Marketing Woes and a great offer!

Ever since I received my first publishing contract over ten years ago, marketing has been the bane of my existence.  I soon discovered that not even my publisher had a clue about the best way to hit best-seller lists. They sent me on multiple book signings across the country, hosted me at the annual International Christian Retailers conference, paid for magazine ads, radio interviews, blog posts, ran contests on Goodreads and Facebook, and even paid to have my website designed.  I love them for all their efforts and it was a pleasure working with them.  But honestly, did any of it work?

With the advent of social media, publishers began shifting the responsibility to their authors for much of the marketing. You need to be on Facebook, Twitter, Google-plus, Linked In, etc, etc.. You need to get tons of friends and talk up your books. So I did. (Against everything within me, I might add)  But I soon discovered, people aren't on Facebook to buy things. They are there to make connections and share their lives and opinions with others. The last thing they want is to have someone shoving a "Buy my book" message down their throat.  Instead, from what I discovered, most of the people who "Like" my author page, just want to get to know me.

But the truth of the matter is, I don't have time to chat on Facebook or any of the other media. There simply isn't enough hours in the day.  If you're one of the "Likes" on my page, you've probably noticed I don't comment very often. It's not because I'm snotty or don't want to get to know you. It's just a matter of time, pure and simple.  Besides, it may interest you to know that when I do post on my author page, Facebook only allows a small percentage of my "Likes" to even see my post. I have to pay money to boost that post so everyone can see it.
NOTE TO MY FACEBOOK Friends:  If you want to know what I'm up to, or find out about special prices and new releases, your best bet is to sign up for my newsletter AND  Follow this Blog by Email (See places to the right of this post to do so)  

Blog posts don't really work either. For my last release I was interviewed on several different popular blogs, in addition to taking part in a huge Tea Party celebration. My sales never increased. I've given away over 70 free copies (both ebooks and paperback) of my last book in the hopes that I would get good reviews and by word of mouth receive more sales. (NOTE: One of my biggest pet peeves with reviewers is those who volunteered to receive a free copy and review my book, but who never do. I never hear from them again. It always amazes me that Christians behave this way.)

So how do I get the word out about my books? Just ask my husband how many times he's caught me pulling my hair out trying to find some method that helps get my books noticed. Let's face it, (especially now with self-published books) there are a TON of books available on the market these days. How does an author get noticed?

Write a REALLY Good book, is what some people are saying. Then it will sell itself by word of mouth. But I don't believe that's true anymore. I believe there's a lot of GREAT books out there that don't get read.  Of course, I do my very best on each book I write. I pray over them and try not to rush the story, but instead, make sure it's my very best work. Then I hire the best editors, the best cover designers I can afford.

This post may sound like I'm whining, but I'm really not.  I feel extremely blessed to be able to write for a living and I honestly trust God to get my books in the right people's hands. I guess the main point I want to get across is if you don't see me out there on blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other media, it's not because I don't care to converse with you, it's because I'm probably tucked away in my writer's cave, music blaring, fingers pounding away at my keyboard, writing my next novel.  I feel like that's the best use of my limited time.

However, since this is a ministry as well as a business, I'd also like to reward those of you who are my loyal readers.

So, I'm instituting a new Two-For-One-Ebook and Three-For-One-Paperback offer.  Here's how it works.  

Buy any of my Ebooks online, read it and write a review, then send me the receipt and a link to the review, and I'll will send you a FREE copy of any of my other Ebooks.

And/Or

Buy any three ebooks, write reviews, send me receipts and links to reviews, and I will send you a signed copy of any of my paperbacks (US Only, sorry)   I wanted to make this 2 ebooks, but honestly with what it costs me to print and ship the paperback, I would lose money.


I know some of you have already read all my books, but this will apply to future books as well.  For instance, if you purchase and review my new release, The Reckoning, you can get my next release for free! (ebooks only)


God Bless and have a good weekend!