Book Promotion: More Good Ideas

Gentle Readers of this space will recall an earlier post that mused about the increased responsibility offloaded onto authors to promote their books, and the creative response writer ANN AGUIRRE dreamed up: an online quiz determining which of five professions contained in her novel GRIMSPACE quiztakers most resembled, combined with a prize giveaway for those who blogged or posted about it online.


Today, tips of Apprentice Writer's hat to two more creative authors who found inspired ways to shine light on their work:


1. MAUREEN MCGOWAN, women's fiction/chicklit author of THE MISEDUCATION OF APRIL HILLSON, chose to generate interest in her work by the simple device of becoming a semi-finalist for Amazon's Breakout Novel Award.

Talk about getting yourself noticed!

Readers can download her 'Amazon Short' for free at http://http//www.amazon.com/dp/B00122GTICand then share a review if they wish. So far, the review average is 5.5/6 stars. Not too shabby. Apprentice Writer found the excerpt compelling - well-written, refreshingly different heroine, intriguing hints at backstory yet to be revealed, high stakes to be resolved. Also, very cool title - recalls Lauryn Hill's CD 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill', which in turn was named (if Apprentice Writer recalls correctly) for a book titled "The Miseducation of a Negro", in which the protagonist empowers himself to analyze and take control of his life. It is not difficult to imagine that McGowan's character April Hillson will ultimately do the same.


2. Historical romance author JOANNA BOURNE penned THE SPYMASTER'S LADY, which has shot to the top of many a popularity list in the blogosphere.

Claire Gregory is running a contest on her blog called 'Where in the World is Spymaster's Lady?', to be judged by Bourne. Contestants are invited to post a picture of their copy of book in a location that depicts their hometown in some distinctive way. The winner gets a signed copy and something called a 'book thong'. The puzzling need for lingerie for books aside (though it is very pretty), this sounds like a fun, memorable way to create buzz for an already mightily buzzing novel. Take a look:

http://stonesbonesandshells.blogspot.com/2008/01/contest-where-in-world-is-spymasters.html


So, in conclusion:
well played, Ms. McGowan and Ms. Bourne. You are not only gifted authors, but clearly, savvy promoters.