30 Days of Promo Goodness Winners....

Today I'm pleased to announce the winners of the 30 Days of Promo Goodness giveaways hosted by Abbey MacInnis, Amie Louellen, Andrea Boeshaar, and Jannine Corti Peska! Winners were chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org....


The winner of Abbey MacInnis's giveaway for a free gift from All Romance eBooks is....

COMMENTER #1: Julie

Congratulations, Julie! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to receive your prize from Abbey!


The winner of Andrea Boeshaar's book giveaway is....

COMMENTER #4: Ilona

Congratulations, Ilona! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to receive your book from Andrea!


The winner of Amie Louellen's giveaway for an ebook editioin of Brodie's Bride is...

COMMENTER #4: TinaBuriedUnderBooks

Congratulations, Tina! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to receive you book from Amie!


And finally, the winner of Jannine Corti Peska's giveaway for a copy of her upcoming release, The Lily and the Falcon is...

COMMENTER # 7: marybelle

Congratualations, marybelle! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to receive your book from Jannine!


I would like to thank everyone who participated in this month's 30 Day of Promo Goodness celebration and everyone who made it a success! A special shout-out to my guest authors...y'all are awesome and I'm grateful for your time and energy!

LOVE'S SWEET WAGER by Jannine Corti Peska + Giveaway

Today we close our 30 Days of Promo Goodness celebration with a closer look into Love's Sweet Wager by Jannine Corti Peska! Love's Sweet Wager is now available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Watch the book video here....

[See giveaway details at the bottom of this post.]


Her gambler father murdered, Rachel Garrett joins a wagon train west to be with her aunt and the fiancé she's never met. Her dream is to forget the life she led performing on stage to earn the money her father gambled away and settle down in one place. But along the trail, she is helplessly drawn to a priest--forbidden fruit--and her hopes are shattered.

Professional gambler Reno Hunter is wanted for the murder of James Garrett. His disguise as a priest on a wagon train is foolproof, until he discovers the woman the old gambler wagered in that fatal card game and Rachel Garrett are one and the same. Can he protect his identity and his heart, or will he surrender to his desire for Rachel and risk being apprehended by the law?


Excerpt from Love's Sweet Wager:

In this scene near the river, Rachel discovers that Father Caldwell is really Reno Hunter, the man accused of killing her father.

Rachel’s open palm cracked across his face, snapping his head to the side. His ear rang but his reflexes were quick and he caught both her wrists, experience warning him that a woman didn’t stop at one slap. She struggled, fighting with all her strength. When he began to lose his grip, he clamped his fingers tighter around her small bones, forcing her arms behind her back.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” Reno demanded an answer.

Tears glistened in her eyes, but rage contorted her mouth. “Reno Hunter is supposed to be locked up in St. Jo.”

“The sheriff’s deputy was persuaded to release me.”

“I don’t believe you. You broke out with the help of your brothers.”

“They helped me escape because they know my freedom is the only way I can prove I didn’t kill James Garrett.” He released her and she stumbled back against the tree. He noticed the sudden change in her eyes, and he turned his anger on himself for making her suffer. “You’re afraid of me now, aren’t you? Just a few minutes ago you offered to confess your terrible sins to me. Now you’re looking at me as if I’m a heathen.”

Reno’s cynical smile caused her to shudder.

Compassion fled when he thought about how she deceived him with her chore girl pretense. His own disguise flirted with his mind. He wasn’t happy that he deceived her as well, but she wasn’t in possession of a marker claiming to own another human being.

“I never thought I’d find Garrett’s daughter on a wagon train.”

“If you hadn’t killed my father, I would have traveled more comfortably by stage.” Bitterness seeped into her accusation.

“I didn’t kill him.”

“It was your gun, wasn’t it?” Her gaze dropped to the gleaming weapon visible beneath his parted frock coat.

“It wasn’t me who shot him,” he insisted, wishing she’d believe him. “You can rest assured I will find the man who killed Garrett and left me to take the blame.” He purposely softened the severity in his stance and his voice. “Can I trust you not to interfere?”

“I should turn you in to Mr. Kane.” Her strident threat plucked a raw nerve.

“You won’t because you know damn well I didn’t kill your father. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to disguise myself.” He pointed out his uncomfortable clothing. “I would have run off and hid until the murder of your two-bit gambler father is dust in the wind.”

“How dare you speak of my father—”

“It’s the truth,” Reno barked, startling her into silence. Her bottom lip quivered. “Oh, for Christ’s sake. Don’t start bawling.”

By commenting to today or yesterday posts by Jannine Corti Peska, you will be entered to win a copy of her upcoming release, The Lily and the Falcon, Book I of her Italian medieval series. The winner will be chosen randomly via the True Random Number Generator at Random.org. Check back to see if you have won. The winner will be announced tomorrow here at The Cozy Page. [Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.]

Jannine Corti Peska: Promoting the Ethnic Novel Without Breaking the Bank + Giveaway

30 Days of Promo Goodness is coming to an end, but first I have the privelige of hosting author Jannine Corti Peska, author of Love's Sweet Wager!

Jannine was born in New York but raised in Southern California. Her parents' first language was Italian, and Jannine was raised in an Old World environment. She began writing romance novels when her three daughters were young and she was a stay-at-home mom. In-between writing and caring for her family, she tutored Italian, Spanish, German, and English as a Second Language at a local college. Although she loves placing her stories in medieval Italy, she has also written romantic tales of the cowboy in the American West. To find out more about Jannine, her website offers a host of information: http://www.jcortipetska.com/! [See giveaway details at the bottom of this post.]

Take it away, Jannine....

Promoting a book is tough enough, but what happens when the book takes place in an unfamiliar setting like medieval Italy with an Italian hero and heroine? These are my favorite books to research and write. However, when it came time to promote, I knew I had to come up with something different, something to associate my books with Italy and Italians in a positive and attractive way. Of course, extolling the romantic nature of Italy is a good place to start.

Look for magazines and other publications with an audience for your ethnic novel: I belong to several Italian-American organizations both local and nationwide. Advertising in their newsletters, newspapers and magazines was my first thought…until I discovered how many of these organizations there really are! Taking out ads is costly, so I did the next best thing—I wrote articles for various publications associated with these groups. At the end of each article, I mentioned my books and website. With over 25 million Italians and Italian-Americans in the U.S., I was sure to capture a boat-load of attention. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Scoping out this type of promo is extremely time-consuming, I discovered. So I began on a local level and plan to span out nationwide to as many venues as I can without taking away from my writing time.

Because my books are medieval, I submitted several articles about medieval Italy (the subjects were researched and became part of my stories) to Renaissance Magazine who accepted them for publication. They are a national magazine and possibly have subscribers worldwide. This type of promo is genre specific instead of based in the ethnic side of my books. But you can’t beat free publicity, and you get paid upon acceptance.

Online resources: Reaching readers online is a sure thing. But you have to be aggressive though not to the point of annoying. Get your name out in cyberland and keep it there. If you have a blog, make it interesting. Give your audience more than a rundown of what you do when you’re not writing. Line up exciting guests, offer exciting subjects for the reader. And keep it fairly short. Personally, if it looks to be a super long read, I don’t bother with it. I simply don’t have the time.

Contact groups who might be interested in your book’s theme or setting. I’ve contacted many online blogs geared toward Italian-Americans. I promote my books on a blog that comes from Italy. The owners translate my English submission into Italian (my Italian is a bit rusty), and their fans’ Italian comments into English to help me respond. I’ve found that many readers belonging to these blogs read English, so you don’t have to worry about your book not being in their language. It would be nice if your book was translated, but in all likelihood, it’s not going to happen.

Look for reader/writer loops. They reach a worldwide audience. I’ve received fan letters from countries I didn’t know allowed their women to read romances! The possibilities for promoting online are endless. It’s just a matter of connecting with both readers and writers who will become acquainted with you from your presence. Be sure to comment on other authors’ promo. This, too, puts your name in from of readers. Remember, don’t overlook loops only for writers. They’re readers, too.

I joined an obscene number of these loops. (I wouldn’t advise this unless you have 72 hours in your day for reading thousands of emails.) Eventually, I pared the list down to manageable. Set up guest spots on other authors’ blogs. Offer a contest with the winner receiving a copy of your latest book. You can ask a question that will take readers to your website to find the answer. Now they’ll get to learn more about you and your other books.

