Cross-promotion with other authors is one of the best ways to increase exposure to new readers for your books while supporting your fellow writers. This can occur via group blogs, websites, contests, social media shares, and special events.
Tonight’s party is an example of a Facebook event featuring several of our Booklover’s Bench members. We’ve each prepared a couple of posts with giveaways for our readers. We hope you’ll come and bring your friends.
Winning a book can introduce you to a whole new series. Look for these opportunities and jump in to participate when you see a multi-author event pop up on your screen. They’re fun to attend not only because of the giveaways, but also because you can learn about new authors who might interest you.
This month offers a number of books and bargains for my booklover friends. Check out these deals and steals with contests, giveaways, book fairs and upcoming new releases.
May 1 – New Box Set Release
Guess what’s coming in 2 days? My first mystery series box set! That’s right, The Bad Hair Day Mysteries Box Set Volume One: Books 1-3 arrives on Saturday. Put it on your wish list or order now and start reading at the beginning of Marla the hairstylist’s crime-solving capers. Or… order it as a Mother’s Day gift for a loved one! https://books2read.com/BadHairDayBoxSetOne
April 26 – May 5 Mysteries with Humor
Enter Now to win 25+ exciting Mysteries with Humor from a great collection of authors… AND a brand new eReader! My book, EASTER HAIR HUNT, is one of the prizes. Don’t delay! bit.ly/HumorousMystery-Apr21
May 1 – May 10 Florida Writers Book Expo
Browse sixty booths across genres at this virtual event, all books by Florida authors. They even have freebies at every booth! Even better? There’s a Reader Rewards program, so the more you spend, the more ebooks you get for free! I’m one of the participating authors, and I hope you’ll join us. Prizes and free books for attendees all while shopping from home! Note that I am being interviewed at the event on Monday, May 3 at 2:00 pm. Hope to “see you” there! https://floridawritersbooks.com
How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America
This all-new MWA handbook helps writers create compelling stories and navigate an ever-shifting publishing landscape. From pacing and dialogue to creating diverse characters and building reader outreach, How to Write a Mystery is a complete guide for mystery writers. I am proud to have a small contribution in this volume. https://mysterywriters.org/mwa-anthologies/how-to-write-a-mystery/
My newsletter will be going out this weekend. Are you signed up? If not, go here: https://nancyjcohen.com/newsletter and add your name for even more exciting news delivered directly to your email inbox.
As part of a book promotion campaign, many authors routinely offer giveaways or contests with books as prizes. Whether these are e-books or print copies depends upon author preference, publisher, supplies and cost factors.
Traditionally published authors may receive a carton of advance reading copies for reviewers or to use as giveaway prizes. They can easily supply print copies but may not have the option to give out digital editions. This factor might be curtailed now due to print run delays amid Covid-19 changes.
Suffice it to say that these authors can offer books as prizes in a format approved by their publisher. If they only have print copies available, they can opt to gift an e-book copy by purchasing it themselves. But considering the cost of e-books published by traditional houses, that’s no small sum. Some publishers may offer a digital format for reviewers or put it online at one of the known sites such as NetGalley. It’s up to each author to inquire as to what’s available. Or maybe the publisher is willing to mail out print books on behalf of the author.
On the other hand, self-published authors can make their own choices in this regard. They can order print proofs and send these out as advance reading copies. These books, usually trade paperbacks, cost more for the author as there are no free books from a publishing house. As an alternative, indie authors can offer digital review copies only or give the reviewer a choice.
As for contest prizes, indie authors can choose to give away either print or e-book copies. This is a personal preference, but again one must consider the cost. Print books are more expensive when you add in the shipping charges that can be considerable. This is before we spend on postage to send the print book to the reader.
Lately, I’ve been offering exclusively digital copies, not only for the cost issue, but also because I don’t care to stand in line at the post office during a pandemic. I have cartons full of first edition print copies of backlist titles I’d love to give away to readers, but they’ll have to wait until it’s safer out there.
Hopefully, you’ll be more understanding of why authors may offer one format or the other. It’s a personal choice dependent upon our publisher, formats available for our titles, how much we can afford, and how much we’re willing to risk our health during these uncertain times.
Be aware that even if you don’t own a dedicated e-reader device, you can download digital files onto your home computer or tablet. It’s great to get a signed print book as a contest prize, but please realize this is not always possible. At Booklover’s Bench, where we do monthly giveaways, you’ll see both e-books and print copies in the Prize Vault. Enter Here for a chance to win.
