Posts Tagged With: promotion

A Whole Bunch of New and Awesome Links!

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Kate Policani

Some days I struggle to figure out what to blog and some days I do the pee pee dance holding myself back from making 4 posts per day. I’ll give you a rundown of cool links I found in the last few days while posting lots of reviews.

Just read this article now and loved it! http://christinerose.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/4755/

Two interesting tools I signed up for but haven’t gotten the hang of yet. http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/cool-tools-to-track-author-platform-growth

Why Google Books is probably not a sales avenue (other than that my uploads don’t work) http://support.google.com/books/partner/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=40288&topic=2376976&ctx=topic

Another book/reading community more focused on…. www.writing.com

Something interesting I need to contemplate first: http://ezinearticles.com/?No-Cost-Ebook-Sales-Using-RapidShare-Ebook-Storage&id=5121876

 An awesom all-around website, followed by a ton of articles thereon that I loved:

http://www.lindsayburoker.com/

http://www.lindsayburoker.com/book-marketing/how-to-improve-your-ebook-sales-at-barnes-noble-smashwords-and-itunes/

http://www.lindsayburoker.com/e-publishing/ebook-pricing-why-99-cents-might-be-a-mistake-for-you/

http://www.lindsayburoker.com/book-marketing/reasons-youre-not-selling-many-ebooks/ (This one mentioned free ebook again. Gotta get on that.)

Some links to free book promotion sites:

http://www.published.com/ (I signed up with 2 accounts, one for my author stuff and one for my blog reviews using 2 different email addresses)

http://www.bibliocracy.com/ They are doing a promotion right now using your favorite 3 paragraphs of your books. Looks awesome!

A contest I didn’t enter but probably will:

http://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest L. Ron Hubbard’s writers’ contest for new authors (self-published OK under a certain amount of sales) Limit of 1700 words, occurs several times throughout the year, one book per author per session.

Idea: Use Flickr.com to post book covers with descriptions for visibility http://www.flickr.com/photos/katepolicani/

 

 

Categories: Resources | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Audiobooks!

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Kate Policani

The Lustre audiobook is in production! The illustrious and multi-talented Chris Barker (my dad) surprised me a few weeks ago by presenting me with his recording of the first two chapters! It works great because The Lustre is written from a male perspective. The final chapter, in the perspective of a 5-year-old boy, has been the subject of a lot of jokes between us. We both agreed that he would sound too much like Elmo if he just changed the pitch of his voice, so we may have a voice-acting debut by my youngest boy.

The Disenchanted Pet is in a woman’s voice. So is my upcoming book (this summer) How to Win Friends and Influence Magicians. I have no gender bias here, but it does sound strange to have a man’s voice reading a woman’s words.

O.K. I’ll get to the point: I’m looking for a female voice to read the audiobooks.

Here are my qualifications:

  1. You have to have a voice that is appropriate for a young woman. I don’t, or I’d do it myself.
  2. You need to have your own recording equipment or know someone who does. I don’t have any to contribute and I ‘m pretty sure the microphone on your ipad won’t do it. Other than that, I’m not picky.
  3. You have to be willing to do it for a percentage of the sales. I’m broke. Sorry! I promise to promote you like crazy, though and help you with any other stuff I can. I’m great with writing blurbs, ads, promotions, and resumes. I can post you on my site and find sites to promote you. I also have a slew of writer pals on here that would love to work with you too. Lots of their writing is done in female voice or 3rd person. If you can think of anything else you want to trade, I’m listening!

If anybody is looking to have an audiobook recorded by a male voice, I would be willing to bet that good ol’ Dad would be open to negotiations. He really seems to love doing audiobooks and his reading is wonderful. (I am biased though. His reading brings me back to the comfort of lying in bed falling asleep to his reading Madeline L’Engle or Beverly Cleary books and the like.)

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Busy Beaver!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Kate Policani

That’s me! I did a lot today. I thought you’d like to see since it may be something you would like to do too.

http://www.published.com/ This is a book/author listing sight. It’s free!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katepolicani/ I was reading through more book sales info from http://TheSavvyBookMarketer.com and they encouraged posting book covers here. This is my profile. The other stuff I read I’ve already mentioned here on the site.

http://www.bibliocracy.com/ This is another book sales site with free ebook sales and a section where cover artists can post and sell art for covers. That’s cool and I sent it to some of my artist friends.