Many writers set up blog tours which are considered a virtual book tour. You’ll stop by various blogs to talk to readers about your books—usually new releases—instead of stopping in a brick and mortar bookstore for a booksigning. You can figure out where you’ll get the most exposure.

Send your book out to reviewers. And be sure to thank them (on their site, if possible, where everyone can see it) after your book is reviewed, whether the review is good or bad. Always be courteous. After all, they didn’t have to take the time to read your work.

If you must pay for online ads with review sites or any others that offer advertising, wait for a special. Many occasionally run a 2 for 1 special or a discounted rate if you pay for 3 months or more in advance.

Leaving a Paper Trail: I love bookmarks and postcards printed with my book covers and a few words to entice the reader. They’re accepted at conferences, although I’ve noticed a few who request no paper promotions. That’s great. No extra garbage in the landfills. However, readers still love bookmarks, postcards, even little booklets with a full chapter from your book. At the Romantic Times conference this past April, there were so many clever ideas attached to bookmarks. Mini handcuffs (no lie!), beads and feathers for American Indian-themed books, tiny flip-flops for a summer-themed contemporary. Get creative.

There are so many reasonable online resources to purchase paper promo. Inquire on your loops about the companies fellow authors use. Personally, I love Overnight Prints. Their work is exceptional, and often they run specials. Vista Prints is great for getting free business cards (250) just for the cost of shipping. You can also get 100 free postcards if you’re savvy in uploading your own cover. I’m not, lol.

Keep a sharp eye on your loops for announcements asking for promo items to include in goody bags for conferences with romance readers/writers in mind. Most paper promo is easy to package and ship off for little cost. I carry a handful of bookmarks and postcards in my purse and whip one out for anyone who reads romances. You can widen this by leaving your bookmarks in your ob/gyn’s or dentist’s offices, and beauty shops, with permission, of course. One of my books with an Italian and U.S. setting had an Italian National Soccer player hero. I spent a lot of time at league soccer games passing out bookmarks to moms (and anyone else who was interested).

Do More To Make Your Book Stand Out: One thing I did to promo my Italian medievals is a huge favorite at conferences. I buy little two-bite biscotti in bulk, place them in small plastic bags (any craft store will have them; I buy mine at Michael’s with their own 40% off coupon) then seal and staple my business card or bookmark to them. Not only will a person enjoy the Italian cookie, but she’ll also associate it with my book and its unique setting. And it is relatively inexpensive.

I’ve sat at Italian Festas around So. California. I plan to go to Sons of Italy lodges to talk up my books. Little Italy in San Diego is a definite place for me to go. I’ve also sat at booksignings put on by libraries. Those usually are free publicity.

No matter if you write books set in China, India, Russia—any location that is not the norm—there will always be something unique to the country and your book that will make a great marketing tool. Open your mind and your imagination. You’d be surprised by all the ways you can promote the work you’ve created and keep spending at a minimum.

Thank you for the wonderful article, Jannine! Readers, be sure to read more about Jannine and her books at her website and tune in tomorrow for a glimpse into her latest release, Love's Sweet Wager....

By commenting to either today or tomorrow's posts by Jannine Corti Peska, you will be entered to win a copy of her upcoming release, The Lily and the Falcon, Book I of her Italian medieval series. The winner will be chosen randomly via the True Random Number Generator at Random.org. Check back to see if you have won. The winner will be announced on Wednesday; August 31 here at The Cozy Page. [Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.]

Out and About....

Just a quick update on my guest blogging activities this month.... Today I'm hosted by author Alison Chambers and talking fascinating research topics from my backlist and upcoming books!

Last week, I was thrilled to be hosted by Savvy Authors, who featured my article "Guest Blogging Do's and Don'ts" on their Savvy Authors Den Blog! Read it here....

Though we have only one day left in the 30 Days of Promo Goodness fesitivities, the party isn't over yet! Enjoy today's blog from Jannine Corti Peska. For those waiting to see if you won a prize from last week's guest authors, check back on August 31st for winner announcements!

BRODIE'S BRIDE by Amie Louellen + Giveaway

Author Amie Louellen is back today with an excerpt from her latest romance, Brodie's Bride, now available from The Wild Rose Press. [Remember, by commenting to yesterday or today's post you'll be entered to win an ebook edition of Brodie's Bride! See the bottom of yesterday's post for more contest details....]


Waking up next to a beautiful golden-haired stranger isn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to Brodie Harper, but staying in a fake marriage in order to gain a new construction contract could very well be.

Savanna Morgan just wanted a way out of an engagement to a man she didn’t love. Marrying Brodie seemed liked the perfect answer at the time. Less perfect the next morning when she finds herself disowned by her father and flat broke. Now she must make it through the weekend. Monday they can get it all annulled and forget it ever happened.

The real problem may be keeping their hands off each other until then.


Excerpt from Brodie's Bride:

“On Monday, after our appointment, you’re leaving.”

“I have to go home,” she said quietly, turning away from him to stare into the postage-stamp sized back yard.

“But we have an agreement for the weekend. I think we should have some ground rules.”

“Good idea.” Savanna clapped her hands, then rubbed them together as if she were ready to get down to business. “Like what?”

“We only have two working bedrooms here,” Brodie said. “Mine and Nan’s. Do you mind sharing a room with me?”

Her pupils dilated, and he knew she was thinking about the scarlet room they had shared last night.

“My room has two beds,” he continued. “We can be like Lucy and Ricky.”

She smiled. “If it was good enough for the Ricardos, I’m sure I can handle it for a few days.”

“We may not so lucky at the Sullivan’s.”

Sobering, she nodded. “If there’s only one bed there, we can just take turns sleeping in it.”

“Fair enough.” Brodie said. “Now, as a married couple—especially at the ranch—we’ll be expected to act like a married couple.”

“Okay. But only around others. When we’re alone, we can act like we’re not married.”

“Correct. But sometimes…” He took a step closer to where she leaned against the porch railing. “Sometimes married people hold hands.”

He reached out and took her fingers into his own. Her skin was velvet soft and smelled so sweet, like the mountains after a rain.

“I—I don’t have a problem with that.”

“Sometimes married couples put their arms around each other.” He placed her hands behind his neck, then slid his arms around her waist.

“That’s okay,” she whispered. He watched as she swallowed hard.

“And sometimes married people kiss. Just a peck here and a peck there. Are you going to have a problem with that?”

“Huh-uh.” She shook her head.

“Maybe we should practice,” he rasped, bending his head close to hers.

“Maybe,” she repeated before he brushed his lips across hers once, then twice.

His intent had been the small, nearly chaste kiss of old married couple, but once he got close to Savanna, once he could smell her sweetness and taste her heady essence, he couldn’t stop himself.

He pulled her close to him, gathering handfuls of her tank top, securing her to him. Over and over he slanted his mouth across hers. Over and over, deeper and deeper, until her whimper brought him back.

He released her, his breath rasping in and out of his lungs in hard painful gasps.

She grasped the edge of the porch railing, looking as disturbed as he felt.

With demonstrations like that, they may not ever convince Blair and Nan their marriage was an accidental twist of fate, but they would surely convince Red Sullivan their passion was for real.

Brodie ran his fingers through his hair, just one more gesture to keep from reaching for Savanna again.

“There,” he managed to croak. “That wasn’t so bad, now was it?”

Amie Louellen: Where's the Book? + Giveaway

Today we're joined by author Amie Louellen, author of Brodie's Bride. [See the bottom of this post for giveaway details....]

Amie loves nothing more than a good book. Except for her family…and maybe homemade tacos…and shoes. But reading and writing are definitely high on the list. When she's not creating quirky characters and happy endings she enjoys going to little league baseball games and boy scout meetings. Born and bred in Mississippi, Amie is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, a spoiled cat, and one very hyper beagle.

Take it away, Amie....


What is it they say? There’s no such thing as bad publicity. Which is to suggest that as long as your name is out there, it’s good. Even if it’s not.

That may work for celebrities, but I can’t say the same thing for authors. Mainly because it’s our books that are in the spotlight and not necessarily us as people. No one cares if I take my little boy to school without combing my hair first, but everyone knows when I’ve had a bad review at Amazon.com. Not that there is one. There’s not, right…?

Writers need good press and as much as they can get. Especially in this digital world, where the publishing industry isn’t entirely centered around the big New York houses, and small presses and Indie publishers are helping make a name for a whole lot of new authors.

I’m in this bunch. After years of trying to fit into the “New York mold” of what a romance should be. I submitted my work to the Wild Rose Press. And I was accepted!!! Whoot-woot!

