M.J. Kane's Blog, page 7
June 26, 2017
MJ Update: New Podcasts and More!
Hi guys! I know I’ve been quiet online (unless you happen to follow me online), but man, have I been busy! For those of you who didn’t know, I work a full-time job which I love. It keeps me around books and lets me be able to share my love of reading and storytelling with little ones, as well as older readers. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity of having The Butterfly Memoirs series available in several library systems, including the one I work for. I have to say, I LOVE being able to talk characters and story line with my readers face-to-face. After all, what author doesn’t like a review of their work? It’s one thing to read what someone has written online, and a completely different thing to have them in your face telling you what they do and don’t like (yes, I’ve had both, but it’s not as bad as you think!) Every time I get to talk to a reader I get inspired to write a little longer or to say nope to the bed or TV when I get home to put in an hour of work.
But, working and writing is not all that I do. For the past eight months, I’ve had the pleasure of hooking up with Lady Kayne and co-host a podcast entitled, Major Shenanigans which can be found on Spreaker.com. We film/broadcast every Friday for two hours and share the crazy things we’ve experience throughout the week, as well as stories of what’s going on in the world. We laugh, we have fun, and we have guests, too! I am super excited to say that Major Shenanigans is now available on iTunes! Look us up! You’ll find our current shows as well as a catalog of shows going back to February 2017.
Recently, it was suggested that I do a podcast of my own that focuses on my passion for writing. So, I am excited to announce that starting July 8, 2017! Its Lit! with M.J. Kane will focus on getting to know the person behind the work. Be it authors, poets, or songwriters, Its Lit will be the podcast to see and listen too to get to know the person behind their social media pages.
The first episode of Its Lit! will air on Facebook Live and Spreker.com July 8th, from 7 to 9 pm, then every other Saturday. To catch it live, follow this link to LIKE and FOLLOW Its Lit with M.J. Kane on Facebook. To listen in online, go to Spreaker.com. All episodes will be available on the Facebook page as well as on the Spreaker site.
My first guest on Its Lit! will be author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Kenni York as she talks about her books, her company, and her work in the community.
Until then check out Grind Time Radio ATL on Spreaker.com and check out the other podcasts recorded at The Grind Factory!
Really Real Thursday’s with Pritty Tigger
I look forward to you tuning in next month!
MJ
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March 7, 2017
And We Have A Winner! #ButterflyMemoirsGiveaway
If you had a chance to drop by Sunday’s online multi-author event, hosted by Illumination Author Events and Services Multi-Author Facebook Event and commented, you were automatically entered into a contest for a chance to win an ebook copy of a Butterfly Memoirs novel of your choosing!
Johanna VdMerwe Hefer!
Congratulations! I’ll be contacting you soon!
Just because you didn’t win doesn’t mean you can’t get a copy of The Butterfly Memoirs! The first novel, A HEART NOT EASILY BROKEN is FREE on Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Smashwords, and more! Follow this link to get your copy today!
Discover the rest of the series here!
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February 26, 2017
#Writing, #Fitbit, #Weight Loss Tips, and Having Fun!
It feels like a blink of an eye since we celebrated New Years Day! I can’t believe that in just a few more days, it will be spring! Depending on where you live in the world, you’ve either experienced more spring-like temperatures than true winter temps and here in Georgia, every day has been an ‘I have no clue what season it is!’ day for months. Take for instance today…it’s Saturday, February 23 and it’s 68 degrees outside! Not that I’m complaining, but it’s still winter!
I’m currently working on my final book in The Butterfly Memoirs and I’m always looking for inspiration to be used either as a background story or to add to the development of a character’s personality or life. The new book, Shattered, follows Andre as he deals with issues that are stressing his marriage. He often hits the gym to work off the frustration he’s dealing with at home. On thing I’ve learned for sure is that you can run into a lot of interesting people at the gym.
