Liz Jasper

1.        What's your name/pen name, e-book title(s), website? When did/will the book drop?
Cindy Spencer Pape: my website is www.cindyspencerpape.com
and my Cerridwen Press book is Dragon in the System, coming June 21, 2007.
I also have an EC Quickie coming out in October.

2.        What kinds of promotions have you done to get the word out about your ebook? If there’s some you plan
on doing, list those too, but identify them as “to do’s.” e.g. maintain a website, join chat rooms, join sites
dedicated to authors, join writers groups, interview or be interviewed, hold contests, donate books, send out
arcs, teach writing classes, buy ads, make and send out bookmarks or postcards, hand out business cards,
notify your alma maters, notify your local paper, blog, put it in your email signature, walk around holding a
sign, clutching strangers’ legs as they pass by on the street, etc.
Chats just about everywhere, shameless plugging at my local RWA chapters, hyping them on the publisher’s
loops, web site, MySpace, business cards, magnets, interviews, I had a month long ad at The Romance
Studio …probably more that I’ve forgotten.

3.        What, if any, promo activities do you consider absolutely essential when a book first drops? Why?
I think for an e-book, establishing a web presence is crucial. That means getting as much exposure as
possible. Chats, loop hits, cheering on other authors at chats & review sites. A Web site is VITAL.

4.        What's the best promotion you've ever done?
Probably MySpace or my web site

5.        Have you done any promotion you’ve regretted? C’mon, let’s hear the horror story.
Had a huge chat scheduled—all day with just me and one other author. But the moderator wasn’t paying
attention and almost no traffic happened.

6.        IYO, what’s the biggest promo bang for the buck?
A good signature line on your email—free and mine has gained me a good bit of recognition!

7.        When Raelene Gorlinsky told me I'd have to "develop an online presence,” I went straight to the kitchen,
made a double batch of chocolate chip cookies, and ate them. What have you done to get your name out on
the web?
See above  (Just cut and paste #’s 2 & 3)

8.        Virtual book signing. Is it possible (even for those who don’t write paranormal)? Have you tried it?
No clue—and no.

9.        What do you do to keep your web site interesting?
Mine is very whimsical, and I get bored easily so I’m always changing it. Cedric, my dragon icon
pops up in various places, and so does the photo of my gargoyle Spot.

10.        You've published your e-book – yay! Now, how do you convince Aunt Martha to buy it, even though
she's never read an e-book before? We can all cite the e-book advantages listed on the CP web site, but
what do you tell people? Not just Aunt Martha -- we all know she's going to buy it anyway-- but, say, your
hairdresser, who can't help but be interested after you try out your blurb on her?
Frankly, I send them to my cowboy books from another house which are in print. Much more Aunt Martha’s
style. My paranormals, which are a lot hotter, I do offer to download and burn to CD for people. (I buy the copy
from the website and make them give me the cash for it, of course.) I’ve sold a few signed cd’s—not many. I’
m not sure EC/CP allows this, but my other houses have. But a lot of the audience for steamy paranormals
are up to coping with ebooks.

11.        How do you think promoting an e-book is different from a promoting a print book? If your e-book has
gone to print, are there promotional activities you've had to add? Or plan to add?
Physical signings are a blast. And I have a used bookstore that carries my print copies locally.

12.        How do you know your promotion efforts are doing any good?
Ummm---you sell books?

13.        Do you have any advice for new e-book authors? Anything you wish someone had told you?
It’s not an easy road, but hey, at least people are buying and reading your books!

!. I write under my own name, Jean Hart Stewart. First book, Druid’s Daughter came out in April. It’s
book I of a series, Garland of Druids, and there are three other books scheduled. Book II, My
Darling Druid, is scheduled for release in June. Book III, Song of a Druid Princess, for September,
and book IV, Kiss of a Druid Bard, for December, I’m almost done with book V, Druid Redeemed. My
website if www.jeanhartstewart.com
2. Have done chats and live talks to a library, joined writer’s groups, kept website up to date complete with
excerpts, done ads and business cards, added list of books to e-mail addy and have just ordered post-its with
a subliminal message. Have added link words to Google. Don’t know how this last will work, so don’t ask!
3. Keep up with other writers. Their support is necessary.
Can’t answer 4 and 5 and 6. I’m a newbie, remember.
7. Links to google search.
8,9, and 10 are very difficult. Some people have their minds completely shut to e-books. Others want to know
all about them. The older generation is pretty resistant in general, but I try to get them to go to my website
and read the excerpts there.
11, Very different in that some haven’t ever heard of e-books. Generally it can lead to a fun discussion.
12. I don’t know, too early
13, I think a google link is good. I get a surprising number of hits on my website that way. My son introduced
the concept, or I’d never have thought of it. My google words are Druid romance novels.

!. I write under my own name, Jean Hart Stewart. First book, Druid’s Daughter came out in April. It’s book I of a series, Garland of
Druids, and there are three other books scheduled. Book II, My Darling Druid, is scheduled for release in June. Book III, Song of a
Druid Princess, for September, and book IV, Kiss of a Druid Bard, for December, I’m almost done with book V, Druid Redeemed. My
website is www.jeanhartstewart.com.
2. Have done chats and live talks to a library, joined writer’s groups, kept website up to date complete with excerpts, done ads and
business cards, added list of books to e-mail addy and have just ordered post-its with a subliminal message. Have added link words to
Google. Don’t know how this last will work, so don’t ask!
3. Keep up with other writers. Their support is necessary.
Can’t answer 4 and 5 and 6. I’m a newbie, remember.
7. Links to google search.
8,9, and 10 are very difficult. Some people have their minds completely shut to e-books. Others want to know all about them. The older
generation is pretty resistant in general, but I try to get them to go to my website and read the excerpts there.
11, Very different in that some haven’t ever heard of e-books. Generally it can lead to a fun discussion.
12. I don’t know, too early
13, I think a google link is good. I get a surprising number of hits on my website that way. My son introduced the concept, or I’d never have
thought of it. My google words are Druid romance novels.