I believe TWRP to be one of the best to work for. They have been nothing but good to me, but I have no delusions about their size. They came right out front and told me that I’d have to do a lot of promo myself. That’s the nature of small houses. I don’t mind. I like all that I’m doing to get my name to further my career—blogs, guests blogs, book reviews, book tours—mine and those for other authors. I feel like I truly have a hand in my success.

But let’s face it, I don’t have a house like Harlequin behind me. An instantly recognizable name, that implies, “Hey, we published this. You liked the last one, you’re going to like this one too.” So I am constantly trying to think of ways to get my book ‘out there’.

I cannot tell you how excited I was when I got my cover. The most beautiful cover in the whole world, and it was on my book. All that luxurious red satin was PERFECT for my story. And I wanted EVERYONE to see it. And they did. I’m pretty certain. Why? Because I pasted it on every flat surface I could find. On my fan page on FaceBook. On my personal page of FaceBook. On my website. On my blog site. On anyone else’s blog site that I could blackmail, er… persuade to let me visit, etc, etc. I flooded the internet.

Sounds like a good plan, right? Except I got my cover in February. And Brodie’s Bride wasn’t available until June—the last of June. Do the math—that’s five months of heavy hitting promo.

And of course I can’t just post my cover and run. So I added the official blurb and the official excerpt. And my book wasn’t even out yet.

Unfortunately, by the time Brodie’s Bride actually hit the cyber-shelves, I think everyone in the free world had already seen the cover. They had read the blurb, they had read the excerpt. I had become white noise. But it seemed like a good idea at the time. Not so much, I’m thinking now. I got everyone excited about my book—and I think I did a great job with that part of it. It’s just they had no where to take their excitement for MONTHS. And by the time readers could actually get my book, their excitement had fizzled.

But never fear I have new book under contract. We’re still in edits. But when I get the cover and the release date for this story, I’m going to do things a little differently. I’m going to proceed a little slower, maximize the excitement I generate through all my fabulous promos, and use it to my advantage. In the long run, I think it will be better for sales and also keep my readers from being frustrated.

This second time around, I don’t want my readers asking, “Where’s the book?”

Thank you, Amie! Readers, Amie is giving away an ebook edition of Brodie's Bride. By commenting to either today or tomorrow's post before midnight EST tomorrow (August 28), you'll be entered to win. Check back the following day for the winner announcement to see if you have won.

UNDAUNTED FAITH by Andrea Boeshaar

30 Days of Promo Goodness continues today with author Andrea Boeshaar! Andrea's latest release, Undaunted Faith, is available now from Amazon....


The McCabe brothers have their hands full. Trouble on the range and trouble in town. But they never expected their sweet schoolteacher, Bethany Stafford, to join in the mix of woe. When her reputation is unfairly tarnished, Pastor Luke McCabe is quick to propose marriage. But Bethany wants better than just a marriage of necessity to save her good name. Could Luke ever come to love a plain “little field mouse” like her?

Dr. Annetta Cavanaugh has her own questions about men and their intentions. While Pastor Jake McCabe seems sincere, she still has her doubts about him. But after he accompanies her on a medical call, she sees a whole new side of him and can't help but admit her attraction to the handsome pastor.

However, there’s evil brewing in town—a lawlessness that even the sheriff cannot tamp down. Finally, it comes face-to-face with both Luke and Jake and it threatens the lives of the women they love. Are the McCabe brothers ready for the fight of their lives?


Excerpt from Undaunted Faith:

The Arizona Territory, 1867

A knock sounded once. Then again, more insistent this time.

“Coming.” Bethany set down the quill and capped the inkwell. Closing her journal, she stood from where she’d been sitting at the desk Jake had crafted for her use. Then, before she could open the door, Trudy poked her round, cherubic face into Bethany’s bedroom.

“Mama says breakfast is ready.”

“Thank you, Trudy. I’ll be down shortly.”

A grin curved the flaxen-haired girl’s pink mouth.

“Reverend Luke and Reverend Jake are already here. Sheriff Montaño is too.”

Bethany wasn’t at all taken aback by the familiar way in which Trudy referred to both Luke and Jake. Because the men shared the same surname, the townspeople called them by their first names.

“I’ll be down shortly.” Walking to the looking glass, Bethany brushed out her long brown hair. It had dried from her earlier bath in the river.

Thirteen-year-old Trudy stepped farther into the room and closed the door behind her. “I’ll bet we’ll hear some lively conversation. Something about cattle stealing. Papa said the Indians have been causing trouble again.”

“Oh, dear.” Bethany tried not to show either her discontent with this town or her unease with the natives of this land. She gathered her hair then twisted it into a coil and pinned it at her nape. “Was anyone killed?”

“I don’t know, but I expect we’ll find out at breakfast.”

With her hair in place, Bethany turned to Trudy. “I’m ready.”

“Good.” The girl strode to the door and paused. “Miss Stafford, who do you think is more handsome, Reverend Luke, Reverend Jacob, or the sheriff?” A conspiratorial expression
spread across her face. “I fancy Sheriff Paden Montaño is a handsome curiosity, is he not?”

“I don’t notice such things,” Bethany fibbed. She folded her arms in front of her. If truth be told, only a woman deaf and blind wouldn’t notice Paden Montaño; however, she wasn’t about to encourage Trudy. The young lady was one of her pupils, and Bethany wanted to set a good example.

“And what would your parents have to say if they heard you talking like this?”

Trudy gasped. “You’re not going to tell them, are you?”

Bethany raised a contemplative brow. “Well, maybe not this time.” She strode earnestly toward the young girl. “But you must stop allowing your thoughts to be consumed by romance. You’re going to get hurt.”

“Pshaw!”

Bethany gasped. “Trudy, really!”

The girl continued unabashed. “Miss Stafford, if you haven’t already noticed, you and I are the only eligible women in Silverstone—well, except for Dr. Cavanaugh. But she’s too busy to notice men. Even so, you and I can have our pick of any bachelor we want.”

“You are not eligible.” Bethany knew both Mr. and Mrs. Winters wanted their only child to receive an education before she married. “And I am not . . . interested.”

“Are you certain about that?” A taunting glimmer entered her eyes. “You and Reverend Luke seem to spend a lot of time together.”

Bethany felt her cheeks flame in a mixture of embarrassment and aggravation. “Trudy, I’m a teacher, and Reverend Luke—and Reverend Jake, I might add—are starting a school. It’s only natural that we’d spend time together . . . to plan and organize.”

“Well, fine. But I am interested—in getting me a husband!”

“You’re much too young.”

“Am not! My friend Emma got married last year, and she’s only two years older than me!”

“Than I,” Bethany corrected. “And every circumstance is different.” She knew girls in remote places were married off as young as age fifteen or sixteen. “But we’re talking about you, and you’re not ready for marriage. You have a lot of schooling left.”

“So I can end up like Dr. Cavanaugh?”

Bethany’s jaw tightened. “And what’s wrong with Dr. Cavanaugh? She seems like a remarkable woman. She’s come all the way from Parkersburg, West Virginia.” Bethany felt a
kinship between them, both being women from east of the Mississippi River who had survived the journey along the Santa Fe Trail. But it seemed the physician wasn’t interested
in making friends, although she was pleasant enough.

“She’s a spinster.”

Bethany shrank. That shoe could fit her foot as well.

“Besides, no one wants her here. They put an ad in newspapers out East for a male doctor. They thought they were getting one too, until Dr. Cavanaugh arrived in town a month ago.”

“Yes, I know about the mix-up.”

Andrea Boeshaar: 3 Keys to Successful Promotion

30 Days of Promo Goodness continues today with author Andrea Boeshaar!

Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar has 26 published novels, 8 published novellas, and a host of collective nonfiction under her belt. She knows the peaks and valleys of the publishing industry and loves to share her experience with other writers. She was an agent for more than 10 years, but is now writing full-time and is represented by the Steve Laube Agency. Additionally, Andrea is a certified Christian life coach. She is presently taking classes to be certified in Christian counseling. Andrea is a cofounder of ACFW. She’s taught at several of the organization’s conferences as well as the Oregon Christian Writers Conference, Write-To-Publish, and Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

Take it away, Andrea....


