MwM Self-Publishing Spotlight: Leigh Ellwood

Marketing with Mandy Self-Publishing: Leigh Ellwood

Q: Please take a minute to tell us a little about yourself.

A: Thanks for having me here. I am Leigh Ellwood and I mainly write romance and erotica, though I take on other genres under another name. I have been writing all of my life, but didn’t publish a book until 2001. When I’m not at the day job helping clients with social media, I’m writing and reading, and hope to complete at least one novel a year.

Presently I have works out with Phaze Books, Samhain Publishing, Loose ID, and a number of works pubbed myself through an co-op imprint, DLP Books.

Q: What prompted you to self-publish your book(s)?

A: There are a few reasons. Early in my writing career, I had a few non-erotic books publish and quickly fizzle. I didn’t know much about marketing back then, and the publisher of the first book unfortunately had little experience, too. When I got the rights back to these works I noticed few publishers were willing to take on the reprint rights, so I published them myself through DLP. To my great pleasure, those titles are selling better now than they had with their original publishers!

As for new material that I self-publish, the works are mainly genres that didn’t interest some of my target publishers. I have a number of F/F erotic stories, which were once hard to place with pubs. After publishing them myself, though, I’ve noticed they sell well.

Q: How has the experience been to date?

A: I find the experience is good. I like that I get to keep most of the spoils when the checks are cut. The challenge for me is time to handle all of the marketing in addition to the writing. It’s expected even when you’re with a legacy publisher, yes, but publishers do relieve you of some of the book production that now falls on you.

Q: What do you know now that you wished you knew when you started?

A: I know cover art is very important in terms of making the package attractive to readers. I feel I have grown as a self-publisher in a sense because I know where my weaknesses lie in the process. I can produce an “okay” cover, or I can invest in a professional to create something more visually appealing.

Also, I wish I were a better accountant! Just a note for those of you new to this: keep track of EVERYTHING you buy – ad space, stock photos, etc.

Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?

A: I believe content is king. I find that blogging and guest blogging (blog tours) are the way to go to get your name out there. I am planning one for my next work and hope to do one for every release going forward. I do also play around with Twitter and Facebook, but mainly for personal purposes. Your name needs to be where the readers go, and I think readers are more inclined to check out the book bloggers for recommendations.

Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?

A: Write, revise, and revise some more. Find a good critique partner who will stick with you and be honest about your work – one who tells you when things don’t work. If he/she doesn’t, a reader just may tell you later.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: My latest, ODD, is a M/M short out through All Romance’s Perfect Strangers imprint. It is a contemporary, humorous short about two partygoers who meet at a most unusual event. It is available exclusively through ARe along with others from the line.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s (works in progress)?

A: I am also finishing up a full length M/M work, tentatively titled Act Daring. This story is about an actor who makes a bad career move and leaves Hollywood to recover. While visiting his parents, he falls for a small town man directing a play and looking for inspiration. I hope to announce a release date soon.

Author LINKS:

Homepage

Blog

Twitter

Tags: guest author, indie author, Marketing with Mandy, self-publishing

MwM-Author Spotlight-Trinity Blacio

Marketing with Mandy Author Spotlight: Trinity Blacio

Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Ravenous Romance. (insert publisher name here or if self-published put self-publishing here).

A: I first started working with Ravenous Romance four years ago. Lori Perkins brought me on board. Everyone at RR has gone out of their way to work with me. Holly Schmidt, Allan Penn, and Lori Perkins are always working on promoting their authors, getting Ravenous Romance books out there to uncharted waters. If you have a suggestion they listen and they are always on the lookout for more talented authors.

Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?

A: Short and sweet. Do not step on toes, follow the rules when promoting. Interviews, blogs, radio shows, anything that gets your name out there. Carry business cards with you and hand them out when you do your errands. They might not be interested in what you write, but they will be telling others they met an author and that could get you a sale.

Leave free stuff at your local library’s, book stores, and colleges.

Q: What is one thing you’d want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?

A: Never give up. Any business you go into there are ups and downs. Cut throat people who will try everything to discredit you and your stories. So believe in yourself, talk to other authors, most of them would be willing to give you any advice they can. They can even point out some do’s or don’ts.
Also you find a great place on the internet link it, write it down you never know when you’ll need that place again.
Ask authors to do interviews for your website, other authors also bring different readers to your websites. Plus, you help others, others will help you.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A: My latest release is Book seven in my series, Running In fear: New Beginnings Jubilee, and yes it is better to read the books in a row.
They have a new world, a new beginning: now all they need is for their enemies to drop dead and leave them alone. Jaycee LeBlathe, Suzanne Hazelfield, and Lissa Elam have no idea how to be the first ladies, to be queens, let alone rule over anyone. All they know how to do is survive, until now.
Nikola, Dominic, Remi, and Dane have decided it is time for their female companions to live again, to love, and to know what a family unit is all about. Their people now brought over, settling into new homes on a new planet, everyone waits for the word that the war on Earth is over. Are their mates truly safe now? Or will this New Beginning Jubilee be put on hold?

