUT MANEUVERED... OUT THOUGHT... THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE IS TO CHANGE THE RULES.
A minor accident at a German nuclear power plant, a Biological Warfare attack on the British Embassy in Washington, DC, and a secret arms deal combine to drive a trusted NATO Ally into an illegal alliance with a rogue Middle Eastern state. With the world hovering on the brink of war, a handful of U.S. Navy warships must track down and destroy a wolfpack of state-of-the-art submarines.
Their enemy is skilled in deception, and incredibly lethal. Out-gunned, out-maneuvered, and out-thought, the U.S. Navy crews must throw the rulebook out the window, and become every bit as devious and deadly as their enemy.
If they fail, the consequences are unthinkable...
Find Jeff on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Edwards/1592389471
Find Jeff on Twitter: @navythriller
Jeff's Website: navythriller.com/
Jeff's Blog: navythriller.com/blog
Reviews
Amazon
navythriller.com/reviews
Message From The Author
What happens when a long-trusted ally suddenly becomes your enemy? Without warning, you find yourself facing an adversary who knows how you maneuver, how you communicate, and how you fight. You have to abandon every battle plan you've ever trained for, and throw your tactical doctrine out the window. The only way to survive is to change the rules.
For your chance to win a Kindle copy of Sea of Shadows, all you have to do is leave a comment below. We will randomly choose a winner next Saturday.
Last Week's Winners:
Faithful Deceptions By Melissa Ohnoutka: Marcin Swierczynski
Children of Dreams by Lorilyn Roberts: Amanda Stephan
From Our Sponsors
Ebook Friendly - discover Kindle ebooks in a distraction-free environment. Tips, news, bestseller lists and more.
Time to publish your thoughts? www.taleist.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.
June 24, 2011
Resource Of The Week: Sonar 3- Manuscript Tracking Program
Today's resource of the week is Sonar 3. Sonar 3 is a free manuscript submission tracking program that lets you know at any given time who has your manuscript, how long they've had it, and whether it was rejected or accepted for publication. This program works for book manuscripts as well as short story/article manuscripts.
Sonar 3 is created by Spacejock Software, a company that creates a lot of cool tools for authors. It's intuitive and has a simple, straight forward manual to help you get set up. With Sonar 3, you can add your work, add markets, document replies and capture any payment made.
For those who are tracking your submissions with a spreadsheet, why not give Sonar 3 a try? This program was written just for you.
Last 4 Resources Of The Week
Jing
FastStone Photo Resizer
PayPal
Google's Call Me Widget
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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.
Book Marketing Strategies And Tips Around The Net: June 24th
It's Friday and that means it's time to take a trip around the net and check out what the other book marketing experts are saying. And boy, do we have a full plate on tap. Each post has powerful info on book marketing tips, industry news and insightful commentary. So grab your favorite beverage and get ready for some great reading.
Before we get started, I invite you to visit our two books highlighted this week in our Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway. Read about Faithful Deceptions By Melissa Ohnoutka and Children of Dreams By Lorilyn Roberts. When you're done, leave a comment to be in the running for the drawing to receive a free Kindle copy of the book from the author. Tomorrow is the last day to win these two great books.
Now, on to our trip around the net...
1. People Skills & Communication- L. Diane Wolfe has an insightful look at what happens when someone goes beyond giving a bad book review and acts like children instead of adults by throwing in personal attacks.
2. Pirating $.99 E-books – Is It Worth the Effort?-
3. Online Marketing Lingo Explained- Dana Lynn Smith invites MaAnna Stephenson to explain what some of those online marketing terms really mean.
4. Saturday Q &A With the Book Designer 05: Book Files- In what's turning out to be one of my favorite weekly session, Joel Friedlander focuses his video Q&A on things you need to look at when you sign with a subsidy publisher.
5. Using Hootsuite to Manage Your Social Media Accounts- Phyllis Zimbler Miller shares some tips on using Hootsuite to manage your social media presence.
6. Elkhart Lake Farmer's and Artisan's Market Great Place to Promote My Books- Shelley Hitz invites Barbara Techelto share her experiences with some nontraditional book venues.
7. Should self-publishing be easier?- Steven Lewis gives a honest look at what it takes to self-publish a book.
8. How To Sell 1 Million Books On Kindle: Lessons Learned From John Locke- Joanna Penn pulls lessons from the phenomenal success of author John Locke.
9. Least expensive, most effective online tips for creating book buzz- Roger C. Parker reviews Lorraine Phillips' book, Online Book Marketing.