Now I’m going to go gnaw on some logs!

Categories: Resources | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Disenchanted Pet on Kindle Select!

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Kate Policani

I decided to enroll The Disenchanted Pet in Kindle Select! I’ve had no sales to hurt for a while, so I just clicked the “enroll” button a few minutes ago. Soon all the Amazon Prime folks should be saving a dollar reading my stuff! Right?

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reaping the Benefits!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Kate Policani

My book is up on http://www.99-cent-network.com/www.99-cent-Network.com/New_This_Week.html ! My $45 didn’t go to waste YAAAYYY!! They gave no feedback about my (probably flubbed) sign-up so I was feeling worried.

Also it’s listed here https://sites.google.com/site/dvwbooksorg/vampire (which was free).

On March 31st I had 10 Kindle book sales!!!! I know! That is twice as many as during my virtual launch party. I have to credit http://bestebookreaderlovers.com/ and DVW for that one because they both went live on that day. I wonder which got me more buys? Is there a way to tell? Best Ebook Reader Lovers looks like a winner because I haven’t had any new sales since then (Unless KDP has a delay reporting sales).

Categories: Publicity | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Love Free Listings!

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Kate Policani

I just got linked on https://www.facebook.com/weloveebooks ! If you want to sign up, visit here: http://bestebookreaderlovers.com/kindle-authors-how-to-promote-your-book/ It’s FREE but go quickly because their list fills up and then you don’t get on for a while.

Categories: Resources | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I’m Beginning to See a Pattern Here

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Kate Policani

I think I am seeing a pattern with the self-publishing process. It could also be true for the traditional publishing process–dunno.

Here it is:

1. Work, Work, Work

2. Excitement: I’m almost finished with a book/promotion/project that I will soon unleash on the world.

3. Euphoria: It’s out there! People are looking at it and seeing what I did! Some people may even be giving me money! (!!!!)

4. Expectation: Now, how is this going to work itself out.

5. Disappointment: Oh crud. That was over quickly and it didn’t make me rich and famous.

6. Depression: Wah, wah, boo hoo. Nobody loves my book/promotion/project and it has only 10 views on my blog when I have 300 Facebook followers. I got 400 views on my blog but only sold five.  Nobody wants to review my work. Nobody wants to post their reviews. Nobody wants to read the posts people made about my work. Nobody cares about my book/promotion/project and I spent all that money for nothing. Snivel snivel. (This is where I am right now and I’m disgusted with myself. This is the point where I need to push for #7)

7. Determination: I’m going to make this work. All I need to do is learn some miraculous new thing that will correct the flop I just had. Somewhere online is the answer to my problems.

Then back to 1. Work, Work, Work.

Is this how it is for you?

This is how I want it to work:

1. Work, work work (Yes, I am adult enough to know I will still need to do this.)

2. Victory: It’s done, it’s out there and it will be glorious!

3. Domination: Everybody loves it! I’m selling like hotcakes and everybody thinks I’m a genius. They’re starting a religion based on my work. (Well maybe not that far….)

4. Relaxation: This is going so well that I get some nice time off to bask while my product sells itself. Go me!

Does this even exist? Probably not, but I’m a fiction writer so whaddya gonna do?

 

Categories: Self-Publishing | Tags: , , , , , | 19 Comments

Tale of Three Covers

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Kate Policani

My darling hubby had yet another fabulous idea: don’t choose which cover I like best. Do them all! My Facebook Peeps all voted for multiple covers, but liked the cream and black one best. On Facebook, my blog, and friends in person preferred the blue cover. Most authors chose the red. I wonder what that says about the different people groups. Nobody really spoke up for the one with the dark blue cover, and I was able to combine the red lettering that some people liked with the design on the blue-gray one.

I added a blue jewel to the necklace partly because that is how I envisioned the jewelry Angelina would wear, and partly because I wanted to avoid any copyright issues with the original necklace.