Although I’ve been a published author for fifteen years, promotion is not my strong point and never has been. Therefore, I work extremely hard at it. In my earlier career I wrote for a mass-market romance line. The publisher promoted its line, not the authors. But, generally, the books did well. Then I published in the general Christian market (trade paperback). I didn’t do much in the way of promotion and felt horrified when my sales numbers were considerably less than my previous books. So when my latest series was purchased, I knew I had to hop on that proverbial band wagon and let all the world know I had a new book releasing.

But how to do that – promote?

It’s the million dollar question. Literally! Certainly writers can hire publicists and leave all the dirty work to them. The plan might work well for the author getting paid a large advance and/or one who receives large royalty payments. But for the rest of us -- *smile* -- it’s boots-on-the-ground publicizing and that means digging in our heels. I’m a hard-worker so no problem there, but I’m also a simple person. I need the basics before my creative juices start to flow. So, after brain-storming with several trusted friends and reading oodles of articles on promotion, I’ve boiled the whole process down to three basic, but successful, principles (or “keys”).

1) Web Promo

A) Get yourself a website. I’m always amazed when I hear about published authors who don’t have websites. In today’s techno-world, a website is crucial. I would suggest not creating one yourself, either, unless you’re a professional web-designer. My website was created by – and is hosted by – KMK Enterprises http://www.kmkenterprises.com/ . I’ve been extremely pleased with its skill and service, and I would recommend the company.

B) Establish yourself on social networking sites like Facebook. Get your name out there!

C) Invest in a Facebook Ad. This is a reasonably-priced option, as you’re charged per click and you can decide how much to spend and how long to run your ad.

D) Create a blog – and keep up with your posts. There’s nothing worse than clicking onto an author’s blog and seeing his or her latest post is from six months ago. (Which reminds me…)

E) Guest blog on other authors’ web sites. This is great way to introduce yourself to new readers.

F) Peruse online radio programs, like those on Blog Talk Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/. Hosts are always looking for interesting guests (like authors!).

G) Write an e-newsletter. If you choose not to blog, a monthly or seasonal newsletter might be an option to keep in touch with readers. Even if you’re not currently contracted, it’s important to remind readers that you have novels available for purchase. I’ve learned that readers aren’t always current on our current projects. One sweet lady stopped me in church a few weeks ago and said a friend just gave her my book Wisconsin Weddings (the 3-in-1 story collection was released in 2007).

2) Hardcopy promo

A)Write a press release, announcing your new book and fax, mail (or email) it to local magazines and newspapers. Local media enjoys write-ups about hometown talent.

B) Magazine and Newspaper Ads. These are sometimes costly, but an ad in such magazines as Romantic Times or the Romance Writers Report (if you’re an RWA member) can be advantageous.

C) Send out postcards. I like to use VistaPrint.com. The printing is fast and affordable. What’s more, it’s user-friendly. Even I managed to upload all four book covers in my series. Then I mailed them to bookstores and readers across the country.

3) Personal Appearances

A) Contact book clubs and writers groups. Schedule times when you can speak to these organizations in your area to encourage books sales.

B) Contact the producers of local morning shows. Again, the hometown talent thing goes a long way.

C) Book signings. Contact book stores and let them know you’re available to sign copies of your novel. Sometimes bookstore owners will ask you to do a short talk about yourself and how you began your writing career.

D) Attend writers conferences. This is an important piece, as there’s nothing like face-to-face contact with other writers. Remember, writers are readers too – and they do things like write book reviews.

So there you have ‘em – three basic keys to promotion. They are as simple as building blocks. However, these keys are vital to opening the way to top-dollar book sales.


Thank you, Andrea! Readers, if you'd like to know more about Andrea and her books, visit her at www.andreaboeshaar.com. And tune in tomorrow more a peek into her latest book release....

His Fifth Avenue Thief by Abbey MacInnis + Giveaway

We continue today with author and friend Abbey MacInnis whose latest romance, His Fifth Avenue Thief, is available now from Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, B&N, and Smashwords...

(Today's commenters will be entered to win a prize from All Romance eBooks!)


Two years prior, Irishman Aaron O’Connel took his life from rags to riches. Chance and wits have kept him alive in 1850’S New York City. But no amount of money or success can bring his love Cathlene back from the dead. When a thief sneaks her way into his mansion, the last woman he expects to find absconding with his belongings is his long lost wife.

Abandoned on New York’s shores, a widowed, penniless, and ruined Cathlene O'Connel was left to fend for herself in an unfamiliar world. Fear and circumstance drove her to a life of thieving in order to survive, but her heart risks the biggest danger of all when Aaron hands her a scandalous proposition: A son in exchange for her freedom.
Now that he has her back, Aaron doesn't intend to let Cathlene slip between his fingers. He'll do whatever it takes to regain her trust and love. But when an enemy from Cathlene's past resurfaces, Aaron not only faces battling for Cathlene's heart, but also her life.


Excerpt from His Fifth Avenue Thief:

He dared speak of trust when he was the last person on Earth she’d trust with her life. But it was either be sent to jail, an asylum or remain here with him.

And in this moment, she’d rather one of the first two options than the third. She’d eventually obtain her freedom. If she stayed with Aaron, regaining her independence wasn’t a guarantee; she couldn’t predict when he’d set her free.

“You buy your friends now?” she taunted.

“If necessary, aye.” His cold stare gave no quarter.

“What about women? Do you purchase companionship as well?”

She didn’t wish to find herself a captive in her husband’s home, while he cavorted with loose women under her nose. “I’ve always found female companionship easy to obtain. You know yourself the potency of my charms.”

That was true, she thought with annoyance. With a flash of his bright smile and the seductive, devilish gleam in his eye, women fell at his feet. “I was a mere girl then, foolish and naïve to give my heart to a cad like you. It’s a regret I’ve carried all these days.”

“You aren’t the only one with regrets, Cathlene.” A mask of cool indifference cloaked his features. “I’m giving you a choice, think well. For once you make it there will be no going back. I will summon the commissioner and have you thrown into a cell, or into an asylum. Or you may remain here with me. It is your choice.”

Cathleen didn’t recognize this cold man beside her. Self-loathing and contempt for what she’d become curdled the bile in her belly. There was no compassion, no hint of the caring man she’d once known. He wore his disdain for her on his features. Yet he was giving her the option to stay with him as his wife.

Anger clogged her throat. “Why in bloody hell would you allow me to remain here when you can’t possibly regard me with anything less than disgust?”

“You are my wife,” he said simply.

“We were married but a week before we were separated. You have no obligation to me. Divorce me and leave me be to have my freedom.”

“That is out of the question.” The look he sent her put to rest anymore talk of a divorce. “I am indeed obligated to ensure your safety and welfare. No matter which option you choose, you may regain your independence someday. Sooner with me than in jail or in an asylum. That I can promise you.”

“How so?”

“You won’t remain under lock and key unless you attempt escape. You’ll be under my protection.”

If she bided her time, let Aaron believe she trusted him, and made him trust her once more, he’d follow through on his promise. If it took too long, she’d find a way to leave.

Staying with him was better than finding herself in any cell, even one he’d paid for. A cell where her safety couldn’t be guaranteed. At least if she remained with him, he’d offer her protection, which she in truth, desperately needed.

Abbey MacInnis: Positive Promotion!

Today I welcome a good friend of mine to 30 Days of Promo Goodness! Abbey MacInnis is a fellow author from The Way Back Home anthology as well as the author of new release His Fifth Avenue Thief. Along with contemporary romance, she writes historical, paranormal and erotic romance. Whether she’s being swept off her feet by a Medieval knight, regency rake, or cowboy or cop, her heroes are always strong men who’ll love their women unconditionally. On most days, Abbey can be found at her computer, penning her latest tale. A tale where love, respect, and passion combine to create a satisfying and happy ending. Guaranteed. She invites you to step in to the pages of her romances, to leave your worries behind and get swept up in her world.

Take it away, Abbey....

Thanks to Amber for having me here today and tomorrow. I’ve been reading all the wonderful posts on promotion, and found them helpful and interesting. I have nothing earth-shattering to share or promo secrets hidden up my sleeve. *g* Don’t I wish.

I try to think of promoting in a positive way. Yes, I’m promoting my books and my brand, but to me, it’s more than that. So rather than thinking of promoting as a way to just get your name out there, it’s about interacting with readers and fellow writers.

I have a website with newsletter sign up, and some of the social networking accounts such as:
Facebook fan page. Twitter and Goodreads. I also participate on the Kindle boards. I also have an
a Amazon author page, which is very important to have if your books are on Amazon. My blog
is a very recent venture I’ve started. I swore up and down I wouldn’t create one I finally caved after reading author Kristen Lamb’s books on social networking.

