Friends I've Met Along the Way by Vonnie Davis

As writers, we should know our market audience, or so experts tell us. So, who am I writing for? Professional women, young mothers, or women of a certain age? Most of the time I feel as if I'm writing for other writers--which isn't necessarily a bad thing. To date, they've been my most vocal readers and reviewers. So when someone poo-poohs marketing to authors, I get a little hot under the bra strap. After all, authors read. I know I devour two books a week. What about you?

Other writers have become more than the building blocks of my fan base, they've become online friends, too. If I'm going through a string of migraines, these ladies commiserate with me. They email to see how I am. If I'm upset over a character who won't cooperate with my storyline, my fellow romance writers encourage me to plow ahead. We joke. We email racy pics. We cheer for each other's successes. In essence, we are a team with each member working on a different project.

They are friends I've met along the way!

 

Frankly, I'd be lost without them. Had someone told me in, say, 1990 that one day I would have oodles and oodles of friends around the world that I would cherish, even though I'd never met them, I would have backed away, my eyes frantically searching for the nearest exit door. But the Internet has gifted us with these acquaintances--and we cherish them. At least I do. So for all of you lovely ladies whom I've never met...

 

 



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.

KERRI NELSON

OH READERS, WHERE ARE YOU?

In planning a promotion tour for my upcoming book releases, I did quite a bit of research. I’ve searched far and wide for new readers.

Out of all the author promotion sites, blogs, Yahoo groups, and other such venues…I find one thing to be consistent. The majority of these places are frequented by other WRITERS!



Now, there’s certainly nothing wrong with promoting your books to other writers. Some of my best friends are writers and they’ve purchased many of my books in support of my career. But where are all the READERS?




I recently read a study that indicated that the online reading audience is really just a select percentage of folks and really very small percentage of the world’s population. But even so…it still has to consist of millions of people. I mean, before I was published, I looked up authors online and checked out their new releases and searched for opportunities to meet them or chat with them.


I’ve been quite a “fan girl” of many authors for years and I constantly searched for online chats, free book giveaways, and book tour details whenever they were involved.


However, now that I’m on the other side of that Internet fence, I can’t seem to tap into the same type of audience. So, again I ask, READERS…where are you?


Everyone will agree that the world of publishing is going digital in a hurry. With e-book sales through the roof these days, folks are online buying books more than ever. And they are NOT all authors!


Lately, whenever I do a blog appearance or a giveaway, I find the same group of people attending. Not that I’m complaining about that—I just wonder why it is rare to find a newbie present. I also own an author’s promotion blog and we do a giveaway multiple times during the month. When I post that winners list, the same people are winning box loads of prizes each time.


Doesn’t anyone else want free books, goodies, jewelry, or swag? It feels like a never ending game of hide-and-seek some days.


I know you are out there, gentle readers. But, please tell me…WHERE ARE YOU?


Leave a comment on your suggestion of where to find new readers and I’ll choose one winner at random for your choice of prizes! Speak up and WIN!

Blurb for my new release Double Take:




After growing up the laughing stock of the town drunk and humiliated by the hottest guy in school, Kennedy Wolfe planned on never stepping foot in Greece, New York again.


Now a highly decorated agent for the FBI, Kennedy learns of the abduction of her best friend from high school. The news comes just days after the invitation to her class reunion was received and tossed.


Despite her better judgment, she can’t resist the urge to take on a case that would show her classmates once and for all what she’s really made of.


Damon Divine is the unbeatable District Attorney and he’s dead set on finding those responsible for abducting his twin sister. But when the beautiful Agent Wolfe comes to town, he knows the kidnappers won’t be the only ones on her hit list.


After all, standing up a girl on senior prom night is not something she’s likely forgotten.



Now available from Evernight Publishing.


Click here to purchase and read an excerpt:


http://www.evernightpublishing.com/products/Double-Take-by-Kerri-Nelson.html



Check out my website here:

http://www.kerrinelson.com/


Check out my industry blog here:




http://www.thebookboost.blogspot.com/



Follow me on Twitter here:




http://www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter

Author Bio:


Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.


After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and three adorable children. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family.


Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Celtic Hearts Romance Writers and Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers. She is a multi-published author currently under contract for her sixteenth novel.