Greetings! I have online events coming up in case you want to participate, awards, giveaways and a recent newsletter to share. Here is a summary:
NEWSLETTER
Read my latest newsletter for giveaways, book sales, new releases and events. Series should read, The Light-Years Series – http://p0.vresp.com/HpAP5g#vr4smallbiz
GIVEAWAYS
Reach for the Stars Giveaway, Sept. 1 – 14 Enter to win a signed first edition copy of Circle of Light and a polished hematite stone known for its calming influence. https://nancyjcohen.com/contest/
EASTER HAIR HUNT has won the Gold Medal in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards. This title is also a Finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Awards and in the American Fiction Awards. https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/easter-hair-hunt
A BAD HAIR DAY COOKBOOK won a Gold Medal in the FAPA President’s Book Awards and is a Finalist in the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Get your copy with 160+ quick & easy recipes, plus excerpts and anecdotes from the Bad Hair Day Mysteries. https://amzn.to/2N9fanK
REISSUES
Save $6 off regular pricesuntil Sept. 8th for THE LIGHT-YEARS SERIES – tales of galactic adventure, new technologies and love among the stars. Note – These stories will be available on Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8N73QW
If you want to get them individually:
99 CENTS Pre-Order SALE! Attorney Sarina Bretton is kidnapped from Earth to become the legendary Great Healer and save the galaxy from a devastating plague in this adventurous science fiction romance. CIRCLE OF LIGHT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8N73QW
Pre-Order SALE $1.99 for a limited time only! Sparks ignite when a diplomat turned spy meets a beautiful slave overseer in this action-packed science-fiction romance. MOONLIGHT RHAPSODY https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8Q6RTY
Pre-Order SALE $2.99 Cultural specialist Mara Hendricks and Commander Deke Sage meet on a mission to rescue a kidnapped child in a voyage that takes them across the galaxy and into each other’s arms. STARLIGHT CHILD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8NKKGL
Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m., “Plotting Made Perfect” with Nancy J. Cohen via Zoom for the All Write: Jump Start Your Novel virtual event sponsored by The Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America (FMWA), in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University. Details TBA.
Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1:00 pm, “Why You Need an Audiobook and How to Make One” with Nancy J. Cohen, Florida Writers Virtual Conference. Register now to attend virtual conference for only $57! https://floridawriters.net/conferences/2020conference/
Aside from managing all the above, I am working diligently to finish proofing through The Drift Lords Series, which will be coming next. These are reissues and were previously published by The Wild Rose Press. I am happy to make all of my prior titles available for you.
Freaky Fridays Is Friday the 13th your lucky day? I’m talking about today, July 13. It could be. (And so could be every Friday for the following three weeks.) I’m teaming up with my friend Joanna Campbell Slan to give away one book a week. She’ll give away one of mine on her Facebook Author Page http://bit.ly/JCSgroup (Or put in “Joanna’s Readers” in your search box.) and I’ll give away one of hers on my Facebook Author Page at https://www.facebook.com/NancyJCohenAuthor/ Here’s how to win: Starting today, Joanna and I will post a question. We’ll randomly select an answer (Saturday morning) from the folks who comment. The winner will get her/his choice from a selection of our books. So…mark your calendar and visit our Author Pages TODAY and every Friday for four weeks in total. LibraryThing If you’re a member of LibraryThing, you could win one of two advance reading copies of Trimmed to Death, #15 in the Bad Hair Day Mysteries. Enter hereJuly 9 – July 23: http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaway/list Booklovers Bench Enter July 1 – 18 to win a $25 Amazon/BN gift card from Booklovers Bench, where readers are winners: http://bookloversbench.com
Cozy Mystery Giveaway, Feb. 28 – March 6 Enter Here to win up to 40+ cozy mysteries, including an ebook copy of Hair Raiser.
(2) Grand Prize “Gift Baskets” of ALL eBooks! (40) Winners of Individual eBooks (randomly selected titles)
Tropical Treats Giveaway, Feb. 21 – March 14 Enter Here to win a Tropical Treats package with a blue scarf, a blue crystal pendant necklace from Effy, a West Indies cookbooks, and a signed hardcover copy of Killer Knots (Bad Hair Day Mystery #9).
Booklovers Bench Monthly Giveaway, March. 1 – 18 Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN gift card from Booklovers Bench
Warrior Prince is running for paranormal Book of the Month Club selection from now until October 15. Please go to http://www.ibookbuzz.com/Vote-for-Next-Book.html and vote for #1 Warrior Prince. I need your help as this contest is close, so please vote!
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All commenters on my BLOG TOUR will be entered into a drawing for aWarrior Prince T-shirt and magnet and a pdf copy of Warrior Prince. Winner will be announced on Halloween. Here are my online appearances for this week and next:
Night Owl Halloween Scavenger Hunt: Sept. 1-Oct. 31. Enter to win my prize of a $15 gift card to The Wild Rose Press. Multiple authors, multiple prizes! http://bit.ly/PXn9MQ
The Romance ReviewsYear-End Splash Party, Nov. 15-Dec. 15. Enter to win my prize of an ebook copy of Warrior Prince. Multiple Authors, Multiple Prizes. http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php
Reader Reviews: I can use customer reviews of Warrior Prince at Amazon, Goodreads, & Barnes and Noble, so the first 15 readers to post an online review on any of these sites and who send me the link, will be entered into a drawing for a handmade Troll from http://www.trollsofnorway.com/ and a signed first edition print copy of Moonlight Rhapsody. Email your link to contest@nancyjcohen.com and put REVIEW in the subject line. Drawing will take place when all 15 reviews appear. International winners will receive an ebook only.
Check out my Contest page for more opportunities to win and my Appearances page for event updates.
