Category Archives: Self-Marketing
Heading to ALBACON 2012: My Events Schedule #Albacon2012
Now that things appear to be finalized, I am happy to announce that I will be a participating author in ALBACON 2012 being held at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Latham, NY from October 18-21, 2012.
I’ve never been to a CON of this sort before, so I am beyond excited to see what it is all about, and hopefully meet some amazing authors and Sci-fi/Fantasy readers as well. If you were interested in attending, tickets will be available at the door for $40.00 — completely reasonable when you take a look at all the panels, autographing and reading events they are offering visitors.
If you do happen to come, please stop in and say hello. Would love to meet you!
Here is my schedule of events for the convention:
Friday (10/19):
All Day – Writer’s Workshop
8pm – Ice Cream Social (who doesn’t get excited about ice cream?)
Saturday (10/20):
11:00am – Panel: Anything Good on TV? — What TV shows are worth watching this year.
1:00pm – Reading: Call of the Sea
3:00pm – Panel: Happily Ever After — Is it true that readers don’t want upbeat stories, or is it just harder to sell them?
4:00pm – Autographing Session (copies of Call of the Sea will be available for purchase at the Flights of Fantasy dealers table)
6:00pm – Panel: Strong female characters who don’t need guns (yes, I call this the Ellie panel:P) — Can a heroine be compassionate and cool?
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to participate in the events on Sunday, as I have other obligations, but I think the above will make for a full Saturday.
What about you guys out there? Have you ever been to a sci-fi or fantasy convention? What did you like about it? Hate? Help a girl out — share your experiences so I don’t worry about what to expect for the next two weeks.
Indie Bookstore To Stock Copies of Call of the Sea #indie #books
Call of the Sea News:
I’m so excited to announce that Battenkill Books, located in my small town of Cambridge, NY will be stocking copies of Call of the Sea on their shelves.
I also have plans to stop in (hopefully very soon) to speak with the proprietor, Connie Brooks and discuss some author events, and maybe a book signing for all you local fans (most of which I am probably related to) out there.
As an author for a small, indie publisher, having my story embraced by my local booksellers has been really great. It brings a smile to my face to see the support for local artists and authors, and in turn makes me want to promote my local businesses even more.
Shop local, buy local and above all, ladies and gentlemen — READ LOCAL 🙂
*uses her best Bartles and James voice*
Thank you for your support.
~Rebecca
Win a Signed Copy of Call of the Sea on #Goodreads #callofthesea #PNR
As a way to show my gratitude to everyone for the wonderful response to the release of my debut novel, Call of the Sea, for the next month, (anytime before July 29, 2012) you have the chance to enter to win a singed print copy on Goodreads website.
Here’s the giveaway LINK
Open to US , Canada and UK residents. 🙂
Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WT) #sixsunday
Since we are coming up hard on the heels of the annual Nanowrimo madness, I thought I would concentrate my Sunday Six on my current WIP, which I hope to finish up during this year’s event. The Pirate and the Selkie is a fantasy romance with historical elements. I am just in love with these characters.
Enjoy!
He [Daniel] held up his hands. “Before you blow that simmering temper of yours, hear me out.”
Ellie settled back down on the edge of the desk, arms folded. “Oh, don’t you worry your pretty head about that. I’ll be happy to listen to you tell me why you think you have a right to decide what I do or where I sleep. You have my complete attention.”
Spook-a-licious Blog Tour
Tour Rules:
1) HAVE FUN!!!
2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, October 17, at Midnight (Arizona Time) THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, October 24, at Midnight (Arizona Time) Winners will be drawn and posted October 25th!
4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!
5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!
6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!
***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***
ENTER TO WIN:
Free electronic copy of Cutlass and Musket: Tales of Piratical Skullduggery
What do I need to do?
1. Like me on Facebook
2. Follow this blog
3. Follow me on Twitter @rebelhart69
4. Comment below and tell me what your favorite Halloween costume was growing up!
Good Luck!!
Be sure to stop by the other great blogs and say hello! Happy Halloween!
Six Sentence Sunday: Lizzie (another from my dusty notebook) #sixsunday
This week I dipped back into the old notebook and pulled out six sentences from a story I had started about a nanny who is forced to figure out what to do with her young change afer her parents are killed in a car wreck.
