FOR WRITERS: Starting a Newsletter

When I do any sort of marketing, I always think of the Mutual Benefit. If I ask a reader to buy my book, I’ll benefit from the sale and they’ll benefit by being whisked away on a romantic adventure. If I ask a bookseller to stock my book, I want them to know that I’m promoting it to readers, so that they’ll sell it and benefit from stocking it on their shelves. If I ask a publisher to buy my manuscript, I want them to know that I’ll promote it so that we sell more books and they benefit from having me as an author.

The benefit of having a newsletter is that an author can keep her name in front of readers and build a fan base. But how do newsletter subscribers benefit beyond finding out when the author’s next release is? After all, they can just wait until it hits the shelves.

I always consider that people’s lives are as busy and hectic as mine, so there should be some reward, or promise of a reward, for them to go through the extra effort of signing up for my newsletter.

So I do contests. It’s a great way to advertise your newsletter, and it promises a Mutual Benefit to those who go to the effort to join.

I love doing contests. I always have one running on my website. My series revolves around Merlin’s Relics, which are a different jewel for each book, so I offer jewelry as a prize. I love buying jewelry, even if it’s not for me, and I love getting the emails from the winners who are always so happy to get sparklies. :} Because of the value of the jewelry, I ask those that enter to make a little extra effort. Currently I have a viral marketing contest running and if you’re curious you can check it out on my site. I bring this up because whenever anyone enters one of my contests, they agree to be automatically signed up for my newsletter. After the contest is over, I take the entrant’s emails and add them to my newsletter (I currently use Yahoo Groups, which provides free newsletter/loop services. Just go to Yahoo.com, sign up for a free email account, and click on the option to start a Group.)

But whenever I have a new release out, I always run a newsletter subscriber contest. If you sign up for my newsletter, you win a ‘magical’ jewel. I choose a random winner from all my subscribers, so that my current subscribers benefit as well. Launching a new contest is a great way to advertise your new release. Ask your publisher to include it in the bio of your book. Ask them to advertise it on their website with just a link to yours. Send announcements to your writer’s groups, yahoo loops, forums, Myspace friends, etc. And remember, you’re not asking for anything, you’re providing a Mutual Benefit.

Make sure that you have a newsletter sign up link on the HOME page of your website, and as many other pages as possible.

And I should point out that your reward doesn’t have to be extravagant. Giving away a signed copy of your current release, or even one from your backlist, can provide enough of a benefit for readers to go to that extra effort. I often offer this for my private contests. I also offer a free short story for signing up for my newsletter. I give my subscribers the hidden (secret) location of the link to it that’s on my website.

You should also consider the benefit to your readers for continuing to subscribe to your newsletter. If they change their email address, you want to make sure they want to go to the effort to subscribe with their new one. I already mentioned one above, but I also run private contests for my newsletter subscribers only. I always send sneak previews of my books to my subscribers first before I release it anywhere else. They’re special and I want them to have the benefit of being the first to know anything. And I should mention here that I’m careful to limit the number of newsletters I send, usually only one a month, although when I send excerpts of a new release, there might be four in that month, as I send each as a short read. I then remind my subscribers that if they only want to know about my new releases, which is twice a year, then they can choose the option of ‘special notices’ in their subscription options (And I make sure that I only send a special notice for a new release.)

You want to keep your name in front of your readers, but you don’t want them reading their emails and groaning “Geez, not her again.” :}

I know I could have probably just said to run a contest to advertise your newsletter, but I’m hoping you find it helpful in your future promotions to consider the Mutual Benefit when you’re launching a new program of any kind.

Oh, and my benefit from writing this? I enjoy helping other authors; it always makes me feel good. And I avoided doing my taxes for an hour. (Once you start thinking about MB, it’s hard to stop.)

My very best wishes,
Kathryne
http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/

The Neurotic Writer Dates a Werewolf

Welcome to another episode of
The Neurotic Writer
(Just for laughs)

Suzie Writer: “Doc! Doc!” (Shuts the office door and rushes to the oversized, stuffed chair.) “You are not going to believe it! I am dating an actual, real-life werewolf! Isn’t that great?”

Therapist: “A what?”

Suzie Writer: “A werewolf! Isn’t that great? Now I can research my paranormal hero with a real man. I don’t have to make up the character. He’s sitting in my living room where I left him. He thinks I’m in the shower, but I really snuck out the window.”

