Guest Post: Planning a Joint Blog Tour

My good friend Kara Leigh Miller and Sharon Kleve have two great books coming out this week. In an effort to raise awareness for their newest releases I have decided to host them on my blog today! I hope you love their books as much as I do! (Oh, and did I mention they are hosting a giveaway?)

Planning a Joint Blog Tour

by Kara Leigh Miller & Sharon Kleve

With the advent and popularity of ebooks, traditional marketing and book tours/signings aren't as effective as they used to be. You don’t always have a physical book to carry around to do book signings. So, what do you do to promote your book and get it in the hands of readers?You do a blog tour!Planning a blog tour is both exciting and exhausting. It’s a lot of work, but it is well worth it. However, working in conjunction with someone else to celebrate the release of two books is way more fun! This is exactly what we’ve done.How, you ask? Here are the steps we took to plan and organize our Sweet ‘n Steamy Blog Tour.

1. Get organized before you start any planning. This step is crucial!
   1. Start a spreadsheet where you can keep track of all the stops you schedule. You don't want to forget about a stop or forget to send materials to a blogger after they've been kind enough to host you. We have a spreadsheet we're using via Google docs. Goggle docs is convenient because you can access it from any computer, without sending a word document back and to keep the other author up-to-date. It includes: blog name, blog link, blogger's name, blogger's email address, date of scheduled stop, type of post (guest post (topic), interview, spotlight, review), and date the materials were sent to the blogger. So, at a quick glance, we can see what dates we have left to fill and which bloggers we still need to send stuff to.
   2. Pick dates that you want your blog tour to run. Be sure it coincides with your book release. Starting the day your book is released or the day after is a good choice. For example, our Sweet 'n Steamy tour is running from 9/15 - 10/16, so we know we have to try and fill as many dates within that time frame as possible. One blog stop per day is good. It's better if you can schedule 2 or 3 per day, for maximum exposure.
   3. No blog tour is complete without a giveaway of some sort. Determine what prizes you’d like to giveaway and make a list of them.
   4. Create a standard form email that you can copy and paste when contacting bloggers. Trust us, you don’t want to have to retype the same email over and over again. Be sure to include your name; pertinent blog tour information such as dates, tour name, etc.; the giveaway and what prizes you’re offering; the book(s) information; and what kind of promotion you’re looking to do: book spotlight, guest post, interview, or a review request. Also, be sure to personalize it for each blog you send it to.
2. Start contacting bloggers. In our case, we both contacted our personal friends/bloggers first. They are your best resource. If you’re a new author and don’t have any blogging contacts yet, don’t worry. Start by going to your publisher's author loop and ask your fellow authors to help you out and participate in your blog tour.
3. Find blogs that fit your genre of book. For example, you don't want to ask blogs that cater to a young adult audience to help promote your erotica or adult romance book. It's very easy to Google "romance blogs" or "paranormal blogs" or "young adult blogs." Be prepared. There will be a LOT of options.
4. Systematically start going through the search results. Visit each individual blog and read their guest post/review request requirements. Then send them an email asking to be a guest on their blog. Some blogs will post an email address that you send requests to. Others will have a form right there on the website to fill out. This is where your pre-written form letter will come in handy. Also, be sure to update your spreadsheet each time you schedule a stop.
5. Repeat step 3 until you're exhausted or you've run out of blogs to visit.
6. This is optional: create a new page on your personal blog that will stay there until the end of the tour. This allows people to see the complete tour schedule and follow it if they want. It's also added promotion for random visitors who may not know you have a blog tour going on. You can see a sample one here: http://www.karaleighmiller.com/p/jilted-blog-tour.html .
7. Most importantly…Have fun and sell some books!

