Guest post: "Promotion for Writers," by Beverly McClure
I want to write.
Isn’t that what writers are supposed to do? Well, maybe once upon a time all
writers had to do was write. Times have changed. Today, writing isn’t enough
for most writers. Now, if you’re already famous for some reason, if people know
your name, you can probably get away with very little promotion. Your famous
name will sell your books. Unfortunately, if you’re like me, no one except my
family, friends, and former students have ever heard of me. So that means if I
want people to read my books, I have to let them know they’re published. There
are a lot of ways to do this. I’m trying them all and still don’t know which
ways are best. I’ll share with you what I do.
One: Blogging. I
have two major blogs and some for my different books. On Blogspot
http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com, I promote not only my work but the
work of other writers too. I post book reviews, cover reveals, guest posts,
interviews and whatever an author would like to say about his/her book. Once a
month, I also post for a group I belong to that links to hundreds of writers,
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, started by Alex J. Cavanaugh. We post
about our insecurities and encourage each other. Sheri Larsen’s baby is the
Rebel Writer’s Creed that helps us evaluate how we’re doing each month.
Wordpress is my
other blog. http://beverlystowemcclure.wordpress.com. Here I talk about my
work, my editing, awards, when a book is coming out, and things like that. I
also have tips for writers and excerpts from my books, along with videos and
other information I hope readers will enjoy. I also have links to my blog for my
YA novels and for my MG novels.
Two: Facebook is
another place where I promote my work. I have three pages there, one a fan
page. I post about my work, about other writers, and also about my life. I talk
about my cats. I post pictures of the sunrise, birds, and my cats. I wish other
writers Happy Birthday. Basically, I keep in touch.
Three: Yes, I tweet on Twitter too, for my friends and me. Good Reads, Library Thing, and Shelfari are some of the places where I post reviews for others and have a few friends.
Four: And don’t
forget personal promotion too. Book signings at bookstores and libraries, craft
fairs, and school visits are where you can show off your work and find new
fans. Even if they don’t buy your books then they’ll remember you and perhaps buy
them later. I give away little finger puppets to the wee ones, bookmarks,
pencils, and other stuff that fits the theme of my books. SCBWI and other
conferences (though I’ve only been to a couple) are great to meet editors,
agents, and publishers. Check for Online Conferences which often are free and
have a lot of information.
I’ve probably
left out something very important here, but I can’t think what. I’m always
looking for new ways to promote my books.
Happy Promotion
to You.
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Title: Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat
Genre: Paranormal
Author: Beverly Stowe McClure
Publisher:
MuseItUp Publishing
Purchase on amazon
Thirteen-year-old Erik Burks’ life is falling apart.
When he discovers a lace bra in the glove compartment of his dad’s car, his mom
leaves his father and drags Erik from being king of the hill in Texas to the
bottom of the pits in South Carolina. No Dad, no baseball, no friends, just
Starry Knight (a girl who reads minds) and her equally weird brother, Stormy,
the twins that live down the block.
Just when
Erik thinks life can’t get any worse, while hanging out at the beach one
evening, he and the twins notice lights radiating from the lighthouse. Stranger
still, a ship materializes in the moonlit harbor. Curious, the twins and a
reluctant Erik investigate and discover the ghost of a blockade runner, a cat,
and a pirate who prowls Charleston Harbor, and the fun begins.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When Beverly
Stowe McClure was in eighth grade, her teacher sent her poem “Stars” to the
National High School Poetry Association, and she was soon a published writer in
Young America Sings, an anthology of Texas high school poetry. Today,
Beverly is a cum laude graduate of Midwestern State University with a BSEd
degree. For twenty-two years, she taught children to read and write. They
taught her patience. She is affectionately known as the “Bug Lady” because she
rescues butterflies, moths, walking sticks, and praying mantis from her cats.
Most of the
time, you’ll find Beverly in front of her computer, writing the stories little
voices in her head tell her. When she’s not writing, she takes long walks and
snaps photos of clouds, wild flowers, birds and deer. She also enjoys visiting
with her family and teaching a women’s Sunday school class at her church. Her
articles have been published in leading children’s magazines. Two of her
stories are in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ANTHOLOGIES, and she has nine novels
published, two of them award winning novels at Children’s Literary Classics and
other competitions.
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