Therapist: “Suzie, take a deep breath. Now tell me why you think he’s a werewolf and where did you meet him?”

Suzie Writer: “He’s my best friend’s nephew’s step-brother’s second-cousin’s pizza delivery man. My friend, Shirley, said he is the hairiest guy she’d ever met. So hairy, it wasn’t natural. That’s when I figured out he could be a werewolf. I ordered a Meat-Lovers Surprise, then waited for him to show up and asked him out.”

Therapist: “Just like that?”

Suzie Writer: “Jut like that. It’s research. I can even claim the dinner on my taxes. He was wearing those earth sandals, and I tell you, even his toes are super hairy.”

Therapist: “All right… So, why do you think he’s a werewolf, other than needing a razor?”

Suzie Writer: “Well, he told the waiter he wanted a steak so rare it mooed when you stabbed it with a fork. The waiter said it would be illegal to serve anything that rare. He got a cheeseburger and onion rings instead. Also, I knew it was a full moon, so I kept my bedroom curtains open to see his reaction.”

Therapist: “Your bedroom curtains?”

Suzie Writer: “Research, Doc, research. You know that man actually howled?”

Therapist: “I bet he did. Being that it was a first date and you were a stranger before he brought the pizza. He’s probably wondering how he got so lucky. But do you really think it’s wise to take your research to such extremes? After all, all you know about this man is he’s a hairy guy who likes meat.”

Suzie Writer: “I’m willing to suffer for my craft. Besides, I haven’t told you the best part. I know for certain he’s a werewolf. No doubt in my mind. Want to know how I know?”

Therapist: “Of course.”

Suzie Writer: “I whipped out my gun and silver bullets from my nightstand and he was so scared, I thought he was going to pee his boxers.”

Therapist: “Don’t you think any man would be scared to death if a woman whipped out any type of weapon, especially if he only met her that day?”

Suzie Writer: (Checks her watch) “Time’s up. I better rush back and check his hands for claws. Bye, doc!”




Next week The Neurotic Writer gets a part-time job telling fortunes.
Until then,
Happy Writing,
Tina LaVon

Interview with Cynthia Eden

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Cynthia Eden. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called IMMORTAL DANGER. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Sure, I’d be happy to chat about my book, but, first—thanks for having me back at Much Cheaper Than Therapy! It’s a pleasure to be here again.
IMMORTAL DANGER is a paranormal romance featuring an ex-cop turned vampire heroine. Now that she’s immortal, Maya Black spends her nights tracking down all the supernatural bad guys that go bump in the night. And then she meets Adam Brody, a man with a lot of dangerous secrets. He needs her help, she wants him—and his blood. So they make a bargain and team up to hunt down a rogue gang of vampires.

IMMORTAL DANGER is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

My editor picked the name! Megan is absolutely wonderful at choosing titles and she picked this one for me.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I love the paranormal sub-genre, always have. When I was younger, I got hooked on vampires and werewolves. To me, the supernatural has a strong appeal—the big, “what if” element—and that element works perfectly to help me generate story ideas.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I had actually just finished writing a novella that featured a vampire heroine and I started thinking more and more about creating another female vampire—one that had all the nice, polite barriers ripped away. Maya Black isn’t an easy heroine. She’s been through hell and has the scars (inside and out) to prove it. I wanted to create a strong heroine, a woman who could face her worst nightmares, and Maya was born. The rest of the story all flowed from Maya’s character.

What are your favorite paranormal research books or sites, and why?

I love the “Element Encyclopedias”—there are so many of them! Like, THE ELEMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE PSYCHIC WORLD, THE ELEMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MAGICAL CREATURES, and THE ELEMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GHOSTS & HAUNTINGS. These books are all great! So much info—creatures that I’d never heard of before reading about them in these books. Very detailed and clearly organized info. Love these books!

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

In this book, Maya was my favorite character. She was strong, physically and mentally, but she was also a wounded character. Some of her actions surprised me in this story, and any time a character surprises me, well, that’s always fun.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research and/or world affect your character development?

I don’t create character sheets or do interviews. I write the story and the character develops as the story progresses. Now, as I start to write, I make my character notations (physical characteristics, important life events), but these all emerge through the story. I rarely start a tale already knowing everything about a character. Usually, the story influences the character and leads me down paths that I didn’t anticipate during the first few pages.