Book Title: JiltedAuthor: Kara Leigh MillerPublisher: Books to Go NowGenre: Erotic Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: 9.15.2013Length: 49KHeat Rating: Hot Book Blurb: Amy and Brett have been friends since they were kids; and their friendship has withstood the test of time. But can it withstand Brett's fiancée, Vanessa? Brett Hudson has often wondered what it would be like to be more than Amy's friend, but when he's chosen as the newest professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, he meets Vanessa, one of the shows costume designers and it's a whirlwind romance that ends in a wedding proposal. As the big day draws closer, Brett begins to think that marrying Vanessa might be a bad idea. She wants him to give up Amy. Completely. Will he give up his best friend for the woman he's supposed to marry? Amy King is heartbroken to learn that Brett is marrying another woman. But, when Brett is jilted at the altar, he begs Amy to go on his honeymoon with him. A week on a tropical island with her best friend, the man she's fantasized about for years is a dream come true for Amy. But when Brett suggests crossing the line from friends to lovers, Amy is reluctant. Will she risk years of friendship for one night of passion? Excerpt: "It's because you go for the wrong type of guy," Brett said matter-of-factly, pouring a third shot down his throat. "Those muscle bound jocks are all bark and no bite. They look good on the outside, but they're a mess on the inside."Amy threw a piece of ice at him and laughed. "And the goody two shoes, school teacher types you date are much better?""Nope." He grinned. "Which is why we're both still single."She sighed. "Yeah, so much for my dream of having kids.""You're young. I'm sure you'll find someone." He drank his last shot and chased it with his beer."I'm thirty, Brett. By the time I find a man, date him, and get married, I'll be an old hag with no viable eggs."The thought of Amy finding a man to marry and have kids with didn't sit well with him. He couldn't stomach the thought of losing her. "I'll tell you what." He leaned across the table and pointed at her. "Three years from now, if neither of us are married, I'll marry you and give you as many babies as you want." Brett's words were slurred. Yup. He was definitely drunk. He wouldn't have made that proposition otherwise."Yeah right." Amy rolled her eyes. "You and me? That would be like fucking my brother. Thanks, but no thanks."He flinched at her words. "You think of me as your brother?" That bothered him a lot more than it should, especially considering he'd never once thought of her as a sister.She shrugged. "We're best friends. How else would I think of you?" Amy glanced away, and then set her gaze on him again. "Why? How do you think of me?"Oh shit! He hadn't expected the conversation to backfire on him like that. What was he supposed to tell her? That he thought of her as a best friend that he wanted to fuck? No, he definitely couldn't tell her that. "As a friend, I guess. I don't know. It's not like I sit around and think about how I should think of you. You're Amy.""And you're drunk.""Maybe a little." He grinned. "So, do we have a deal or what?" Author Bio: Kara is a multi-published romance author who dabbles in young adult, new adult, paranormal, and contemporary romances. However, her genre of choice will always be erotic romance. She's a member of the CNY Writers Haven and the Romance Writers of America. Writing is her passion and she loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with her fellow authors and her fans.Today, Kara resides in Upstate New York with her husband, five kids, three cats, and two dogs. When she's not reading or writing, she's spending time with her family and friends.Nothing excites Kara more than hearing from her fans. So, send her a note. She'll go total fan girl over it! Social Media Links:Website/Blog: www.karaleighmiller.comEmail: karaleighmiller@yahoo.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/KaraLeighMillerTwitter: www.twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KaraLeighMiller Book Title: Halo's WishAuthor: Sharon KlevePublisher: Books to Go NowGenre: Sweet Contemporary Christmas RomanceRelease Date: 9.15.2013Length: 11KHeat Rating: Sweet Book Blurb: Halo Ann Carlyle wishes for a home, family, and a boat-load of pets. What she gets is a bruised hip, a lump on the head, a broken ankle, and her new yellow Honda Civic is demolished.Rich McFarland, a sexy veterinarian, keeps showing up in the most unexpected places, promising everything she's ever wanted.Halo believes she only has time to pursue her career as a pet detective and must ignore her growing attraction to achieve her dreams.Will Halo trust her heart, and find a way to get both for Christmas? Excerpt: She'd just placed another call through to Pemsky's office, which went straight to his voicemail, when the office door opened. Halo smiled and looked up into dreamy, gold-flecked green eyes, short sandy brown hair, a slight cleft chin, and full lips set in a hard line. Even with the stern look he had on his face, my hormones jumped into overdrive.Mr. Dreamy cleared his throat—she must've been staring. In her most professional voice she said, "Good morning. How may I help you?"He removed a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and unfolded the sheet."I was parked in front of the Beacon Hill Ale House and my driver's side mirror was sideswiped by one of Pemsky's Security's SUV's Friday night."Halo loved the Beacon Hill Ale House. Every Saturday night the Ale House allowed local bands to jam together. That's where she'd met her last loser boyfriend. She'd had a lot of loser boyfriends. She's currently on a hiatus from dating, but she wouldn't mind jumping back into the dating game for this dream-boat.He handed her the piece of paper."I wasn't able to get a look at the driver, but I got the license plate number of the vehicle that hit my car and drove away."He emphasized the last part."I'm very sorry about your car. I'm sure Mr. Pemsky will be happy to cover the damage." Halo checked the company log and Pemsky's name popped up as the driver—she gulped. Author Bio:Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband.Sharon is a writer of paranormal and contemporary romance. She loves romance. She loves reading romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.One of her favorite things to do is picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way her favorite authors have inspired her.When not writing, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.  Social Media Links:Email: sharon.kleve@yahoo.comBlog: http://authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sharonrkleveTwitter: https://twitter.com/SharonKleveGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5399389.Sharon_KleveLinkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sharon-kleve/56/ab/691/ Rafflecopter Giveaway Info:Prizes:

• One (1) Winner will receive a $25 gift card to a book seller of      their choice
• One (1) Winner will receive Kara Leigh Miller's complete backlist,      which includes five novellas and two full-length books
• One (1) Winner will receive Sharon Kleve's complete backlist, which      includes six books
• Three (3) Winners will receive a signed paperback copy of Kara Leigh      Miller's, Death of a Waterfall
• Three (3) Winners will receive a signed paperback copy of Sharon      Kleve's, Love Crazed

Enter Here To Win: a Rafflecopter giveawayDirect Link:http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ODg1YzliOTNiYjk5ZGU2MzdiMTM3MWMwMjg1ODM1OjE4/Legal Information:- Entering this contest means you have read, understood, and agree with all rules and regulations stated.- Entrants must be 18 or older (or age of majority in your country) to enter and to win.- No purchase necessary.- Void where prohibited.- All stated rules are subject to change without notification or reason given.- Chances of winning vary widely based on the number of entries received.- Prize is as stated. No substitutions or exchanges.- Contest host/organizer is not responsible to misrepresented/mis-typed email addresses, spam filters, mailer demons, and other internet wackiness that may crop up at the time of winner notification.- Winners are final.- Contest Starts 00:01EST September 15, 2013 and Ends 12:59EST October 16, 2013 and open to International participants.- Winners will be notified via email, Twitter, or Facebook no later than 12:00EST October 18, 2013-Respond by date to collect prize is 14 days from notification date.

10 Secrets Readers Don't Know About Authors

We all have a favorite book, a book so well-loved that its yellowed pages curl your fingers like a baby’s hands when you turn its pages. A book that you are inspired to read after you see a funny movie or someone says a particular name. One of my favorite books, one that calls to me as the main character is a relatable, clumsy mess, is Bridget Jones’ Diary (though I have many books that I love). It could be Bridget’s well-intentioned, but lacking sexual prowess with men, or it could be her hysterical dialogue, but I keep saying I need to read that book again. This time when I was flicking through the pages like a book-starved librarian, I began to wonder what are things readers don’t know about authors and their books? So I came up with this list:

10. Authors love their readers. At least most of them do, this is especially true of romance authors. So if you have a favorite author, or if you love a book, let the author know. There are a lot of potholes in the road to publication. A few kind words can go a long way. I know many authors who have a board filled with positive comments readers have sent them for those ‘pothole’ days. So stop by on Facebook or Twitter and say ‘Hi!’

