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Named to "Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites," this #SharingwithWriters blog is a way to connect with my readers and fellow writers, a way to give the teaching genes that populate my DNA free rein. Please join the conversation using the very tiny "comment" link. For those interested in editing and grammar, go to http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Vivian Zabel Dishes On What She Learned at a Conference and How She's Using It

My guest blogger today is author and publisher Vivian Zabel. She has published the books of others and several of her own books, so she isn't new to this. Still, she found new ideas at a conference she recently attended, some of them with new twists I hadn't heard about before. She shares with you here:


One strong point brought out by a recent speaker and best-selling author, publishers don't do much for promotion unless the author is already famous. That idea isn't a surprise to most of us. Even James Patterson pitches his books on television. Therefore, Dana Stabenow decided she would do a major promotion for her books herself, using the Internet.

For her first major promotion Dana used her Web site to present one chapter of the book per month starting four months before its release, and she used only the first four chapters, no more. She gave a free ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of the book each month for those four months. For subsequent books, she only posted an excerpt once and didn't give out as many ARCs for prizes.

I'm using this idea, but with modification. I posted the first chapter of my upcoming novel Stolen on http://Stolen.yolasite.com, but I won't post other chapters. I'm holding a contest with two prongs:

1. Readers will post a short comment on my Web site and then send me an e-mail with an idea for the ending of my book (not the ending they're submitting, though, because we don't want others to copy them). Their name will go into a drawing to win one of two ARCs of my book, Stolen.

2. Anyone who promotes my book on their blog between June 15 and September and has at least 100 people, other than the host or author, will be eligible to win one of two other ARCs.

I will add a few contests in the months ahead.

Dana wrote and posted a transitional chapter linking book one to the next book, or the book before the current book to the current book. She covered what happened to her main characters (which includes a wolf) and community from one novel to the next. Since I don't have a previous book or prequel to Stolen, I can't do the transitional chapter. However, I'm keeping a blog written by Torri, the main character, giving background and "memories" she has about her life and family, helping readers to "know" her and be interested in her story.

The Stabenow URL (http://Stabenow.com) appeared on everything, everywhere she could place it. Her Web site offers great advice for writers, too. I discovered how to personalize a signature with my blog URL, my contacts on Twitter and Facebook, and to promote Stolen. \

This signature, includes logo/widgets to Facebook and Twitter and appears on everything except my business e-mails:

Vivian Zabel
Experience the Emotion
Love - Mystery - Love

Coming this fall: Stolen
Contact Me
Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap Asking for help - for others


Dana paid for a professional trailer, which she discovered was not cost effective. Not one not done by a professional, but of good quality, does the job. I'm planning on using Slider.com and put together a slide show for my novel once I can discover how to have some images other than the cover to complete the side show.

Dana puts out five newsletters each year, with an active "buy" link in each e-newsletter. This I need to learn how to do. I imagine I could manage to find the material for four or five newsletters a year, since I do more than that for Writing.Com, but I have no idea, yet, how to have active "buy" link.

The ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) of my novel will be sent to reviewers all over the country. They will be used for contests and to tempt people to want a copy of the novel. ARCs in themselves are great promotion tools.

Visit the Stolen Web site and learn more about the promotional activities and the novel itself.
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Other books by Vivian include:



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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widget to let them know about it:

27 comments:

  1. Thank you, Carolyn. My word, I can't believe all the typos I missed when I sent this to you. Ish. My fingers need to wake up and type correctly.

    Another one of my books is Prairie Dog Cowboy, one that's being honored at the No Man's Land Historical Society and Museum in Goodwell, Oklahoma July 17.

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  2. Vivian, that's my job! (-: I apologize. I probably just knew what a fine editor you are and thought I didn't need to do it. That goes against my "four-eye theory" I tout in The Frugal Editor!

    I could go back and fix but I think I'll leave them as a warning to all 1. not to be too critical--it can happen to anyone and 2. that a perfectly edited anything takes a village! (-:
    Best,
    Carolyn

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  3. Should we have a contest to see who can find all the typos?

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  4. Sure! I'll throw in an e-copy of The Frugal Editor. Where I tell writers to be compassionate but also to use many eyes. Having said that, this is a blog, not a book. So more compassion still, please? (-:

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  5. Vivian, your ideas sound great. I know that publishers don't do much publicity for writers, so every little suggestion helps. Thanks!

    Thanks, Carolyn for hosting such an interesting guest!

