Christine Nolfi's Blog, page 14

Building a Review Team for Your Book

I was a year into indie publishing and preparing for my third release before I got serious about developing a First Review Team.

You needn’t wait so long. Finding first readers for an upcoming novel is as easy as sending a private Facebook or Goodreads message, or email to a passionate reader of your particular brand of fiction.

Sure, you should also contact book review blogs when preparing for your release day. However many bloggers are too busy to guarantee a review will post on a specific da...

Grow a Vibrant Twitter Following

This Chatty Kathy can’t lie: I love Twitter.

Some authors think of tweeting as just another chore, but I find the site invaluable for connecting with readers and sharing publishing industry news with other authors. Book reviewers find me on Twitter. So do families that have adopted children, as I have.

Do I spend endless hours on Twitter? No. My work day revolves around a strict writing schedule. But I do find time throughout the week to spend several minutes catching up with friends in the Twi...

Have You Met Fussy Librarian?

There’s a new website for readers called The Fussy Librarian that’s like a matchmaking service for book lovers. You type in your email, tell them what kind of books you like to read and how you feel about profanity, violence and sex in novels. Then a daily email comes with your book recommendations. On Monday, Oct 14th The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge will be featured in Fussy Librarian’s inaugural mailing. They’re very supportive of authors like me, so I hope you’ll support them and sign up...

Sizzling Book Sales? Hello, BookBub

Does your novel garner excellent reviews but have yet to find an audience? Perhaps it’s time for BookBub.

With 1.5 million subscribers and growing, BookBub offers deep discounts on acclaimed eBooks through alerts tailored to genre preferences. Every day a new batch of great reads at discount prices drops into a reader’s inbox. These curated offerings represent the best in targeted marketing, matching bibliophile and book with an astonishing efficiency that can start sales sizzling.

No wonder au...

Lucky 13

On Friday the 13th in September, 1996 I flew around the belly of the earth from Honolulu to Cebu in the Philippines. It was a day of firsts: first trip to Asia, first time in the developing world, first experience as a minority–a tall white woman amid the crush of petite, brown-skinned people.

First day of motherhood.

Christian, Jameson, Marlie and Marguerite: I’ll never forget that first glimpse of you, my children, as I strode up the steps of Children’s Shelter of Cebu and plopped down on the...

Fake It Till You Make It

Recently I watched a superb TED talk by Harvard Business School’s Amy Cuddy on how body language shapes who you are. We know much of this instinctively; shoulders hunched imply self-doubt while standing erect with arms crossed indicates dominance. Of course Cuddy’s lecture went into greater detail on how the many forms of nonverbal communication influence our thoughts, feelings—even our physiology.

What does any of this have to do with publishing? Quite a bit, in fact.

Troll through the private...

Dream Paperback Giveaway

Thanks to my publicist Babs, two paperback giveaways are up and running for my latest release The Dream You Make. Enter either one, or enter both for more chances to win.

On GoodReads

On LibraryThing

Giveaways on LibraryThing are a bit confusing. You’ll find The Dream You Make about 20th from the bottom of the page.

The post Dream Paperback Giveaway appeared first on Christine Nolfi.

New Release: Life Sentence, Romantic Suspense by @Carolyn_Arnold

“If I pay with my life, you will pay with yours.”

Defense Attorney Bryan Lexan may have just taken on the case which will cost him his life. When his client, a Russian mafia boss, is convicted of first-degree murder, he vows to make Bryan pay.

Meanwhile, Jessica Pratt has always prided herself on being a modern woman–you know, the kind who doesn’t need a man to make her feel complete. So when she finds herself torn between two, she realizes that not all decisions are based on facts. If they wer...

Building a Memorable Author Brand

Now, don’t be shy: Did you begin indie publishing with the sole objective of releasing your heart’s work to the world?

Many indie authors, including many earning an impressive income, begin the journey with one book in mind. It isn’t until the second or third release that they begin pondering questions critical to long-term success. What genre (or mixed bag of genres) do I write? Where do readers of my genre typically hang out? How will I distinguish my unique voice in an overheated market?

The...

Adopted Kids in Adulthood

CSC’s Mitch and Ruth with kids from three adoptive families

Many of you undoubtedly know that in 1996 I adopted my four children (a sibling group) from The Children’s Shelter of Cebu. Missionaries from the U.S. run the shelter with dedication and grace, creating forever families in the U.S., Europe and Australia.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Mitch and his lovely wife Ruth, two of CSC’s dedicated staff members. They were in town visiting three CSC families, includi...