C.K. Bryant's Blog, page 16
September 25, 2011
Button! Button! Who's Got the Button?
Let the PARTY BEGIN!!! FIVE AWESOME AUTHORS!FIVE DEBUT NOVELS!!All taking the publishing world by storm with an
11 DAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!
But wait. We're just too excited to hold back the celebration until our release on 11/11/11. So we're starting early! And because it's always fun to do things with other people we want you to join in the fun! Please put your hands together and welcome the Dark C.A.R.M.A. Tour!
We are: C.K. Bryant (moi), Ali Cross, RaShelle Workman, Melanie McCullough* and Angela Kulig. You can learn more about all of us and our books on the Dark CARMA Tour blog.
Because we are working as a team, we can do lots of fun things that we never could as solo acts. But before we get to the really excellent stuff that begins in November, we need help spreading the word. And that's where you get to join the celebration. WOOT!
See our nifty button over on the sidebar? The one with the code beneath it? If you would be so kind as to grab that button and paste it on your blog, that would be awesome (just copy the code in the text box and paste the code into an HTML widget)!
And if you Blogged? Facebooked? And Tweeted too? Awesome!
And to thank you for your efforts on our behalf, we will award prizes!
LOTS AND LOTS OF PRIZES!
Once you have your button posted, and you've Blogged, FB'd or Tweeted, go to the Dark CARMA blog and fill out the Good Karma Giveaway form. You earn one point for featuring our linked button on your blog, one point for becoming a follower of the DC blog and one point for every extra word-spreading you do (links are required!).
The Good Karma Giveaway will run from now through November 10th. On November 11th, launch day (when more awesome goodness will begin) we will announce FIVE winners. Five winners will be randomly drawn, each to win one of our books. For instance, Christine will draw a winner, and that person will receive her book, BOUND. Another winner could win EXILED, etc.
We are so excited to have the chance to share our books with you, and would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word. Everybody could use a little good karma in their life, right?
Thank you!
Pssst: There's a really cool countdown widget over there too. I KNOW you want that little gadget on your blog, so go ahead and snag it. PARTY ON DUDE!! (Does that date me?)
11 DAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!
But wait. We're just too excited to hold back the celebration until our release on 11/11/11. So we're starting early! And because it's always fun to do things with other people we want you to join in the fun! Please put your hands together and welcome the Dark C.A.R.M.A. Tour!
We are: C.K. Bryant (moi), Ali Cross, RaShelle Workman, Melanie McCullough* and Angela Kulig. You can learn more about all of us and our books on the Dark CARMA Tour blog.
Because we are working as a team, we can do lots of fun things that we never could as solo acts. But before we get to the really excellent stuff that begins in November, we need help spreading the word. And that's where you get to join the celebration. WOOT!See our nifty button over on the sidebar? The one with the code beneath it? If you would be so kind as to grab that button and paste it on your blog, that would be awesome (just copy the code in the text box and paste the code into an HTML widget)!
And if you Blogged? Facebooked? And Tweeted too? Awesome!And to thank you for your efforts on our behalf, we will award prizes!
LOTS AND LOTS OF PRIZES!
Once you have your button posted, and you've Blogged, FB'd or Tweeted, go to the Dark CARMA blog and fill out the Good Karma Giveaway form. You earn one point for featuring our linked button on your blog, one point for becoming a follower of the DC blog and one point for every extra word-spreading you do (links are required!).
The Good Karma Giveaway will run from now through November 10th. On November 11th, launch day (when more awesome goodness will begin) we will announce FIVE winners. Five winners will be randomly drawn, each to win one of our books. For instance, Christine will draw a winner, and that person will receive her book, BOUND. Another winner could win EXILED, etc.
We are so excited to have the chance to share our books with you, and would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word. Everybody could use a little good karma in their life, right?Thank you!
Pssst: There's a really cool countdown widget over there too. I KNOW you want that little gadget on your blog, so go ahead and snag it. PARTY ON DUDE!! (Does that date me?)
September 22, 2011
Can You Hook a Teen?
Brenda Drake Writes is hosting a blogfest contest asking the universal question for young adult writers, CAN YOU HOOK A TEEN?
We're supposed to submit the first 250 words of our YA novel and have it judged by TEEN EYES, an editorial service made up of, you guessed it, TEENS!
So, since my debut novel, BOUND is due to be released on November 11th, I thought I'd toss it out there and see what you guys think. If you'd like to read the entire first chapter, click on the BOUND tab above.
Title: BOUND
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Kira glanced up at the silver eyehook screwed into the gym ceiling. Threaded through the two-inch hole was the other end of the rope she held in her trembling hands. She gave it a solid yank to test its strength. She could do this. It wasn't like she was afraid of heights—she'd dance along the edge of a four-story building if it meant not having to climb this stupid rope. It had to be a mental thing, some unreasonable fear of—something—that kept her feet glued to the floor. Coach Andrews stood a few feet away with her arms folded over her flat chest. "Today, Edwards!" She tapped the toe of one worn out Sketcher on the wooden floor.
"You can totally do this," Lydia whispered from behind Kira.
Kira tucked a lock of hair behind one ear and glanced over her shoulder to glare at her friend. "Easy for you to say. You can shimmy up this thing like a freakin' monkey."
"So can you, if you just try. Now go, before we both have to do laps." Lydia flipped her long blonde braid behind her back and gave Kira a gentle shove. "Up."
Kira wiped her sweaty hands on her shorts and gripped the rope with purpose. The entire class watched. Some girls sat on bleachers a few feet away, snickering, while others stood nearby, offering what seemed like genuine support, but was more than likely a desire to see her colossal failure up close.
What do you think? Not a lot of words there to hook a teen, but did it at least make you want to read a teensy bit more?
September 20, 2011
Creating a Blog Tour Kit
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What's a Blog Tour Kit?
It's a list of items you'll send out to your reviewers along with a copy of your book.
This is a pet peeve of mine. I can't tell you how many times I've received a request to review a book, been given a date to post it and then felt like I was totally forgotten. I had to hunt down the author's website or blog to snag both the front cover and the blurb from the back. Very irritating, especially when you feel you're doing the author or blog tour hostess a favor.
So, here's what you should put in your blog tour kit:
1) A high resolution photo of your front cover
2) The back cover blurb
3) A professional head shot of the author (if you don't have one of these, GET ONE)
4) A brief author bio
5) Links to blogs, websites, twitter, facebook, and anything else you can think of. They may not use them, but you should include them anyway.
6) A link to your Goodreads page where the book can be found so they can post their review there.
7) Links to where the book can be purchased. (Also encourage them to post reviews at each location)
If you are at all creative with Photoshop or other graphic software, you may want to include:
8) A sidebar button with an HTML code so fans can grab it for their blogs
9) A banner for the tour to be posted with the review
10) A countdown widget for the release of your book, if it isn't out already
11) Link to your book trailer on YouTube
12) If you can afford to do swag, also include a few bookmarks.
Tell them they don't have to use everything, but that it's there for their convenience. Once the review is posted, be sure you put a blurb on your blog so your followers know where to go to read the review. ALWAYS leave a comment on their blog, thanking them for the review. Be gracious and positive in your correspondence, even if they don't give you a great review.
NEVER ARGUE OR SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE!
A couple of days after the review, you'll want to send them a personal email to thank them for their time and (if the review is good) remind them to post it to the various places mentioned above.
You'll also want to have your blog tour posted either on your sidebar where it is easily seen or as a "sticky note" above your post area.
Did I miss anything? What do you include in your blog tour kit?
It's a list of items you'll send out to your reviewers along with a copy of your book.
This is a pet peeve of mine. I can't tell you how many times I've received a request to review a book, been given a date to post it and then felt like I was totally forgotten. I had to hunt down the author's website or blog to snag both the front cover and the blurb from the back. Very irritating, especially when you feel you're doing the author or blog tour hostess a favor.
So, here's what you should put in your blog tour kit:
1) A high resolution photo of your front cover
2) The back cover blurb
3) A professional head shot of the author (if you don't have one of these, GET ONE)
4) A brief author bio
5) Links to blogs, websites, twitter, facebook, and anything else you can think of. They may not use them, but you should include them anyway.
6) A link to your Goodreads page where the book can be found so they can post their review there.
7) Links to where the book can be purchased. (Also encourage them to post reviews at each location)
If you are at all creative with Photoshop or other graphic software, you may want to include:
8) A sidebar button with an HTML code so fans can grab it for their blogs
9) A banner for the tour to be posted with the review
10) A countdown widget for the release of your book, if it isn't out already
11) Link to your book trailer on YouTube
12) If you can afford to do swag, also include a few bookmarks.
Tell them they don't have to use everything, but that it's there for their convenience. Once the review is posted, be sure you put a blurb on your blog so your followers know where to go to read the review. ALWAYS leave a comment on their blog, thanking them for the review. Be gracious and positive in your correspondence, even if they don't give you a great review.
NEVER ARGUE OR SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE!
A couple of days after the review, you'll want to send them a personal email to thank them for their time and (if the review is good) remind them to post it to the various places mentioned above.
You'll also want to have your blog tour posted either on your sidebar where it is easily seen or as a "sticky note" above your post area.
Did I miss anything? What do you include in your blog tour kit?
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