Mimi Barbour

Author

13 STEPS I TOOK TO PROMOTE MY WORK by Mimi Barbour

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                                 Available at Amazon
                                   Available at Barnes and Noble
                                     Available at Wild Rose Press

I’m very proud of the 5 star review from TBR – Goodreads

http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2011/12/review-and-contest-together-for-christmas-by-mimi-barbour.html

13 Steps I took to Promote My Work:

1. I guess the very first thing I did after writing my first book was to look for a writer’s group in my area. Thankfully, my research took me straight to the Romance Writers of America and, much to my delight, I found the Vancouver Island Chapter. (VIC-RWA) Without the guidance of others like me, I’d still be floundering around and wondering who to turn to and what to do next. All authors need support from their peers, and let me tell you, the input from their collective knowledge was invaluable.

2. Website – This was my first endeavor into trying to promote myself and my books, and since I want to be truthful, when I’d started in the business, I was basically a coward when it came to technological challenges, I hired a wonderful web mistress (Rae Monet) who not only set up my website, but has looked after that area of my work right from the beginning.

3. Newsletter – Soon after my website was up and running, I asked Rae what were her suggestions about the best promotional tactics. She suggested starting up a newsletter. Her idea was that anyone who signs onto your newsletter is interested in what’s happening to you, and they will stay with you as long as you don’t inundate them with too much ‘yada yada’ (my words) about inconsequential nothings – write when you have news! This has been one of my best-loved choices. Shamelessly, I started the newsletter using all my personal friends names, and then we set it up on my website that anyone who wants to hear from me can enter their e-mail address. It’s lovely to see new people every time I send out another blurb, which I only do when I actually have something super to tell them (new contracts, books being released, contest wins, etc.)

4. Facebook – Does it work? Are there authors who don’t have a facebook page? Not sure that I get a lot of sales through this forum, but I must tell you, it is a great way to keep in touch with others. Just wish I had more time to spend there.

5. Twitter – About six months ago, I decided that Twitter would be one of the best ways to get news out to the big wide social-media world, and so I worked really hard, gave up hours a day and started trying to build my followers. At that time, I had approximately 400 followers, and I am now over the 2000 mark. Again, was it worth all the hours I put into it, the effort it took and the time away from my writing? I did meet wonderful people and wouldn’t give up knowing these new friends for anything in the world. So, yes it was worth it. And the proof came when just recently “My Cheeky Angel” the book I self-pubbed and released in September was chosen as one of five best paranormal books of the month, and I was able to turn to my friends on twitter where I know a great many of my votes came from.

6. Romance sites – About this time I went crazy looking for as many romance sites as I could find. I signed up for All Romance, Novel Sisterhood, Love Romance Café, Rites of Romance Reviews, Authors Den, Book Rix, you name it – I’m there. And I determined that they all have one thing in common. If you don’t interact often, they just won’t be of much help – and sadly, so much to do – so little time!

7. Goodreads – Again, I have to admit to taking on Goodreads with a lot of enthusiasm, which did wane after a while. It’s time consuming for an author – but well worth while. Because as a reader, and I admit to being a reading freak, it’s a wonderful place to find others who like the same kind of books as you. I’ve met some of my favorite people here, people who I now consider friends, and therefore I try and spend as much time as I can in keeping in touch with them.

8. LinkedIn – When I first became aware of this medium of promotion, it was because a friend had invited me to join. Being that I’m always crazy-busy and tend to dive in before reading rules carefully, I joined and the next thing I knew, I had given them access to my whole e-mail list who then received invitations on my behalf. Took me a while to get myself out of that mess, and I will say here, that the contact at LinkedIn was so kind and helpful. On that site, I’ve probably met more authors, like me, who are just trying to survive and make a few sales and it’s been one of my preferred places to be.

9. Wild Rose Press – Once I became published with The Wild Rose Press, I found a wonderful support team on their loops—other authors who were in the same predicament as myself. We try and help each other keep our spirits up through rejections, bad reviews, and even personal traumas. And, we’re also there to cheer on the good news. Unfortunately, like everything else, there just isn’t enough time to keep in touch daily. I wished there was for they are a great bunch.

10. Savvy Authors – Again, this is another site I have to peek in on periodically. It’s a great place to share news of a blog you’ve written or if you’re a guest with someone else. The writers here are supportive and will interact with you as long as you reciprocate. As on any of the loops, if you don’t give – you won’t get! But sadly…not a lot of time!

