Archive for June, 2015

Sell Books This Summer

Wednesday, June 24th, 2015

Are you taking advantage of the season? It’s summer, you know. And what do people do during the summer months? They travel, they take time off work and relax around the house, and they visit friends and family. Many of them use this down time to catch up on their reading.

Think about it, you see people reading in airports, on planes, at the beach, while riding in cars on the freeway. And we read in private, too—at home in our backyard while the kids play in their kiddy pool, in the den after dinner, and in bed before lights out.

I’m sure you’re thinking that at least a portion of those readers should be reading your book. And they will be if you’ve written a book in the genre they enjoy, if it is written well, and if they know about your book and can easily locate and purchase it.

Don’t think like a hopeful author who has no concept of business—who simply wants to write and be read with little effort. In order to sell books, you must take on a business stance and start thinking like the CEO of your book. In business, we consider our customers and our competition and make sure we provide a unique product or service that is needed/wanted by a large group of consumers. Then we spread the word, advertise, widely promote the product or service so the consumer is aware of it and becomes interested in making a purchase.

If you want to sell your book, you must promote it. If you want your book to sell widely and continuously, then you’ll need to keep on promoting it.

If you still don’t grasp the concept of book promotion, please do your summer reading with my book, “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” It’s at Amazon in print, Kindle format, and audio. http://www.amazon.com/Promote-Your-Book-Techniques-Enterprising/dp/1581158572/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435146447&sr=8-1&keywords=promote+your+book%2C+over

Klepto Cat Update

We’re still cranking out the mysteries here in the Matilija Press offices this summer. My 11th Klepto Cat Mystery, PAWSitively Sinister debuted this month. And the reviews are stunning! Check all 11 mysteries out: http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2

As a reminder, the cats are ordinary cats—some of them doing extraordinary things. Only the people talk. These are cozy mysteries or light mysteries with a little humor and romance woven through. Try one this summer, you’ll probably get hooked.

 

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How to Launch a Successful Book

Thursday, June 18th, 2015

I teach and preach about the importance of marketing for authors. Here are a couple of examples from my own recent experiences. As you know, I’m currently promoting my Klepto Cat Mysteries. I’m also still working with other authors on their projects—editing and consulting.

When a new book in the Klepto Cat Mystery series comes out, I immediately go into high marketing mode. My book suddenly becomes a product and I am the CEO of the company that has produced the product. (This is the attitude authors should take whether they self-publish, become independent publishers or go with a traditional publisher.)

Here is one result of my promotional efforts for the latest Klepto Cat Mystery, “PAWSitively Sinister.” It’s an incredibly positive 5-star review. http://www.mikishope.com/2015/06/book-review-pawsitively-sinister-klepto.html

Fran Silverman is the founder of the Book Promotion Newsletter and she’s a talk radio advocate. She made a connection for me with Lana at Talk Zone and we did a radio interview yesterday. Listen here: http://www.talkzone.com/episodes/199/DBI061615.html

This morning, I had a note from a librarian in New Hampshire who has ordered all 6 of the print books and wonders when the other 5 Klepto Cat Mysteries (now on Kindle) will be available in print.

Next week, I’m being interviewed for a TV show. This invitation came about when a colleague mentioned my new venture in mystery-writing to a producer.

Folks, none of this would have happened if I wasn’t actively spreading the word about my books with every publication. It isn’t luck or happenstance. It takes thought and planning and action. Thought, planning, action.

For more precise and detailed guidance with your writing or publishing project, be sure to read “Publish Your Book” and “Promote Your Book.” Soon to join these books is “Propose Your Book, How to Craft Persuasive Proposals for Nonfiction, Fiction, and Children’s Books.” I’ll be making an official announcement soon.

 

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Patricia Fry/Klepto Cat Mysteries–an Interview

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

Rags and I have been interviewed over at the Socrates Book Review site. Be sure to check it out because we’re talking about the latest Klepto Cat Mystery, PAWSitively Sinister. http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/spotlightinterview-pawsitively-sinister.html

The new book has two Amazon reviews so far and both are 5-stars. If you like cats who get involved in intricate mysteries with an other-worldly flavor, you’re going to enjoy this story like crazy! See (and order) all of the Klepto Cat Mysteries here: http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2

If you are an author and you wonder how we’ve managed to get so much attention so quickly, stay tuned to this blog site as we often talk about book promotion. Read former posts under the “Book Promotion” tag. And order your copy of “Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author.” It’s at Amazon for Kindle, in print and audio. The print version is also at www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

 

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Another NEW Klepto Cat Mystery!

Wednesday, June 10th, 2015

PAWSivitely Sinister is now available for download to your Kindle.

This is the 11th book in the Klepto Cat Mystery series and what a story it is: The Ivey family travel to San Francisco to help Arthur and his long-time friend, Suzette, clean out the mansion. News of the massive estate sale lures a variety of people, including former residents and long-ago visitors, each carrying stories of bizarre activities occurring there in the past.

When Rags and his pawtner Koko make some ghastly and ghostly discoveries, everyone goes into research mode and they’re stunned by what they uncover—evidence of people gone missing, a treasure-trove of loot, and spirits unable to rest. This is by far the most PAWSitively Sinister story in the series.

The cover is the most amazing, as well. It will soon be on notecards for you to purchase.

Order your Kindle copy of PAWSivitely Sinister ($2.99)  here: http://www.amazon.com/PAWSitively-Sinister-Klepto-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZB5WHNC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433943188&sr=8-1&keywords=pawsitively+sinister

See all 11 of the Klepto Cat Mysteries here: http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2

 

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Living the Lives of Others

Tuesday, June 9th, 2015

Before I started writing fiction, I had one life—mine. Now, I find myself living the lives of some of my characters, as well. I get into their heads and I imagine what their attitudes/stance/gestures would be in certain situations. I guess it’s a good thing I’m a Gemini who is accustomed to being a sort of dual personality, because when you have a lot of characters to keep track of, it can be confusing.

That’s why it’s so important to know your characters inside and out. Sure, you can jot down each character’s traits, characteristic, mannerisms, etc. on cards or a character log—and I do that. But it’s also important to feel them—to feel like they would feel so you are more apt to have them act or react in the way that’s appropriate for that particular character.

If you can get into your characters’ head, you probably won’t make the mistake of having the meek sister come across sounding like the wicked aunt or the brash neighbor speaking words that are more suited to the teenager.

When I edit fiction for other authors, often I catch some of the characters using the same terminology I see in the narration—the author has put too much of himself into the characters. It’s okay to ease yourself into your story, of course, but it can get confusing when a couple of the characters use the same terms and phrases as the author does in the narration, or when one character sounds too much like another.

It’s tough changing personalities with every bit of dialog. How does one define each character through description and dialog?

I’m sure each author has his/her own technique. I kind of jump in and out of each character as I write—and later as I edit. You could also use one editing session (I trust you will engage in many) to focus on one main character. Concentrate just on his or her dialog, etc. Then go through the manuscript again focusing on another key character. But if you can become that character as you portray them in various situations throughout your story, all the better.

As for an update from the pen of Patricia Fry and the Klepto Cat Mysteries…I expect the formatter to finish book 11 (PAWsitively Sinister) for Kindle this month. I just sent book 12 to the proofreader and I’ve been having fun developing the plot for book 13. Oh yes, and book 7, The Corral Cat Caper, should be in print later this month. Order your copies of the Klepto Cat Mysteries here: http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2.

 

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