How do you go about building your world if you use one? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

I use a NotePad file. ☺ I write down all the “rules” of my world—specifically, about all the

powers my creatures possess, their origins, etc., and I make certain I consistently follow those rules. I’ve written several stories in the same “world” now, and my file is pretty big because I try to write down all the major character/creature points to keep my consistency going.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

There are SO many authors who have inspired me—Christine Feehan, Linda Howard, Larissa Ione, Angela Knight, Shannon McKenna, Julie Garwood…these ladies (and at least a good two dozen more that are springing to mind) are such amazing story tellers. Every time I read their work, I’m inspired.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Well, right now, I am running a viral marketing contest/campaign on my blog (www.cynthiaeden.com/blog). I’ve received a lot of entries for the contest and the readers seem very excited about it. The readers post my graphic on their blog or MySpace page so they help me to spread the word about my book.

What do we have to look forward next?

My next release will be MIDNIGHT’S MASTER (July 09 from Kensington

Brava). This is the last book in my Midnight trilogy, and it is the demon Niol’s story (he appeared in both HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT and MIDNIGHT SINS).

Thanks, Cynthia!

To celebrate her book release, Cynthia is offering a free autographed copy of IMMORTAL DANGER to one lucky commenter on today's blog. She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...And don't forget to check back Monday night to see who won.

Bio.

Cynthia Eden is an awarding winning romance author. She currently writes paranormal romances for Kensington Brava, and she has also recently been offered a contract to write a romantic suspense series for Grand Central Publishing.

Check out author’s website at www.cynthiaeden.com.

Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Danger-Cynthia-Eden/dp/0758226063/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236061026&sr=8-3
Thank you very much for the interview!

Rudy's Blog

Hey, everybody, D-day (delivery day) is here. According to Amazon, HOUNDING THE PAVEMENT was available on March 3. I’m really excited that my first mystery is out. I know Mom is a nervous wreck, hoping the book sells big so Best Friends gets lots of cash.

Speaking of Best Friends, she was told by their CEO yesterday that they’re building a state-of-the-art puppy shelter and it should be up in April. Can you imagine, an entire building just for baby furballs, where they get to socialize, make friends, and learn basic commands like sit, stay, wait, and heel. How great is that!?

So, you all know your job. Got to Amazon or your local Borders, Waldenbooks, B&N, Books a Million, whatever is best for you, and buy HOUNDING THE PAVEMENT.

Gotta tell you,book two will be out in October, and Mom and I think it’s even better than book one. I inherit a boatload of moola and a bad guy is out to get it. Ellie puts me in a couple of dangerous situations, but I manage to fight my way out of them and, don’t tell her this, but I save the day…er…sort of. You’ll meet some new characters, too, like Bobbi and Bitsy, who are too funny. And those bean eaters show up, Too. idiot Chihuahuas are too stupid to live. I don’t know how Ellie can stand them. I sure can’t.

Mom’s in the middle of writing book three, and she’s still running a contest, so check out her website, www.judimccoy.com to find out how to enter.

And she’s doing a bunch of signings for HOUNDING THE PAVEMENT in the next couple months, so take a look at her travel schedule too.

Oops, I’m being called, so I have to run. Doggie heaven’s not so bad. All the treats a canine could want, belly rubs all around, and plenty of pals to play with. I’m up for it.

Talk to you all in a few weeks.
Rudy

TEN LIFE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM WRITING

TEN LIFE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM WRITING

BY

CARA MARSI

(AKA CAROLYN MATKOWSKY)

In the years I’ve been writing fiction I’ve learned much about writing, but I’ve also learned much from writing. Below, in no particular order, are some of the things that writing has taught me about life:

1. Affirmation works. Believe it and it will happen. If you want something badly, write it down. For several years before I sold my first book, I wrote these words fifteen times a day: “I will be a published author.”

No, I didn’t sell immediately. And yes, I had to work really hard at writing. Just affirming what I wanted fifteen times a day wasn’t going to do it. But putting voice to my dream kept me focused.