If you haven’t heard of Kristen, I strongly recommend her. After reading her books, I was really able to grasp what brand really is, and what mine is, and how to effectively promote myself while still having time to write.

Before reading Kristen’s books, I didn’t have a marketing focus. I’d occasionally send out a tweet and/or update my Facebook profile, but I wouldn’t interact on either of them religiously. As for a blog? Right, I have nothing to say that anyone would care to read. I learned that I need to be active in social media. I just didn’t know how to do this. I’d feel overwhelmed when I’d think of having to get out there and talk about my books. But my books aren’t what I’m promoting. I’m promoting myself. Readers won’t always remember stories, but they’ll remember the author if you take the time to interact with them.

Promoting can seem very frightening, but if you have a specific focus and yes, a plan, it’s not bad at all.

I take a few minutes each day to update my Facebook and Twitter statuses with content related to my brand with a promo update thrown in here and there. Interacting with my friends is crucial and fun too.

I browse the Kindle and Nook boards and forums. When I’ve finished reading a book, I’ll rate it on my Goodreads page. Goodreads is a gold mine for writers. There are hundreds, if not thousands of groups to join where you can simply interact and find potential readers of your target audience. That’s why having updates sent as daily digests is a gem. *g*

What I enjoy most of all is reading and commenting on blogs.

To me, blogs are more personable. You’re in a setting where you can chat directly with fellow bloggers about topics that interest you. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re chatting about your favorite books or authors you all love, or about the current post of the day.

Bloggers and their readers can get to know one another a little better because they aren’t like FB or Twitter where it seems everyone has something to say practically every minute. I have my blogs that I read and comment on regularly. Through reading the other comments, I’ve followed/friended or been followed/friended by other regular readers. This in turn, has led to tweeting or having my status retweeted. To track whether commenting on blogs is leading browsers to your site, Google Analytics is a wonderful tool to utilize.

On social media, good karma is a must. I treat my friends like friends whether they retweet or like or retweet my status updates or not. Replying, offering encouragement or a retweet can go along way, especially when it’s heart-felt.

There are so many promotional options out there for authors, it’s difficult to choose which will garner you the most sales. There’s no magic way to springboard you to the top of all the bestseller lists, though I’ve read some authors views on that. I do what works best for me. I have enough in my life that can stress me out, I refuse to let interacting with potential readers and authors be one of those things.

I used to see promotion as a chore, but it’s all in how you think of it. Yes, you have something to sell, (yourself), but there’s more to you than just what you write. You have to connect with people on a more intimate level than just “Hey buy my book.” It took me awhile to figure out what works best for me, but I think I’ve finally found it.

I’ll be at work today. I’d love to chat, but it’ll have to wait until later. I’ll respond as soon as I can! Thanks again to Amber for having me!


Thank you for sharing with us, Abbey! Readers, find out more about Abbey and her books at www.abbeymacinnis.com and tune in tomorrow for an excerpt from her latest romance, His Fifth Avenue Thief....

VIGILANT by Michele Hart

Michele Hart is back today with an excerpt from her latest sizzling sci-fi romantic adventure, Vigilant, on sale now at Amazon and Bookstrand! Read the first chapter here and watch the book trailer here....


Where do the mortals fit in the war between the angels and demons? One surviving hijacker is charged with the murders of a hundred citizens.
One cop sees her innocence.

Alliance I-Marshal Weber hauls Yadira to her home planet and infiltrates the human-trafficking ring controlling her. But he finds himself unbearably attracted to his witness. A gift for detecting deception reveals she’s the next victim of a criminal industry.

Descending into shadowy worlds of slavery, Yadira endures a dark angel stalking her dreams and watches the quiet I-Marshal become dangerous in her defense Everything about him moves her…except the memory of seeing him execute the most important man in her life. Shouldn’t she take vengeance? Delusions of a heavenly guardian affect her mind.

Slavers and demons plan to snatch her from Weber’s custody while he is uncovering connections, and Weber won’t hesitate to execute the guilty surrounding Yadira. Who but a son of fire can save her from fiends harboring hardcore fantasies of harming her?


Excerpt from Vigilant:

“What if I kissed you before a room of crooks and criminals?”

Goose bumps raced over Yadira’s flesh at contemplation of Weber’s passionate kiss anywhere, in front of anyone, at any time.

She just didn’t know why he would want to kiss her behind closed doors, as blackened with grievous offense as she was. She wished his sister hadn’t told her he could see guilt. She would’ve wept over the state of her soul, if he hadn’t been in the room.

But Weber was in the room, giving her flights of delight with his enticements and innuendo. She was supernaturally aware of his presence, closeness, and possible actions. His hands kneading hers slowed and stroked each finger, stealing a part of her mind.

“I’m available to fill your needs for the case, Marshal.” Her heart pounded in her chest. “If it keeps me from prison.”

He smiled, pleased with her answer, his olive-green eyes alight in the sexiest way. Could his vision carry the power to blank her thoughts and still her actions? Perhaps it was a gift of the unusual gene the I-Marshals carried that made them special. It was a preposterous thought, but she began to think he was something extra-human. Wasn’t a law enforcement officer who saw guilt more than just a cop?

Were delusions of an angel prowling her subconscious messing with her mind?

She wondered how long Weber’s testimony of their being lovers would stay a lie. A firestorm of attraction raged through them. They sat together on a bed now, his hands intimately massaging hers and relaunching all the heat he commanded. He’d kissed her moments ago, programming her to respond to him. Her thighs were on fire. He stared at her lips now as though they were edible, sending her subliminal hints that he would kiss her a second time. The thought of his mouth on hers again… With this much warning, she had time to lose her breath, anticipate the softness of his lips, want him more with every passing second.

"Weber…”

“Yes, Yadira?”

“Have you sent an angel to watch over me?”

A loud bang rocked the room, startling them and breaking the electricity burning the air between them. Her question forgotten, they spun toward the hotel room door to see it had taken a strike to its metal so hard, it dented. She froze in fear.

“Oh, yeah, the Alliance,” the I-Marshal muttered under a sunken brow as though having forgotten some vital information to add to the night. He scrambled from the bed.

A second strike slammed into the security door with great force, denting its surface again. The lock was not yet compromised.

“Move, Yadira! They’ll be through the door in seven more strikes!”

Snapping herself from a terror-induced stasis, she burst from the bed, ran to and fro, looping the bag of clothes around her neck.

“Weber! Did you kill my guard?”

“No. I only kill the guilty. Your guard probably awakened in the room next door about five minutes ago.”

He grabbed her hand and tugged her into the shower room. There, he unlatched the small, highly placed window. It was the room’s only outlet for fire escape. Hotel guests were not prisoners.

Except for Yadira. She actually was a prisoner.

“Who’s coming through that door, Weber? And why?”

The window did not open all the way, so he ripped it from the metal frame, and he pulled in a knotted rope already hung outside for their escape.

“Probably, an Alliance SWAT team…or two, maybe some fed guys, a few overexcited locals. They’ll blow the door in a few seconds. The I-Marshals have taken me off the investigation, Yadira, and I’ve decided if they won’t release you from the case, I’m going to hide you from the Alliance. They aren’t happy with my plan.”

Yadira’s head snapped back to the sight and sound of new dents driven loudly into the room’s door. The noise of hovercraft blades warping the air blasted through the window.

He propped the room’s chair against the wall, assisting her climb to the high window.

“We’re on the fifth floor!”

“All you have to do is get out of this room. Take hold of the rope hanging out the window.”

Displeased with her catatonic speed, he snatched her up and put her atop the windowsill, feet first through the open window. She was about to scream bloody murder when she felt a knotted rope between her legs. She grasped it for dear life and leaned out of the building to assess their position.

The chaos was much louder outside the metal-plated room. Sirens shrieked, flashing lights blinded her. She saw the hovercrafts that belonged to the warp of blades she’d heard pivoting all around the hotel, their spotlights aimed on her and watching. How did they all get there so fast?

She turned to Weber behind her in the shower room, and snapped, “Aren’t I already under arrest?”

“Just climb onto the rope, Yadira, trust me.”

It was difficult to trust him when police on PA systems blasted, “Imperial Marshal Weber and Yadira Maxwell! Hold your position! You are surrounded! Do not attempt to escape!”

Trust him? The alternative was surrender.