Always love to hear what you think. Enjoy 🙂
Lizzie came downstairs, a barely restrained whirlwind of lace and bows, begging Nancy to help tie the laces on her new shoes. ‘I know how,’ her little voice vowed. She’d only recently been taught, but in her impish excitement to be off on their adventure had forgotten.
With a shake of her head and a teasing ‘tsk tsk’, Nancy fastened the laces with a secure double knot and stood, looking down at Lizzie’s flushed face. “Shall we be off young lady? Or maybe you’d rather stay inside today?”
Six Sentence Sunday: Penance (from the dusty pages of an old notebook) #sixsunday
My Sunday Six is from a short story I wrote quite a while ago, named Penance.
I wonder why we tell young girls such outlandish stories about chivalry and brave knights. The imagination takes them and creates unrealistic dreams of men coming to rescue them from the mundane life of “normal” people. They are so young and impressionable, they can’t help but be sucked in by the lies. We tell them about things like the honor of men. Now, that is a laugh; not to mention an oxymoron. Men and honor should not be allowed in the same sentence, let alone the premise of a story meant only to blind us from the truth.
Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WIP)
I have been working on this one this week, so thought I would post my Sunday Six from the current chapter in progress.
Happy Sunday!
Daniel cringed at her pet name. Skip was short for Skipper–everything Ellie did or said had something to do with sailing–but Daniel still didn’t care for it. Whenever she used it, he had to remind himself why he couldn’t just change form and tell her his real name. The look on her round face when she’d seen him sitting at the breakfast table with her father told him everything he needed to know. She hated Daniel.
Not one to give in so easily, he propelled himself forward until he stood between her and the waves.
Six Sentence Sunday: The Pirate and the Selkie (WIP)
Here is this week’s six for Six Sentence Sunday. Comments always welcome. 🙂
Enjoy!
Ellie glanced over her shoulder, made a quick distance calculation. Her gaze swung up the rigging. She yanked on the steerage, eyes glued to the sails. Right on cue, the sheets of white canvas caught wind and snapped to attention. The ship sliced through the waves in a tight arc until The Surf Runner faced The Siren’s Call.
She steeled herself for another pass.
What’s All This About Platform: Do I really need one?
Over the past few weeks, I have heard everyone from fellow writers, to agents, to publishers touting the importance of having a writer’s platform. My first question was, “What the hell is a platform? Do I have one and not know it?”
It turns out I do, but I didn’t figure that one out until after I looked up what it was. Let me de-mystify it for you. A platform is merely a presence. A place and way to reach your readers–your audience. In today’s high tech world, there are a myriad of ways to accomplish this, and it doesn’t matter if you have your book sold, or you are still writing it. The sooner you build your name and take steps toward networking and advertising yourself and your writing, the better off you will be when it comes time to start querying agents or if you self-publish, getting the word out about your book.
Here is a list of 5 things you can do as a writer to start building your platform now:
1. Start a blog or website (or both) about your writing and/or anything else you might find of interest to talk about. Once you create it, post regularly — at least once a week. You can post about anything, really. Just remember that it is your blog, so it should be about you or show a visitor a glimpse into who you are.
1a. Update your content regularly. This way visitors know and can see that the site is active and updated.
2. Attend readings, signings and book launches. What better way to network and get to know other writers in your area?
3. Twitter and Facebook. Yes, I know they are time eaters, and for many, way more work than fun, but once you get used to using them, they are not quite as evil as they appear. Besides, they are a great social networking tool and heck, you might as well take full advantage of the resources available.
4. Join writing sites and follow/support other writer blogs. The more you put yourself out there and show you are willing to help others promote, the more you will be promoted by others. While I don’t subscribe to things like giving good reviews to friends merely because they are friends, I do believe in a certain amount of you wash my back and I’ll was yours. We all have been new to this at one point or another. And you know what they say about karma.
5. Attend writer’s conferences and retreats when possible. While I have yet to do this one, it is on my list. I am just waiting to have a complete novel to really go out and push when I am at one. These are great places to meet other writers, agents, publishers and all sorts of people “in the biz”. Networking is really never a bad thing, is it? Kinda like no publicity is bad publicity.
Long gone are the days where an author left the hard work, selling themselves and their work to agents and publishers. In this modern publishing age, it is up to us– the ones that sweat over the work– to really push it, and ourselves to the forefront. It all goes back to my personal favorite line– and something I truly believe.
If you dont believe in yourself, nobody else will.
Good luck and happy writing.
Bex Book Nook 