L.M. Preston's Blog, page 47
August 4, 2011
Guess What...You Don't Own Twitter
Now with twitter being a powerful tool for chatting, marketing, getting information and getting to know people, cattiness abounds.
I'm working with MBPA to start a twitter chat surrounding publishing and the small press publishers who are trying to get their hustle on. That means we will be using a HASHTAG #MBPA and would like for all that use it to only chat about like topics.
But you know what?.... WE DON'T OWN TWITTER so we can only hope that courtesy abounds when people play in the same space. What will we do if someone uses the hashtag that we decide to use (no we didn't purchase exclusive use of it, no we don't own it, no we weren't the first people to invent it...and we don't threaten to turn them into twitter police for being spammers if they are sharing content)
Well if someone uses the hashtag we create for our own marketing, communicating and promotional purposes, we'll ask them nicely and just go on. Why? Because....WE DON'T own twitter.
*wink*
So, when you set up a hashtag for your organization, business, promotional purposes. Give the same courtesy that you would like others to give you and realize that twitter is a place where everyone can hang out. Also, use of any word is the right of all that show up. Just have fun with it and don't take social media too seriously.
WHAT ARE SOME Social Media Possessiveness you've seen?LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
August 3, 2011
LA Banks, Best Selling Author of Vampire Huntress Series Passed Away
It is with a great, heavy and sad heart I share that, Banks died on August 2, 2011, aged 51.
She wrote romance, women's fiction, crime suspense, dark fantasy/horror and non-fiction. Her pseudonyms were LA Banks, Leslie Esdaile, Leslie Banks and Leslie Esdaile Banks.
HER AUTHOR PAGE IS HERE: http://www.leslieesdailebanks.com/abo...
I was awed to meet her when I recruited her for a spot as a chat guest on YALITCHAT and then she was so gracious to be a guest at the Maryland Writer's Conference in April this year where I got to meet her.
When she first saw me, she gave me the biggest hug and THANKS lil' ole me for inviting her.
SHE WAS A GIVING AND WARM SPIRIT OF A WOMAN.
Please support her family buy purchasing her book (She self-published her YA Series) and that money would go directly to her family.
HERE'S MY DAUGHTER'S REVIEW OF HER BOOK - SHADOW WALKER, NYIA
SHADOW WALKER Synopsis from Goodreads:
Set in a post-apocalyptic world following the Armageddon, in Shadow Walker, Sarah and the teenage children of the world's Guardians of the Light must learn to hone their extra-sensory talents to one day join in the battle with their parents.
While they are secreted away in the Temt Tchaas Academy, (aka Neteru Academy), these students must learn to fight evil as well as learn to resist the temptation of fighting with each other. Although these young people have super powers, they still struggle with the same dramas and insecurities like any other high school student – and just because their parents may be superhuman doesn't mean their parents are perfect. Far from it. That only makes life more confusing, as peer pressure, budding romances, decisions about whether or not to snitch, or whether or not to use one's supernatural gifts for personal gain must be sorted out.
In this coming of age story, Sarah Rivera and her twin brother, Alejandro, must figure out when to use their wings or fangs, how to get along with their compound siblings, how to fit in with others in a huge new school, and perhaps most importantly, how to pick their battles to always fight for what is right.
NYIA's REVIEW:
I've never read anything like this before. And I loved it! My mom got this on ebook for just $3.99 (she told me to tell you to pick it up on smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/b/33128) and started reading it and loved Sarah. The kids talk in slang, which made the book really unique to me, and made the kids sound realistic. Sarah scares easy but doesn't realize she is a Shadow Walker, one of the most strongest guardians there is to fight the evil ones. This world is filled with vampires, zombies, demons, werewolves and angelic mixes with magical creatures. It was very original and interesting enough to keep me read. There was a little bit of romance, but it wasn't really a serious one like in most of the teen books. I would have liked to see more of that, but there was so much other exciting stuff going on in the book that I didn't miss it not having the love triangle that most books have. I liked how Sarah grew into the hero even though she was scared so I gave this 5 out of 5 FIREWORKS.