Looking up the rope secured to the tube railing of the building, and seeing a variety of police uniforms aiming weapons at her, Yadira grasped the rope, put her feet on a knot, and wiggled off the window ledge, clinging to the rope and shaking. The red-and-blue flashing lights blinded her. The hard breeze set off by the hovercrafts whipped her hair across her face, stinging her. The sights and sounds of every law enforcement machine focused on her exit shocked her. She hadn’t known she was this important to the Alliance.

Or maybe capturing a rogue cop was this important. She guessed it was.

Weber climbed out of the window and onto the rope above her, and then he shimmied down to and around her, protecting her from crazy hails of rubber bullets or stunner rays. Cops with Tasers waited below the rope to take custody of them. Cops with stunners awaited atop the building. Cops in hovercrafts surrounding them, weapons sighting them, awaited any dangerous move. She’d never seen so many uniforms in all her life put together.

They’d never let her out of prison for this!

His big boots planted on a big knot in the rope below hers. “Turn on the rope and wrap your arms around me, Yadira!”

She looked around the hurricane they withstood, terrified. Emergency crews assembled below. Spectators were shooed away from witnessing their deaths or horrible mutilations when they hit the ground. Did the cops plan to plant a laser beam in the rope, melting the braid and causing their fall?

“What’s happening, Marshal? Why is all of Reigna’s force sighting us?”

“Ignore them.”

Her mouth dropped. “Ignore them?”

“I should have punched your guard harder. Put your arms around me!”

Surely, they’d fall!

“Trust me!”

She wrapped one arm around his neck, and let go of the rope with her other hand, hooking her arm beneath his to reach her other hand and locking them together. He trapped her against him with the rope, one hand gripping the lifeline above her Sure she’d next tumble to her death or find herself behind bars, she watched Weber retrieve his palm comp with his free hand and type some numbers with his thumb.

Then Weber let go his grip of the rope, and she experienced the terrifying sensation of falling. It felt like they fell for minutes instead of the second it would have required for them to hit the pavement like melons.

Michele Hart: Big Time Promo

We continue 30 Days of Promo today with author Michele Hart. Michelle writes high-action Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure, seared with a little erotic suspense. Mind control, doomsday machines, prison breaks. Diabolical villains. Dangerously sexy, unstoppable heroes. Angels and demons and lasers, oh, my... Explore the 5-star reviews of her latest release, Vigilant.

Take it away....


Hi, Amber and friends! I’m thrilled to be here.

One of the first things you learn as a new author when you pass through the gate that is the contract is, it’s not enough just to write a good story these days. An author who wishes to be successful (don’t we all?) must learn to market and promote like a pro. You really must hit the ground running. Learn some Big Time Promo now that evolves your promotional strategy.

Luckily, so many authors are stepping up with ideas to help you, thanks to Amber, 30 Days of Promo Goodness, and The Cozy Page.

Are you awaiting your first release day? Here are a few things to do to create and/or broaden your promo strategy:

a) Have you branded yourself?

Branding is a powerful thing. We humans are such visual creatures. Consider the Golden Arches. When you walk into Micky D’s, nearly every surface you see has the Golden Arches on it. If you’re a fan of fast food, when you get hungry, chances are, you’ll list Micky D’s in the first five restaurants you’ll think of. Even if you don’t like the restaurant. That success is due, in part, to their corporate branding strategy.

You can do that, too. Very advantageous to give your writing a “look”, a “feel”, a “mood” that sets you apart from other authors. If you write humor, make everything you do for promotions funny.

Make your web site, blog, tweets funny. If you write dark and suspenseful, give your promotions the dark feeling that imbues your writing. That will draw the audience you’re aiming for and seduce new readers who didn’t think they were interested. Give the world of your writing a “character” for readers to follow to your books.

Create an eye-catching logo, have business cards printed, and put them where your audience is. The more people see your logo, the quicker they’ll recognize it next time, the sooner it’ll come to mind when they’re looking for a good read.

Having business cards with your brand on it is invaluable. Put them on billboards, leave them in tips with a personal thank-you for servers at restaurants. Jot notes to people on the backs of your business cards. Put them in fishbowls at businesses with your brand visible to the customers. (You might win something!) Find smart--and respectful--ways to leave your cards.

b) Are you targeting your audience? I mean, really targeting your audience?

Do you write Historicals but hang out at review sites that showcase a large array of Romance subgenres? Sure, hang out with them, but have you sought out groups devoted solely to your sub-genre? There are reader sites that specialize in your sub-genre: Historicals, Contemporaries, Futuristics, and Paranormals. Go where your specific audience gathers. That’s where the future lovers of your books await you. Build your presence at these places as well as the more general web sites.

c) Someone has just asked you about your book. What do you do, what do you do?

It’s not easy for most of us to chat up our books, at first. Most authors are introverts who spend a couple of weeks and months at a time alone and typing out stories, so you aren’t unusual in feeling anxious But the ability to pitch your books to readers and editors is an essential tool for a writer who wishes for a sale, so buck up, new author, and sharpen this must-have skill.

You have a listener captured, author. Give them something to hear, see, and do. Tell your listener about your book with enthusiasm, confidence, and brevity. Have something to hand to your listener: a bookmark, an excerpt, a coupon for a free read. Make sure they walk away with something that has your brand on it. That’s an invitation to your web site. It’ll stick in their minds, and that’s what you want. Practice your pitch with a friend.

d) Consider some Big Time Promo...

Do a group event! It’s not as hard as it looks and the pay-off could be large. All you need is a few motivated author-hosts/hostesses. An eye-catching ad, a place to party, and a few (thousand) invitations to readers later, you have a fun bash with interested readers ready to see what you’ve got up your sleeves. Chat away with your readers. Hold some contests. Offer free books. Share recipes, jokes, and excerpts. Readers buy books from authors they’ve “met”.

e) Ready to build a book trailer?

Windows has Movie Maker built into the later versions. It’s easy to learn. A book trailer is excellent passive advertising. You get that baby made and posted on YouTube, and you have a commercial for the length of your book contract.

Never hurts to start thinking of your book trailer in advance. In fact, it’s advisable. Start thinking about it when you finish your book, when you’re writing your blurb. You really can’t put a lot of text in a book trailer, so we’re only talking about a paragraph or two, tops. Build a book trailer as soon as you receive your cover. In fact, you will not go wrong if you plan your book trailer as part of your writing package. Story, blurb, synopsis, book trailer. Or whatever order in which your process leads you. It’s much easier to write the text of your book trailer when you are in the creative swing of things for that story, as opposed to months later when you are already working on your next story. You may find it very difficult to switch gears. It is also a trial to find the pictures you want on a moment’s notice, let me tell you. It’s a true challenge. Searching for pictures over a span of time is much more relaxing.

That’s nearly a thousand words of strategy for thought. I hope a few dozen of them give you a foot up in promoting your book. Happy Start of School, everyone! Even if you don’t have kids. Let’s get the world reading more! How about a sssexy and dangerous shape-shifter escaped from a prison-planet for your summer affair? Can I interest you in a brawler with a badge who can read your mind? How about a risky adventure with the CIA as your adversary? Feel like fighting the Mob today? Do you desire to be frightened by demons, rescued by angels? Would you like to be trapped on a space station with your high-school crush? A gangland hit man named Heretic awaits you… Discover passion, dare, and adventure under all-new moons and stars. Investigate Michele Hart: www.ILoveShapeShifters.com!

Thank you, Amber, 30 Days of Promo, and The Cozy Page! Peace and good day, everyone.

Thank you, Michelle! Readers, check back in tomorrow for an excerpt from Michelle's latest release, Vigilant!

MIDNIGHT SUN by MJ Fredrick

We continue today with author MJ Fredrick and her latest romance release, Midnight Sun, available now at Amazon....


This wasn’t the adventure she’d signed up for…

A sexy boss, a rough crossing, and pirates—all Brylie Winston wanted was a job to help her earn money to buy her own restaurant. She hopes to earn it by working as a chef on a cruise to Antarctica. But she’s slept with her boss, which throws her off-balance even more than the rough seas and warnings of pirates in the area. And he’s determined to have a repeat performance…

Bad boy former snowboarder Marcus Devlin is running from his reputation, sent to learn the family business after decking a senator’s son and making the papers. So maybe he indulged in a last-minute fling before boarding his family’s cruise ship to Antarctica. Perhaps Fate is showing him that wasn’t so bad—the gorgeous redhead who snuck out of his bed is on the cruise. She’ll be a lovely distraction during his exile.

