My name is Anna James and I write contemporary stories and I invite you to take a break from everyday life and get lost in a world filled with desire, passion and, course, ROMANCE! I have been writing romance stories for more than twelve years now but have only recently been published (July 2010). During the last twenty-two months I have gained substantial insight into the world of publishing and what it takes to succeed as a writer. There’s so much more to it than just writing.
So you’ve received that coveted contract. What’s next, you ask? As a new writer I assumed that once I got the contract my work was pretty much done and I could move on to writing my next story. Boy, was I wrong!!!! There are edits to be done, covers to be designed, copyrights to be filed just to name a few. And, the biggest shock of all… you need to promote your book. This was the biggest puzzle for me. I had no idea where to start. Luckily, I received some good tips from my editor. I’d like to share a few of them with you to get you started on your way to success.
Get your name out there:
1.) If you haven’t already done so, create a blog and / or website. I used WordPress (www.wordpress.com) to create my website & blog (www.annajamesromance.com). If you’re into blogging only, there are other sites out there as well like BlogSpot (www.blogspot.com). Word Press is free (for the basic version) and I believe BlogSpot is as well.
2.) Set up an author page on the social media sites. You can check out my page on Facebook as an example: Anna James – Author of Contemporary Romance Novels (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-James-Author-of-Contemporary-Romance-Novels/129394040447020) I also have a twitter account. You can find my at @authorannajames
3.) Set up author pages on sites like Manic Readers (www.manicreaders.com) and Good Reads (www.goodreads.com). Add your book information and keep it updated.
Get the word out on your book:
1.) Once you receive the final copy send it out for review. Here are some sites you can contact to request a review for your book. Make sure to read the submission guidelines carefully. Many can be specific on who can request a review as well as the genres they accept.
· Coffee Time Romance (http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/)
· Manic Readers (www.manicreaders.com) This site actually lets you request a review from as many as 18 review sites at once (depending on your genre and heat level)
· The Romance Reviews (http://www.theromancereviews.com/)
· Happily Ever After Reviews (http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/)
· Pillow Talk Reviews (http://pillowtalkreview.blogspot.com/)
You can search for more review sites on the web. Remember you need more than just one review. You want to create a buzz about your work.
2.) Join Yahoo groups and post to promote your book. Remember to read the guide lines and only post on the days when it’s allowed. Here are the names of a few Yahoo groups I belong to (I am a member of more than 30!):
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BookCravers/
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chatting_with_Joyfully_Reviewed/
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cupidslibraryreviews/
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DarkDivaReviews/
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebookChatters/
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EuroReviewsChat/
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karendevinkaren/
· http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karenfindoutaboutnewbooks/
3.) Sign up for on-line author chats – many of the Yahoo groups sponsor on-line chats. It’s a great way to connect with readers & other writers.
4.) Participate in giveaways. If the winner likes your book they might buy the next one or recommend you to a friend.
5.) Set up a blog tour to promote your book. The way I did this was to join Savvy Authors. The membership includes use of their blog tour tool. You can choose up to 10 sites. The contact emails are automatically sent to the blog owners and they will contact you and let you know if they have openings during the dates you have selected. The blog owner will also let you know what type of post they would like to see. Today I am here at Nine Naughty Novelists to share with you these tips as well as introduce you to The Bradford Sisters. So without further ado….
I invite you to take a break from everyday life and get lost in a world filled with
Desire, passion, and romance.
Meet the Bradford Sisters: Nicole, Natalie and Kate.
Guilty As Charged – Bradford Sisters Trilogy #1 Nicole’s Story
Passion ignites between Nicole Bradford and Max Paradis the second they lay eyes on each other. Nicole seems to be everything that Max is looking for in a woman. She’s sweet and loving and incredibly sexy. But looks can be deceiving. Hadn’t he learned that the hard way?
Nicole is crazy for Max. He is sensitive, caring, and his kisses are to die for. But when secrets from her past are revealed will she be found innocent, or is she guilty as charged?
Watch The Book! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZQCpU1fApE
Guilty As Charged is now available from Sugar and Spice Press: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=123
Shattered Dreams - Bradford Sisters Trilogy #2 Natalie’s Story
Natalie and Reed seemed so happy when they got married just a few short months ago, but an unexpected pregnancy and a subsequent miscarriage throw their marriage into turmoil.
Natalie deals with the loss by burying herself in work. Reed is supportive but doesn’t understand why she is spending so much after-hours time with her handsome, sexy boss. And what about their dream of having a family? How can that happen when with each passing day Natalie becomes more distant?
Will Reed and Natalie find a way to work things out, or will all their dreams be shattered?
Watch The Book! http://youtu.be/wX5UBsI3k8w
Shattered Dreams is now available from Sugar and Spice Press: http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=149
Four years ago Kate Bradford met Raffaello D’Onofrio while attending a semester abroad. Rafe ran the family vineyard in the Lazio region of Italy but the thing that attracted her to him most, besides his ruggedly handsome good looks, fathomless deep blue eyes, and well-toned body, was his love of art. It was a passion they shared.
He had been the perfect man as far as she was concerned and in a few short months she fell deeply in love. She had thought that love was returned. Then she found Annalisa De Luca in his apartment wearing nothing but the shirt Rafe had been wearing the evening before. All her illusions were shattered. Distraught and wanting to escape the pain of Rafe’s betrayal, she returned to her home in Chicago, IL.
Now Rafe is back in her life and much to her chagrin, she is still attracted to him. How can just one look from those sexy blue eyes affect her so deeply and what is she going to do about it?
Rafe D’Onofrio has just agreed to allow the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art to display his unique art collection—a collection he has always kept private until now. This after learning the museum’s new assistant curator was none other than Kate Bradford. Once he had thought himself in love with her but after her abrupt departure from his life with no explanation he convinced himself it was just an illusion. So why, after all this time, can the mere mention of her name still send his pulse soaring? And what is he going to do about it?
Will Rafe and Kate shatter the illusions of the past and find love again? Or are they too much to overcome?
Thanks for stopping by and learning about the Bradford Sisters.
Please visit me at www.annajamesromance.com to learn more about me and my books or visit me at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-James-Author-of-Contemporary-Romance-Novels/129394040447020
Happy Reading,
Anna James
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2 comments:
Hi Anna, welcome to the Naughty Nine. Some good suggestions here!
Thanks for having me here today.
Happy reading,
Anna
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