First, the winner of Ellen Byron's HERE COMES THE BODY is Judy! Please email Ellen at: ellenbyronla at outlook dot com
Jenn McKinlay: I think it might be easier to ask me what I'm not writing. It feels like my deadlines seem to stack up no matter how hard I try to stay ahead of them. So here's what's happening...
We are 45 days from the release of SUMMER READING on MAY 16th! I am in a world of promo writing, which includes articles for Barnes & Noble, Writer's Digest, and Debbie Macomber's Magazine. I also have ten different Q&A's to answer and a seemingly endless number of blog posts to craft. I appreciate the opportunities--I do!--but sometimes it's A LOT.
On the upside, SUMMER READING got a STARRED REVIEW in Booklist, so I'm very giddy (and relieved) about that!
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| BUY NOW |
I finished the page proofs for SUGAR PLUM POISONED and just turned them in a few minutes ago. YAY!
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| OCT 2023 Lastly, I'm writing the first draft of my next women's fiction romcom LOVE AT FIRST BOOK that was due a few weeks ago but whose resolution is eluding me. I feel like I am writing the book without an ending. Ugh. Truly, for me the plotter this is maddening. I have no snippet to share at the moment because I am gassed. But I do have a question for you, Reds and Readers! What online promotional items draw you to an author's work? Blog posts? Q&A's? Podcasts? Memes? Time is such a finite commodity, I'm trying to figure out the best place to expend my energy. Any input welcome! |
Phew! That's definitely a LOT of things to prepare . . . . but us readers certainly have lots of wonderful reading ahead of us.
ReplyDeleteRegarding noticing an author's work, I guess I notice blog posts the most, but I suspect every reader may have a different answer.
Blogs. Check! Thanks, Joan.
DeleteThanks for asking that question, Jenn - it's so hard to know what catches the attention of readers. The amount of time promotion will take is never mentioned to starting authors. But it's a lot!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Yays, and I can't wait for Summer Reading.
Exactly. I feel as if it's the one thing none of us signed up for - lol.
DeleteJenn, congratulations on the fabulous review on booklist. I was privileged to receive an advance copy of SUMMER READING, and it is all that! I posted reviews everywhere...JRW commenters, this book is terrific!
ReplyDeleteI do read the newsletters of authors whose books I love. My email is full of suggestions from publishers, Bookbub and other promoters, Amazon, B&N, bookstores; I am swamped. I cannot possibly read through each one.
My only social media is Facebook and their bots determine what I see. I do see lots of posts from authors, bookstores, publishers, etc. From the size of all our TBR lists/piles, you know it's impossible to read everything. I do like question - answer posts where I can get some insight and will read those on new-to-me authors. But time...
Yay, hurray, yippee! Thank you Ellen Byron. I'll be in touch.
Q&A posts. I like that! Thank you, Judy, and congrats on the win!
DeleteCongrats from me, too!
DeleteJenn, you're amazing! We stand in awe, and perfectly understand how much time and energy it takes to write all the promo posts! Debbie Macomber's magazine--wow!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lucy. It's just tooooooo much some days.
DeleteI really don't know how you do all this juggling without being totally frazzled! Congrats on the starred review and on Sugar Plum Poisoned! To answer your question, I have to say that this blog has turned me on to many writers who are now some of my faves. Word of mouth and book reviews are my other sources. My mom (the retired librarian, RIP) turned me on to both Julia and Deborah's work.
ReplyDeleteLibrarians are an awesome resource!
DeleteVery belated response, but wanted to say I agree with Gillian. The JRW blog has introduced me to so many new writers. To be honest, Jenn, you and Julia were the only two Reds whose work I knew when I discovered this blog. And my mom, though not a librarian, introduced me to mysteries many years ago.
Delete— Pat S.