HERE ARE SOME OF HER OTHER SERIES:
Crimson Moon
Vampire Huntress and Shadow Walker
RomancesLM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
August 1, 2011
J.K. Rowling Goes Rogue!
Quote from MBPA Newsletter:
"J.K. Rowling went rogue, bringing out the eBook versions of her bazillion-selling Harry Potter series as an independent publisher (and wiping out the indy pub stigma in one fell swoop -- Thanks, J.K.!)."
SAY WHAT?!!
This is what you get:
An interesting spin and ebook interactive format. YEAH BABY!
FINALLY the Harry Potter series will be in e-books!
You can get it in e-books and audio books with multiple languages being offered at Pottermore.com, it has it all social networking with a twist of computer gaming and an online store.
"You can't hold back progress," Rowling said. "E-books are here and they are here to stay."
No new Harry Potter series though. However, she is releasing an 18,000 word snippet of new material highlighting characters and settings.
Yep, she is selling the ebooks in the new slick format direct from her own site, not on Amazon but Rowlings says the books will be compatible with e-readers such as Kindle, Sony's Reader -tada and the iPad.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
July 29, 2011
COWBOYS VS ALIENS - A surprise Fun Ride
A SURPRISE ADVENTURE!
FANDANGO BLURB:
A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force.
MY REVIEW:
I love westerns! But I have to admit, the title and the previews of this one didn't impress me at all. My husband wanted to see this and it was his turn to pick the movie for our date night.
We have this sick ache for the excitement of our youth and therefore rush out to go to the opening midnight showings of new movies. Mainly in the summer we indulge this addiction, but hey, it's fun.
So I sat down to watch this movie, just hoping to stay awake, and I have to admit - it more than kept me awake. There was a bit of a mystery, a great dose of Western fun, and some corny parts that was what I had expected. But there were some parts where I jumped in my seats, some where I laughed, some where I smiled and then cheered. And I wasn't alone either, there was a packed house in the theater on Thurs night midnight and people were engaged then committed to the movies. I give this 3.5 spaceships.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
FANDANGO BLURB:
A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force.
MY REVIEW:
I love westerns! But I have to admit, the title and the previews of this one didn't impress me at all. My husband wanted to see this and it was his turn to pick the movie for our date night.
We have this sick ache for the excitement of our youth and therefore rush out to go to the opening midnight showings of new movies. Mainly in the summer we indulge this addiction, but hey, it's fun.
So I sat down to watch this movie, just hoping to stay awake, and I have to admit - it more than kept me awake. There was a bit of a mystery, a great dose of Western fun, and some corny parts that was what I had expected. But there were some parts where I jumped in my seats, some where I laughed, some where I smiled and then cheered. And I wasn't alone either, there was a packed house in the theater on Thurs night midnight and people were engaged then committed to the movies. I give this 3.5 spaceships.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
July 28, 2011
What Can a Publicist Do For You?
PLEASE WELCOME MY GUEST, Lauren!!!!
Being an author is hard work. You have to write your book, edit your book, and now they want you to market it as well (while you're most likely still living life and writing something new)? I'm not a published author…but I do write, and to be published one day is a goal of mine. However, I've worked with various authors on many levels of their promotion and I know how time-consuming and confusing it can be.
Therefore, I would recommend a publicist. No, it's not for everyone. Some people are quite capable of promoting on their own or just prefer it. And I know publishing companies often do what they can, but if your book isn't a TOP PICK for them…it can get lost in the shuffle. It's not your fault, right? So think about hiring an independent publicist, which is what I am. I'm relatively new but I've already worked with many authors in the past (and through my business, Shooting Stars Promotion).
But back to you, the writer. What can a publicist do for you anyway?