10. Chapter Five: Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing: The Myth of Workshops- Dean Wesley Smith continues his amazing series on Killing The Sacred Cow by looking at the role of workshops in getting your book ready for publication.
11. Kindle and Authors Victimized by Spam Producers- Carolyn Howard-Johnson warns against abusing the Kindle KDP platform.
12. Working with a professional illustrator, part one- Sue Collier discusses the ins and outs of working with a professional book illustrator.
13. Creating Powerful Content That Will Help You Sell Books- Penny Sansevieri gives you some tips on turning yourself into a content machine.
14. Treat Facebook as Your Online "Chamber of Commerce" and Promote Your Business and Your Brand, While Building Relationships- Dvorah Lansky gives you some great tips on using Facebook more effectively.
15. Providing Value On Twitter by Todd Rutherford- Todd Rutherford gives you some value-added tweet ideas you can use that won't take a big bite out of your schedule.
16. The BookBuzzr Gold Rush Begins- Everyone loves a great contest and BookBuzzr has created an awesome one, putting up over $2000 in prizes, including one from yours truly :)
17. Amazon Tagging - Is the Party Over?- Nick Daws looks at the issue over tagging, especially at Amazon's comments about the practice on their forum.
18. Quantity vs. Quality in Social Media and Business Networking- Larry Brauner looks at the quality vs quantity issue and ties it in with the 80/20 rule.
19. Launch a Community to Grow a Business- MaAnna Stephenson takes a look at the idea of building a community as a marketing strategy.
20.Getting Out of Your Book Contract (Maybe)- Victoria Strauss gives you some tips on what to do if you need to get out of a publishing contract.
21. Ebook Sales Down?- Joe Konrath shares his insights on the drop in e-book sales for this month.
That's it for this week's trip around the net. What a round-up we have! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow with a new resource of the week!
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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.
June 23, 2011
How You Can Sell e-Books To Mobile Twitter Users By Piotr Kowalczyk
Today, I have invited back a return guest author to share his knowledge of book marketing and mobile phones. Piotr Kowalczyk is at the cutting edge of mobile technology and shares his knowledge through his site, Password Incorrect and he highlights e-books on his Ebook Friendly site. Piotr is also a co-sponsor on this blog's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway, where you can win a Kindle book each week just for leaving a comment. Check the right sidebar of my blog for this week's current titles you can win.
In today's post, Piotr will show you how you can sell your e-book to mobile Twitter users.
How You Can Sell e-Books To Mobile Twitter Users
By Piotr Kowalczyk
There are great services like Ether Books, which are designed to reach mobile readers and populate their minds with high quality reads tailored to mobile conditions. But what to do when you are not lucky enough to be one of Ether authors?
If you are a self-publisher actively using social media to find readers and draw their attention to your books (probably published in an electronic form), this post is for you.
I'd like to share a simple way to make your e-book available for instant purchase by mobile phone users. As you'll see – it's very easy.
What to do?
Use Twitter to share links to your books self-published at Kindle Store – with an extra information addressing owners of mobile Kindle applications.
An example of a tweet is shown in screenshot 1. When you tap on a link you'll be redirected to a mobile browser, like Safari on an iOS device, or a browser working within a Twitter app.
Screenshot 1
As you see, just after one click (screenshot 2) the reader can make a purchase decision. What's more important, the time of actually reading this book on a Kindle app is delayed only by a couple of seconds more. It's the essence of an instant purchase.
Experts can say: "yeah, but it's so obvious, that you can buy goods via Amazon's mobile site."
The thing is not what expert know, but what readers don't know. And most of them still don't know that:
Amazon has a mobilized version of its site (even those users who already have Kindle app on their mobile phones – as they never tried actually buying anything yet)
1-Click purchase works on mobile phones
It's extremely fast and convenient – it takes a couple of clicks and a less than 30 seconds from discovering an e-book on Twitter to reading it.
In fact, buying an e-book via Twitter link is faster than doing it via Kindle application, where you're just redirected to an Amazon site and have to browse for a book.
Why mobile phones?
Screenshot 2
Mobile web is growing extremely fast, anyone knows it
Half of Twitter users is connecting with a service via mobile phones
They don't have to switch devices to complete a purchase – even if they won't read the e-book on a mobile phone, but on a Kindle device
Mobile phone can be a purchase device for owners of Kindles not equipped with 3G
Mobile phone users make purchases in application stores of their mobile operating systems. Buying Kindle e-books via Twitter is the similar kind of experience.
