Marketing with Mandy~Author Kelley St. John
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Forever) and Harlequin Blaze.
A: I sold my first book to Warner Forever in early 2005 and have just finished my fourth book with Grand Central (the new name for Warner Forever). My books for Grand Central are single title sexy, sassy contemporaries that often involve characters that span over two books, as a primary character in one book and secondary in another. I really like to let my readers see what’s happened to the characters since they last read about them. In 2006, I sold a sexy paranormal trilogy to Harlequin Blaze. Those hit the shelves this year. The story is about six cousins who are mediums for ghosts, and I’m thrilled that the next trilogy (the other three cousins’ stories) will hit the shelves in 2008.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: My biggest promotion tool is offering contests. I always have a contest going on my website and usually give away a nice vacation package. Right now at www.kelleystjohn.com, I’m giving away a Louisiana plantation vacation to celebrate my Harlequin series, The Sexth Sense, which is set at a Louisiana plantation. I’m also giving away a $500 Spa Getaway package at www.TheGuyCheats.com and www.TheGirlLies.com, the sites that are featured in my next Grand Central release, TO CATCH A CHEAT.
Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: For promotion, find something that makes you stand out, something that is unique for you and become “known” for that promotional avenue. For example, offer unique contests, or provide something unique and innovative on your website. On my site, I started a segment before I was published that is called “The Call.” This features first sale stories for authors. I’d noticed that writers and readers seem to really enjoy learning how their favorite authors first sold a book, so I started accumulating interviews of authors. I have over 175 stories now, and find that visitors to that portion of my site often spend 2-3 hours reading the first sale stories.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: TO CATCH A CHEAT is about Marissa Kincaid, a woman who has developed a pattern for dating men who are “terminally unfaithful.” She decides to break this pattern by starting a website that will oust cheaters — www.TheGuyCheats.com — which seems like a great idea, until one supposed cheater strikes back, claiming she lied and starting his own site to prove it. Oh, and he just happens to be the sexiest male she’s ever encountered, and he also happens to only want one thing…Marissa Kincaid.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?
A: Right now, I’m writing the second Blaze trilogy for The Sexth Sense series. These are more sexy paranormals about six Louisiana cousins who are mediums helping ghosts cross over to the other side. These are scheduled for release in May, July and September 2008.
Q: What types of research do you do for your books?
A: I travel…a lot. For The Sexth Sense series, I traveled to New Orleans several times, particularly the plantations on River Road, where the story is set. For TO CATCH A CHEAT and GOOD GIRLS DON’T, I traveled to Atlanta, and for REAL WOMEN DON’T WEAR SIZE 2, I traveled to Tampa for the Gasparilla Festival. I think it’s important to spend time in the locations for your novels, because then you get the details necessary to authenticate your work. Plus…I love to travel!
Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?
A: I like writing romance because I enjoy letting my readers know the minute they pick up the book that they aren’t going to be disappointed at the end. A romance by definition means the ending will be emotionally satisfying. That’s a promise that I can happily deliver to my readers by writing romance.
LINKS:
Homepage — http://www.kelleystjohn.com/home.cfm
Book Clubs — http://www.kelleystjohn.com/bookclubs.cfm
Book Tours — http://www.booktour.com/author/kelley_st_john
MySpace — http://www.myspace.com/kelleystjohn
Grand Central Café (blog for GCP authors) — http://grandcentralcafe.blogspot.com/
Thanks Kelley for stopping past! — Mandy
Hi Kelley!!
You always have the best contests.
January 27th, 2008 | #