5 Ways to Give a #Book a Boost

The best compliment you can give an author, regardless of his or her prominence in the industry, is to help spread the news about a book.

Here are five ways you can give a book a boost (beyond buying multiple copies) ...

1: ONLINE REVIEW

Online reviews have gained significant value in recent years. When you’ve finished reading a book by an author that you love, take five minutes to go online and type up a review. It doesn’t have to be eloquent or long, but it does need to honest and thoughtful. If you know the author personally, do not say so in the review, because other people will often discount the value of your words because they believe you’re biased. Once you’ve written a review, you can then copy and paste that review to multiple sites such as Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, and others. Furthermore, take a minute to scroll through the other reviews and click “like” or “helpful” on the positive ones. Doing so will bump those reviews up to the top of the list. Once you’ve finished posting your review, link to it on your social media channels.

2: PUBLIC LIBRARY

Visit your local public library. Talk to the librarian about the book and ask if they already carry it. If not, place a purchase request. Most libraries will add books to their collections based on patron requests. You can also suggest the book for their next book club selection.

3: BOOKSTORE

Stop in at your local bookstore and ask an employee where the book is located in the store. This will bring awareness of the book to the staff. If they don’t already carry the book, let them know why they should. Tell them what you loved about it. If they do carry the book, still rave about it. Once you see the book on the shelf, turn it face out, and snap a picture. Then upload the picture to social media, tag the author, and let him or her know where you spotted the book. Authors love this.

4: SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow your favorite author on social media channels, and when he or she posts good news, share it. You can also click on the social media buttons featured on many sites that allow you to tell the world you just bought a great book or read a great book or reviewed a great book.

5: WORD OF MOUTH

Honestly, all of the tips mentioned so far are based on utilizing the word of mouth concept, which has a huge impact. But here are few more ideas … the most basic being: tell a friend about the book. Then take a friend with you to the author’s book signing event. Tell your book club members about it. Read the book in a public place so others can take notice of the book. And if you know a person of influence who would be interested in some aspect of the book, then by all means, tell that person to read the book and explain why. Then encourage that person to connect with the author.


Finally, yes, buying a book is a great way to support your favorite author. Heck, buying ten books is an even better way, but if you want to do a little bit more, any of these tips above will help give your favorite author’s book a boost. You certainly don’t have to do them all. Pick just one to do today, because the best compliment you can give to an author, regardless of his or her prominence in the industry, is to help spread the news about the book. And that will benefit you in the long run, because your author will be able to continue writing more books for you to read and enjoy for many years to come.

copyright Margo Kelly

Do you have a tip to add to this list? Share it in the comments below!



[You're welcome to borrow these tips and images as long as you link back to this post or give appropriate credit to me as the source. Thank you.]

The Best #Bloggers = UncommonYA & Unmissable Articles on Writing

Featured for today's #AtoZChallenge: @UncommonYA & @WritetoDone

Over the years I've learned so much, made so many friends, and been uplifted by so many great bloggers! As a result, I'm recognizing some of the best bloggers for this year's A to Z Challenge. These bloggers have shared knowledge, promotions, jokes, guidance, support, and more. Scroll on down to meet the next set of bloggers.

To the BEST BLOGGERS in the world - I say, "Thank you!"


U is for UncommonYA and Unmissable Articles on Writing (the Write to Done site).

UncommonYA is an amazing site full of tons of tips from traditionally published authors. Pick a topic, any topic, and I'm sure one of the authors over there has blogged about it. The site states that it features: "Gutsy YA fiction by traditionally published authors who tell it like it is." (disclaimer: I participate in the blogging over at UncommonYA - but it's STILL totally awesome!) ;)

Okay. Okay. Technically the blog is called Write to Done, but the secondary headline is Unmissable Articles on Writing ... and I needed another "U" blog to feature today! ;) If you are looking for inspiration or motivation, this is a great site for you to visit. The posts are fabulous and encompass a great deal regarding the craft of writing.

 

Please take two minutes to stop by these two awesome blogs and thank them for all they contribute to the blogosphere!

10 Tips for Better #Blogging

Would you like to INCREASE your blog traffic? Well, scroll on down for ten simple tips for better blogging!

[This is a simultaneous post with the UncommonYA Blog. If you've not yet checked it out ... hop on over there, because it is an AWESOME resource for writers, readers, educators, and more!] 

 

 

 

10 Tips for Better Blogging:

 1. Blog Because You WANT to: If you only write blog posts because you want followers, you may be sorely disappointed. If you hate the idea of blogging, don’t do it.

 2. Write Posts that Interest You: Followers will more naturally find you if you’re sharing content that matters to you. Sincerity is valuable.

 3. Shorten Your Post Length: Followers tend to visit a lot of blogs, and when there's a LONG post, it slows the process down.

