New authors. Gotta love 'em. It's exciting to think of someone just starting out, following their dreams. And with epublishing and even self publishing, there are so many ways now to get your book out there.

But some new authors are a little over zealous about getting their stories read. I am not the first nor the last to be frustrated by a relatively new writer going about and aggressively trying to get people to read their books, and getting good reviews. A part of me cannot blame them because of course they want people to buy their books. However it's the way some of them go about doing it that is a turn-off.

So I've come up with a list of do's and don'ts that I would follow if I were a writer and wanted to spread the word about my books. My own personal etiquette, if you will:

• Do take advice from some respected and veteran authors. Many of them, like Lori Foster, have been very supportive of providing opportunities for new authors to get their work published. And I know for a fact that Lori is a big believer in writers getting to know their audience. She's been around over 10 years and obviously has had experience in the business and knows what she's talking about.


• Don't relentlessly recommend your books to readers, especially readers you don't even know. A lot of readers I know are happy to read a book if an author asks them to, but when you use channels such as GoodReads to endlessly recommend your own work, it comes across as tacky. A recommendation from a person I don't know is more a deterent than anything else, and 99.999% of the time, I decline. Readers have so many books to choose from, a lot of which they already own, so trying to force your book on someone isn't the way to get it read.


• Do get to know your audience. Online drive-by notifications about an upcoming book release are very frustrating, because you are most likely just trying to get free advertising for your book, and it's really rude to use another author's blog or Yahoo group to do so. If you don't take the time to get to know your readership, you won't have one. True, not all readers use the internet, but many of them do, and readers talk about the good and the bad. Check with local bookstores about setting up a signing. I myself have contacted bookstores on behalf of a reader, it's not hard to do. And it can be good business for them as well. This gives you the opportunity to meet readers. Sure you might be shy. Guess what, so am I, but if I want to meet an author, I'll take a deep breath and walk over. But there has to be an opportunity.


• Do network. It's overwhelming, the number of places a person can network, both in person and online. You've got annual conferences, big and small, you've got your own website, perhaps a personal blog, industry blogs, reader blogs,Twitter, Facebook, MySpace (does anyone still use MySpace?). It's intimidating. Select the most effective ways that work for you and use them efficiently. Carve out an hour a day or two hours a week and network. Update your blog and site. Find blogs that you enjoy visiting yourself (if you have time) and ask if you can be a guest blogger.


• Don't respond to reviews, unless it's a brief "thank you" whether the review is good or bad. It can't hurt to thank someone for taking the time to write a review, even if it's not favorable. But keep it short and sweet. I cringe when I see an author battling to defend their work, because ultimately, it makes the writer look bad. It doesn't matter the reason, just let it go. I've seen some authors claim the reader didn't "understand" the book. Oh, don't go there. VERY unprofessional and rude, and doing it online means there's a great chance it will spread to other readers. I blocked one person on GoodReads for this very reason. I won't friend her or read her book. Ever.


• Do be a reader. I know you don't have time, but you don't need to read 100 books a year. It's good to read what's popular, and have something in common with your audience. Reading can be just as much educational as it can be fun, and it's good way to connect with other people.


• Do keep your website/blog updated! I can't stress this enough. And take the time to have a professional site created, even if it's just a blog. They are either free or relatively inexpensive. Some of those glittery, blocky sites are eyesores, and I immediately leave. Provide excepts for your books. Readers are selective, and if they don't have a way of sampling your work, many of them move on.


• Don't get too personal. I know a few authors who are very, VERY open about their sex lives, and their families, and even where they live. You need to think very carefully about this. I'm not a prude, and I have engaged in my share of raunchy conversations on occasion, but I don't get explicit, and I won't. Not in public. Writers, you risk alienating a lot of people by getting too personal, not least of which may be your own publisher. It's not very professional and in fact are very inappropriate. If I had those kinds of conversations at my workplace, I would be fired. And I'm not kidding. No second chances if I were reported for making any kind of comments of that nature. That's pretty serious. Also be careful what you share about family and friends. About a month or so ago, an author revealed on her blog too much information about a minor child she takes care of, which got a lot of readers upset because now you're invading that child's privacy. Not smart. I know the internet seems like a cozy place to share with your friends, but it's a very public forum where anyone could be watching.


• Don't brag. When I get a friend request at Facebook or GoodReads, if I see the author going overboard touting their own work (best-selling author of the most amazing and original and brilliant "insert catchy phrase here" series), it doesn't sell me. In fact I tend to laugh cynically especially since chances are I've never even heard of the series, so how can it be best-selling? What are your sources? Just state the facts. Awards don't impress me much. I don't even remember any of the names of the recent RITA winners. Shame on me, but I don't.


• Do write. Yes, networking and all those professional responsibilities are important, but you won't be doing any of that if you don't write your books. It's understandable if you take time away from the internet to work. Readers expect it, especially if we want the next book.