Here are some reasons you should think about branching out (and yes, these all apply to me):
1. They're on your side. They want you to succeed on some level.
2. They have less books and authors to focus on than a publishing company so you get more of their attention.
3. They are often happy to work with unique avenues of promotion instead of over-covering the same places.
4. They can be cheaper than you think, as long as you do your research.
5. They are easier to get a hold of when you need them.
6. They are happy to work with your own ideas/suggestions.
Here are some things that I like to do with my own clients:
1. Work with businesses that sell products related to client's book…cross-promote.
2. Find the best blogs to promote on and not just all YA blogs (you're hitting much of the same people).
3. Make sure my client isn't overspending for anything. While you do pay me, I don't want you wasting money.
4. Try and find similar authors/books you could cross-promote with.
5. Figure out the best forms of swag to use for your particular novel.
6. Target other websites, newspapers, magazines…if applicable.
I'll be the first to admit that not everyone needs a publicist, but I think it could be a big help to a lot of people. You just need to do your research and find someone you want to work with that fits your budget.
To learn more about me and my business, visit my website:
www.laurenashleybecker.com. I also blog at www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com and www.letsgetbeyondtolerance.blogspot.com. You can contact me through any of these sites.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
Being an author is hard work. You have to write your book, edit your book, and now they want you to market it as well (while you're most likely still living life and writing something new)? I'm not a published author…but I do write, and to be published one day is a goal of mine. However, I've worked with various authors on many levels of their promotion and I know how time-consuming and confusing it can be.
Therefore, I would recommend a publicist. No, it's not for everyone. Some people are quite capable of promoting on their own or just prefer it. And I know publishing companies often do what they can, but if your book isn't a TOP PICK for them…it can get lost in the shuffle. It's not your fault, right? So think about hiring an independent publicist, which is what I am. I'm relatively new but I've already worked with many authors in the past (and through my business, Shooting Stars Promotion).
But back to you, the writer. What can a publicist do for you anyway?
Here are some reasons you should think about branching out (and yes, these all apply to me):
1. They're on your side. They want you to succeed on some level.
2. They have less books and authors to focus on than a publishing company so you get more of their attention.
3. They are often happy to work with unique avenues of promotion instead of over-covering the same places.
4. They can be cheaper than you think, as long as you do your research.
5. They are easier to get a hold of when you need them.
6. They are happy to work with your own ideas/suggestions.
Here are some things that I like to do with my own clients:
1. Work with businesses that sell products related to client's book…cross-promote.
2. Find the best blogs to promote on and not just all YA blogs (you're hitting much of the same people).
3. Make sure my client isn't overspending for anything. While you do pay me, I don't want you wasting money.
4. Try and find similar authors/books you could cross-promote with.
5. Figure out the best forms of swag to use for your particular novel.
6. Target other websites, newspapers, magazines…if applicable.
I'll be the first to admit that not everyone needs a publicist, but I think it could be a big help to a lot of people. You just need to do your research and find someone you want to work with that fits your budget.
To learn more about me and my business, visit my website:
www.laurenashleybecker.com. I also blog at www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com and www.letsgetbeyondtolerance.blogspot.com. You can contact me through any of these sites.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
July 26, 2011
Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn
Yay! NYIA our TEEN BOOK REVIEWER has been on a reading frenzy this summer!
Amazon Blurb:
In an alternate 21st century, teens have cell phones and cars, and worry about who will take them to homecoming and whether or not to have sex. They also have dragon drills—just in case the creatures cross the border and attack. After World War II, the dragons, who had been in hiding for centuries, reemerged from myth into real life. Humans, still on edge from the trauma of the war, struck out at them, causing a conflict in which many on both sides died. A truce was reached, a border was created, and a tentative peace was established. Seventeen-year-old Kay lives on the border of Dragon. After a fall during an ill-advised solo climb, she is rescued by Artegal, a dragon who is studying human language. Over the next weeks, a tentative friendship grows into a bond between them. When the border is breached and a conflict begins, they must rely on their friendship to repair the damage before too many lives are lost.