But when South American pirates take over the ship, his instinct is to protect her and the other passengers. But what does a spoiled rich boy know about saving people’s lives?


Excerpt from Midnight Sun:

“Marcus.” Her face was pale in the dim light, her eyes dark with fear. “I can’t. The passengers. We have to get them to safety. You know what my father said.”
He hesitated. Every molecule in his body, that he’d trained himself to listen to, told him to bolt, to hide. But she was right. The passengers were his responsibility.

“I’ll go.” He couldn’t allow her to come up her father’s bleeding body on the deck. He couldn’t be sure the man had been shot, but he’d been bloody close to the terrorists. Damn, he wished he knew what was going on, if the security guys had gone into action with those power hoses—and if that had been effective.

“I have to go. My father—”

Gunfire below them cut her off. Automatic weapons fired in staccato bursts, and hand guns popped. Ours or theirs? Screams from the passengers. Marcus realized getting all the passengers to the interior of the ship, in one place, would make it easier for the terrorists to hurt them. No. He and Brylie had to find a way to hide, to call for help.

“We won’t be able to get to them without getting caught ourselves.” He flinched when another gunshot went off, this one closer, from what sounded like the stairwell. He jumped up and hit the ceiling tile with the tips of his fingers to make sure it moved. When it shifted to his satisfaction, he turned to Brylie, who was wild-eyed and tense enough to snap.

He placed a hand on her shoulder to focus her. “Trust me.”

He went down on a knee, forming a cup with his hand and she placed her booted foot into it. Straining, he lifted her until she could reach the ceiling. She shoved a tile out of her way and pulled herself through as he rose, pushing her along.

“Good girl,” he muttered.

More shouting from the deck had him hesitate. She was safe, but did he have time to follow her up, or would he get caught and give her away? He scanned her room for a quick way to give him a boost, but using something like that would leave a clue about where they’d gone. He closed her bedroom door and looked up into her face as she leaned down to help him.

He grasped her wrists, and with his foot on the railing on the other side of the hallway, he pushed himself up and into the crawlspace beside her. He got the paneling in place just as he heard footsteps in the hall. He cradled Brylie against him, feeling her shivering, as a loud crash sounded down the hall, then another.

They were kicking in doors, looking for passengers.

What the hell did they want?

MJ Fredrick: Tweet This!

Our guest today is author MJ Fredrick! Readers, be sure to welcome her to our 30 Days of Promo Goodness event here at The Cozy Page!

Take it away, MJ...


I think I would love Twitter even if I wasn’t a writer, just because it’s quick and easy and informative. I learned about Michael Jackson, Osama Bin Laden and Amy Winehouse from Twitter, because I have it on more often than I have the news.

But I’m here to talk to you about promoting, so…


GETTING STARTED

Signing up for Twitter is very easy. Make sure you use the name you write under. If someone else has that handle already, change it to JaneDoeAuthor or JaneDoeWriter or JaneDoeRomance. You don’t want your handle to be too long, because you only get 140 characters, and if you’re doing promotion and want someone to “retweet,” or pass on, what you’ve said, your long handle can make that difficult.

Come up with an interesting bio. I won’t follow someone with no bio, or one that seems too self-serving. It need not be clever, but pertinent information, like “I write for Carina Press” or “avid book lover” will tell us something about you.

Clever is good, though. Caroline Fyffe has, “Walking across America on my treadmill one step at a time....” on her bio. Cute, huh?

Finding friends is the next challenge. Twitter will happily let you import friends from your email account and your Facebook, or any other social media. Once you have a few friends, you can peruse their friends and follow them. You don’t need to send a request, and just because you follow them doesn’t mean they’ll follow back, but they might. I never thought Jill Shalvis would follow me, but she does!

Fridays on Twitter are “Follow Fridays,” marked by the hashtag (more about that later) #FF. Lots of people mention people they follow, and you can follow them as well. Again, not everyone will follow you, but some will.


USING TWITTER TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Reply to tweets. Get in conversations. Twitter is not just about promotion. Engage with people. But don’t do it just to engage. Find things you’re interested in. Lots of people talk about TV shows (beware of spoilers!), sports, books, news articles. It’s amazing how you get to know people, too. I remember things about people on Twitter I don’t remember about my own family! I sold at least one title to a girl because she and I both had crushes on Jeffrey Dean Morgan and I used him as the model for my hero in one of my books.

Retweeting is like sharing on Facebook, or passing it on. I retweet interesting news articles, reviews of friends’ books, funny sayings, release day information. When you retweet, people take note and may return the favor.


PROMOTING

On Amazon and Smashwords and The Wild Rose Press, and probably others, there is a “share” button. When you click, it will open a Twitter dialogue box, complete with a link. You can add your screen name and a quick blurb and a hashtag or two and send it on. Try not to use all the characters allotted so people can retweet it for you.

Using hashtags will help you get read more widely. Hashtags are the words that begin with the number symbol (#). You cannot have any other punctuation in a hashtag or it will break it, so some of them look odd. But they’re fun. People can follow the hashtag to find things they are interested in. Some that I use are #amreading (good to use with your link above) or #amwriting. #1k1hr is for writers doing writing sprints. #kindle will get you noticed by people who use Kindles. A great list of hashtags is here.


WORKING TOGETHER

One thing I’ve found effective is working with a group of other writers to retweet promotion messages. I’ve done this with The Wild Rose Press group, who use the hashtag #twrp, and the Wet Noodle Posse, who don’t use a hashtag. We set up a day or an afternoon, post a promotional blurb, and everyone retweets it to their followers.

Yes, we have some of the same followers so they get the message more than once, but the blurb does get to more people that way. You can include your website, a clever sentence, anything to drive traffic to your book.


Thank you, MJ, for the Twitter tips! Readers, tune in tomorrow for a peek into MJ's latest release, Midnight Sun....

The Roses of Prose...

We're celebrating Romance Awareness Month at The Roses of Prose! Stop by for my post today - I'm reflecting how much influence real-life romance has on the romance genre. (Also read the awesome posts on the subject of true love and romance from my fellow Roses - it's well worth it!)

THE SEDUCTION OF SOPHIE SEACREST by Mary Campisi

Mary Campisi is back today with an excerpt from her latest release - Book I in the An Unlikely Husband series - The Seduction of Sophie Seacrest, now available from Amazon Kindle....


Love and Betrayal . . . Regency Style

When Holt Langford, the new Earl of Westover, returns to England after twelve years at sea, he resembles more pirate than nobleman, a far cry from the scrawny youth shipped off by his father to become a man. No one recognizes him and he’ll use this anonymity to enter a game of subterfuge in order to expose the scoundrel who has vowed to destroy Holt’s family business.

Unfortunately, that scoundrel has a devoted daughter - Sophie Seacrest. Sophie can’t deny her attraction to the unorthodox stranger who stirs her blood and makes her think things no proper lady should. Holt and Sophie are drawn into a seductive tangle and just when he’s about to reveal his true identity and his honorable intentions, she discovers the truth and must choose between love and family duty.


Excerpt from The Seduction of Sophie Seacrest:

He was not a handsome man by society’s standards. There was too much bulk, too much hair, good heavens, too much man, but there was something compelling about him that stuck her to her spot. Was it the eyes that appeared to consume her every breath? She could see them now, a deep navy. Or the roughness of his voice that sent a tremulous shiver through her entire body? Or perhaps it was the man’s sheer size, a true oddity by today’s standards.

“And who are you?” he asked in a too soft voice as he stepped closer.

“Lady Sophie Seacrest.”

His eyes narrowed a fraction. “Ah, a Seacrest.”

“You must know our groomsmen, Hodge.”

He shook his head and long strands of wet hair clung to his massive shoulders. “No, I’ve only been at Ellswood a short time.”

Which explained why she had not seen or heard of him before today. Seacrests might be estranged from Langfords but staff tongues still wagged and Aunt Vivian made it her business to stay abreast of all happenings. She said it was best to keep one’s enemies close.

The man retrieved a blanket from a nearby bureau and settled it around her shoulders. “You shouldn’t ride when a storm is threatening," he said, his deep voice curling around her.

She pulled the blanket closer in an effort to stave off the tingling in her middle and replied, “I’m an accomplished horsewoman.”

He lifted a brow and slivers of amusement filtered his words. “But not so accomplished as to remain seated during a thunderstorm?”