Jenn, I'm convinced there are two of you. Congratulations on SUMMER READING's rave review(s)! Personally, I regularly read blog posts and newsletters (the latter from very few authors). Mostly I rely on myself--I check in on fantastic fiction to see what's coming out from authors I know. I'll also check out any new authors there--where I rely on the synopsis to tell me if I want to try a new to me author. There's also the feature 'if you like this author, check these out' on fantastic fiction. I've found new authors that way also.
ReplyDeleteI do like the "if you like this author" features - very helpful.
DeleteI almost got dizzy thinking about everything you are doing. But congratulations on all of it!
ReplyDeleteI suppose I get most of my recommendations on blogs ( like JRW, as a matter of fact); and newsletters. Apart from those, I 'm influenced by friend online and offline.
Elizabeth, I also find new-to-me authors through JRW and First Chapter Fun. I find authors through recommendations from authors whom I already enjoy, like Debs and Jenn. Most of the books they have suggested have been spot on for me!
DeleteI think finding readers who have similar tastes in book is super helpful.
DeleteJenn, when it is an author I'm already reading, I'm not so reliant on other forms of drawing me in other than their own social media and website posts.
ReplyDeleteBut if it is an author I haven't read or haven't heard of previously, blog posts online or a review in a magazine are usually the prime determining factors deciding whether or not to pick up their book.
Meanwhile, I'm in a lull when it comes to new CDs to review since I have nothing new that I'm interested in coming out until April 14th. But then I'm going to be doing reviews of new albums by Overkill, Winger (May 5th) and on May 26th I'll be getting to review the new Metal Church album 'Congregation of Annihilation'. After hearing the first song, "Pick a God and Prey", from the new album, I'm very excited even as I continue to mourn the passing of the band's previous singer. And I'll be following that up with a review of the first night of their two night stand here in MA when they play their new singer's hometown.
And I'm going strong with my Cassette Chronicles series as well. I've got a new article going up this coming week.
Plus I have to get started on The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge by Martin Edwards so I can do a review of that for Mystery Scene's website.
You're crushing it, Jay! I think you and I have similarly packed calendars!
DeleteAs a reader, not an author, I will say that I don’t read blogs/promos/etc to get an idea of what to read. I tend to read what authors or genre I know, or what someone suggests – said person assumed to already have read that author/book.
ReplyDeleteAs for ‘new’ books (not already from someone who I like on my book list), I usually take from book lists on blogs or magazine collations – this one for example. I will take the title, or author, and then read the contents summary, and go from there. Since I get all of my books from the library, it is nice that they have a little box that comes up when you put a hold on a book, that suggests other books currently available that you might like – I have discovered a lot of books that way.
All that being said, if I am reading a book book or ebook where I can see blurbs written by other authors in favour of this book, I do glance down to see who has written the blurb, just to see if I might like it, but tend not to read the blurb (they are always good, so why bother – I know I should). I will also add, that a few authors who I enjoy, do not read and suggest books that I have enjoying – interesting dichotomy.
One comment often voiced in Book Club, is that few of us read the cover page (there must be a name for it – the blabber that is written on the fold over page if you have a hard cover copy, that may talk about the book, the author, and such things as ‘taken from a real story’). That page is usually read at the end – after we have formed our own opinion.
Good luck with all your blurbing/writing/frustrations. Hopefully having finished all this you can move on to summer doing nothing (maybe just reading!)
A summer just reading would be absolute bliss, Margo. Also, I don't read author blurbs either. LOL.
DeleteCongratulations on -- well, everything!
ReplyDeleteWhere to find authors? Such a great question. Blogs, like this one, are terrific sources. But to me that begets another question -- where does a reader find the best blogs for their taste in reading?
Newsletters can help, too. But which newsletters? You all hosted Karen Odden here, and I signed up for her newsletter. She profiles a different writer each time, which is nice.
I look at conferences, too. Iceland Noir has a line-up that includes writers who are new to me. I have lined up debut novels to read - Cara Hunter's first DI Adam Hawley, Nadine Matheson's Jigsaw Man, and Christie J. Newport's The Raven's Mark. Yay!
I'm so glad you're listing debut novels. That first book is always scary!