So  here are the three covers for The Lustre!

 

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Very Merry Un-Birthday to YOU!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Kate Policani

It’s my birthday! My birthday present to myself is also my un-birthday present to you, my followers. For my birthday I have combed through all my blog followers’ sites, oldest to newest, and bought another round of ebooks! I will read and review them, with your approval. Here are the books I just bought:

Tirfo Thuin by Andrew Butterworth http://andrewbutterworth.wordpress.com $0.99

The Flower Bowl Spell by Olivia Boler http://www.oliviaboler.com $9.99

Megan and Liam: a CITY WEDDING Novel by Maggie Carlise www.maggiepublishing.wordpress.com $2.99 (I downloaded the preview by accident, thinking it was the full book. This is why I posted no review yet.)

Hyblood (The Wolva Trilogy) by Stephanie Budd http://thewolvatrilogy.wordpress.com/ $2.99

The Seventh Stone by Pamela Hegarty http://womenthrillerwriters.com/ $2.99

The Kingdom Trilogy by Sean McGuire http://thekingdomtrilogy.wordpress.com $2.99

Etchings of Power (Aegis of the Gods) by Terry C. Simpson http://terrycsimpson.wordpress.com/ $2.99

The Index, Book 1: Mages (The Index Series)’ by Katherine Gilraine http://katherinegilraine.com $2.99

All of these were Kindle books. Kindle sure is popular now!

Now there are a few reasons your book may not be here. I may not have been able to see that you have a book, that is a BIG problem. BE SURE to fix it though, because anyone seeing your blog MUST be able to instantly find your book for sale. Honest.  I’m really surprised how many blogs there were that didn’t have a link to the books right on top! Some blogs, I could tell the person was a writer, but couldn’t easily find a way to buy their book. Really, guys, people should be able to accidentally click on links to buy your book on your sites. No digging should be necessary! Several of the books I did buy, the author hadn’t set up an author page on https://authorcentral.amazon.com. It’s simple and free, and I recommend that everyone do this!

I may not have bought your book because of high price. This time I bought based on price, only buying books priced $2.99 or less so I could buy the maximum number of books for review. Frankly, if it your ebook more than $5 there isn’t a huge chance that I will buy your book anytime soon unless I have read your books before and liked them. I’m only spending $20 on books this birthday after all. If you still want my review, I would be happy to accept a review copy and add you to the list.

Finally, if I have already reviewed one of your books, I have not bought a second at this time. I am getting increasing numbers of requests for reviews and haven’t actually finished my reviews from Christmas. Again, if you would like a review of more of your books, I would be delighted to accept a review copy.

Here is the list of books from Christmas that I have yet to review, including Blog Tours and review submittals:

  • The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson (Blog Tour, Review Finished, to be posted tomorrow)
  • The Warden Threat Defying Fate book #1) by DL Morrese (Finished and review to be posted later today *** birthday craziness prevented my posting, so I will post Saturday 2/11***.)
  • The Queen and the Handyman By Maria Tatham (Next)
  • Disposable People by Ezekel Alan (Before March)
  • Taking over the World by Jolene Stockman
  • Index Book 3: Lineage   By Katherine Gilraine
  • Three Girls and a Wedding by Rachel Schurig
  • Flash Bites by Krista Bunskoek
  • Evolussion by Kathy Bell
  • Revolussion by Kathy Bell
  • The Warden War (G.O.D. Corp.) by DL Morrese
  • Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 by Amy Lignor (Book tour, April)

These books will be reviewed before my Birthday books, but unless there is a note, this is only a tentative schedule. If your book should be on here and is not, let me know ASAP so I can get it in there!

Because my list is now so long, I probably will not do this book buying spree again before summer.

Categories: Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Awesome Indies

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Kate Policani

I want to give a shout-out and a big thanks to Tahlia Newland, a fellow crusader for independent books. She has honored my work by adding me to her new page, Awesome Indies!

Awesome Indies is a brand new list of books that she and other authors and editors can unreservedly recommend. The idea is to honour the Indie authors who produce a high quality product and to direct readers towards the Indie Gold that lies hidden amongst the avalanche of available books.