How does this help with life? If you really want something, believe in yourself and keep working toward your goal. Will affirmations help you win the lottery? Let’s get real. If you have a realistic goal, for instance to retire from full time work in five years, you can make it happen. Write your affirmations every day, but do your research and work hard. Have faith in yourself.

2. Don’t listen to the so-called “experts.” If I’d listened to all the nay-sayers I would have stopped writing a long time ago. The “experts” said I would never sell and should give up because: I wasn’t finaling in writing contests; editors didn’t praise my work; I wasn’t receiving personal rejection letters. The only personal rejection letters I received made me cry. It took ten long years to sell my first book. I refused to give up and I refused to let the nay-sayers stop me.

No matter what you want to do in life--move to a new city, start a new career, go back to school, there are those who will tell you that you cannot do it. “Stay where you are,” “stay comfortable,” they’ll say. “You can’t change careers after forty, fifty, sixty, whatever,” they’ll tell you. Do NOT listen to them. Only you know what you want and what you’re willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals.

3. Don’t burn your bridges. This is good advice in the real and corporate world as well as the writing world. Got another rejection? Maybe it’s a rejection from your own publisher. Ouch! That hurts. Smile through the pain and send that editor a thank-you note. You may want to submit there again. Always send thank-you notes when you receive personal rejection letters, even the mean ones. It’s just plain good etiquette to be gracious in defeat. Editors know each other. Don’t think they don’t talk. Isn’t it better that they know you as a professional and not a whiner?

Passed over for a promotion at work? Congratulate the person who got the job you wanted. Smile at your boss. Maybe you’ll need to look for a new job, but don’t burn your bridges at your old one. You never know when you might need that good recommendation from your old boss.

4. Don’t compare yourself to others. There will always be those who are smarter, prettier, more successful than you. There will always be those who are less smart, less pretty and less successful than you. Don’t sweat it. Just be true to yourself.

This is a hard lesson in life and in writing. We all know those people who seem blessed by the fates. They have beauty, brains and money. Life is good. It’s the same with writers. We’ve all heard of that writer who suddenly decides to write a book. She finishes it in six months. Agents clamor to represent her. Book goes to auction and sells for six figures. And then there are the rest of us. We struggle for years. We endure rejection after rejection. But we persevere and we sell.

Life lesson?—Some are just more blessed than others. Accept that and be the best you can in anything you attempt. Each of us has a special talent.

5. Karma—there is such a thing. I personally have bad contest Karma. I never finaled in a contest before selling my first book. See number 2 above. I did, however, have two entries final in a contest after I sold. What did these contest finals get me? Rejections within two weeks rather than twelve weeks. Contests are overrated. Bad contest Karma? Not a big deal. Accept it and go on.

Do you have bad Karma in life? Don’t worry about it. Good Karma is overrated. See above. If you tell yourself that you have no control over your bad luck, you are in trouble. You do have control over your life.

6. “Don’t take life seriously. No one gets out alive.” I wish I were clever enough to think of this. I believe a rock star said this. Write for the pure pleasure of telling stories. Don’t worry about the rejections. I know, I know, that’s easier said than done. You tell a story from your heart and some editor or agent or contest judge rips it apart. Keep writing because you love it. “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Wish I’d said that one too.

The same goes for life. Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Hard advice at times, but remember this: when you’re in that nursing home, you’ll regret what you didn’t do, not what you did.

7. Know the rules. I belong to several email loops. Apparently, I’ve missed the memo on email etiquette. The few times I’ve taken the plunge to post something on a loop, I’ve been ignored or misunderstood. What am I doing wrong? On most loops, when new members join, the moderator “introduces” them. No moderator has ever introduced me. I’ve always had to introduce myself and then I’m ignored. Please someone send me the memo so I know what I’m doing wrong. If I choose to ignore the rules, that’s one thing, but I’m at a disadvantage when I don’t know I’m making a mistake.

Life lesson? You may choose to break the rules, but know them first. You can get yourself into lots of trouble if you don’t first know what’s expected of you.

8. Publishing is a business. Repeat this fifteen times. Sure, you’re a nice person. That has nothing to do with anything. An editor will take your book and an agent will represent you if they think they can make money. That is the bottom line. Don’t take rejection personally. It has nothing to do with you. For instance, you have a great interview with an agent. You discuss your upcoming vacation and her upcoming cruise. She says she loves the type stories you write. Feeling good, you send her the requested partial. In your cover letter you say you hope she had a wonderful vacation. What response do you get? A mean-spirited form letter that doesn’t include your name, her name, or the title of your book. The final punch in your gut? The letter says you shouldn’t darken that agency’s doorstep with one of your manuscripts ever again. Publishing is a business. Don’t forget that.

