tidwell « Robin Writes

First, let me apologize for the lack of a post yesterday – I was exhausted after getting up before 4:00 a.m. and never quite recovered until this morning. Threw off my whole day!

On to publicity:

Yes, I shamelessly started the ball rolling by asking if anyone would like to interview me. I just posted smack dab on Facebook and it took off from there. Sometimes you have to be direct – it’s like asking for sale, or upsizing an order, or getting volunteers for a project. Ask.

Once someone responds, or offers, be polite and be timely. Consider your answers to the questions and by all means, spell and punctuate correctly! Then, when the interview is posted, post that baby all over the Internet! You’re not only spreading the word about your book, but you’re helping out the one who took time to write up that interview.

With one interview – or sometimes feature, or guest blog post – comes others. It spreads, it really does, especially if you’re fortunate to have writer friends. Or friends in the press, don’t forget them! Send press releases, invite them to your launch party.

Don’t discount (ha) the idea of giveaways. You can do this on Goodreads, of course, or privately. Send a copy – paperback or Ebook – to reviewers and again, ASK for the review. More reviews = better rankings = better sales. And, too, you want people talking about your book!

This past week I was offered a publishing contract. I turned it down and made the decision to publish REDUCED myself. The E-book will be out within the next couple of weeks, and the print version available soon after that. In the meantime, here is the book blurb for REDUCED:

A devastating biological agent is about to be released, to be tested in remote areas. Rumor has it, though, that there is more to this than meets the eye. One group makes plans to hide out, and survive, in case that rumor proves to be truth. Meeting at an abandoned summer camp near St. Louis, Missouri, a dozen old friends gather after the alarm is raised.

Life becomes more precious, more tenuous, as time passes. Government controls tighten, people are herded into the city…or killed. Towns are obliterated. And soon, the enemy agenda becomes obvious.

Abby, like the rest, has special skills – each member of the group was chosen not only because of past ties, but also for their unique training and abilities. She will come face-to-face with death, bear the responsibility for a young girl, and endure the severing of childhood relationships in the most terrible way imaginable.

From mere concealment to reconnaissance to aiding a rebellion, where will it end? Will the entire region be decimated, and who will be left alive to know?