Monday, July 1, 2019

How to generate #buzz for your books!

I'm no expert on this subject, but I know if you keep trying, squeaking, honking, waving your arms, and shouting--eventually you'll get noticed! I'm looking for more and better ways to do that, and for this month's IWSG post, I want to share with you what I found...

When you're ready to release your book, Bookbub.com has a great checklist to help you get started. I condensed it and added a few of my own tidbits. The full list is here.
  1. Recruit helpers! Other writers, book bloggers, family, friends, anyone willing. These folks can help with a COVER REVEAL and on RELEASE DAY and with a RELEASE TOUR - whether in person or online.
  2. Prepare yourself. Have a great SYNOPSIS/BLURB, compelling QUOTES from your book and from reviewers, up-to-date BIO and SOCIAL MEDIA HEADERS, and swell SWAG for GIVEAWAYS
  3. Seek Book Buzzers! We all know reviews are imperative, but they can be hard to get! I follow Reedsy, and recently they gave some great advice on CREATING BOOK BUZZ!
    • Build relationships with these important book buzzers. And start as soon as possible! Follow, like, watch, comment--which means you need to choose people you connect with, who would be a good fit for your book, and who are active online.
    • Here's a list of Review Book Bloggers
    • Here's a list of BOOKTUBERS!
    • For example, check out the 4 booktubers I subscribed to after watching a slew. They're spunky, insightful, active, and love to read!
  4. Create Extras: take SPECIAL BOOK PICS, tie in items readers can use like COLLECTIONS, KNICK KNACKS, HOBBIES, RECIPES--in WINDY HOLLOW I made up a GAME. Take vids or pics of yourself or make MEMEs for your characters or quotes, and if you can, make a BOOK TRAILER. These are great for PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and GIVEAWAYS
  5. Plan GIVEAWAYS, POSTS, SIGNINGS, LIVE CHATS, and fun CHALLENGES
  6. Don't Forget - THANK all your helpers and buzzers & ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!
And I'm very excited to have ELLEN JACOBSON - she's releasing a tasty, cozy mystery... and she's a great example of how an author can generate BUZZ!

Poisoned by the Pier—A Cozy Mystery for Serious Chocolate Addicts 

One of the things the readers of the Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery series often say is, “Boy, Mollie sure does eat a lot of chocolate!” It’s true, she does. She always has a bag of chocolate in her purse and she’s constantly stopping by Penelope’s Sugar Shack bakery for brownies.

I try to live vicariously through Mollie’s chocolate consumption. These days, when you’re a woman of a {ahem} certain age like me, it’s a constant battle between chocolate cravings and trying to keep your tummy from resembling a muffin top. I’ve been trying not to eat as many sugary treats these days and when I get a craving for some M&M’S or a chocolate cupcake, I write it into a scene instead of succumbing to temptation. At least I try to. Sadly, I’m not always successful.

In my latest book, Poisoned by the Pier, Mollie’s husband, Scooter, tries to convince her that they should eat healthier. She’s not buying it. In fact, she thinks the media is trying to cover up the fact that eating multiple chocolate bars on a daily basis is good for you.

I had a lot of fun writing the passage below.


What about you? Do you love chocolate and sugary treats like Mollie and I do? If you want to find out more about how Mollie copes with going on a diet while solving a murder mystery, grab a copy of Poisoned by the Pier. Details below.

Poisoned by the Pier Now Available!

Poisoned by the Pier, the third book in the Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery series, is now available in ebook, paperback, and large print.

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play

When Mollie's husband signs the two of them up for an extreme diet, she's not amused. When someone ends up poisoned by a cake, things get even worse.

While she tries to identify the killer, Coconut Cove’s annual boating festival is in full swing. In between getting ready for her first sailing race and cheating on her diet, Mollie and her cat, Mrs. Moto, uncover clues, interview suspects, and do their best to avoid rutabagas.

Can Mollie nab the killer before someone else is poisoned?

If you like quirky characters, adorable cats, and plenty of chocolate, you'll love this cozy mystery. Pick up a copy of Poisoned by the Pier and laugh out loud from the first page to the last. 


New to the Series?

If you're new to the series, you might want to start with Murder at the Marina. Now is the perfect opportunity as the ebook is on sale for 99c/99p for a limited time.

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play

About the Author

Ellen Jacobson lives on a sailboat with her husband and an imaginary cat named Simon. When she isn't working on boat projects or seeking out deserted islands, she writes cozy mysteries and sci-fi/fantasy stories.

Connect with Ellen: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Blog
Sign up for: her newsletter

I just downloaded the first book, MURDER AT THE MARINA
Perfect read for my Florida vacay! Excited to read the whole series!

One more thing, the WINDY HOLLOW Release Blog Tour marches on...

7/3 - Alex J. Cavanaugh - IWSG Day - Fantasy Movies
7/4 - Tonja Drecker - Independence Day! - Kids in Books

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! (Upgraded)

Last bits & pieces...
My newsletter also came out today - there's a great picture of my visit with Christine Rains!
And thanks, S.A. Larsen! She featured Windy Hollow in her latest newsletter.

Thanks for making it to the end of this loooong post! Stay cool!

17 comments:

The Cynical Sailor said...

Thanks so much for featuring Poisoned by the Pier today! Hope you enjoy Murder at the Marina :) Cheers - Ellen

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Those are great ways to get buzz going. And it's never too early to start that buzz.
Ellen, smart to let your character eat most of the chocolate.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You know I like spunky!

Maybe I should let me characters eat some of the foods I can't eat anymore.

Cathrina Constantine said...

Great advice, Tara! Congrats Ellen!!!

Juneta key said...

Lots of thought in that. Thanks for all the tips and advice. Congrats Ellen!

The Cynical Sailor said...

Thanks everyone for all your kind comments and wished :) Cheers - Ellen

Patricia JL said...

Great advice, Tara. Thanks for sharing.

Congrats to Ellen. =)

Lisa said...

Great list and thanks for posting it. I'm collecting this kind of information for future reference. Hearing about the cozy mystery all over the IWSG world today! And love the preview of the "chocolate" scene. Imagine being allergic to chocolate! Happy 4th!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Thanks for sharing your awesome advice. I'm looking for book review bloggers to connect with so appreciate your list of bloggers.

Chrys Fey said...

I have a handful of reviewers I go to every time. I love the relationship I've built with them and treasure it.

Anonymous said...

Great advice on creating buzz!

Ellen's new book is really enjoyable. She has a great series going.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Excellent tips! I'm going to keep this post on Pintrest.
I love what you said about enjoying every moment! It's important to keep marketing a celebration and not a slog.

Congratulations again on your book!

Carrie-Anne said...

I'm awful at generating buzz. I feel so awkward about point-blank asking people to help with promotion, and marvel at all these writers who have 30+ people lined up for cover reveals, release day blitzes, and book blog tours. Perhaps I could belatedly do tours for my books.

Gwen Gardner said...

I needed this post today! Marketing is my nemesis. What isn't my nemesis? Molly and her purse of chocolate. We could be besties. Not that I have a purse of chocolate because, like you said, ahem, women of a certain age and all that...

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats to Ellen - I really enjoyed her book!
Thanks for the tips - I'm going to release a book in the fall (on Dementia) and I need to decide what I want to do for the release! :)

Nicki Elson said...

Thanks for all the tips, Tara - and congrats on your new release! I look forward to diving back into Beast World. :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tara - late, but here! Great ideas you've given us ... with lots of those extras ... recipes, games etc ... thanks - I've noted and good luck to you and to Ellen ... cheers Hilary

Popular Posts