She shrugged and smiled. “Apparently not.”

“Step by the fire so you don’t catch a chill.” Drops of water slid from her gown as she moved toward the fire’s heat. What would her father say if he knew she was alone in a cottage with a stranger, an employee of the Langford’s no less? He would not be pleased. Nor would her aunt. But they would never know for she would keep this one scrap of harmless adventure to herself and perhaps in nights ahead, pull it from her memories and think of the dark stranger.

“Drink this.” The man thrust a snifter in her hands and she took a healthy swallow expecting brandy.

A burn captured her throat, stealing her breath as she coughed and sputtered. “This is not brandy!”

“No,” he smiled and his dark eyes glistened. “It’s whiskey.”

She coughed again and cleared her throat. “Why on earth do men find that drink so appealing? It is much too harsh and unrefined.”

“Some of the best things in life are harsh and unrefined,” he commented, glancing at her lips.

“I beg your pardon?”

“A kiss for example.” He moved closer and rubbed his jaw. “There are many kinds of kisses. There is the kiss you give your mother or the peck on the cheek for your father or aunt.” His voice dipped. “And then there is the other kind of kiss.”

“Oh?” The room suddenly grew very small.

He lifted a finger and traced her lower lip with such lazy perfection she forgot the dampness of her skin, forgot everything but the fire on her lips.

“Yes.” He worked his finger over her upper lip in a faint caress, then dipped into her parted mouth and stroked her tongue with the tip of his finger. “There is the kiss a man and a woman share. Harsh. Unrefined.”

She swallowed. “Oh?”

The man cupped her chin and leaned forward, brushing his lips over hers. “It’s part of an age old mating ritual, a dance which begins slowly with the faintest touch of skin to skin and escalates to,” he flicked his tongue across her lower lip and said, “more primitive methods of communication.”

“I see.” But she did not. Her lips tingled and burned where he stroked her, filling her with the need to . . . do something . . .

“And soon, there is only touching and all refinement slips away.” He captured her mouth once again, this time easing his tongue between her lips. He pulled her roughly to him, his massive arms circling her waist, sliding down her back.

A rush of heat spread through her as he pressed his hardness against her abdomen. She flung her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his long hair as wondrous sensations overtook her. Eager for more, she strained against his chest and sighed when the velvet fabric of her soggy riding habit heightened the pleasure.

“And then there is no more thinking.” He cupped her buttocks with a large hand, and murmured, “Only feeling.” His mouth slanted over hers, urging her lips apart as his tongue delved inside. Sophie moaned when he captured her tongue and gently sucked.

Oh, but this delicious tasting and touching must be wrong, but did she not deserve this one small pleasure after so many years of thinking only of others? Yes, her body cried, smothering logic and common sense. Yes!

Mary Campisi: Re-Examining Promotion

30 Days of Promo Goodness continues today with author Mary Campisi...

Mary Campisi should have known she’d become a writer when at age thirteen she began changing the ending to all the books she read. It took several years and a number of jobs, including registered nurse, receptionist in a swanky hair salon, accounts payable clerk, and practice manager in an OB/GYN office, for her to rediscover writing. Enter a mouse-less computer, a floppy disk, and a dream large enough to fill a zip drive. The rest of the story lives on in every book she writes. When she’s not working on her craft or following the lives of five young adult children, Mary’s digging in the dirt with her flowers and herbs, cooking, reading, walking her rescue lab mix, Cooper, or on the perfect day, riding off into the sunset with her very own ‘hero’ husband on his Electra Glide Classic.

Take it away, Mary....


Hi Amber, and thank you for having me today. Since this is the first of a two day session, I’m glad to get the hard part out of the way. Promotion. In my perfect world, someone else would take care of this for me and I would just do what I do best which is write stories. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen anytime soon which is why I’ve had to re-examine my aversion to promotion.

I’ve read tons of articles, blogs, e-mails, listened to seminars, and talked with friends about effective promotion. Blogs, twitter, Facebook, bookmarks, radio spots, etc. Have I tried some? Of course. Have I had success? At times. What did I learn? You have to be who you are. Period. If it feels like a gimmick to you, it will feel like a gimmick to everyone else too. You have to be comfortable or at least moderately comfortable with whatever form of promotion you choose, which is why you will not see me shoving my book in your hand and telling you what a wonderful read it is….in person or cyberland.

I held off on Twitter for a long time because I didn’t think I could offer anything earth shattering or thought provoking in 140 characters. I was right, but apparently, that’s not Twitter’s goal. It seems to be more about providing snippets of information in a clever way. Hmmm. I’m not that clever. And I really don’t think you want to hear about the home-grown raspberries I put on my cereal…or do you?? I twitter a little but mostly I don’t.

Facebook – after years of fighting this, I finally signed up a few weeks ago. We’ll see how it goes. For now, I’m taking it slow and I do get to talk about my rescue, Cooper, so I’m always happy to do that…

Guest Blog – this is my preference. I just finished a three day gig at Goodreads called Ask an Author, Win a Book. I enjoyed this very much because I could talk about writing, my books and books in general without the pressure of feeling like I’m trying to sell something. I find guest blogs relaxing and a good way to talk about my books without pressure. I’ve been on Fresh Fiction a few times and have guest blogged on other writer’s sites. At times, I give away books and that brings a nice draw. I also have a blog and write about my take on life. Again, there’s no pressure and the words flow. This is by far, my favorite form of promotion.

What I’ve learned from spending too much time on promotion – it interferes with my writing! There are even days when I write very little because I’m thinking too hard about the next best way to sell my book. The ideas consume me – in a negative way – and I become disjointed and crabby. That’s when I know I’ve gone over the edge and need to get back to basics, which is writing.

You can and should try different things but do what feels right and is an extension of who you are. For me, the blog is just another form of talking…one of my favorite pastimes! Don’t be so hard on yourself; there is no one right way to promote your work.

One final word - if you remember nothing else, remember this - There’s no better promotion than writing a great book. Except writing a second great book!


Thank you, Mary! Readers, find out more about Mary at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook! And check back in tomorrow to read a snippet from her latest release, The Seduction of Sophie Seacrest....

SLIGHTLY TARNISHED by Lilly Gayle

Today we're back with Lilly Gayle and a glimpse into her latest romance, Slightly Tarnished, which is available now from The Wild Rose Press....


Victorian romance laced with danger.

When a brooding English earl with a SLIGHTLY TARNISHED reputation marries his dead wife’s American cousin to save her from her uncle’s vengeful schemes, the sea captain’s daughter with a taste for adventure sparks desires he thought long dead.

Nicole Keller has always been headstrong and independent, but after a failed business venture and a sinking ship take her father, her home, and her childhood sweetheart, Nikki must support herself and her mother. But moving to England and marrying Chadwick Masters, Earl of Gilchrest isn’t what she has in mind. And falling in love with the mysterious earl could endanger both their lives.


Excerpt from Slightly Tarnished:

“This will be your room.” He opened the door and stood to one side so she could enter. “I’m afraid you will have to continue to make do without a lady’s maid. The only household staff I employ are Mrs. Lomax, Dickens, Cook, and my groom. My driver lives in the village as do the few maids I hire on occasion to help Mrs. Lomax with the laundry and heavier cleaning.”

Nikki smiled. “That’s quite all right, Lord Masters. I’m used to doing for myself, and it’s only for a week.”

He returned her smile and leaned forward, his warm breath fanning her cheek. “What happened to Chad? Surely we’ve gone beyond such formalities now, Nicole.”

Gooseflesh rippled over her skin. Her body quivered. “I don’t think it would be proper for me to call you by your given name.” She risked a glance at his face and wished she hadn’t. His eyes no longer looked worried. They were hot—almost feverish. Her skin heated.

“It didn’t stop you before,” he said, his deep voice a husky rumble. Despite the heat, Nikki shivered.

Oh my!

“I don’t think this is proper either,” she stammered when he brushed his lips against her temple. A delicious tingle skittered down her spine.

“No, probably not,” he said, nibbling her neck.

A strange tension rippled through her muscles, tightening them with pleasure. She arched her neck, granting him access as he slid his lips along the column of her throat. Her hands bunched the skirt of her plain, serviceable dress. Her stomach quivered.

“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless and giddy.

He pulled his hands from his pockets and pulled her closer. “I’m seducing you, I think.”

“Seducing me?” Her heart hammered against her ribs.

“Hmm. You’re doing it again.” Then he lowered his mouth and kissed her.