DeleteOMG, Jenn, congratulations on the starred review! For authors new to me, blogs are my source. Generally you can get a good idea of their writing style and voice from their guest posts.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. I think blogs give you a wonderful sense of the writer.
DeleteCongratulations, Jenn! I still think that is the cutest cover of any of your books.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of a waste to ask this group how we hear of books and authors--we are all here every day, and learn about new ones at least weekly. Other than blog and social media posts, though, I have met a lot of new authors through my book club, or from browsing at book stores like Joseph-Beth. There is always at least one display, usually more, with staff recommendations. And they, along with other good stores, usually display the new books, sometimes with rave reviews.
And then there's our Little Free Library. We get lots of donations of books by new-to-me authors. Some I read, and some I pass on to others.
Free Little Libraries are great! I am always donating books to the Free Little Library.
DeleteDiana
I, or rather my husband, found The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey in a nearby FLL. That started me on the Peter Diamond series.
DeleteI have two LFLs in my neighborhood. Love them!
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ReplyDeleteSorry, Jenn, I'm not much help. All I need is to see your name, or any of the Reds, on a book and I am sold!
I agree Judi! I initially was introduced to Jungle Red blog after reading Lucy Burdette's very first Key West Series. Then I started reading the Library Series from Jenn, then the Evan series by Rhys and branched out to ALL the Red authors and their books. In fact, I just finished The House Guest. So this blog has been a big influence.
DeleteA quick story - While at my hubby's ('65) college reunion in 2015 I dropped into an organized classroom panel discussion on food and books. I heard one panelist talking about her protagonist who lived in Key West and was a food critic. It was quite fun to realize it was Lucy Burdette, the author of the books I had just finished reading.
Oh, that is absolutely wonderful! I am so delighted to hear this… Thank you!
DeleteAnd I am midway through Face Time Hank.
DeletePsst, Judi: I ordered a Meyer lemon tree from Gurley's. It should come this week. SO excited. Thanks for the recommendation.
DeleteAw, Judi, that's the BEST answer EVER!!! Thank you.
DeleteKaren, good luck with your lemon. You might be surprised how small it is. I was with my first one. Don't put it in direct sun for a few days so you don't burn the leaves. I'm sure you can find tons of tips online.
DeleteRhys: Congrats, Jenn! Going to be another hit. I wish I knew where to devote precious time! Sometimes I agree to a Zoom interview only to find six people there. Other times I find a small interview has been repurposed in five places. It’s the blanketing effect, seeing the title everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I always feel like it's a hostage situation the month before a book release. I hold everyone hostage on my social media as all I talk about is the blasted book and then when it's out I'm so over it. LOL.
DeleteYaaayy Jenn! Yes, waiting for those first reviews is very nerve-racking… And hooray hooray hooray!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think your question is perfect. Love to hear the answer from all of you… I think, for me, it’s sort of the aggregate of everything. I think “wow, I’m seeing this book everywhere.” I am not necessarily convinced or persuaded by one article alone. I can be, of course, but when I book seems to be swirling in everyone’s consciousness, that draws my attention. (At least that’s what I tell myself as I do just what you’re doing now!)
I actually find that to be very frustrating, Hank. When I walk into any bookstore, I want to see my favorite authors, too, not just 400 copies of the books that a big publisher is pushing. Many authors who are struggling to be seen are every bit as good as the ones on the front tables at B & N.
DeleteOh, I so agree! That’s one of the reasons that blogs and Q and A’s are valuable for people who do not have 400 copies of the same book on the front table at Barnes & Noble. I know the publishers have paid for that placement, and we mortal authors have to do a lot more to make up for that.
DeleteSaturation. Yup. I have bought some really dumb shizzle because it keeps popping up in my feed. LOL.