And life doesn’t always give you warm fuzzies either. Pick yourself up, know you are okay, and go on. Be true to yourself and kind to others. That’s what’s important.

9. NEVER GIVE UP. If you want it, go for it. Have faith in yourself. Don’t despair. See number 6 above. Enjoy.

10. NEVER GIVE UP. See 9 above.

Writing as Cara Marsi, Carolyn’s latest book is LOGAN’S REDEMPTION, a romantic suspense from The Wild Rose Press. Digital release August 2007. Print release November 2007.

Second 'Magical' Jewel Contest for ENCHANTING THE BEAST

ENCHANTING THE BEAST is the third novel in the RELICS OF MERLIN series. Merlin used thirteen different jewels as a focus for thirteen mysterious spells, and the 'magical jewel' in ENCHANTING THE BEAST is a blue topaz. For this second contest, the prize is a 5-carat Swiss blue topaz pendant. (Go to: http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/contest.html for a photo and description of this 'magical' jewel.)

This contest is all about your friends. Just send your friend an email telling them about the RELICS OF MERLIN series, and ‘cc’ or forward a copy of that email to kathryne_kennedy@yahoo.com. I will keep your friend's email address confidential and I will only contact them to verify that it's a valid email address.

How many times can you enter? That depends on how many friends you have.:} Please though, no spamming. You will be disqualified.

A winner will be chosen using RandomNumber.Org. Entering the contest automatically signs you up for the author’s newsletter. Your information will be kept confidential. Contest ends May 1, 2009. Void where prohibited by law. You must be 18 years or older to enter. No prize substitution permitted. This contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

The Neurotic Writer and The Paranormal Novel

Welcome to another episode of The Neurotic Writer

(Just for Laughs!)

Suzie Writer enters therapist’s office wearing a floor-length, shimmering white gown split up the side to the thigh. A ruby pendant the size of a goose egg dangles from a silver chain hanging down to her abundant cleavage (which wasn't there last week). She tosses the long, fake tresses from her black Elvira wig over her shoulder, and then attempts to waltz into the room on four-inch red stilettos, waving a lit incense stick around like a wand.

Therapist: (Tries not to appear shocked.) “This is a new look, Suzie.”

Suzie Writer: “Call me Zelda, Queen of the Other Realm.” (She twirls into a chair and lands with a whoosh of air escaping the stuffing.)

Therapist: “Okay, Zelda. What’s up with the…costume?”

Suzie Writer: (She blows on the incense stick and the spicy aroma fills the air.) “I’m getting in touch with my character for my paranormal novel. You know, instead of method acting, it’s method writing. I’m Z-E-L-D-A, Queen―”

Therapist: (Coughs on the smoke.) “I heard you the first time. You really need to put that incense out before the fire marshal shows up.”

Suzie Writer: (Points at her own eyes with two fingers.) “I’ll put a hex on him. I’m reading up on dark curses and I’ve watched The Mists of Avalon twenty-five times now. I bet I can control any man with my eyes―and a word or two. Of course, I might have to carry bat’s blood in my purse.” (An evil smile reaches her eyes - shaded with teal-colored contacts.)

Therapist: “Now you’re just scaring me. Can I speak to Suzie? Is she in there somewhere?”

Suzie Writer: “Suzie is being held captive by The Drones…”

Therapist: “Aren’t Drones a type of bee?”

Suzie Writer: (Summons her deepest, most frightening witch voice.) “Bees that serve their queen. In my novel, The Drones are hunky, bare-chested men who serve me: ZELDA! Queen―”

Therapist: “Come back to earth, Suzie. I can’t talk to you when you sound like Pamela Anderson on steroids.”

Suzie Therapist: (Drops the witch voice.) “Ah, shucks! You’re no fun, Doc. I’ll see you again when the rough draft is done.” (She blows on the incense once more for good measure and exits twirling her gown.)





Next week, The Neurotic Writer dates a werewolf.
Until then,
Happy Writing,
Tina LaVon