9.  Books are not written overnight. In the case of most authors, we don’t have a devoted team of personal assistants and public relations officers. We do everything: writing the book, the jacket flaps, the blurbs, we are the ones who get endorsements for our books, we are in charge of (some) marketing, teaching classes, judging writing contests, setting up personal appearances and book signings, and all of this on top of the daily writing projects. Right now this is my personal To Do List: write blog articles for book tours (I did ten interviews last week), write two book proposals for The Nymph Series, write two book proposals for my next series (YEAH!), I’m writing a collection of short stories, and any day now I should have my edits coming back for my next book in The Nymph Series entitled Winters Swans (to be release October 14, 2013). This is all on top of my ‘day job’ for a publishing house out of Seattle called, Books To Go Now.So please be patient with us. We would love to put out a book every two months, but for most this is an impossible dream but, believe me, We Strive to Make Our Readers Happy.8. The success of a book is largely in part to the support of its readers. If you love a book, tell your friends. There is no better recommendation for a book than word of mouth. J Authors love when they see you talking about a book that took them many months to write. It makes our day!7. Most authors will send signed books if you ask. Now I have run into scenarios when this isn’t true. (I would like to add this is normally the authors with teams of personal assistants—the authors who have nine books on the New York Times Bestsellers list.  Then again, sometimes ven they will find time to send you a signed copy—and those are some of my favorite authors.)6. We have favorite authors too! We read. Some may say we have an ‘addiction.’ In fact, our addiction is what has led many people to become authors.5. Going off the last point, if you see us in public (when we venture out of our dark cavernous writers caves) don’t be afraid to come up and say ‘Hi!’  We are human and, for the most part, we don’t bite. It’s better to introduce yourself and say hello than to be the person who stares at me like I have a booger sticking out of my nose (yes, I checked when you weren’t looking).Feel free to discuss books with us. We’re huge nerds!4. Yes, we are nerds. Think about it. We sit alone for hours on end while we try and pretend the voices in our heads are real…. Thinking about that, maybe we aren’t nerds. I think there is actually a psychological problem that may need to be addressed. J3. In every book you read, you are learning not only about the characters, but about the author as well. However, in the case of a great book, you will think you are learning only about the characters, but if you look a little deeper you will find out some of the author’s inner-desires and passions. No author would write a book about a subject they find uninteresting or uninspiring.2. (As much as we all do this) Don’t judge a book by its cover. I have found that terrible books have fabulous covers, and some great books have covers that…well, let’s be honest here, I’m just glad I’m reading the book on the Kindle. I don’t need anyone thinking I’m some kind of sex-starved housewife. I love my hunks (I even post them regularly on my Fan Page), but that doesn’t mean I want to my dentist to comment on the qualities of the cover model’s abs.The truth about covers is this: authors have very little say about what makes the final cut. For my latest release, Montana Mustangs, all I got to tell the publisher was that I would please like a horse, a blond, and Glacier National Park in the background. Thank goodness they have a wonderful team of designers, as I couldn’t be happier, but there are times that even the author cringes at the final design.1. Romance authors hate it when you say: “Oh, I don’t read romances.” And then grab a Lee Child novel off the shelf.Almost every book out there, at some level, is a romance. Labeling all romances as “less than” is a discredit to not only the genre, but to all the authors who write romances. In the last decades romance has evolved, unfortunately the public opinion has not. There are many who believe all romance authors write ‘smut.’Yes, many romance novels do have a little sexual attraction, but there is a huge variety of books under the label of ‘romance.’ There are books with no scenes and there are books that proudly declare they are porn. There is every level of romance from those with a Christian message to those romances that take part in the farthest reaches of the galaxy.So before you judge a romance author, make sure you know what romance entails. At the most basic level, if someone says they write romance, it means that they write books that are emotionally based. We pen books that pull at reader’s heartstrings. We want you to laugh. We want you to cry (tears of joy, I swear…errr… usually). Most of all, we want you to enjoy your experience while reading our books.

Other Places you can find Danica Winters:  Blog | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | 

A Writer's Dream...

I had to share a special event! Today I received this wonderful picture (sent to me by a wonderful librarian).

To most people this would be just a simple book sitting on a library cart. Yet to me it means something else entirely. To me this picture symbolizes an extraordinary amount of hard work, sleepless nights, determination (that has bordered on obsession), and blind hopes.  It symbolizes many business trips, conferences, meetings, letters written, and letters received (not all of which were written in kindness).

To me this wonderful picture goes beyond just having a special place in my life. It also means that my books can have a special place in everyone's. And that, above everything else, is what is important to me.

When I began writing my goal was simple, to entertain. To bring joy to my fans.

To all my fans: Thank you for reading my books. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for enjoying the books I have created just for you.

To all those wonderful Librarians: Thank you for your support! You are helping to create a literary world where all are welcome!

*If your local library doesn't have a copy of The Nymph's Labyrinth, all you need to do is request a copy and most will make it happen!