Why Amazon?
Availability of Kindle apps (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7)
Well designed Amazon mobile site – with 1-Click functionality
A growing number of Kindle owners and mobile device users with an Amazon account
Very important – book syncing. We can assume that this functionality from Amazon will always be a step ahead of competition
Right at the beginning, after landing on an book's page at Amazon, the reader has a choice: to buy a book or to download a free sample
Automatic detection of mobile browsers – if you open a link from a mobile phone, a mobile site appears.
Why Twitter?
Great discovery & recommendation tool
Instant delivery of messages, tweet streams, many users – all that is a great surrounding for instant micro-purchase decisions
Amazon link (amzn.to) is a guarantee of a safe purchase. If you use bit.ly shortener it automatically changes to amzn.to when you share a page from Amazon.com.
* * * Obviously the most important factor is the information contained in a single tweet. The user has to know that the book can be downloaded in a couple of clicks. You have to pick up the owners of customer accounts at Amazon.com – those ones who are right now reading your tweets on their mobile phones.
As you see in an example shown above, this is doable. I sent this tweet yesterday and sold 10 copies of my short stories. Not a bad result for a self-published e-book of a niche genre (I call it "geek fiction").
There are many ways to address – in a single tweet – mobile users who have access to Kindle e-books:
Use "Kindle", either as a word or a hashtag
Use hashtags, not only #kindle, but also #ebook, #ebooks, #mobile
Name devices or mobile operating systems: iPhone, iPad, Android, HTC, etc. (also as hashtags).
Having in mind that from 30 to 50% of users are connecting with Twitter from their cellphones or tablets, it's really interesting to explore mobile channels to reach them - especially, that they are given an opportunity to instantly try and buy your book.
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About the author
Piotr Kowalczyk (Nick Name)
Geek fiction writer and self-publisher. His books were downloaded from different self-publishing platforms more than 70,000 times.
Technology geek. E-book enthusiast. Guest writer at TeleRead and partner of Read an E-book Week.
Runs experimental digital literary projects including Google-translated fiction and picture stories created solely on an iPhone.
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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.
June 22, 2011
Reality Show Ideas For Writers
Today's post is one where I let my guard down and have fun. It's more of a whimsical, fun post than one of instruction or industry-related news. So, to give you fair warning, feel free to pass on reading this one and come back tomorrow if you're looking for good, solid book marketing advice. We have a top book marketer on tap as our guest tomorrow.
Before we get started, I invite you to visit our two books highlighted this week in our Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway. Read about Faithful Deceptions By Melissa Ohnoutka and Children of Dreams By Lorilyn Roberts. When you're done, leave a comment to be in the running for the drawing to receive a free Kindle copy of the book from the author.
Now, on to some ideas for reality shows featuring writers...
I love reality shows. I don't know why, or whether that drops me down a notch or two in your mind, but I do. These ideas are more for fun, and even to make fun of the genre, so take them with a grain of salt. I put the inspiration for the show in parenthesis. Here we go:
1. Worst Writers In America (Worst Cooks In America)- Two teams of some of the worst writers are chosen by two award winning authors. Their job: whip these literary hopefuls into an author who will garner a great review by nationally renown book reviewers. Each week, contestants are given a literary challenge and one poor writer is eliminated from competition. In the finale, two authors will square off with the one who has the most stars from a panel of reviewers walking away the winner and have his or her piece published in a top magazine.
2. Gold Rush: Magazine (Gold Rush: Alaska)- In this challenge, a team of writers join forces to create a magazine and find enough subscribers to walk away with a profit. We'll follow the progress from the decisions of which equipments to invest in and which services to outsource. Will they be able to choose a format that appeals to the public and will they be able to do it at a price that pays for their investment? The drama will heat up and tempers will flair as people will have their input voted down until it culminates in the final launch of the magazine. In the end, cash flow will determine if this group of writers strike gold.
3. Manuscript Hunters (Auction Hunters)- In this reality show, two agents team up to travel the internet to discover new talent. Each week, they bid to acquire unpublished or self-published manuscripts with the hope of finding the diamond in the rough. In the end, we see if their investment is covered by the price they can get from publishers for the pieces they bid on.
4. Rejection Games (Repo Games)- In this show, writers who had their manuscripts rejected for publication are approached by an editor. If they can answer 3 of the 5 literary trivia questions, the editor will publish their work. If not, the rejection stands.