If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts, you’ll know that for the past five months, my cousin and I have started going to the gym. What started as support has turned into bettering myself while having a lot of fun! I’ve never been a big fan of working out and sweating (I was on the Tae Bo trend for a minute, but it didn’t last that long) but I’ve now found myself addicted to the results. I haven’t dropped a ton of weight, but I have lost eleven pounds and man, can I tell the difference! I feel better, ache less (except on days when we hit the gym) but it is definitely worth it. A lot of people put weight loss as one of their New Years Resolutions (two months in, how’s your list looking?), but some don’t actually stick to it. I used to be one of those people. For the first time, I can say I’m all over this goal! If weight loss is on your list of things you want to accomplish in 2017, here are a few realistic tips I have to offer:
Get a workout buddy who is just as committed to reaching a weight
My cousin and I journal our gym experience with a crazy selfie after each workout which I post to IG with a funny workout story.
loss/fitness goal as you are! The two of you will inspire one another to keep going, even on the days you feel like crap, are too tired, or just plain don’t want to go! My cousin is my inspiration and she pushes me when I’m ready to quit. We make it fun, though. I complain and she ignores me and we laugh along the way. She’s got me doing exercises I wouldn’t dream of trying which means each workout is always making me be the best I can be!
Be realistic with what you expect to achieve. Yeah, I’d LOVE to drop 50+ pounds, but I also know to get those results I’ll need to do more than work out at the gym 3 days a week. I’ll have to do some major lifestyle changes with my diet and I suck at those! Over the years I’ve done dieting pills, weight loss drinks, and diet plans. Each worked for a short period of time. But the moment I couldn’t afford to buy the next set of product (ie, special pills, drinks, or particular food), the diet and the results went out the window. Now I watch what I eat, cut down on the sugar and sodas (occasionally I slip, but that’s a part of being realistic!) But I know what to do at the gym in order to work it off and maintain the weight I have lost. If I REALLY want to push to lose more weight, then I know I need to step up my food change game.
Got my Fitbit Zip! Yay!
Earned this Fitbit badge from walking around at work and hitting the treadmill at the gym that night.
Hold yourself accountable! Have a way to keep track of what you’ve done on a daily basis that counts as exercise. One of the easiest was todo that is to get a Fitbit. I’ve had one for two weeks and love it! It’s an easy way to keep track of your eating habits, water intake, exercise, and daily step count. Did you know that the American Heart Association recommends taking 10,000 steps a day? What better way to work your way towards that goal than to team up with others who are doing the same? Fitbit allows you to connect with friends, family, and others to keep you walking! Daily, weekly and monthly competitions based on simply wearing your Fitbit all day to keep track of the steps you take and lets you know where you are with the competition. Most of my Fitbit competitors are co-workers, other authors, and readers who have connected with me through Facebook.
* If you don’t have a Fitbit, download a walking app to your phone that will keep track of how many steps you take a day. Most of them are FREE! That’s what I used before getting my Fitbit.*
This was us Wednesday when we were photo bombed by the janitor who works at our gym. He’s always got something funny to say!
Whatever steps you take to reach your fitness goal, remember one thing…HAVE FUN!!!! Your goal should be about more than shrinking pants sizes, it’s about improving your overall mental and physical health.
Till the next time, Happy Reading, Writing, and Exercising!
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January 8, 2017
#BlogShareSunday: The Beginning of Something New?…ALONE (Book 5 of The Butterfly Memoirs)
***Today is the last day of sharing snippets from my latest release, ALONE. Instead of sharing eight lines, I decided to share the final lines of Chapter 3. Enjoy!***
Derrick is in the kitchen with Kelli and has just cleaned up a mess that spilled on the floor. Instead of leaving, he jumps in to dry the dishes. Could what happens next possibly be the beginning of a new relationship?
Excerpt:
“Do you have any towels for drying dishes?”
Kelli handed me one from her side of the sink.
We worked together in silence.
I wanted to have a conversation to pass the time because working side-by-side in silence was rude. Then again, it wasn’t as if we ever had a civil conversation. From the moment we met, we bumped heads. I didn’t know her well enough, but I’m assuming the initial hated came because she was pregnant and the scheduling conflict with our project messed up her plans.
Now, I guess it had to do with her getting divorced.
Only one way to find out.
