Easy Ways to Market Your New Book

We authors want to tell the world about our books - and why not? We're proud of them!
But how? That's the million dollar question, and we writers don't have two dimes to rub together for an answer, never mind a million bucks!

Well, I have a few suggestions on how to pump up the marketing. I don't like being pestered by promotion, so I try to make my own the least annoying as possible - fun even! To demonstrate, I will use my own upcoming releases...

1) Do a cover reveal

SIMULATION comes out in September. It's got a terrific, wicked cover! And to smooth it into a series, POP TRAVEL has been updated as well. So we are re-releasing it with a new look - and I'm telling you, I loved my old cover and couldn't see how they could top it - but I was amazed at how much I like the new one! It's pretty flippin fantastic!

2) Ask friends for help

To make it easy for my friends to help, I have a lovely FORM for you all to fill out. There are so many ways to help - from giving a shout on their blog to giving out ARCs for reviews. Google forms are great tools and very easy to set up and get feedback from.

3) Do blog tours

I know these aren't as big as they were when we started doing them. But that's where your uniqueness and creativity comes in. Reveals and Blog Tours can't just be like - here's my book, please buy it! They have to incorporate something more for the readers, something of value the blogger can share with their audience that will show what a fun, cool person the author is, and then they'll want to read the book! I've seen contests, active participation, scavenger hunts, etc.

My SIMULATION blog tour will be A Month of Mondays - I'm letting my friends decide the best way for me to entertain their readers (it's all in the FORM) Plus, I'll have a rafflecopter giveaway, and a sale, and more! Which brings me to...

4) Host a giveaway

Rafflecopter is pretty great for giveaways, and they make it easy for entrants to do fun things to qualify for more entries, which usually includes helping spread the news about the release. As I said, I'll do one for SIMULATION and probably for PT as well...

You can also add your book to another person's giveaway - then everyone gets noticed! Like TBM's monthly ebook giveaway. Pop Travel is part of it this month! And she's got some open slots in coming months...just give her a shout.

5) Pay it Forward

This last piece of easy marketing advice is an echo from Alex J Cavanaugh. He wrote an article for Patricia Stoltey about marketing, and he's been pretty successful at it! When we promote others, they will return the favor. Spread the love!

6) Finally, I've said it many times, but the absolute best way to get your books to sell is to

keep writing!

Many of you already know these marketing ideas, but they are still easy and effective. The harder job is peddling at book events, but I enjoy that part too. I just love the whole process. And if you have any advice to share - please do! We're all in this business together to keep folks reading!

Already Home

"Getting published should not be the goal. It's not magic. It doesn't solve every problem. It's not the end, but the beginning. It's just a step in the bigger picture. It's awesome, but not everything. Keep writing. Enjoy all successes, and don't dwell on the setbacks. Keep moving forward." Heather M. Gardner

It's been a long bumpy journey for Heather, but it all worked out. Now I'm very happy to share her wonderful, re-released first novel:

ALREADY HOME: A Maguire’s Corner novel
(Second Edition: formerly Maguire’s Corner)
Author: Heather M. Gardner
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs
Re-release Date: June 5, 2015

Coffee shop owner Maggie Maguire doesn’t trust the new police chief her father hired to protect Maguire’s Corner. He’s a stranger, cold, bossy and annoyingly handsome. But, Maggie’s witnessed a serious crime and now someone’s trying to kill her. The man that aggravates her most might be the only one that can help her.

Police Chief Jack Munro likes his new job and his new town, and unfortunately he also likes the stubborn but beautiful town sweetheart. His self-imposed hands-off Maggie policy is about to be put to the ultimate test when he must keep her close to protect her while he tracks down a ruthless killer.

Determined to ignore Jack’s charms, Maggie attempts to help him unravel the mystery but when their lives hang in the balance she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to save the man she suddenly can’t resist.

Buy links:

Amazon -- Kobo -- B&N-- All Romance

Have an enticing, exciting getaway to Maguire's Corner this summer!

Follow up ALREADY HOME with

ONE GOOD CATCH

ER Doctor Kate Maguire engages in some high risk activities to avoid dealing with her problems. Then when her past comes back to tempt her, she thinks she can keep her emotions in check for a one night stand with her high school fantasy beau, Rhys MacGrath. But Rhys won't let Kate just use him, he's caught her and holding on tight.

 All Romance Ebooks - B&N - Amazon

What advice do you have to share from your experiences??

Woah, Nellie! Enjoy the down time

It's the first Wednesday of June, time for another installment of the Insecure Writer's Support Group - created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the supreme blogging ninja.

Lately I've felt pretty accomplished. In May I was struggling to finish my WIP. But since school got out, I wrapped up the first draft of CRADLE ROCK and sent it to my super fabulous crit partner who has already returned it to me with some inspiring comments that I really needed. She's the best! I also finished up JOLISSA - An Anti-Princess Story and have sent it off to my artist friend so we can get it moving toward production! This is all great news and exciting beginnings.

So my insecurity this month isn't about writing, it's more about slowing down and using some of the summer for quality time with my family. I have such a go go go personality, I feel I always have to be doing something productive. I need to tell myself it's okay to just sit and watch a silly movie or play a game with my kids. I don't have to work every second of the day. Now that they're so self-sufficient and usually holed up in their rooms, I hardly ever see them. I want to use my time wisely, and that means I need to make time to spend with my boys.

Next month I'll share my publishing & marketing concerns...

How about you? How do you set aside quality family time with a busy schedule?

And now I have some more awesome news to share!

Christine Rains has released another enticing book!

LAYERS OF LACE (Dice & Debauchery #2)
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Release date: May 29th, 2015
Genre: Modern erotic romance

Amateur cosplayer Emily Solis is determined to win the costume contest and the heart of her biggest competition.

It isn't the first time Emily has shed her costume with the gorgeous Russell Morrison. Not even her best friend knows she's been having wild convention sex with him for over a year. It was supposed to remain physical, but Emily couldn't help falling for him and his kinky ways. In a moment of passion, she rolls the dice and tells Russell she loves him. He doesn't say it back. Can she convince him they're perfect together or will she roll another critical failure?

Buy the book:

Ellora's Cave * Amazon * B&N * Kobo

Add it to read on Goodreads.

Get Loose Corset, the first book in the Dice & Debauchery series:

Ellora's Cave * Amazon * B&N * Kobo

About the author:
Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She's married to her best friend and fellow geek living in south-central Indiana. They have one son who is too smart for his parents' own good and loves to pretend he's Batman. Christine has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not reading or writing, she's going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. (South Central Indiana Fiction Interface). She has several short stories and novellas published. The Dice & Debauchery series is her first contemporary erotic romance.

Please visit her website and blog

You can also find Christine on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Lastly, TB Markinson's June Giveaway has begun! And again, I'm privileged to be part of it, with Chrys Fey, T.F. Walsh, Christine Rains, and Lexa Cain - these are some terrific authors! This month I'm offering Pop Travel as a prize. Check it out!