1.        Lise Fuller. I've got three books out -- On Danger's Edge (ebook-11/05, print 03/07); Cutting Loose (ebook-2/06, print 04/07)
and Intimate Deceptions (ebook-11/06). Both On Danger's Edge and Cutting Loose are available at Borders, Amazon and other
brick and mortar bookstores. Just ask for them!

2.        Maintain a website as well as two blogs and a MySpace account. I've also joined in a few other blogs and other online networks
like MySpace.Additionally, I try to make myself available on several Yahoo loops, which can be helpful particularly if you're trying to
reach others overseas.However, you can spend too much time online by accident so I try to limit myself and set objectives on what I
want to achieve on any given day. I've done several chats and actually hired someone to help me with promotion; however, this does
take funds and before you do get someone, make sure you know what you're getting in advance.I've done "mom" days on my
publisher's hosted readesr loops and I've done a few signing. I've sent out some promo books to readers groups (which I've tried to
identify), done some bookmarks--which these are really good for getting a conversation going with a reader at a signing or something.
I've also put ads in RT, the brochure for the EPICON conference and in Romance Sells--a book from RWA that goes out to booksellers
etc. I've donated ARCs and have run contests as well. Business cards I keep in my wallet--you never know when they come in handy,
and I've passed them out at coffee shops, etc. I've made good friends with a local bookseller who's given me great advise on several
things. I use a the signature line in my email and have a tag line. I intend to use a list I purchased from Pat Rouse at
Rousepat@aol.com. She compiles a list of Romance friendly bookstore for a small fee you can get this from her. There's also the
Bookstores that Cares on the Romantic Times site. It's a program for authors where they send out promo info to various booksellers. I
haven't used this yet but hear it's pretty good. And I try to post announcements on awards, book releases and all at MySpace. I think
that helps as well.Bascially, I"ll try anything for promo at least once.

3.        It depends on whether its ebook or print. For print, you really need to send stuff to booksellers. And for a newbies author, quite
honestly, I think you MUST decide who you are targeting. For example, I write gritty romantic action/adventure with military heroes. My
scenes are graphic. I'm not going to target a very conservative church group for this! No, but I will hit areas where there are military
wives much harder since I think they would like these books. As a new author, you have to decided where your best bang for your
much limited buck is going to be and go for it. I also believe in being creative. For example, if you have a book whose heroine is a
psychologist, then you might want to hit up some local women's psychologist org. Or if the heroine is a business woman--there's
plenty of business women orgs out there. See what I mean? Try to match up something in your books with a real-life org. Kind of like
what Harlequin did with NASCAR.

4.        It is really hard to tell. For ebooks, I think getting on chats and online as much as you can is helpful. For print, contacting local
orgs, like bookstores, libraries, etc. My publicist wants me to do a lecture at a college talking about how a spouse deals with
deployments. THis is also a good way to get exposure. And of course, there's the newspapers.Oh, and getting any airtime is
awesome so go for it.

5.        The biggest thing I regreted is spending much more on my website that I should have. I think there were better avenues but I
didn't know them at the time and didn't persue them. Watch where your dollars are going for sure. Make sure they count.

6.        I really believe this is different for each author and each book--plus, technology is changing the landscape and I think we all
need to be aware of this. Ebooks are still a small part of the market, but you see the big hitters getting in the business now so that's
something for sure you should keep an eye on. Also, podcasts--I haven't tried this yet but intend to, as well as video clips/book trailers.
Educate yourself on these things since I think these are the way of the future. Plus, read as much as you can on marketing. Any piece
of info can help.

Lise Fuller
7.        Well, I mentioned most of this above. But again I caution--look at where your dollars are going. If you have to limit the number of
banners or whatever you buy on a site, look at the costs--but also look at their distribution. A site with 2000 members will probably give
you better exposure for a little more money than one with a few hundred. And this is a constant effort. Something you need to keep up.
Schedule promo in your days. I know one author that started Promotion Mondays and she would only work on promo on a Monday. I
believe every author needs to work this into their schedule. And do what they feel is comfortable for them. For example, if you're not
good online, then why host a day? Do something else.

8.        Nope, but I would guess it's possible. I guess I just don't want to tempt fate with stolen identities etc since you'd have to have the
facilities to get your signature on the computer--hmmm, unless you use a fax maybe.

9.        I would like to get my blog right on my website and I think that's the most important things -- as well as news about you I'm
looking at starting a newsletter as well.

10.        Good question. I haven't try but I guess you could print out the pages that CP puts out on "WHy an ebook?" It's pretty good--then
pass it around.

11.        See above.

12.        It's a difficult thing to do. When I was in business, I had to approach a Marketing Director and tell him to cut his advertising
budget. Now, this guy was a real expert--trust me. He asked me--"What do I cut? We have a very successful marketing campaign--but I
can't tell you what of our efforts works the best." I think that about says it all. However, now a days you can track hits to your website. I'd
recommend looking at these with every marketing effort you do.