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  6. Thanks for hosting Vivian, Carolyn. I loved the first chapter of "Stolen." I want to read more!

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  7. Don't forget the contests start on http://Stolen.yolasite.com today. Nancy is already in the running for one of the ARCs because she offered to host Stolen on a blog tour, which will be in September.

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  8. Publishers do next to no marketing these days! Unique twist on the idea, Vivian.

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  9. Anonymous12:17 PM

    Vivian,
    At what point did you begin posting the chapters? Was the book accepted for publication? aday(AT)jadaykenndy(DOT)com

    Carolyn,
    This was an excellent guest post. Thanks for sharing.


    Blessings,
    J. Aday Kennedy
    The Differently-Abled Writer
    Children's picture Book Klutzy Kantor
    Coming Soon Marta Gargantuan Wings

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  10. Never post anything before it's under contract, and then only what your publisher allows.

    I didn't post the one chapter until I knew the ARCs were ordered.

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  11. I'm always looking for marketing ideas and these are certainly unique. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. This was a great article, Vivian. Even though my book is already out, I like the ideas you put down about putting chapter 1 out there. I think I'm going to check out my website and see where the best place to put it is. I've jotted down all your ideas! thanks.

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  13. Katie, it isn't too late to promote with this ideas.

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  14. Thank you for sharing such helpful ideas.

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  15. Thank you for sharing such helpful ideas.

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  16. Anonymous3:29 PM

    Even my friends with the big advances found they had to do most of the PR on their books.

    I also learned with EARRINGS to get word out about your books behind they came out.

    For CROSSED OUT right now I'm having a contest on my blog. I'm also going to be involved in an virtual book tour and bloggers tour.

    I also think it's huge to network with other authors like this group.

    Good luck with your upcoming book!

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  17. Thank you, Carolyn, for allowing me to visit today.

    I'm so glad that those who stopped by and left comments found the ideas helpful.

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  18. Thanks for sharing these tips, Vivian!

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  19. What great information. I copied it for reference.

    Vivian, I know you're super busy, but if you get a chance maybe you could post a message at VBT about how to personalize your signature. I"m sure the members would appreciate it.

    And, Carolyn, I love the reasons why you left the errors in. And, no, I didn't spot even one.

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  20. A lot of great tips Vivian. I also have the amazon link on all my sites to help promote my books. Another great idea is to write an article that some how ties to your book and post it in the different article sites.

    There are so many ideas out there. It's all about finding the ones that work for you and your writing.

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  21. Great promotional tips. I'm currently working on a website for one of my picture book characters. I'm not sure if that will help with sales, or even be cost effective for me, but it might be fun for the kids. We'll see.

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  22. Just remember to promote that website. Few people search for new and different sites.

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  23. Anonymous11:19 AM

    Hi, Vivian!

    As I am also from Oklahoma, enjoy seeing you here on Carolyn's blog. what Carolyn might not know is that I spoke to your writers' group in Edmond a few years back.

    Hope you are surviving all the rain. :)

    Shopping cart technology helps with the purchase button in the email. I'm not sure if google's cart has this capability, it's free. But I use kickstartcart. It has a monthly fee, but has many, many fancy features including the ability to send emails with purchase links.

    Allyn Evans

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  24. Thanks for sharing Vivian. I'm bookmarking all the sites. Lots to savor later. Stolen sounds very good, I'm looking forward to reading all of it when it releases.

    Many wishes for your continued success!

    Karen

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  25. Of course I remember you, Allyn. Pen and Keyboard Writers is still going. We meet at the Edmond Library the 2nd Saturday of the month from 10 - noon. We'd love to have you come back.

    Karen, The ARCs arrived and are ready to be used as prizes and to be sent to major reviewers that require galleys or ARCS.

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  26. Karen, sometimes people feel ill at ease because I wrote The Frugal Editor. I make more mistakes anyone. For one thing Ity-pppppeeee (-: really fast. And I'm always in a hurry. I do slow down when I'm editing for someone else, though. LOL.

    Ally, you're right. I had forgotten that you've been speaking to writers groups over the years. You speak so many other kinds of places, too.

    And Vivian, love how this topic sparked suggestions.

    Best,
    Carolyn

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  27. *laugh* No one has found the typos? I could as soon as I read the post. Too bad I couldn't when I proofed before I sent it to Carolyn.

    I'm always glad to share what I know and have learned, even what I've stolen from other people, rather what they shared.

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