I Feel All Blogged Out

Six years ago when my first book released, I had a blog tour. I did the same for many subsequent books. Answered all the lovely comments and questions. The last few book tours, set up by my publisher, had zero comments. Except for my typical thank you to the person hosting me that day, no one said a word.

Even the crickets were silent.

Did that mean no one was reading the blogs? Looking at all my pretty promo?

Has everyone turned their backs on blogging or reading blogs?

Frankly, I'm running out of ideas. I blog less and less here at Vintage Vonnie. My time is more consumed with writing. I mainly keep my blog open in case a writer friend needs a place to promote. All the while, I hear more authors are closing down theirs. I just can't bring myself to close Vintage Vonnie.

There are times I think I could blog simply on the Davis household and entertain you for a few

minutes.

Like today. Calvin lost his glasses. He woke up and they weren't on his nightstand. They weren't behind or beneath the bed or among the covers or in the drawers of his nightstand. To stop him from tearing the place apart...I mean, can a man look for anything without items flying through the air? Tell me! I went on the hunt, too, just to save my sanity and the condition of the place.

I found them in the shower.

They were propped between his and my bottles of shampoo. Go figure.

Have a great week folks. Stay dry and healthy.

A Celebration! 50,000 Visitors to Vintage Vonnie

 A little over 3 years ago, I attended Virginia's Festival of the Book. I sat in on a workshop about self-promotion. The speaker insisted  having a blog was imperative in reaching readers. Unfortunately, what I knew about blogging you could have fed to a parakeet for lunch. Still, I thought how hard could it be? Right? Obviously I had a lot to learn. My first posts were awkward ramblings. Now, after 3 years, my posts are still ramblings, just a tad less awkward.

I've found I love blogging. What I adore the most are the delightful people I've met along the way.

So, here we are at a milestone: 50,000 visits!

We ought to celebrate, right?

 

Follow my blog, if you don't already, and leave a comment to be eligible for a copy of one of my books. Your choice. I'm chosing 3 winners. One for every year Vintage Vonnie has been in the blog-o-sphere.

I'm the token wrinkle at Chick Swagger by Vonnie Davis

I enjoy blogging. I've met a lot of lovely people via blogs. I'm also fortunate enough to be included in three group blogs.

The Roses of Prose is a talented group of international authors. We work hard at keeping our monthly topics fresh. Every year we write holiday stories to share with our readers and then offer the colleciton as a free download.

 

Not too long ago, all the romance and women's fiction writers of Blue Ridge Literary Agency formed a group blog called Tempting Romance. The beauty of our group is the differences in our writing careers. A few are with large publishers, some are multi-published with smaller ePublishers and a few are waiting for "the call." Because we belive in supporting other writers, we offer Saturday promo for various authors.

 

Recently I was asked to join Chick Swagger, an edgy blog with an humorous and often snarky take on women's issues. They are high energy and, my-oh-my, I hope I can keep up. I’ll be bringing a different perspective to things, an older perspective. Yes, I am the token wrinkle, the bearer of cottage cheese thighs, and a proud grandma. I’m a product of the sixties and wore hip-huggers before I had hips to hug. I survived the seventies and didn’t inhale once. I’ve protested, burned my bra and breached the male dominated work environment at Mack Trucks by working on the engine line. I started college at the age of forty-four, met the love of my life at fifty-five and at sixty-two realized my dream of being published. But don't let my Medicare card fool you. I've still got some chick swagger left in me...it just moves a little slower these days.

Blog of 2012 Award -- by Vonnie Davis

I’m thrilled to receive this blogging award from talented writer and friend, Calisa Rhose. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year on Vintage Vonnie than to honor Calisa. This is a woman who consistently opens her blog, also known as the ranch, at http://www.calisarhose.wordpress.com as a place for other writers to promote. In addition to interviewing other writers, she also does cover, banner and video reveals to pay forward to other authors.

We met online via the yahoo loops for authors with The Wild Rose Press. She’s fun, interesting and talented…and knows how to sit a horse. Whereas I know how to sit a recliner, but we don’t need to go there. She also possesses a heart as big as I hope mine will be one day. If she knows you, she loves you. How lucky for her family, whom she loves without reserve. She’s fabulous.

This award is unlike other awards that you can only add to your blog once. This award can be updated with additional stars. For every time your blog is nominated, you get to add an additional star. How cool is that?
 

There are a total of “6” stars to collect. Which means that you can checks out your favorite blogs—and even if they have already been given the award by someone else—you can still make your opinion count and pass it on to them again and help them (or me) reach the maximum of “6” stars.