“It’s obvious you don’t like me.” I shrugged. “It’s not like we were properly introduced. Somehow our paths seem to keep crossing when you are not in your happy place and I get the side effects. I’d like to think you’re not a bitch by nature, so─”
Her hands stilled as her head turned toward me. “Excuse me?”
I continued to dry the plate in my hands, not looking her way. I could only imagine what evil look she was shooting at me right now. Her reaction was what I was aiming for. Anything else and she’d probably ignore me.
“Did you just call me a bitch?”
I glanced at the dishes in the drying rack, thankful that the knives were on my side of the counter. At least I hoped they were.
“No, weren’t you listening? I said you’re not a bitch by nature, meaning right now you’re acting bitchy. There’s a difference.” I risked a glance. Oh yeah, I had her full attention.
Kelli’s eyes were shooting daggers and armor-piercing rounds in my direction. Her normally latte complexion was now red.
“I don’t think I ever apologized for the delay at Tre’s restaurant. I know that left you in a bad place, and I get it,” I reached for the next available dish. “Just like I get the divorce isn’t a good spot to be in life either.”
Her skin paled and mouth parted, but no words came out.
“Believe it or not, I’ve been where you’re at, though I wasn’t the one getting a divorce. I was a kid when my parents separated and it wasn’t easy watching what my mom went through when my father left. It’s not going to be easy for you, either.” I paused to let my words sink in. “Believe it or not, you’ll be okay. My mother made it, even found a man who loves her. I turned out okay.” I glanced her way and noticed her side-eyed glance in my direction.
I chuckled.
Satisfied the ice between us had been broken, I went back to work.
“Can I ask you a question?”
I looked her way. “Shoot.”
“Did you mean what you said the day we met?”
My hand froze on the plate for two seconds before I forced it to move again. “I said a lot of shit that day. Be specific.”
Kelli didn’t say anything, so I looked her way.
She looked away and shook her head. “Never mind; it’s not important.”
Like hell it wasn’t.
“Kelli,” I waited for her to look my way.
She did.
“Keep your head up.”
####
Thank you for stopping by to read samples of my latest release. If you missed the last eleven weeks worth of snippets, scroll down the website and catch up! Want the full story? BUY your copy of ALONE today!
Available November 3, 2016!!!
About the novel….
When Derrick’s brother drives the family business into bankruptcy, Derrick is left without a job and only one choice: start over. With a new job waiting in Atlanta, the only other thing he’s looking for is a woman who’s willing to fit his no-strings-attached relationship policy. But then he runs into Kelli, a woman with a smart mouth who challenges him in every way. She’d be perfect … if it weren’t for the fact she had kids.
Shortly after giving birth to her son, Kelli’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce. Forced to move in with her newlywed sister, Kelli is faced with raising two young children on her own, finding affordable housing, and landing a job that will pay her bills. The last thing she needs or wants is a man in her life. But when her brother-in-law’s best friend shows up for dinner, it’s impossible to ignore the sexual attraction.
Fate and finances have another plan, though, forcing them into living under the same roof. Despite their differences, Derrick finds himself breaking his own relationship rules. But as his luck would have it, just when he thinks he’s ready to make a commitment, tragedy strikes close to home and, with it, issues from his past that force him to risk it all.
Get to know the characters more by reading their BIOGRAPHIES and DIARY POSTS ,
Buy Now!
Amazon B&N iTunes Smaswords Kobo ARe
####
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January 1, 2017
#8SentenceSunday: Return to the Kitchen…ALONE (Book 5 of The Butterfly Memoirs)
***HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I wish each and everyone of you a wonderful and productive 2017!!!!!***
Derrick sits alone in the living room while Trevon goes to put his nephew, Kelli’s infant son, Carlos, to bed. Clanging and banging sounds come from the kitchen. Hearing Kelli curse, Derrick goes to see what happened. What he discovers isn’t the same sarcastic and confident woman he met at the front door…
Excerpt:
Kelli stood with one hand on her hip, the other over her face. On the floor was an overturned pot, its contents spread across the linoleum.
“Kelli, are you alright?”