Click on her link to see the Awesome Indies, read their great books, and maybe suggest a few yourself!

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A New Review of The Disenchanted Pet

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Kate Policani

My dear friend, Nadia Riell, has reviewed my book! You can find her review here: http://nadiariell.com/2012/01/18/a-book-review-for-the-disenchanted-pet-by-kate-policani/

Thank you, Nadia! Your feedback, dialogue, and encouragement were an enormous help in writing The Disenchanted Pet, and also in writing The Lustre, coming at the end of February!

Categories: My Books, Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Versatile Blogger Award

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Kate Policani

Versatile Blogger Award 2012

What a great way to start 2012!

This award is given to bloggers, by bloggers (another reason I love the blogging community).

Now for the details, here’s how it works:

  • If you are nominated, thank the award giver and link back to them in your blog post
  • Share seven things about yourself
  • Pass this award along to recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading (some say to 15 some say to less than that.. I did 15).
  • Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award and post the award picture

I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by Kate (such a cool name!) at  http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/post-about-handing-out-versatile-blogger-awards/

and earlier by J.M. McDowell during the Christmas rush http://jmmcdowell.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/thank-you-the-versatile-blogger-award/

Thank you to Kate and J. M. for the award! I really appreciate it!

Seven things about me:

1. This is my first official public blog! I never had anything else to blog about so I never bothered before. I posted one for my own amusement but never tagged anything or connected with anyone really. I was really missing out!

2. If you asked me before 2007 if I would become a writer I would have said “no.”

3. I enjoy using my writers’ vocabulary in everyday conversation and it sometimes gets me strange looks, but usually people just think I’m smart (or a smarty-pants).

4. I am aware that I use way too many exclamation marks!!!!! It is a secondary affliction to my addiction to writing fiction!!!

5. I’ve been married for almost 16 years and I got married when I was 20. Yet somehow, I’m still 29….

6. My name was supposed to be just “Katie” but Mom was under anesthetic and Dad wrote “Katherine.”

7. I have been to Hawaii and St. Barths, both for work, and I prefer Hawaii.

Here are the 15 bloggers who deserve this award–they are sort-of in order of discovery.  You should follow them all and read and/or comment on their most excellent posts!

1. http://christianfantasyforwomen.com/

2. http://newenglandmuse.wordpress.com/

3. http://womenthrillerwriters.com/ also blogging at http://pamelahegarty.com

4. http://jeanewatier.wordpress.com/

5. http://alannahmurphy.co.uk/

6. http://sarahwinters.wordpress.com/

7. http://themonstrumchronicles.wordpress.com/

8. http://www.jaclynsmusings.com/

9. http://rebeccaberto.wordpress.com/

10. http://maggiepublishing.wordpress.com/

11. http://rosysophia.wordpress.com/ also blogging at http://rosasophia.com/

12. http://pigletinapoke.com/

13. http://cameliamironskiba.wordpress.com/

14. http://jaydesummers.wordpress.com/

15. http://bindo.wordpress.com/

 

Categories: Awards | Tags: , , , , , , | 15 Comments

My New Favorite Earrings!

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Kate Policani

I had one of those ideas that hit you right while you are trying to go to sleep, only this time it wasn’t for writing. It was for promotion! What do you think? I hope they’ll be conversation-starters. I may try making them with some other media too because it was so much fun making them!

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Shameless Begging

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Kate Policani

Please, oh please would you review my book? If you don’t have a review page, that’s OK! There is still no review for TheDisenchanted Pet on Smashwords. Amazon can’t have too many reviews.

If you want, I will squeeze your book into my review list in exchange for a review of mine. I am happy to send you a free e-copy coupon code if you will review it after you read.

Email me at katepolicani@gmail. and we’ll talk turkey!

Categories: My Books | Tags: , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Author Blog-in: 2 weeks until start!

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Kate Policani

Sign up now!

The author blog-in is coming up in just two weeks! To get your choice of days, please sign up now. Feel free to share the page with your author friends too. Spread the word and widen our audience about our wonderful books!

All the information is here: https://katepolicani.com/author-blog-in/

Categories: Author Blog-in | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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