5. Publishing's Most Wanted (America's Most Wanted)- In this show, an industry watchdog profiles publishing companies, PODs, and agents who scam writers out of their money. Rewards are offered for cases that lead to the conviction of these literary predators.
Well, that's it for these literary reality show ideas. They were offered tongue-in-cheek while paying homage to some of the shows that I really do like to watch. I hope the post brought a smile to your face. Tomorrow, we'll get back to the serious side of Marketing Tips For Authors.
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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.
June 21, 2011
How To Get Your Book Reviewed: By Megalith
When I first published The Samson Effect, I submitted it to various sites for review. One of those sites was Megalith: Books that Rock! Here is the link to the review they created for The Samson Effect. In fact, The Samson Effect went on to win one of their Meg Awards for Best Book by a New Author .
I caught up with the person behind this book review site (who shall remain nameless :) ) and asked him if he would be willing to write a post on the value of book review sites and how to get your book reviewed on them. Today's post is his contribution to this blog.
How To Get Your Book Reviewed
By Megalith
The publishing world is in flux. Ebooks are on the rise, print books declining, and bookstores struggling to stay afloat. In the midst of this rapidly-changing landscape, online book sales are becoming increasingly important. A great way for an author to stimulate such sales is through a review site. The reason, of course, is obvious: it connects you with potential readers who might not have discovered you otherwise. Review sites typically (if not always) include "buy" links for your book, which makes the decision to purchase a quick and easy one. But how to get reviewed on such a site? Here are a few tips I've picked up through working with publishers, agents, and authors over the last five years.
Know what you're up against.
Despite their reputed financial struggles, the major publishing houses will provide a reviewer with a decent following all the books he or she could ever want to read at no cost. I already receive books at a much faster rate than I can read and review them, so don't expect me to turn somersaults because you've offered me a free copy of your new book. The reviewer is doing you a favor, so be nice. You don't have to put on the hard sell to impress me, but it's important to be friendly and professional. Introduce yourself, give me a very brief synopsis of your book, include links to your book and website, and offer to send a review copy. Even if I decline to review your book, if you seem polite and professional, and you write in the genre I review, there's good chance I'll mention your book in one of my news and notes posts, and give my readers a purchase link.
Think about your presentation.
The typical review package includes a print copy of the book, and at least two pages of information about the book and the author, including synopsis, excerpts of other reviews, blurbs, an author bio, links, and contact information. Some publicists also include Frequently Asked Questions or a Q&A with the author. Putting something like this together doesn't take much effort, and goes a long way toward making you look like a professional.
Familiarize yourself with the site before you query.
This should be obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't do this. Does the reviewer have any guidelines you should follow? Does the site focus on a certain genre? My site, for example, focuses on thrillers, with preference given to action-adventure. Don't bother sending me a query for your book that is of a different genre, but has some element that you consider makes it "appealing to the thriller audience." If you don't know what I'm talking about, visit the Amazon forums and look at just about any book recommendation thread and witness the behavior of desperate authors.
Let the review know if you're open to other things.
I might not choose to review your book, but I'm almost always willing to publish a guest post, a guest review, or an announcement about your book, provided that the aforementioned pertain to the genre on which my site focuses. If you're willing to submit any of those, mention it in the last line of your query.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to submit a print copy of my book?
That depends on the site, but you should make the offer. Most publishing houses only send hard copies of the book, due to fear of e-piracy, and some reviewers consider the print copy a token of your earnestness and commitment. Personally, I recently made the transition to an e-reader, so I'm fine with the offer of an e-copy, but you will appear more professional if you offer a print copy, or a copy of my choice.
Is it acceptable to ask for the review site to permanently link to my blog/site?
Speaking for myself, I say no, unless the reviewer's site specifically invites you to exchange links. I assume everyone who asks for a review would also like to be included in my author link list. I prefer not to make that list too long, and various factors affect my decision whether or not to include someone. If I think you're a good fit, I'll include you without being asked to do so.
How should I respond to a review?
A polite thank-you never hurts. Whether you email the reviewer, post it in the comments, or both, it will never harm your relationship with the reviewer. If the review is negative, I suggest you start by taking three deep breaths, and then read it again, looking for positives. If it still feels like a bad review, have someone you trust read it, give you her/his opinion, and talk you down if necessary. Then, write your polite thank-you, even if it kills you. It makes you look classy, both to readers and to the reviewer. I once wrote a negative review of a NYT bestselling author's book. Imagine the somersaults my stomach did when I opened my email the next day to find a message from him. He thanked me for the review, told me the criticisms had given him food for thought, and said he learned from what I had to say. I think he gave me too much credit with the latter comment, but it demonstrated what a good guy he is, and I always make a point to announce his new releases.
