Thursday, May 30, 2013

How to Have a Successful Blog Tour - Part 1

 My blog tour company!



I've asked Colette, my favorite blog tour operator, from ABG Reads Book Tours to offer authors some tips on book tours. Whether you contract with a tour company or DIY, here's her great suggestions:

Having a successful blog tour is a lot like matchmaking - it takes a lot of misses to get it right, but when the spark happens, magic ignites! Here are some tips to take the mystery out of finding readers for your tour. 


  •  Timing - The most important part of having a successful blog tour is giving bloggers enough time to put you in their schedule! If you contact bloggers at the last minute, don’t be surprised to get a lot of nos. However, the more time you have to schedule the tour the more bloggers you will be able to find. Most work 2 to 3 months ahead of time, with the bigger blogs sometimes working 4 months ahead for reviews.
  •  Approachability - When contacting bloggers be sure to include their name if it’s on their blogs or the name of their blogs in the email. Be sure to have a synopsis of the book and the cover in the email. First impressions are key: I have found putting a one line description after the initial request to join the blog tour works wonder. You want to capture readers attention from the very beginning. Don’t send out mass emails if you can avoid it. Bloggers can tell that they are mass emails and are less likely to respond to them.
  •  Genre specific blogs - You want build an audience, and to do that the best way is to find blogs that read the genre that you write in. A lot blogs (like mine, ABuckeye Girl Reads) read cross genres, but there are a lot that only read certain genres like Young Adult, Erotica or mysteries. If you find blogs that read your genre, they will have readers that read that genre as well. If you write Urban Fantasy, you don’t want to go to a blog that focuses mainly on Young Adult. Almost all bloggers have a review policy - all you have to do is read it to see what genres they read. Here is mine: http://lovesromances.blogspot.com/p/my-review-policy.html
Here are some blogger databases to help you find readers:





  • Originality - Don’t be afraid to be creative!! Instead of doing a typical guest post that just answers one question, think about doing a playlist that goes along with your book or a top ten list that is fun but also tells readers about your book. Think about doing themed guest posts throughout the tour. Take the readers on a tour of the world you created.
  • Giveaways - A great way to drive traffic to the posts that you do on blogs is by having a giveaway. The giveaway doesn’t have to be about your book. It can be a giveaway that has themes from your book, chocolate, a book bag, bookmarks, a gift card, or a past title. 


Colette’s Bio: 
 
I have a passion for books in all genres, but have a weakness for romances. I started the blog A Buckeye Girl Reads
3 years ago, and through that blog have worked with many authors. I discovered much to my surprise, that I loved helping them get their book noticed by as many people as possible and started ABG Reads Book Tours.  Hobbies outside of reading are sparse, but include: cooking, baking, traveling and writing.  



Thanks, Colette, for visiting. Please come back and tell us what to do during the tour.


Saturday, May 25, 2013

2013 Library Author Forum Video




To celebrate the 2013 Author's Forum at the Cottonwood Arizona Public Library, the library invited 27 local authors to meet library readers and tell them about their books. Library patrons were thrilled to meet "real" authors and authors had fun meeting a wide variety of local writers.

As a surprise treat, Richard Corey, dog fiction author, interviewed authors for his Art World of Sedona TV series.

This YouTube clip features sci-fi author Val Chanda first and then an interview with me, and my not-so-real dog, talking about The Shapeshifters' Library series.




Friday, May 17, 2013

Take Your Dog to Work



Plan to Celebrate the 15th Annual
 Take Your Dog to Work Day
 Friday, June 21st
Chris Favorite, owner of Favorite Clothing Company in Sedona,
brings Jackson to her store filled with designer clothes for women.

We all know being around your pets makes you happy, but now there's scientific evidence, pets can make you happier and healthier. 

A Virginia Commonwealth University study showed employees who brought their dogs to work experienced lower stress levels, reported higher levels of job satisfaction, and had a more positive perception of their employer. 

Dog owners who brought their dogs to work had the lowest stress levels. The most stressed turned to be dog owners that left their pets at home. With non-pet owners scoring in the middle.

Pet owners have been found to have lower blood pressure and fewer stress hormones circulating in their blood.   

  
Nadia Caillou, co-owner of Golden Bone Pet Products   
and co-founder of Golden Bone Rescue and Rehab
Karen Allen, Ph.D. (State University of New York at Buffalo) discovered the presence of a pet was more effective than a spouse or a friend in easing the effects of stress. 

Allen McConnell Ph.D. Professor of psychology Miami University in Ohio, coauthored a study published in 2011 showing that pets foster self-esteem, calmness, and a soothing feeling of acceptance. (I assume the study only included well behaved pets.)
  
Donna, my dental hygienist, brings Cowboy to work on cool days. He
 stays in her truck, just outside her window, while she works and sometimes sings to her.



Thinking of getting a dog or cat? 
Check out local humane societies and rescue organizations.
 






Monday, May 13, 2013

"Released" Nominated for RONE Award - Best Paranormal Work



I don’t usually troll for votes (makes troll face). Hopefully you've read “Released” and can be convinced to help.

 I am VERY excited to announce that Released (The Shapeshifters’ Library Book 1) is up for a RONE (Reward Of Novel Excellence Award - Paranormal Section). It was selected because it received a 5 star review in 2012. 
"An enthralling story full of mysteries, magic and shifters."
--InD'Tale Magazine
In “Released.” Amber Polo brings us an enthralling story full of mysteries, magic, and shifters. No stone is left unturned, as all will be revealed on the journey through this mind tingling, heartfelt, and soul warming story! Easy flowing, and well written “Released” has the reader anxiously turning every page in anticipation of the next.  This is such a wonderful read, it will be a great series to follow! Melody Prat InD’Tale Magazine 

InD’tale Magazine is a gorgeous online magazine with amazing reviews and content.
Thanks to them for creating this award!

RONE is broken down into the 3 stages.
  • Stage 1: InDTale Magazine's reviewers pick the best of the books they reviewed in 2012 and nominate them to go on to Stage 2.
  • Stage 2: (Where we are now.) FAN VOTING! The five books with the highest fan votes move to Stage 3.
  • Stage 3: Judging. Professionals within the writing community will read and judge the books. Award ceremony in August in Las Vegas.

With all that said, I am asking for your help! It's not as complicated as it sounds - Really!

I wouldn’t mind if you told everyone you know!

Thank you so much for your support!

Amber
PS: Las Vegas in August? Wouldn't miss it.

DEADLINE Friday, May 17th!


If you are already an InD'Tale subscriber, log in and vote.
If you’re not a InD'Tale subscriber, you may register. which will allow you all access to our website and InD'Tale magazine,  Then, all you need do is click on your favorites to vote!   PLEASE NOTE: The process is not completed until you click the verification email that will be sent to your inbox!