 4. Silence the Autoplay Music: It's fine to have a playlist or player, but give your visitors the option to hit play rather than requiring them to hit stop.

 5. Eliminate the Word Verification: Do you REALLY need it? It discourages comments and slows down the process.

 6. Make Sure Your Page Loads Quickly: If your blog takes forever to load (because of complicated elements) people will close the window and move on to a different blog. Streamline your site to allow the page to load quickly.

 7. Post Regularly: You define how often, but when someone visits your blog and you haven't posted in two months - - what's the motivation for them to ever return?

 8. Promote Your Blog Posts on Social Media: Utilize Twitter, Facebook, and other social platforms to share a teaser about your post.

 9. Promote Other Bloggers: When people retweet or share your teaser, be sure to return the favor and promote their blogs, too.

10. Be Kind: Remember the “Golden Rule” and treat others (both in your posts and in your comments) with kindness.

 

 

What is your best tip for blogging?

A Bit of #Research Behind the #Book: WHO R U REALLY?

Sometimes research is necessary to develop a plot or flesh out a character. I found this to be true when I was building the characters for my novel, WHO R U REALLY?.  

To better understand why the main character would fall for the wrong guy, I examined the psychology behind the “bad boy” syndrome. Often times, girls ignore warning signs and take unnecessary risks to feel loved by someone who is no good for them. I researched a lot of Psychology Today articles along with various professional studies, and the bottom line was: FEAR IS AN APHRODISIAC.

 

Yes. It. Is.

Some girls (and grown women) date men—love men—because they are dangerous.

Is it the thrill factor? Is it a self-esteem issue?

Many teenage girls lack self-esteem. It isn’t something you can GIVE to a person. Sure, it can be nurtured, but ultimately, self-esteem is something we must discover for ourselves. Most of us go through that learning phase as young women, but I know plenty of older women (including myself to a certain extent) who continue to struggle with self-esteem issues.

So if there’s an element of danger to the man who seems totally devoted to your every desire … does that boost your self-esteem? Does your ability to handle that danger further boost your self-esteem?

Or does self-esteem have nothing to do with it? Maybe it is simply the thrill factor alone.

Fear is an aphrodisiac.

Think about it. Some women have:
1. One night stands
2. Affairs
3. Fantasies of being with the bad boy
4. Flirt fests with the bouncer / linebacker / drug dealer / teacher / best friend's boyfriend / boss / etc.

These items involve an element of fear. Fear of your lover and the potential harm he could cause to you and/or your family.

But … let’s take it a step further and consider: Fear is also an aphrodisiac with a SAFE guy.

Seriously. Unless you're a rock, you have feelings. Feelings that could be dangerous if you trust the wrong person … or even the right person at the wrong time … or in the wrong place. Otherwise, why would people have sex in elevators, on airplanes, in libraries, in movie theaters? They do these things because they have become safe in their relationship, and they want to bring back some of the fear-aphrodisiac.

Even if you and your safe partner only have safe sex in a safe place, there can still be an element of fear. During sex you are exposing yourself more than at any other moment. If something, anything, goes wrong, your inner most core could be damaged. What could go wrong with a safe partner in a safe place? A lot of things. Use your imagination.

But … let’s take it even a step further and consider: Maybe it's not FEAR at all that is the actual aphrodisiac.

Maybe, in fact, it is TRUST.

Trust … that even though your boyfriend wants to drink your blood (if your name is Bella), you have faith that he loves you more than that blood-drinking-desire.

Or in the case of WHO R U REALLY? … trust that the guy on the other side of the Internet has been telling you the truth all along.

Or at your high school, when you trust that your football-playing-linebacker will leave his aggression on the field and never hit you.

Or growing old, when you trust that your safe-devoted-husband will never make fun of your ever-growing-love-handles.

Trust trumps fear.

That is the climactic aphrodisiac.

And that my dear sweet friends, is the simple research I did to help develop my characters.

 

Research is definitely a distraction ESSENTIAL when writing a manuscript.

 

What do you think … is fear an aphrodisiac?

 

 

[This is a simultaneous post with Uncommon YA. If you've not yet visited that awesome site - go check it out now!]

Behind the Scenes - - - - - Before and After

This is a simultaneous post - here and over at Uncommon YA, which is an AWESOME site. Please, go check them out, today! :)

..............................................................................................................................................................................

I love THE VOICE on NBC. I love the music. I love the competition. It relates in so many ways to writing and the publishing process, but this week there was a Battle Round that really applied to my own writing. Especially when I think about the topic of "Behind the Scenes - Before and After."

If I had to name one theme song for my novel, WHO R U REALLY?, it would easily be Breakeven by The Script. I even quoted their lyrics twice in earlier versions of the manuscript. However, due to copyright issues, I had to fictionalize all bands and lyrics in my novel. I had a number of scenes in the book where the characters debated song lyrics ... but I couldn't keep them as they were originally written because it would have cost more to pay for the right to use the quotes than I would have made in my advance or future royalties (for a long time). So the bands and lyrics were fictionalized for the final version of the book.