11. Guest blog – I love to be a guest and tried hard to get on as many blogs as I could handle. I do believe that if enough people visit the page, it can result in sales…with a good excerpt and a well-written post, that is. Writing new blurbs for each of these opportunities takes a lot of time and effort, but it is a way to get out of your own zone and in front of strangers—hopefully readers looking for a new author to follow. It also helps you to meet bloggers who love to support you and will go out of their way. But there is one very important drawback and uses up the sand in your timer. Those blogs have to be promoted on your loops, facebook, twitter, etc so there will be people to come and read them. And they need to be attended so you can keep up with the comments.

12. Your own Blogsite – This was my latest attempt of promoting my books. (I know! Why wasn’t it my first!?) I just started up my Blogspot “Believe!” in October and couldn’t…ahhh believe that amount of traffic that ended up there. So, now I’m thinking – did I do this wrong? Should my blog have been the first step in getting my books out ‘there’? I’m thinking probably YES!!! Today a blog is such a personal way to interact with readers, that it’s a must for all authors who feel they can handle the extra work. Of course, to my credit, I probably couldn’t have handled the technical aspects a few years ago when I first started in the business. But now…I have a back-list of books, I’m much more computer savvy to the point where I self-pubbed the 1st in my series Angels with Attitude, and I’ve even made a trailer for my newest release Together for Christmas. See how far I’ve come? I’ve upgraded from DUHH I can’t do that to I’ll figure it out somehow! And you can do the same.

13. Trailers – My latest step into the world of advertising was to make my own trailer for my latest release for The Vicarage Bench Series “Together for Christmas”. You can see it here on this blog. For me, this was a huge step forward because I had no idea about the creative world of photos and what to do with them except to be able to download them from my digital camera. But How-to videos on U-tube are the most wonderful inventions, and between Windows Live Movie Maker, stubbornness and 12 tries, the movie is up on u-tube – not perfect but the next one will be better. The best part…it was free!!

So my friends, whatever you decide to use as promotional avenues, and in whatever order, please understand one important and absolute fact – you need really well written books to promote. So take the time to become a good writer. Take the workshops and courses to help you get published, and then believe in yourself.

And…the best advice I can offer you in this business is to follow the Golden Rule – do unto others… I wish you all the best!

Visit with me anytime at mimibarbour@hotmail.com or say ‘Hi’ when you see me popping up on any of the fun sites!

Together For Christmas – A truly delightful story!

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I am very happy to announce that Together for Christmas has been released today by Wild Rose Press and will available at all the other major outlets very soon.
Authors will very seldom tell you that they liked one book more than any other, but I have no such problem. This story was by far my favorite. I never wanted it to end, and hopefully, you’ll feel the same. If you giggle and weep as I did while creating it, then I’m a very blessed and happy writer.

Abbie Taylor has a thousand things to do before the big day, help the vicar with his needy families, organize the Christmas nativity, and spare time for a distraught baby at the orphanage who only settles when she’s near. Falling into a coma while her spirit resides inside a prickly, big shot businessman doesn’t work for her at all …until she falls in love.