NYIA'S TEEN BOOK REVIEW:
The Voices of Dragons had a great concept. The character Kay was likeable. She was adventurous and wasn't afraid of being herself. Her friend Jon was also likable; him and Kay seemed like a great match. A lot of the time the main character, Kay, wasn't actually apart of the action unfolding. When the climax of the book took place, the reader heard about most of the outside action from the news that Kay was watching. The ending didn't seem to solve the problem either, which kind of frustrated me. The whole dragon part didn't seem to play that much of a role because it seemed to have parts where it didn't even come across the main character's mind. I would have liked to see more of that. As it happens whenever Kay thought about the dragon, then she went to see the dragon. It was very predictable. Also, the history behind the story was intruiging. Overall I give the book a 3.5 out of 5 dragons.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
Amazon Blurb:
In an alternate 21st century, teens have cell phones and cars, and worry about who will take them to homecoming and whether or not to have sex. They also have dragon drills—just in case the creatures cross the border and attack. After World War II, the dragons, who had been in hiding for centuries, reemerged from myth into real life. Humans, still on edge from the trauma of the war, struck out at them, causing a conflict in which many on both sides died. A truce was reached, a border was created, and a tentative peace was established. Seventeen-year-old Kay lives on the border of Dragon. After a fall during an ill-advised solo climb, she is rescued by Artegal, a dragon who is studying human language. Over the next weeks, a tentative friendship grows into a bond between them. When the border is breached and a conflict begins, they must rely on their friendship to repair the damage before too many lives are lost.
NYIA'S TEEN BOOK REVIEW:
The Voices of Dragons had a great concept. The character Kay was likeable. She was adventurous and wasn't afraid of being herself. Her friend Jon was also likable; him and Kay seemed like a great match. A lot of the time the main character, Kay, wasn't actually apart of the action unfolding. When the climax of the book took place, the reader heard about most of the outside action from the news that Kay was watching. The ending didn't seem to solve the problem either, which kind of frustrated me. The whole dragon part didn't seem to play that much of a role because it seemed to have parts where it didn't even come across the main character's mind. I would have liked to see more of that. As it happens whenever Kay thought about the dragon, then she went to see the dragon. It was very predictable. Also, the history behind the story was intruiging. Overall I give the book a 3.5 out of 5 dragons.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
July 22, 2011
CAPTAIN AMERICA - Movie Review
Oh my FREAKIN' GOSH!!!!!! Okay I'm totally gonna skip to the best part of the movie....after the credits roll, you get an AWESOME tease....THE AVENGERS PREVIEW!!!!!
FANDANGO BLURB:
After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals.
MY REVIEW
Okay, I'm biased and invested. I've seen all of the Avengers movies and I have enjoyed them. No...they weren't bada** (shut your mouth!) flicks that make me want to watch them over and over again. But, they are entertaining and kept my interest throughout. Not to mention --- who doesn't dig a hero (even though the villain stole the show in Thor...that a whole other story).
Sorry, I digressed. Here's my review:
I like this. Steve Rogers is my type of character. A boy bullied, beat up, kicked out, put upon and everything you can think of. But you know what - he never gave up. This movie covers the story of Captain America (the past him) back in the 40's and the villain is a bit quirky. Also, I would have really liked a bit more depth to the story, but it was still a good one. As far as it lining up to the comic book depiction it did so for the most part. There were little off points. Like Captain America was a king with Hand-To-Hand combat. But in the movie it was all about the shield. I give this movie 3.5 stars with stripes. And just so you know, I FREAKIN' totally enjoyed the tease trailer for THE AVENGERS!LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
FANDANGO BLURB:
After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals.