But when I heard this song in the Battle Round of THE VOICE this week, my heart still swooned for my character Tim in the novel, because he just loves the main character, Thea, so much ... he'd do anything for her. He just wants her to be okay. "I'm all choked up that you're okay."




So in the original manuscript the scene read:

“What am I supposed to say, when I’m all choked up that you’re okay?”
“Don’t quote song lyrics to me. Tell me the truth.”
“It’s the truth, Thia. I’ve loved you since the fifth grade.” His cheeks reddened even more, and not from the cold morning air. Then he reached up with his hand and wiped a tear from my cheek. I didn’t even realize I was crying until then. I bit my lip as his cold smooth fingers rested gently against my face.


And in the final book the scene reads:

“It would be such a disgrace, if I fell short and you were not safe.”
“Don’t quote song lyrics to me,” I said. “Tell me the truth.”
“It’s the truth, Thea. I’ve loved you since the fifth grade.” His cheeks reddened even more, and not from the cold morning. He lifted his hand and wiped a tear from my cheek. I didn’t even realize I was crying until then. I bit my lip, and his cold smooth fingers rested against my face.


I agree; it's not as good as the lyrics from The Script's song. But with all of the replaced lyrics throughout the book, I think it does work overall.

Oh, and I just noticed ... comparing the two scenes ... the second one is much tighter in the last three sentences. Did you spot that? Or were you distracted by the song lyrics? ;)

Before and after. Sometimes scenes have to be altered for legal reasons (and financial reasons).

What Sparked the Idea for DESTINY ROAD by Melissa Wray?

What sparked the idea to write Destiny Road?

Recently Melissa Wray was asked this question by Uncommon YA. Here is her very personal response.

 

We moved to North Queensland when I was 14. After a year or so Mum could see that something about Townsville and I did not mix. Strangely enough it was her suggestion to ring my dad and ask if I could move back south.

So I did. Then I packed my bags and moved 3,000km away to live with him. This decision is what sparked the idea for Destiny Road.

Now I never set out to write this story, let alone have it published. It just kind of happened. It came about because one night I was lying in bed and couldn’t sleep. There was an unspoken conversation going on in my mind. It was a conversation that I regret not having and has played on my mind over the years. This particular night it got the better of me so I got up and began to write. It wasn’t until after I read through those mad ramblings a couple of weeks later that I thought hmmm … I could create a story from this. So I began writing. I passed my 10,000 word milestone. Then 20 then 30 then before I knew it 50,000 words had been typed.

You see I think about that one phone call I made all those years ago sometimes. I have often thought about how that decision, that one pivotal moment that is talked about in Destiny Road, really did change the course of my life. I’m sure as you're reading this you can look back over your life, and pinpoint one moment that has shaped it in a big way. I truly believe that Dad saying yes when I asked was a determining factor in how things have turned out for me.


One afternoon I was sitting with him. He got to talking about his philosophy on life and death. Dad had been fighting a battle against cancer for a while at this point and I was kneeling next to him as he sat on his reclining chair. He was holding my hand as he shared these ideas on life and death. He said to me "It’s cool. Whatever happens, it’s cool." My dad used cool a lot when he spoke. He was pretty cool. He was also a big believer in God. So that afternoon he said "It’s cool if I die because I get to meet my maker." ‘Then he said "But it’s cool if I live because I get to be with the ones I love." This was his philosophy. Either way was cool with him.


I remember kneeling there, holding his hand and wishing I could say thankyou to him. Thanks for saying yes all those years ago. Thanks for that pivotal moment in my life. I wanted him to know how much that meant. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t get those words out.

 

That night he passed away.

 

I never did get to tell him and have regretted that for the past 10 years. So you see once the spark to write Destiny Road was lit, it had to finished. It was my tribute, my thankyou and I am beyond thrilled it was published.

Now I’m not going to bore you with my views on life and death but I can’t help but wonder something, because anyone who knew my dad, Rod Morris, and anyone who knew his sense of humour ... well I can’t help but wonder if there wasn’t a helping hand when Morris Publishing (no relation) chose to publish Destiny Road. I like to think so.

 

It's hard to believe two years has passed since the launch of Destiny Road. To celebrate there is a chance to win 2 x $20 Gift Cards, ENTER NOW!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

To connect with Melissa;

 

FACEBOOK

 

BLOG

 

Read the 1st chapter of Destiny Road FREE.

Uncommon YA

Well - I have joined up with an awesome group of authors over at UncommonYA !!

 

So stop by their BLOG and check out their awesome posts.

 

I'm excited to be a part of their group!

:)