She turned in surprise, pulled an earbud out of her ear, and wiped her face. “I’m fine.”
I examined the wetness of her cheeks. “You don’t look fine.”
“I am.” She rubbed her hands on her pants before squatting down to clean up the mess.
I looked around the kitchen for something to use to help.
#####
****For more #8SentenceSunday shares, follow this link !****
Did you enjoy that teaser? BUY your copy of ALONE today!
Available November 3, 2016!!!
About the novel….
When Derrick’s brother drives the family business into bankruptcy, Derrick is left without a job and only one choice: start over. With a new job waiting in Atlanta, the only other thing he’s looking for is a woman who’s willing to fit his no-strings-attached relationship policy. But then he runs into Kelli, a woman with a smart mouth who challenges him in every way. She’d be perfect … if it weren’t for the fact she had kids.
Shortly after giving birth to her son, Kelli’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce. Forced to move in with her newlywed sister, Kelli is faced with raising two young children on her own, finding affordable housing, and landing a job that will pay her bills. The last thing she needs or wants is a man in her life. But when her brother-in-law’s best friend shows up for dinner, it’s impossible to ignore the sexual attraction.
Fate and finances have another plan, though, forcing them into living under the same roof. Despite their differences, Derrick finds himself breaking his own relationship rules. But as his luck would have it, just when he thinks he’s ready to make a commitment, tragedy strikes close to home and, with it, issues from his past that force him to risk it all.
Get to know the characters more by reading their BIOGRAPHIES and DIARY POSTS ,
Buy Now!
Amazon B&N iTunes Smaswords Kobo ARe
####
Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the newsletter and follow this blog!
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December 25, 2016
#8SentenceSunday:The Chair…ALONE (Book 5 of The Butterfly Memoirs)
***HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!***
We’re on to Chapter 3 and back in Derrick’s POV. Physically satisfied by the meal prepared by Kelli’s hands, he’s in the living room with Trevon, kicked back and watching TV. Trevon is sitting in the biggest ‘man chair’ he’s ever seen, comfortable in his ‘castle’. Courious, he asks Trevon who the chair belongs to…
Excerpt:
“Ours. It’s big enough to fit the both of us…all three of us, actually. On movie nights we’ll cuddle up, Justin will lay across our laps, and we chill out.”
My expression must have been comical, because Trevon burst out laughing.
I shook my head. “I don’t know about all of that. I need my personal space. I can’t be wrapped up with a woman all the time. I save that for when we’re in bed.”
Trevon shook his head, his smile still prevalent. “You say that now, but find that perfect one and you’ll be all about cuddling.”
#####
****For more #8SentenceSunday shares, follow this link !****
Did you enjoy that teaser? BUY your copy of ALONE today!
Available November 3, 2016!!!
About the novel….
When Derrick’s brother drives the family business into bankruptcy, Derrick is left without a job and only one choice: start over. With a new job waiting in Atlanta, the only other thing he’s looking for is a woman who’s willing to fit his no-strings-attached relationship policy. But then he runs into Kelli, a woman with a smart mouth who challenges him in every way. She’d be perfect … if it weren’t for the fact she had kids.
Shortly after giving birth to her son, Kelli’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce. Forced to move in with her newlywed sister, Kelli is faced with raising two young children on her own, finding affordable housing, and landing a job that will pay her bills. The last thing she needs or wants is a man in her life. But when her brother-in-law’s best friend shows up for dinner, it’s impossible to ignore the sexual attraction.
Fate and finances have another plan, though, forcing them into living under the same roof. Despite their differences, Derrick finds himself breaking his own relationship rules. But as his luck would have it, just when he thinks he’s ready to make a commitment, tragedy strikes close to home and, with it, issues from his past that force him to risk it all.
Get to know the characters more by reading their BIOGRAPHIES and DIARY POSTS ,
Buy Now!
Amazon B&N iTunes Smaswords Kobo ARe
####
Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the newsletter and follow this blog!