MY REVIEW
Okay, I'm biased and invested. I've seen all of the Avengers movies and I have enjoyed them. No...they weren't bada** (shut your mouth!) flicks that make me want to watch them over and over again. But, they are entertaining and kept my interest throughout. Not to mention --- who doesn't dig a hero (even though the villain stole the show in Thor...that a whole other story).
Sorry, I digressed. Here's my review:
I like this. Steve Rogers is my type of character. A boy bullied, beat up, kicked out, put upon and everything you can think of. But you know what - he never gave up. This movie covers the story of Captain America (the past him) back in the 40's and the villain is a bit quirky. Also, I would have really liked a bit more depth to the story, but it was still a good one. As far as it lining up to the comic book depiction it did so for the most part. There were little off points. Like Captain America was a king with Hand-To-Hand combat. But in the movie it was all about the shield. I give this movie 3.5 stars with stripes. And just so you know, I FREAKIN' totally enjoyed the tease trailer for THE AVENGERS!LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
July 21, 2011
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Please welcome TEEN BOOK REVIEWER, Nyia!
She is reviewing another great book I got from the BEA conference.
Goodreads:
The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki's blood.
Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen's son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.
Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…
NYIA TEEN BOOK REVIEW:
The Faerie Ring was exciting and had a great plot. The whole idea about a truce between faerie and humans held on a cursed ring was so exciting. I loved the main character, Tiki, and how she acted like a real thief and didn't trust anyone that she had not grown up with. It was interesting seeing her relationship with Raeker, her fellow thief, grow as she had to try to find a way to keep the piece between the faeries and humans. The villain as you would say was very diabolical; she used Tiki's family and her relationships against her to get the ring. Prince Leopold, who the ring was in a way stolen from, was very keen and did use his clues to figure out what was going on. The author did a great job at making everything real and uncut. I really liked that Tiki was the center of the action and didn't take a backseat to anything. She followed her instincts and that worked in her benefit allowing her to make the right choices. Overall I would give this book a 4 out 5 rings. The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed like Prince Leopard was suppose to play a big role, but it ended up that he wasn't that important.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
She is reviewing another great book I got from the BEA conference.
Goodreads:
The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki's blood.
Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen's son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.
Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…
NYIA TEEN BOOK REVIEW:
The Faerie Ring was exciting and had a great plot. The whole idea about a truce between faerie and humans held on a cursed ring was so exciting. I loved the main character, Tiki, and how she acted like a real thief and didn't trust anyone that she had not grown up with. It was interesting seeing her relationship with Raeker, her fellow thief, grow as she had to try to find a way to keep the piece between the faeries and humans. The villain as you would say was very diabolical; she used Tiki's family and her relationships against her to get the ring. Prince Leopold, who the ring was in a way stolen from, was very keen and did use his clues to figure out what was going on. The author did a great job at making everything real and uncut. I really liked that Tiki was the center of the action and didn't take a backseat to anything. She followed her instincts and that worked in her benefit allowing her to make the right choices. Overall I would give this book a 4 out 5 rings. The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed like Prince Leopard was suppose to play a big role, but it ended up that he wasn't that important.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
July 19, 2011
Promotional Burnout
With the face of publishing changing, many authors are finding themselves having to hustle to get their own promotions for their books on the roll.
One of the main complaints is burnout. Lot's of work to do, but only a few (sometimes just the author) to do it.
WHAT LEADS TO IT
The major way to get to burnout and fast is – NO PLANNING.
When an author doesn't plan how they are going to promote their books they do wild and crazy things to get the word out. Things that may turn off readers and waste time and money.
No pacing or scheduling of task.
When you create a marketing plan for a book, scheduling out in person events, blog tours, ads, and exposure is a major player in making sure promotions is a fun thing instead of an exhausting exercise.
Pointing out the valuable exposure over useless exposure.
Some authors in their zeal to get exposure step on many toes along the way. They spam others blogs, they spam emails they make inappropriate promo sales of their books in the weirdest places. All of these things can backfire – but most of all they add to the burnout.
