Liz Jasper

1. What's your name/pen name, e-book title(s), website? When did/will

the

book drop?

I write as Eilis Flynn, and the books I have with Cerridwen Press so

far

are THE SLEEPER AWAKES AND FESTIVAL OF STARS, with another, INTRODUCING

SONIKA,

coming out sometime in the next year. My website is www.eilisflynn.com,

and

www.coffeeonsundays.info - both addresses currently go to the same

place (why

two addresses to the same place? Keep reading).

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

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.

There are so many things I want to do but not enough time! So far -

because the first book has been out for one month and the other one

will be released

on May 10 - I've started a website with another Cerridwen author I've

known

for years (we write different things, but we're going for

cross-promotion

between what she writes and what I do), using three different URLs all

heading to

the same place. We started that soon after we sold (two days apart,

both to

Cerridwen). I have an old computer, so I haven't been able to go to

chat rooms,

but we both belong to different chapters of Romance Writers of America,

different special interest groups, we've held contests, we've donated

books and done

books as giveaways, I've sent out ARCs to be reviewed, and we've also

bought

ads in Romantic Times (separately) and Realms of Fantasy (for me). I

have

attended a writers' conference out of state, and am scheduled to go to

others later

on in the year. I haven't made bookmarks yet or postcards, but I have

given

out notecards (the kind with envelopes) with the covers of my books,

with the

blurb for each book tucked inside. I will be dropping a line to my alma

mater,

and the gossip-central for my high school, and already use information

about

both books in my email signature. I will be sending a press release to

my local

community paper, as well as other specific special-interest papers.

There

must be more, but I haven't got to it yet. (I tried clutching

strangers' legs,

but the court order put a stop to that *g*.) I also went to the loops I

am a

member of and announced it, which is the most basic thing to do. And

encourage

everyone you know to do the same.

3. What, if any, promo activities do you consider absolutely essential

when a

book first drops? Why?

TELL everyone. I can understand if you want to keep your dayjob

separate

from your writing, but it doesn't hurt to mention it to the people you

work

closest with, whom you know best. Even if they're not big readers. The

irony

where I work is that I work at a publishing company where virtually no

one else

reads.

4. What's the best promotion you've ever done?

My husband. He's actually a marketing manager and promotions

specialist,

has kept an email address list of something like 200-plus names over

the years

of people we've met, he's met, I've met - and telling them the good

news, as

well as where they can find out more!

5. Have you done any promotion you've regretted? C'mon, let's hear the

horror

story.

Not so far, but I know there will be!

6. IYO, what's the biggest promo bang for the buck?

Before all this, I would have said "bookmarks," but I've seen

bundles of

them being thrown out because you reach a saturation point. Talking to

readers,

I say, is the biggest bang for the buck. Actually interacting with

them, I'd

say (with all my experience of having been a published author for a

month).

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?

Tried to blog more, talk to people (just as my machine won't let me,

actually!).

8. Virtual book signing. Is it possible (even for those who don't

write

paranormal)? Have you tried it?

I've given out excerpts and signed those. Virtual book signing?

After I

get a new machine!

9. What do you do to keep your web site interesting?

Blog, announce new books, other works. Another form of talking to

your

audience.

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?

I donâ€™t know yet â€“ Iâ€™ll let you know! But I am planning on

readings, a

newsletter already goes out to a slowly growing subscriber base about

the book

being launched (done with a partner who writes about her books when she

has

things out and I donâ€™t), and talking to everyone you run into.

Without scaring

them, of course.

11. How do you think promoting an e-book is different from promoting a

book? If your e-book has gone to print, are there promotional

activities you've

had to add? Or plan to add?

An e-book is more theoretical for people above a certain age,

compared

with a print book. More loop presence, more website presence â€“ and

talking to the

folk for whom the Internet is a given, not a modern-day contrivance.

12. How do you know your promotion efforts are doing any good?

I donâ€™t know yet! But I do get notes from people whoâ€™ve seen

notices

about it, so they must be working, little by little.

13. Do you have any advice for new e-book authors? Anything you wish

someone

had told you?

Have a promotional budget and a plan. Be realistic - it's going to

cost

you something. And use it all.

1.        What's your name/pen name, e-book title(s), website? When did/will the book drop?
Susan Phelan www.susanphelan.com
The Cure (Book One of The Blood Tapestry)
Paranormal (vampire) contemporary full-length novel
Available in print and e-book since May 2006.
Crimson Hours
Collection of contemporary paranormal (vampire) short stories
Available in e-book.
Just released February 2007.
Blood Bytes
Paranormal (vampire) futuristic murder mystery
Available in e-book August 2007
Fall From Grace (Book Two of The Blood Tapestry)
Paranormal (vampire) contemporary full-length novel
Available in e-book in 2008.

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.
For starters, I had my own author website www.susanphelan.com up and running by the release date of my first book The Cure. For
both The Cure and Crimson Hours, I granted a number of interviews pertaining to the book and did up official press releases, sending
out word of The Cure and Crimson Hours’ releases to major book stores, newspapers – local and across North America - and review
sites. I then joined both the EC and CP author/reader chat rooms and began running “Coming Soon!” postings. Once the books
dropped, I ran contests, did free giveaways, and posted incoming reviews on my site. I’ve also done some paid advertisements with
romance readers newsletters and print.

3.        What, if any, promo activities do you consider absolutely essential when a book first drops? Why?
I think getting word out on the chat sites is imperative because it is where a very large percentage of your fan base goes to hear word of
new releases.

4.        What's the best promotion you've ever done?
I did one for Crimson Hours called the Immortalize Yourself contest. This was different in that it was for people who already HAD the
book so a free giveaway was NOT the prize. In essence, I invited readers of Crimson Hours to “immortalize” themselves by sending in
their picks for favourite story, character and scene in the collection of short stories where their votes would be posted on my website. At
the end of the month-long promotion, I picked a winner from each category who made the best argument for their choice and further
awarded them a box of Purdy’s Chocolates.

5.        Have you done any promotion you’ve regretted? C’mon, let’s hear the horror story.
Not yet – so far, I’ve had great response and have received very positive feedback on my work.

6.        IYO, what’s the biggest promo bang for the buck?
I think bookmarks are a given and if you can swing it, a desk calendar, mousepad or other necessary office item with your book cover
on it is a smart idea.

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?
Again, chat with readers, approach websites about doing interviews and, if they are not already on our list, getting reviews.

8.        Virtual book signing. Is it possible (even for those who don’t write paranormal)? Have you tried it?

9.        What do you do to keep your web site interesting?
I update it constantly with newsworthy and interesting information but it never ends. To me, it’s kind of like decorating a house… once
you start, you just see other places and ways to expand and improve.

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?
I generally cite easy accessibility as the best reason. Books can be clunky, torn, tattered and lost but if you’re like most of the
population, you’re rarely without your laptop hence have a good read is at your fingertips at all times!

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?
Stating the obvious, booksigning tours are generally reserved for a hold-in-your-hands book. I’d love to plan a signing once the second
book in The Blood Tapestry trilogy comes out next year.

12.        How do you know your promotion efforts are doing any good?
I can assume my good sales and positive feedback from readers is happening, in part, to the marketing I’ve done.

13.        Do you have any advice for new e-book authors? Anything you wish someone had told you?

Come what may, always enjoy the process of writing. Sometimes people get too hung up on the marketing, sales or other aspects of
the business. While important, it all starts with those words on a page and if you can’t do (and get off on) that… you won’t have to worry
about the rest of it.