The previous titles are as follow, which all can be found at Ravenous Romance:
1. Running In Fear: Escape
2. Running In Fear: Abandoned
3. Running In Fear: Coming Home
4. Running In Fear: Cupid’s Venom
5. Running In Fear: Dragon’s Den
6. Running In Fear: Ghost Warrior
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?

A: Right now I’m working on the first book for my witch series called, Rapturous Celestial Sanctum. The first book, The Triad Warriors.
In the year 2020, vampires, witches and warlocks, shifters live among the human race, trying to survive. A peace has settled among the races, but the witches and warlocks still trust no one. Prosecuted throughout time, the gods have stepped in to set up havens for said witches and Warlocks.
Fourteen Sanctums are scattered across Earth. Each one is run by an ancient warrior, protector of witches and warlocks, giving them a haven from those that would kill them or use them for evil purposes. Each Sanctum will have at least three novel-length stories. The Sanctum is hidden behind the image of private BDSM clubs.
What better way to hide, to fuel their powers, and to shore up alliances for the threats against their people in a private club of sex?
A: Q: How did you get into writing? A: Actually, my mother encouraged me, after seeing some of my college papers printed in the local newspapers and such. Ever since then I haven’t stopped. I’ve wanted to, believe me especially after the first set of bullies came along. Yes, there are authors who are bullies in our world. Just have to learn how to ignore them.

Q: How do balance family and writing?

A: I work when ever and where ever I can. Making supper I’ll be running back and forth to the computer when I can writing, but the majority of my writing comes in the early morning hours, when all is asleep or in school.
LINKS:
Author HomePage
Author Twitter
Author Facebook

Tags: guest author, Marketing with Mandy

Marketing with Mandy ~ Tips on Doing LIVE Radio Interviews

Marketing with Mandy ~ Tips on Doing LIVE Radio InterviewsThere may come a time when you, as an author, find yourself committed to doing an interview on the radio. Many feel they can handle a LIVE interview with no trouble. That may be. It never hurts to be prepared. Nerves can get the best of us and it’s always good to have a plan ready.

Since I host an internet radio show with Michelle Pillow, I’ll use Raven Radio as an example. When you’re a guest, you call in from a phone to do the LIVE interview with us. Make sure you’re not calling in from a cell phone. It’s easy for calls to be dropped and for the reception to be low. If you sound crackly on the phone to me, you will sound exactly like that on air as well. Avoid using a speakerphone or Bluetooth like options—while those headsets work great while driving, they don’t exactly shine through on air. If you have call waiting, shut it off prior to calling in. There is nothing worse than the pauses in conversation because someone is trying to beep through. The same goes for disruptions in the background. Be sure you’re calling from a quiet spot.

While its important to be prepared, having notes in front of you, or your blurb handy, anything that may help you on the fly, its also important to not sound like you’re reading from a script. The opposite end of the spectrum is rambling. It happens to the best of us. (I know what you’re thinking—hey, lady, what the hell can I do then?)It’s simple. Strike a fine balance.

If you’re prone to rambling when nervous (Trust me, when it hits you that not only is the interview live but that it will be available as an mp3 in podcast form for thousands of listeners—forever immortalized in cyber land—the urge to ramble will be there.)

Tips to avoid rambling:

• Be prepared: note cards, your website(s) pulled up in front of you for quick reference, blurb handy, book handy (I send a show outline to guests prior to the show so they can glance at it and get a feel of what is happening when).

• Avoid using filler words such as and, umm, but, well…. No. I don’t mean you can’t ever say them just don’t use them as a bridge to nowhere. You know what I mean, when you’re stumped or when your mind is refusing to cooperate and agree with your tongue (happens to me all the time). By using filler words you’re tying the interviewer’s hands, leaving them the choice of letting you continue to ramble or cutting you off when it sounds as if you might say more. That makes them look rude and they’ll often avoid doing it. That means you’re left rambling. LOL.

• If you’re asked a question either by the interviewer or a listener who calls, don’t hedge your way through it or go all “clinical”. I have images of “Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?” in my head. Monotone and/or way too clinical doesn’t win you points for being smart. It makes the audience sound you out.

Also, yes, you’re on the show to pump your book but it’s not a commercial. Find a happy medium with talking about your book, yourself and going with the flow of the topic. For Raven, we’ll often prompt authors, encouraging them to talk about their book, themselves, interests and so on depending upon time. We’re also fairly good at steering the conversation to help blend into whatever the topic of the day of the show is. I’m sure this is the case with most hosts.

Know how long your slotted time is. When that time limit nears, be prepared to wrap up your portion. Normally, we’ll guide you. When your time is ended and all the thanks yous have been said, go ahead and hang up.

Radio is just one more marketing tool to spread the word about yourself and your book. Taking the time to prepare and simply exhaling deeply before starting will lead to a happy and hopefully fun experience.

Hope this Marketing with Mandy was helpful!

Until next time…..

Tags: , Marketing with Mandy, radio, Raven Radio