I've familiarized myself with the site, and I'm still not 100% sure if I fit the bill. Is it okay for me to query?
Perhaps you're an e-only author, a podcaster, or your book truly is a cross-genre work that has a strong thriller content. There's no harm in asking. Just follow the golden rule- be nice.
Finally, I'd like to urge authors to think beyond the fact that you're trying to get your book reviewed, and view it as an opportunity to build a relationship with the reviewer. I assume you're getting into writing for the long haul. A positive relationship with reviewers can only help you along the way. Good luck!
--
Megalith: Books That Rock
Action, Adventure and Thriller Reviews
http://megalithbooks.blogspot.com
Megalith on Facebook
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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.
June 20, 2011
Run Ads to Help Finance Your Books By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
This month, I was reading Carolyn Howard-Johnson's monthly newsletter and she mentioned a book marketing idea that I had never considered before. It intrigued me so much, that I wanted to hear more. In fact, I wanted to share it with you. So I contacted Carolyn and asked her if she'd be willing to do a post on it for this blog. She agreed and submitted today's post on running ads in your books to help finance the cost of creating your book. Very intriguing thought...
Before we get to Carolyn's post, I wanted to update you on how my books are doing. The Samson Effect (A Thomas Hamilton Adventure)
reached into the top 400's of all Kindle books yesterday. I am actively working on it's sequel which will be released late summer/early fall. I set it up in Amazon as A Thomas Hamilton Adventure series. My new release, The Lottery Ticket: A Novel,
is outpacing the first month for The Samson Effect on Kindle, so I'm thrilled with its success as well. Thanks to everyone for your help in spreading the word for these books.Now, on to Carolyn's post...
Run Ads to Help Finance Your Books
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
I hate the word "monetize." And I especially don't like it when this word (it's really ugly, isn't it?) is mentioned in the same breath with books. But I'm going to talk about it anyway because, if authors do it right, using ads in their books or other promotional materials can subsidize the cost of publishing a book, costs they often scrimp on like great editing, great cover design, great indexing.
Most every author is self publishing something these days. If not their books, then e-books or white papers that help them promote their work. Many of these books--are perfect for paid ads and ads in barter. Think about trading an ad for another service you need like a blog tour, bookcover art, or printing.
Ads like these are becoming more accepted, if they are focused on the book's target audience. The LA Times reports Amazon will put ads in some Kindle readers and that they will then sell them at 18% less than the ad-free device ($114.00). Ads in disguise have been used in literary journals and other books for years. They usually come as an order page or a list (subtle or not-so-subtle) of related books that might interest a reader. Some of the ads Amazon is using will not only give you a discounted Kindle, they may give you other money-saving resources. So, if you decide to put ads into your books, how would you do it?
~Put the ads in the backmatter of your book.
~Accept only professionally produced ads.
~Accept only ads that would interest your target audience. Be prepared to refuse some with the "not quite right" phrase that literary journals use to pass on submissions.
~Limit the number of adds to just a few.
~Encourage ads that give discounts or freebies so that the ads are seen as an added value by your readers.
When you use ads this way, your reader will benefit. They learn about new resources and special discounts and those discounts may even help pay for the book (yours!) your reader just bought.
If you are uncomfortable with this idea, start small. Start with your promotional e-books. Then move on. Eventually your readers may benefit from ads in your full-fledged, honest-to-goodness paperback or hardcover book!
PS: Anyone with a product (yes, books are products!) or a service that would appeal to readers of The Frugal Book Promoter may e-mail me (HoJoNews@aol.com) for details of how we might partner on something like this for one of my new releases. Spaces are limited.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a novelist, poet, and the author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. That site includes a huge section of Resources for Writers. She also blogs writers' resources at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.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.
Run Ads to Help Finance Your Books By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
This month, I was reading Carolyn Howard-Johnson's monthly newsletter and she mentioned a book marketing idea that I had never considered before. It intrigued me so much, that I wanted to hear more. In fact, I wanted to share it with you. So I contacted Carolyn and asked her if she'd be willing to do a post on it for this blog. She agreed and submitted today's post on running ads in your books to help finance the cost of creating your book. Very intriguing thought...
