That Thing You Do, the first novel in my Whispering Bay romance series isn’t my first rodeo. It’s my fifth published book and by now you’d think I’d have this marketing thing down pat. Not so. In many ways, book promotion is just as mysterious to me now as it was with that first novel. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve read all the blogs and books out there by the leading social media and marketing experts telling me what to do. It’s the execution that can be a little tricky. What works for one author, often times, doesn’t work for another.

So, what’s a frustrated author to do? If I had the magic formula, I’d write a book about it (and no, that’s not a joke!). Which leads me to my point. There is NO magic formula. There are, however, somethings I’ve learned along the way (the HARD way) that I can share with you. Maybe they’ll help you sit back and relax and enjoy the journey, because while writing is a profession and we all want our books to sell so we can make money, it should also be fun and bring joy into our life. Because let’s face it, there’s lots easier (and less gut-wrenching) ways to make a living.

So here goes:
Take the time to enjoy writing your stories. Yes, writing is hard, but it should also be emotionally rewarding. Write the kind of stories that you yourself want to read. If you’re only writing to the market, it will show. Disingenuous writing makes for a poor novel.

There is a market for your book. Sometimes, it just takes a while to find out who they are. If you write enough books, they’ll eventually find you.

It’s all about making connections with readers. Find out where your readers are and be there. Are they on Facebook? Twitter? Pinterest? Instagram? Book Clubs? Today, every author knows they have to be on social media to survive. But not all social media is equal for all authors. Find the one that works best for you and your fans and be an active participant.

Keep in touch with your readers. Newsletters are the best way to do this.
Don’t make everything all about buying your book. People don’t want to be sold to. They read your stories because reading them creates a positive emotional response. Try to evoke that same emotional response in all your communications with them.

Don’t waste time moping about your poor Amazon ranking or a bad review. Not everyone is going to like your book and staring at a sales number on a page is counter-productive. Instead, you should be out there in the cyber world talking to readers, or better yet, writing your next novel.

Don’t forget to feed your writing soul. Even if you are in the middle of a huge promotional blitz, make the time to work on something new. Never forget that you are a writer first, and a businessperson second.
And lastly, don’t forget to be kind. Thank everyone who helps you along the way and always pay it forward!

That Thing You Do Whispering Bay # 1 by Maria Geraci
Release date: April 28^th, 2015
Publisher: TKA Distribution

Synopsis

Allie Grant doesn’t believe in second chances. She does, however, believe in the power of a permanent paycheck. So when a tipster reports that the soon-to-be demolished senior center in her hometown is haunted, Allie hightails it to Whispering Bay to get the scoop that could secure her dream job at Florida! magazine. What she finds, though, is far scarier than any ghost. Cue her ex-boyfriend, sexy construction foreman Tom Donalan.

When Tom catches Allie poking around his construction site, he quickly realizes his former high school flame is just as feisty as ever. And, heaven help him, her irresistible, mile-high legs still take his breath away. But Tom isn’t about to delay the building’s demolition because of a silly ghost story.

With neither of the stubborn exes backing down from their opposing positions, sparks fly. And, underneath the surface, the fire of their old attraction burns as hot as ever. When strange things start happening with increasing frequency around town, even a tough skeptic like Tom is tested. The question is, can Allie and Tom stop fighting long enough to get to the bottom of Whispering Bay’s ghost problem—and the more important matter of mending their broken hearts?

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About Maria Geraci

Maria Geraci writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction with a happy ending. The Portland Book Review called her novel, The Boyfriend of the Month Club, “immensely sexy, immensely satisfying and humorous.” Her fourth novel, A Girl Like You, was nominated for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA ® award. She lives in north Florida with her family, which includes a very needy chihuahua, an extremely needy dachshund and a not-so-needy cat (guess which one she likes best?). You can reach at her www.mariageraci.com.

Connect with Maria: Website |Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win Grand Prize: Vera Bradley Beach Tote and a Second prize for a Signed Print Copy of That Thing You Do

 

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