The rules of the award are simple:

1.      Select the blogs you think deserve the 2012 Blog of the Year Award.

2.      Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen—there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required and present them with this award.

3.      Please include a link back to this page: Blog of the Year Award. http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-rewards/blog-of-the-year-award/ and include these rules in your post. (Please don’t alter the rules or the badge!)

4.      Let the blogs(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the rules with them.

5.      You can now join our Facebook page – click the link here. ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award (http://www.facebook.com/groups/BlogoftheYear/) and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience.

 

And now it’s my turn and a thrill to pay this honor forward by giving the award to the following bloggers:

 

Angela Adams blogging at http://www.authorangela.blogspot.com/  Here’s a lady—and I mean that in every delightful meaning of the word—who loves promoting other writers. She reviews many books and stories on her blog. I met her through RWA’s online site, From the Heart Romance Writers. She’s truly a delight, full of encouragement and support.

 

Then there’s delightful, spirited Mackenzie Crowne blogging at Mad Mac’s Mania, found at http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/ . Mac and I met on The Wild Rose Press’s yahoo loop. We refer to it as The Garden—not a thorn in the bunch. Mac is like sunshine in a jar of honey. She’s talented and, in my opinion, an up and coming romance writer. I just love her style. I love the design of her blog and get serious blog envy every time I visit, which is often. Her blog is as open to visitors as her heart is to more friends.

 

I don’t want to forget another up and coming author, Rachel Brimble. Rachel blogs from her home in England at http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.com/ We also met in The Garden and are now represented by the same agent. Rachel has opened her blog to me several times and also to my husband, Calvin. She’s full of energy and encouragement.

 

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING MY JOURNEY AS A WRITER THESE LAST COUPLE YEARS. ENJOY YOUR BLOG OF 2012 AWARD.

WHERE'S MY READER MAGNET?

Even though it's been nine months since my debut book, Storm's Interlude, came out, I still feel like a "newbie" in the publishing business. A baby with age spots and cellulite.

I find I'm floundering as to what kind of promotion works. How do I market and sell my book? Where do I find readers? I feel quite inept. Granted, I knew it would take time to make a name for myself as a romance author, but I was expecting to make more inroads into the readership market than I have.

But I'm haven't.                     

And it's not for lack of trying.

Experts say to build a brand. Initially I used "I write stories of the heart" as my brand slogan, but have since changed it to "Love: A single syllable with infinite emotion." My blog, website and business cards all contain roses. Is that enough? I mean, what constitues a brand? Different experts tell you different things. And what if your writing changes?

Or, what if, like me, you can't decide exactly what it is your write? I've written and contracted contemporary, historical and romantic suspense. Now I have a humorous paranormal that won't let me alone.

How do you brand yourself when you don't know what you're writing? Most writers wisely chose one sub-genre of romance, but not me. No. Not this ol' gal. She's got to see if she can write everything. How do I brand myself when I don't know who I am as a writer?

My agent said to create an online presence. Start a blog. As you can see, I've done that. I find I love hosting other writers, finding out about them as people and about their books. I feel I'm a little smarter now for reading what they have to say. You see, I love my online writer friends. They're the best. Intelligent. Creative. Fun.

   

And more supportive than my best pair of Spanx.

 

But are readers visiting my blog?

I don't mean to imply that writers aren't readers. We are. We buy a lot of books; I know I do.

BUT WHERE'S MY READER MAGNET?

Rarely does anyone other than other writers--delightful souls that they are--respond to my blogposts. How do I reach the readers? Does the average reader read blogs? I promote to facebook and twitter. Outside of a couple friends, no other readers drop by.

My agent said to create buzz by doing virtual blog tours. And I did. I scheduled so many blog visits, people got tired of hearing me prattle on. I mean, how many times do other writers want to read the same old excerpt? Yet, loyal, supportive souls that they are, they leave a comment. Rarely, rarely does a non-writer comment.

Agent Lady said to join facebook and twitter, which obviously I have. Again, most of my friends and tweet buddies are other writers. Join yahoo groups of romance readers, she said. Guess who I found? Other writers!!!

Do you see a theme here?

Where are the readers?

How do I reach them? How do I build a fan base? I'm at a loss. My sales are flat and it worries me. How do I generate interest in people I can't seem to reach?

How are you promoting yourselves? Where did you find your reader magnet? 'Cause I think mine's broken.

My website is http://www.vonniedavis.com.