HOW TO PREVENT IT
Burnout can be prevented with proper planning and scheduling. This is something I personally learned over time. Also, if you books shelf life is – forever (which it is because when you – the author – are given back the rights to it, you can repub it if you want), then you have a long time to promote it.
Create a Book Marketing Plan
Research what others with books in your genre, your demographics area and are authors like you are doing to sell their book. Break down the cost/investment you are willing to make in time and in money to promote.
Pace yourself.
Take the time before the book comes out to give it proper buzz (about 6 months) then schedule the days, times of the week you are willing to spend on hands on promotions (in person tours, blog tours, twitter promo, FB promo, etc)
Take time off.
Don't allow burnout to creep up on you. Schedule in vacations and use auto tools to help you maintain your social media presence and do online ads during this time to keep your name out there circulating.
Invite Others To Help.
Rome wasn't built in a day - nor by just one person. Getting a little help from your fiends is always a great way to drop off some steam.
SO HOW DO YOU COMBAT PROMO BURNOUT? OR BURNOUT period?LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
One of the main complaints is burnout. Lot's of work to do, but only a few (sometimes just the author) to do it.
WHAT LEADS TO IT
The major way to get to burnout and fast is – NO PLANNING.
When an author doesn't plan how they are going to promote their books they do wild and crazy things to get the word out. Things that may turn off readers and waste time and money.
No pacing or scheduling of task.
When you create a marketing plan for a book, scheduling out in person events, blog tours, ads, and exposure is a major player in making sure promotions is a fun thing instead of an exhausting exercise.
Pointing out the valuable exposure over useless exposure.
Some authors in their zeal to get exposure step on many toes along the way. They spam others blogs, they spam emails they make inappropriate promo sales of their books in the weirdest places. All of these things can backfire – but most of all they add to the burnout.
HOW TO PREVENT IT
Burnout can be prevented with proper planning and scheduling. This is something I personally learned over time. Also, if you books shelf life is – forever (which it is because when you – the author – are given back the rights to it, you can repub it if you want), then you have a long time to promote it.
Create a Book Marketing Plan
Research what others with books in your genre, your demographics area and are authors like you are doing to sell their book. Break down the cost/investment you are willing to make in time and in money to promote.
Pace yourself.
Take the time before the book comes out to give it proper buzz (about 6 months) then schedule the days, times of the week you are willing to spend on hands on promotions (in person tours, blog tours, twitter promo, FB promo, etc)
Take time off.
Don't allow burnout to creep up on you. Schedule in vacations and use auto tools to help you maintain your social media presence and do online ads during this time to keep your name out there circulating.
Invite Others To Help.
Rome wasn't built in a day - nor by just one person. Getting a little help from your fiends is always a great way to drop off some steam.
SO HOW DO YOU COMBAT PROMO BURNOUT? OR BURNOUT period?LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
July 15, 2011
Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 Review
I'm am certifiably a nut...I went to 2 movie theatres last night to get tickets to this movie. After seeing lines of people dressed as Witches and Harry Potter cast offs, we finally found a tucked away theatre that we could purchase tickets (we did this 5 hours before the showtime.)
FANDANGO:
The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemort's final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.
MY REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this one much better than the last one. Why, it was excitement from the moment it started until the end. You definitely had to see the Part 1 movie to get this one. They again stayed closely to the book with some scenes shortened. However, I must say I really enjoyed the ride and am a little sad that Harry will not be meeting me each year at the theatres. I give this a 4.5 wands out of 5.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
FANDANGO:
The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemort's final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.
MY REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this one much better than the last one. Why, it was excitement from the moment it started until the end. You definitely had to see the Part 1 movie to get this one. They again stayed closely to the book with some scenes shortened. However, I must say I really enjoyed the ride and am a little sad that Harry will not be meeting me each year at the theatres. I give this a 4.5 wands out of 5.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS