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December 18, 2016
#8SentenceSunday: A Sister’s Observation…ALONE (Book 5 of The Butterfly Memoirs)
Family has a habit of pointing things out that we try to ignore. Kelli has changed her shirt after her infant son spit food all over it during dinner. On her way back to the kitchen, she peeks in on her pregnant sister who’s lying in bed resting. Kai wastes no time pointing out Kelli’s attraction to Derrick…and the fact the man seemed to love her cooking…
Excerpt:
The mention of the man’s name made me roll my eyes. “So did Trevon. What’s your point?”
“Nothing…except I noticed the way you kept staring at him when he arrived, and how you avoided eye contact at dinner.” It may have been dark in the room, but it was easy to pick up on the laughter in her voice.
I smirked. “I wasn’t staring, I was observing while feeding Carlos. I had no reason to look at him, much less have something to say. Anyway, he is Tre’s friend, not mine.”
The room was silent for about two seconds before Kai broke into laughter. “Girl, go on and admit it. You like the man.”
****For more #8Sunday shares, follow this link !****
Did you enjoy that teaser? BUY your copy of ALONE today!
Available November 3, 2016!!!
About the novel….
When Derrick’s brother drives the family business into bankruptcy, Derrick is left without a job and only one choice: start over. With a new job waiting in Atlanta, the only other thing he’s looking for is a woman who’s willing to fit his no-strings-attached relationship policy. But then he runs into Kelli, a woman with a smart mouth who challenges him in every way. She’d be perfect … if it weren’t for the fact she had kids.
Shortly after giving birth to her son, Kelli’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce. Forced to move in with her newlywed sister, Kelli is faced with raising two young children on her own, finding affordable housing, and landing a job that will pay her bills. The last thing she needs or wants is a man in her life. But when her brother-in-law’s best friend shows up for dinner, it’s impossible to ignore the sexual attraction.
Fate and finances have another plan, though, forcing them into living under the same roof. Despite their differences, Derrick finds himself breaking his own relationship rules. But as his luck would have it, just when he thinks he’s ready to make a commitment, tragedy strikes close to home and, with it, issues from his past that force him to risk it all.
Get to know the characters more by reading their BIOGRAPHIES and DIARY POSTS ,
Buy Now!
Amazon B&N iTunes Smaswords Kobo ARe
####
Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the newsletter and follow this blog!
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December 11, 2016
#8SentenceSunday: The Divorce…ALONE (Book 5 of The Butterfly Memoirs)
As Kelli cleans up the kitchen, her thoughts are about the man who came to dinner. The last time she saw him was on her sister’s wedding day where she was the maid-of-honor and Derrick, the best man. Her mind doesn’t stay there for long, though. Before she can stop herself, she is revisiting one of the worst days of her life.
Excerpt:
He’d been cordial; at least I think he had. I’d been under a lot of stress at the time and it had been a struggle to appear happy about my sister’s union to a great guy.
My marriage was over. Alonso had moved out and left me with everything days before the ceremony.
The house. The car. The bills.
The house we’d bought was in his name because at the time I was unemployed. I was listed as his spouse, but that was it. He threatened to let it go into foreclosure, then changed his mind, deciding to sell in order to wash his hands of the whole affair.
****For more #8Sunday shares, follow this link !****
Did you enjoy that teaser? BUY your copy of ALONE today!
Available November 3, 2016!!!
About the novel….
When Derrick’s brother drives the family business into bankruptcy, Derrick is left without a job and only one choice: start over. With a new job waiting in Atlanta, the only other thing he’s looking for is a woman who’s willing to fit his no-strings-attached relationship policy. But then he runs into Kelli, a woman with a smart mouth who challenges him in every way. She’d be perfect … if it weren’t for the fact she had kids.
Shortly after giving birth to her son, Kelli’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce. Forced to move in with her newlywed sister, Kelli is faced with raising two young children on her own, finding affordable housing, and landing a job that will pay her bills. The last thing she needs or wants is a man in her life. But when her brother-in-law’s best friend shows up for dinner, it’s impossible to ignore the sexual attraction.
Fate and finances have another plan, though, forcing them into living under the same roof. Despite their differences, Derrick finds himself breaking his own relationship rules. But as his luck would have it, just when he thinks he’s ready to make a commitment, tragedy strikes close to home and, with it, issues from his past that force him to risk it all.
Get to know the characters more by reading their BIOGRAPHIES and DIARY POSTS ,
Buy Now!
Amazon B&N iTunes Smaswords Kobo ARe
####
Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the newsletter and follow this blog!
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December 4, 2016
#8SentenceSunday: Kitchen Duty….ALONE (Book 5 of The Butterfly Memoirs)
This week I’m changing POV’s for the next few weeks and introducing Kelli, the woman who has become the center of Derrick’s attention. Get to know her by reading her diary post and bio. Now, on to the fun part!
Dinner is over and Kelli is tired and at her wits end. After trying to ignore the way Derrick watched her during dinner, and the oh-so-much fun of feeding her son and have him decorate her shirt by spitting up half of it, she’s now faced with kitchen duty.
Excerpt:
Hands on my hips, I studied the expanse of the kitchen countertop; dishes were everywhere. Pots and pans containing leftovers littered the stove, and on my shirt, pea spit up from Carlos during tonight’s dinner.
I ran a hand over the bridge of my nose, inhaled, counted to ten, then let it out. The exercise did little to calm my nerves.
“No, baby, I’ve got it. Do me a favor and watch your brother for me, okay?”
“Okay!” Christina skipped out of the room, down the hall toward the sound of sports on the big screen and the two men thoroughly enjoying the event.
Trevon and…Derrick.
Just thinking about the man made me grit my teeth.
###
****For more #8Sunday shares, follow this link !****
Did you enjoy that teaser? BUY your copy of ALONE today!
Available November 3, 2016!!!
About the novel….
When Derrick’s brother drives the family business into bankruptcy, Derrick is left without a job and only one choice: start over. With a new job waiting in Atlanta, the only other thing he’s looking for is a woman who’s willing to fit his no-strings-attached relationship policy. But then he runs into Kelli, a woman with a smart mouth who challenges him in every way. She’d be perfect … if it weren’t for the fact she had kids.
Shortly after giving birth to her son, Kelli’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce. Forced to move in with her newlywed sister, Kelli is faced with raising two young children on her own, finding affordable housing, and landing a job that will pay her bills. The last thing she needs or wants is a man in her life. But when her brother-in-law’s best friend shows up for dinner, it’s impossible to ignore the sexual attraction.
Fate and finances have another plan, though, forcing them into living under the same roof. Despite their differences, Derrick finds himself breaking his own relationship rules. But as his luck would have it, just when he thinks he’s ready to make a commitment, tragedy strikes close to home and, with it, issues from his past that force him to risk it all.
Get to know the characters more by reading their BIOGRAPHIES and DIARY POSTS ,
Buy Now!
Amazon B&N iTunes Smaswords Kobo ARe
####
Thank you for stopping by! I love to make new friends. Got questions or comments? Leave a comment, or connect with me online! If you’ve enjoyed this post, sign up for the newsletter and follow this blog!
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November 30, 2016
5 #Tips to Run a Successful #Goodreads #Giveaway!
For years I debated on whether or not to hold a Goodreads Giveaway. I’ve heard scary tales of authors who held giveaways, sent the book to the winner, only to discover that the book was put up for sale by the winner for more than the paperback cost. *Cringe*
Then there was deciding how much money was in my budget to pay for said books, because hey, I wasn’t about to purchase them, sell them, then make my money back. Nope this was going to be a strict giveaway, an investment in myself and my work.
And of course there was the fear that NOBODY would enter the contest at all because there are sooooo many popular authors and publishers on Goodreads doing giveaways. Just a month ago I entered a contest for a copy of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. (By the way, that’s one of my favorite movies!)
With my new release set for November 3rd, I wanted to try something completely different than the normal Rafflecopter Giveaway that I’ve done for the last three years. Most of the time, the people who see that giveaway are already following you as an author on blog tours, website, and social media sites. Asking them to follow me, like me, or share ‘XYZ’ in order to enter would not yield a lot of results, because like I said, they are already doing that. I wanted to reach out to a different kind of reader, someone who may not have ever heard of The Butterfly Memoirs or me.