How could Marcus Chapman be so unlucky? First he’s saddled with his newly widowed mum, and the
next thing he knows, he has an annoying spirit invader who’s instantly aware that he isn’t nearly as
tough as he makes out. Between these two manipulating women, and the orphans Abbie forces him to visit, the poor man doesn’t stand a chance. The season is Christmas and love is all around.
Excerpt:
     “And where do you think your going?”
     “To a hospital. I do believe I’m having some sort of a breakdown.”
     “You’re having a breakdown? Now you listen ere, Mate. It ain’t you lying in a heap in the snow. And it darn well ain’t you imprisoned in another’s body, is it? Don’t you dare try and leave me here.”
     Even if he wanted to, there was an unseen force holding him back. Stopping him from moving. And however unlikely, the girl certainly sounded real. Considering she was a figment of his imagination that is.
     “Would you stop that! I’m not a figment of anyone’s imagination. I’m a real girl,” she wailed. Then she added. “Cor, I sound like the female version of Pinocchio.” When she giggled, hysteria became evident.
     “Okay, stop that screeching. I’ll take you with me.” If this really was a dream, then he could play hero, even though he was far from hero material. Blast, how could a boring workaholic accountant such as himself get caught up in such a crazy nightmare?
     Slight as she’d looked earlier, she felt solid to him now, and in his weakened condition he knew he couldn’t go very far. Scooped in his arms, her body rolled towards him as if seeking protection. His arms cradled her against his chest, and she seemed to fit. Strange. He’d never carried anyone before. He kind of liked how it made him feel.
     He looked down and then lowered his chin so he could blow the snow from her features. Light from the lamp above angled over her, and he saw a small heart-shaped face, pale and pretty with lips plump and turning slightly blue.
     “See? I’m a girl.”
     “Yes, I can see that now. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”
     He stumbled out from behind the bench, stopped and turned in both directions. The snow, falling even harder now, seemed to have effectively cleared the roads from traffic, both vehicular and human. No buses or taxis, no police or helpful pedestrians.
     Again the lights from the vicarage drew his attention. The path, only slightly visible, wound through the gardens and looked to be a mile when in truth he knew it to be only a couple hundred feet. Switching his romantic hold to that of firemen enabled him to keep one arm free as he headed in the right direction. 
     “I’m glad you’ve decided to go to the vicar. He’s my boss you know, and a lovely chap. He’ll know what to do, I’m sure.”
     “I don’t believe we should talk to anyone about your—ahh—switching residences, so to speak. I mean, think about it. Would you accept such a thing? More than likely, they’ll stick me in a rubber room and throw away the key.”
     “So, what do you propose we say about my unconscious body?” Strange how he not only heard the irritation, he felt her worry.
     “I’ll tell him you stumbled and hit your head. We’ll call an ambulance and get you taken to the hospital where the doctors can make an examination. That outta do it.” Proud of his suggestion, he ignored her rude snort. Until she snorted the second time.
     “What??”
     “Have you looked around at all? There is no traffic. The roads look to be impassable. I’m afraid the storm is getting worse.”
     She had a point. The snow had intensified until visibility became almost non-existent. Without the foliage that had protected the biggest portion of this walkway from the blowing snow, he’d never be able to move so easily.
     “This is an emergency, they have to make it.”
     “Pray God you’re right.” It was the sob that tore at the walls around his heart. A tiny sob, but with enough power to start the first fissure.

A reason to give thanks!

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Thank you for visiting my blogsite and welcome to the Gratitude Giveaway Blog Hop!
If you leave me your E-mail address and a comment telling me what you want from Santa this year, two lucky winners will win an e-book copy of “Together for Christmas” my new release on November 25th

Today is a special day for me. Over the last while, I have been kept away from writing – the thing I love to do best – because two of my books recently released needed some promotion. Let’s face it, how can anyone buy them, if no one knows they exist. But as time went on, all that mind-boggling work had exhausted my mental capabilities, and I’d decided to treat myself to a month of writing. And so I entered the NaNoWriMo. Happily working away on the newest story for the Vicarage Bench Series, I was informed that my promoting skills were needed elsewhere.

Now I don’t want you think I’m whingeing, even though it’s exactly what I’m doing, but publicity work can drive a challenged computer nerd like me around the bend. It’s time consuming and mind blowing and takes over way too much of my precious writing hours.

The only positive thing about all that twittering and blogging is meeting wonderful people. The social media is chocker-block full of the nicest people in the world. And I mean that literally!

Now yesterday, that particular pleasure became very apparent to me when out of the blue I was approached by an absolute sweetie, Laurie Carlson, who wanted to help my book  “My Cheeky Angel” get to first place in a contest. This self-pubbed endeavour had been chosen as one of five best paranormal books of the month at iBookBuzz. Knowing how much it would tickle me to win the contest, and due to the fact that my blood ripples when I’m faced with a challenged, I have worked hard to get every one of my votes. Unfortunately, those endeavours only got me to third place.

But you know what? Even if I never get another vote, I’ve already won. Because a total stranger came to me, holding out a hand of friendship and made me feel like I mattered and so did my lovely little book. How lucky am I?

And how thankful!

I pray that all who read this post have the same great luck that’s befallen me—I hope for you many wonderful friends and an overload of warm and fuzzy feelings.

Have a fantastically happy Thanksgiving!

~~~~~

Mimi’s Books