Now I am not an author, so take what I say with a grain if salt if you must. I just know what works for me and what doesn't. I've been a reader for over 30 years, and I've been on the internet for about 10 years. I've also gone to a lot of signing and events. And I love meeting new authors. Maybe one day I'll meet you too :)

Readers: anything I need to add?

Labels: authors

Hi, I'm Cole Riley, the alpha of the Cary Town werewolf pack, and a character created by Zoe Winters. Zoe is out all over the place hawking her book at the moment and asked for me to cover for her here at Stacy's blog.

I have a confession to make. I'm a liar. I know many of you humans no longer believe in soul mates, that one person in all the world who is the absolute right fit for you. The person destined to be yours. A lot of werewolves don't believe in it either. But I do. It's why I've been a bachelor for so long.

So what did I lie about and who did I lie to? I lied to myself, mostly. You see, this annoying vampire fledge racked up a $10,000 gambling debt with me. But I saw the way he was treating his human pet, overheard him talking about sharing her with the other vampires. If you know anything about vampires you know "sharing" starts with biting and could end in a very pornographic place.

So I broke up his party and took Jane. I told myself that I took her because Paul didn't have my money and I wanted to close off his earning potential. Then I told myself it was because she was in distress and I have this horrible habit of rescuing strays. But it wasn't that either. I could have found someplace safe for her. I didn't have to bring her back to the hive (our den).

The truth is... the moment I saw her huddled behind Paul in a coat way too big for her, something in my blood stirred and called out to something in hers. And something in hers responded to me. She's mine. I don't know how I'll tell her this, though. After what she's been through, the last thing she needs is to feel like she doesn't have any options. Especially given that my kind has an even worse reputation than the vamps. But she belongs to me, and with me. Some day I believe she'll be happy about that. I just don't know how we're going to get to that point.

Wow. Now I'm embarrassed. That was a little too much sharing. Why don't I talk about Zoe's contest? That's a better idea. Zoe is running a contest from her blog this week where you could win a brand new next generation 3G Amazon Kindle. It's almost as sexy as my Mustang.


She's also going to give away a signed copy of Blood Lust to a visitor here, so be sure to leave a comment by 3pm CST on Monday, September 6th for your chance to win.

Here's the information you might like to know about the book she's promoting this week:

It’s all about the blood...

Comprised of three novellas, Blood Lust gives readers a snapshot look at the world of the Preternaturals Series. (Future installments of the series will be novels.)

KEPT:

As a cat therian (shifter), Greta's blood is already sought after to enhance spells and potions, but due to a quirk of her birth, her blood is potent enough to kill for. When her tribe plans to sacrifice her, Greta must ally herself with Dayne, the dangerous local sorcerer, and the only person strong enough to protect her.

CLAIMED:

For a vampire, Anthony isn't a picky eater, but he's drawn to Charlee's blood more than any other. Like a fine wine saved for a special occasion, he's denied himself this pleasure. But one night, high from the potent magical blood of another, he claims his prize and loses control. Ashamed of almost killing the one woman who means anything to him, he wipes her memory of the event. When Charlee awakens with complete amnesia, Anthony is the only one who can clean up the mess he's made.

MATED:

Because of the vampiric blood that has run through her veins since birth, Jane has been a target for vampires who resent a human being "kindred." She's forced to disguise herself as a vampire groupie to appease them and safeguard her life. When she's abruptly given to Cole, the leader of the werewolf pack, to satisfy a gambling debt, she discovers the blood running through her veins has a far greater impact on her destiny than she ever imagined.

Print and ebook copies are available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. (other retailers coming soon.)

Buy links are available from Zoe's blog (The top stickied Amazon contest post.)


You can find her here:

Author Website

Author Blog

Twitter

Labels: authors, Zoe Winters

(posted with boss permission *g*)

In my new role as an author's assistant, I've found myself really taking my job perhaps too seriously. Because not only am a huge fan of my author and want her to do well, I can also see it from the reader POV, and so I want to give readers what they want...within reason of course.

It's a fun part-time job, and I'm having a blast learning new things.Since working with her, she and I have had conversations, and Erin would also like to have more of a presence online, so you may see her in some familiar places. Though she tries to spend as much time as she can writing, she also wants readers to know how much she appreciates them, so she's dipping her toes in, and I've hopefully given her some good idea of where she might want to "hang out". Some sites you can currently find Erin:

• Her website: http://www.erinmccarthy.net/
• Facebook (Erin McCarthy)
• Twitter @authorErin
• GoodReads (Erin McCarthy)
• BookTour

I know this question gets asked a lot, but before, it never meant anything other than what my expectations are. So I want to hear what you want out the author/reader relationship.

What I really want to know, from you as readers, is what you look for in an author and their website:

What are your expectations of an author's site?

Do you like blogs?

How do you feel about social networking?

Should authors have more or less of any online presence?

Feel free to add anything else that comes to mind. I appreciate any and all feedback you can provide. This will give me a good idea of the pulse of what readers are looking for and I will pass it along to Erin. And please, be honest. That's why I'm asking - to get some insight into what readers like you want :)

Labels: authors, websites

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