So, I stepped into my big girl panties and well….you’ll see the results! Here are a few things I learned/experienced/appreciated during my first contest!
5 STEPS TO RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
1) DECIDE HOW MANY BOOKS YOU ARE GIVING AWAY
If you are self-published, this could be the point where you pause and think about how much money you’re willing to give away. While you can run a contest with one book, it’s suggested that you really do at least 10. I know, gulp! But it makes sense. The number of books being given away during the contest is listed in the details. The more copies there are, the more chances you have of people entering. The more people that enter, the more people are drawn to your Goodreads Author page to learn more about you, thus introducing yourself to a new reader who may not be looking at books in your genre. I lucked out because I was able to receive a limited number of books from my new release, ALONE, which is the book I was using for the contest. As much as I wanted to do 10, I had beta readers that were already promised autographed copies. So, 4 books was my magic number.
2) PLAN AHEAD!
When I filled out the giveaway information on Goodreads, I thought that I could set the date for the giveaway to start and that was that. Uh…nope. Unlike Rafflecopter, which lets you set the start date/time of your giveaway, Goodreads sends you through a verification process. It can take up to 7 to 10 days for them to get back in touch with you and let you know if your contest has been approved, and even then, THEY set the actual start date based on when you submitted you the information. You can only control how many days it runs. I chose 30 days, and it was well worth it! It seemed like forever, but I assure you, it was over way too soon! Also, you can set a giveaway for up to 30 months in advance!
*Keep in mind that if you open the contest to readers outside of the USA, you will need to be prepared to pay additional International Shipping fees.
3) GET THAT GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE ON POINT!
Now that people are finding your contest, discovering your book, and you, you better believe you’re going to attract a few curious readers to your page! In 30 days, I had seven more people follow me as fans, and the sales for my back-list of books increased! I even managed to get a few more reviews out of it between Goodreads and Amazon. Also, 73 people listed my new release as a TO BE READ book! How do you have your page on point?
Take a look at mine, but be sure to include the following:
• Author Photo
• Author Bio
• Sales links
• Book covers/blurbs*
• Website
• Any other information you have to share, such as videos, trailers, etc.
*Make sure you have claimed all of your books so that they show up in your profile. Not sure how to do this? Go to your Goodreads Author Dashboard, then look for the ‘Add a Book ’tab, fill in the info.
4) PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE!
Do not trust that readers on Goodreads will automatically find your contest! Take a few moments and share it with book clubs and reading groups found on Goodreads. Groups that are specific to your genre are great! Also, use your social networking sites, and word of mouth is good, too. Blog about it, tweet it, and anything else you can think of. This, of course, is not a one-time thing. What worked best for me was writing a blog about it, sharing it, then loading it up into my Hootsuite account for multiple tweets during the week, as well as occasional shares on FB and my Instagram account. The day the contest started, I woke up and checked and found 30+ people had entered in a matter of hours! At the end of the 30 days, 520 readers had entered! The beauty of it all was that throughout the contest, I would visit the page to see how many people had entered. They show you the profile picture of the last 5 people that entered, and I was truly amazed by the diversity of the readers! All races, both male and female!
5) BE READY TO MAIL YOUR WINNERS!
The moment the contest is over, Goodreads selects the winners, then emails their names and addresses. You have 4 to 6 weeks to get your books sent out. I ship my books in standard bubble insulated mailers you can find at the store for a cheap price. Mailing fees may differ depending on where you are shipping to. To avoid spending an arm and a leg (I did that once for a contest winner, never again!) I would advise making sure your contest is set for winners inside of the United States. Also, make sure you tell the postal agent that you are shipping Media Mail (books to winners) so that you can get a discounted price. (I spent $2.64 per book). Don’t get carried away with adding extra swag to the packages unless you’re ready to eat that cost because they weigh each package!
To learn more about what steps to take when setting up a Goodreads Giveaway, check out this image from Goodreads. Ready to create your own giveaway? Follow this link! Be sure to check out the video, and good luck!
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