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Cute Adorable Puppy!! (and a book)

by Amanda Forester

Promotion.  For some writers it is second nature, for others the mere mention of it induces hives and a nervous tick.  Despite being in the latter category, I have attempted my best to promote, especially as I have my first book of a new Regency series being released next month (less than a month - gasp - twitch). 

In my efforts to promote A Wedding in Springtime (which Publisher's Weekly gave a Starred Review, just in case you were wondering) I have been posting to facebook with more regularity.  I posted when my book received a good review (another Starred Review from Booklist - just saying).  I posted when I scheduled my book launch.  I even posted when I needed help choosing a pet for my next hero.  But my all-time most popular post was.... my puppy eating my story board.

Yes, here she is in all her ravenous glory, my four-month-old puppy chewing up my post-it note story board.  Apparently, the most popular thing I can show is something akin to literary carnage.  If my next book has holes in the plot - well, I think we all know who's to blame.  Good thing puppies are cute.  She chewed up my slippers tonight, perhaps I could take another picture for even greater exposure?
 
So this leaves me unsure how to promote A Wedding in Springtime (which my mother, who has not read it yet, is certain will be fabulous).  Perhaps I should attempt to pair it with a picture of a cute puppy?  Ok, so please look at the puppy, now at my book cover, back to the puppy, and now the cover.  Does this fill you with a sudden compulsion to preorder my book?  Yes, yes it does!

Does anyone have any other sure-fire ways to promote a book?  Share them in the comments for a chance to win one destructo-beast puppy (ok, not really).  Although I really did like those slippers...

Comments

  1. How do you promote a book? Don't. Your readers don't want to be promoted to. They want a relationship with you. So post on Facebook about your life, your writing, your interests. Of course, part of that is the book you have coming out and blog stops, etc., but really every post you put out there is about connecting with your reader.

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  2. LOVE LOVE your new cover and the dog story! He looks so pitiful and sorry but hey, those little pieces of paper were floppin' in the air conditioning and he just had to tame them!
    I'm sure glad that we have Danielle or I'd be completely lost and I'd for sure waste too much time trying to do promotion!

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  3. Well, who can resist a puppy? Even one who's in the doghouse--so to speak--for doing something he shouldn't! Besides, I'm sure everyone is familiar with the excuse of the dog eating one's homework. Except that you now have actual proof that it happens. :-)

    Like Carolyn, I'm glad we have publicists to help with the promotion angle. But I'm trying to apply the lessons I learned on Book #1 so I can do a more effective job when Book #2 comes out.

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  4. Shana - I love it! Don't promote - I can so do that! Finally a strategty that works for me!

    Carolyn - I caught puppy with post-it's sticking out of her mouth. Oh sure she tried to spit them out, but the incriminating evidence was all around her!

    Pamela - editing help from pup! I'm sure she was only eating the unnessary scenes!

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  5. What an adorable puppy! Look at those floppers and those big eyes!

    Congrats on the upcoming release. I still haven't mastered the promo or not to promo. I've heard Nora Roberts say that authors should spend their time writing. She would know!

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  6. LOVE the puppy and the cover, Amanda :) Congrats on the upcoming release and the starred reviews.

    I get hives just thinking of posting and tweeting, but the one thing I'm doing differently this year is attending more reader events:)

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  7. I have to say I've found many a favorite author by winning a book. If I like it, I will go on the read future and/or backlist books. Adding a kitten to the puppy picture wouldn't hurt - that way you're covering both bases lol.

    catslady5(at)aol.com

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  8. As a reader, I haven't thought about this but what Shana Galen said is true. I LOVE that she posts on Twitter along with several other authors I read. And your new book looks great! Congrats!

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  9. Maybe a blog tour? I don't use Facebook

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  10. I don't FB or Tweet but I do receive tons of newsletters and lurk on several loops...and visit blogs like this one when I remember. I love the reasoning for holes in the plot! I like to visit chats with authors as I get to learn more about the story and about the way the author developed the ideas for the book. I have found lots of new titles and made many new friends this way. Good luck with the new release (and the adorable canine!)

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  11. That's a gorgeous cover! I've never had to worry about puppies chewing up my work...just kitties walking across my keyboard.

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  12. I enjoy reading about authors who are new to me (like you) on blogs. Book giveaways are a great way to get new readers. Having books available in the library helps, too. I don't use Facebook or Twitter, though. Congrats on your latest.

    In your next book, you could always add an extraordinarily adorable pet--featured prominently on the cover, of course--to reduce your promotional workload!

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  13. I like what Shana said, and might I add, just be present online. If you want to do a blog tour and give away a few copies, that's fine too, but even just interviewing and talking about your story on a few blogs gets the word out. Of course, a cute puppy can't hurt :D

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  14. Victoria - well Nora should know! I would much rather focus on writing than anything else, although I do enoy meeting new folks online!

    C.H. - hives, yes, I familiar with that! Reader events sound like much more fun. Which ones are you going to?

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  15. Catslady - I do the same thing. When I find an author I like I go for the backlist!

    Maria - you are inspiring me to post more on Twitter. As a card carrying Luddite it takes me a while to keep up with the new social media options (ok, so I guess twitter isn't that new, but it seems so to me!)

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  16. Bn100- you are so right! Fortunately, I have a publicist who helps me with that. I'd be lost to try to do it all on my own!

    Elf2060 - thanks! Getting to know folks online is the one thing i enjoy. I have more confidence in my book than in ever trying to train my puppy to have good manners. She jumps, she chews, she runs around like crazy, it's almost like she's a dog or something!

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  17. Brooklyn- I have kitties too - but they are infinitely better behaved!

    LSUReader - great idea - a cute pet on the cover! I can't wait for my new release, The Highlander's Kitten, followed by the Rogue and the Puppy. :)

    Barbara - yes, I will definitely be doing some giveaways! Maybe I'll add more pictures of puppy being naughty. Given her general temperament, that shouldn't be too hard!

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  18. I don't like the promoting angle either, so I stuck to what I knew best. I wrote a free novella set in the same series for my readers and ran a serial version at my website in the lead up to Christmas.
    I get to write - reader get to read, win-win situation (:

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  19. I don't like the promoting angle either, so I stuck to what I knew best. I wrote a free novella set in the same series for my readers and ran a serial version at my website in the lead up to Christmas.
    I get to write - reader get to read, win-win situation (:

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  20. Bec - that a great idea! I actually have written a medieval novella that features the ancestors of the hero in True Highland Spirit. I hope to have it out soon!

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