Before we get to Carolyn's post, I wanted to update you on how my books are doing. The Samson Effect (A Thomas Hamilton Adventure)
reached into the top 400's of all Kindle books yesterday. I am actively working on it's sequel which will be released late summer/early fall. I set it up in Amazon as A Thomas Hamilton Adventure series. My new release, The Lottery Ticket: A Novel,
is outpacing the first month for The Samson Effect on Kindle, so I'm thrilled with its success as well. Thanks to everyone for your help in spreading the word for these books.Now, on to Carolyn's post...
Run Ads to Help Finance Your Books
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
I hate the word "monetize." And I especially don't like it when this word (it's really ugly, isn't it?) is mentioned in the same breath with books. But I'm going to talk about it anyway because, if authors do it right, using ads in their books or other promotional materials can subsidize the cost of publishing a book, costs they often scrimp on like great editing, great cover design, great indexing.
Most every author is self publishing something these days. If not their books, then e-books or white papers that help them promote their work. Many of these books--are perfect for paid ads and ads in barter. Think about trading an ad for another service you need like a blog tour, bookcover art, or printing.
Ads like these are becoming more accepted, if they are focused on the book's target audience. The LA Times reports Amazon will put ads in some Kindle readers and that they will then sell them at 18% less than the ad-free device ($114.00). Ads in disguise have been used in literary journals and other books for years. They usually come as an order page or a list (subtle or not-so-subtle) of related books that might interest a reader. Some of the ads Amazon is using will not only give you a discounted Kindle, they may give you other money-saving resources. So, if you decide to put ads into your books, how would you do it?
~Put the ads in the backmatter of your book.
~Accept only professionally produced ads.
~Accept only ads that would interest your target audience. Be prepared to refuse some with the "not quite right" phrase that literary journals use to pass on submissions.
~Limit the number of adds to just a few.
~Encourage ads that give discounts or freebies so that the ads are seen as an added value by your readers.
When you use ads this way, your reader will benefit. They learn about new resources and special discounts and those discounts may even help pay for the book (yours!) your reader just bought.
If you are uncomfortable with this idea, start small. Start with your promotional e-books. Then move on. Eventually your readers may benefit from ads in your full-fledged, honest-to-goodness paperback or hardcover book!
PS: Anyone with a product (yes, books are products!) or a service that would appeal to readers of The Frugal Book Promoter may e-mail me (HoJoNews@aol.com) for details of how we might partner on something like this for one of my new releases. Spaces are limited.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a novelist, poet, and the author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. That site includes a huge section of Resources for Writers. She also blogs writers' resources at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.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.
June 19, 2011
Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway PM: Children of Dreams By Lorilyn Roberts
This afternoon's Sunday Kindle Book Giveaway is Children of Dreams
from author Lorilyn Roberts. 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 Lorilyn is to leave a comment below.Description From Amazon.com
Children of Dreams is borne out of Lorilyn Roberts' shattered dreams. The inspiring story of turning sorrow into life-giving hope will bring tears to the reader as he identifies with her feelings of insecurity and fear. The timeless theme of God's faithfulness-the stuff out of which God brings redemption-will leave the reader riveted to the pages of this book.
Children of Dreams is more than an adoption story set in the remotest regions of the planet. Facing insurmountable odds-communist blockades, life-threatening illness, betrayal and deceit-Lorilyn Roberts' courage and determination never to give up will touch the reader. Despair transformed into heavenly joy and evil overcome by God's redemptive love will inspire even the most skeptical to believe in miracles. Children of Dreams resonates with Biblical truth at a deep level and in a sense is everyone's story. Timeless in nature, Children of Dreams is sure to be a favorite adoption story for years to come
Find Lorilyn on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Lorilyn-Roberts-Fan-Page/144049365650301
Find Lorilyn on Twitter: @llwroberts
Lorilyn's Website: http://www.lorilynroberts.com/
Lorilyn's blog: http://www.lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/
Reviews
Amazon
Mymcbooks's Blog
Message From The Author
"After reading this true adoption story, you will know God brings redemption out of loss, hope out of despair, and joy out of sorrow. Mourning is replaced with gladness as God's love shines forth in this inspirational journey -- around the world and within the heart. Be inspired! "
For your chance to win a Kindle copy of Children of Dreams, all you have to do is leave a comment below. We will randomly choose a winner next Saturday.
Last Week's Winners:
Bridges: A Tale of Niagara By dk LeVick: Jeffrey Beesler
Without Regrets by Kristi Burchfiel: Michael J. Eastman
From Our Sponsors
Ebook Friendly - discover Kindle ebooks in a distraction-free environment. Tips, news, bestseller lists and more.
Time to publish your thoughts? www.taleist.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.