DeleteI find my reading via many sources the main one our public library newsletter. The South Windsor Public Library in CT has many Booked for Lunch programs and I try to read the book before I go. I learned about Hank and Lucy from these programs. I subscribe to many author newsletters, watch a couple on Facebook: First Chapter Fun, FriendsandFiction, etc. I also belong to several book clubs, one of which I lead at a local Senior Center, and take suggestions from participants of these book clubs. We have a wonderful source in Cynde Acanto, from South Windsor, CT who owns BookClubontheGo. Cynde leads several events using local authors and I've never been disappointed in any of her choices.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you are 1/2 hr. from me. It's great that you use your library resources so thoroughly. It's great that you learned about Hank and Lucy from their programs. I should be better at using my library's resources.
DeleteThis makes me miss living in CT. I was the adult services librarian in Cromwell for 3 years. Programming was absolutely the best part. :)
DeleteWow, Jenn! Great questions. I am thinking about my answers.
ReplyDeleteBlurbs? Yes! I always like to see which authors read your novels. Blog posts by my book twins often introduce me to "new to me authors" that I never heard of. I have a bookstagram friend in Ireland who often has wonderful books and I learn about new books. Another bookstagram friend in England (just about to move to France) often has wonderful books that I never heard of.
For me, I often see photos of book covers and if I see the title, I would look up the author on Instagram to see what they say about the books. And I also look to see if my library has the books or there is google where I can type in the title to find out more about the books.
Dru's Musings has wonderful interviews with characters from various mysteries and lists of books coming up during the week and the month.
Subscribing to the author's newsletters is another way to find out about the books. I use Instagram to find out about books. Sometimes Facebook.
My local bookstores often send me list of their books and most of the books are out of my genres so that's why I subscribe to the Authors' newsletters.
Q & A are great too, though I do not always have the time to read. I am so busy writing my novel in progress plus reading advanced books from NetGalley plus trying to declutter my home.
Podcasts are iffy. If it is a Video and CAPTIONED in your stories on Social Media, then I would watch it. I think Podcasts are for hearing people? I am not sure?
And I often find out about new books from the book room at mystery conferences.
How did I find out about Summer Reading, your new novel? Your social media posts and your stories. Perhaps I read an excerpt through this blog Or I read a sample from the Libby app (free ebokks from the library). Really liked what I read that prompted me to order a print copy from bookshop dot org.
Wow! This comment is way longer than I was going to write.
Diana
I really don’t know you manage to get so many books published in a year! I would love to borrow some of your energy so I can completely declutter my three room condo!
DeleteI find out about new books through blog posts and browsing at the library or bookstore. On occasion, I’ll take a recommendation from a friend.
DebRo
DebRo, thank you for your kind words. I try, though I do not always succeed. I finally finished reading HAMNET and it took me a long time to finish the book. It took me three years to finish reading JANE EYRE.
DeleteDecluttering is quite a challenge! I have so much snail mail to sort through (mostly from charity organizations). For me, decluttering has been ongoing for the last 9 years since clearing out the big storage rental. Unfortunately, I transferred many things from the big storage to my home. LOL. I am also finding lots of expired stuff and throwing them away.
Yes! Before the pandemic, I discovered many new books by new to me authors at the library. And at book events at bookstores. I discovered Rhys Bowen's Constable Evans mysteries when she was on a panel with Penny Warner and several other local mystery authors at my local bookstore many years ago!
Diana
What a fantastic comment, Diana. You really broke it down and we authors appreciate that so much!
DeleteAnd thanks so much for the pre-order! Much appreciated!!!
Deletethanks for the shout-out
DeleteJenn, congratulations on your starred review! I'm sure that kind of recognition helps get you through all the hard work. Since I'm a blogger who reviews on my blog The Reading Room, I'm partial to blogs being a great way to reach readers. And, while I mainly do reviews, I also do interviews with authors, and I think readers really enjoy getting to know the authors. I was recently reading through an interview I did with Wendall Thomas, and it reminded me I need to do more of this. It can be challenging to ask questions that aren't the questions always asked of an author, but I try to have a few quirky or new questions, too.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this Jungle Red Writers blog has brought me more new authors than I can count right now. I think sticking with a blog and becoming a regular reader of it allows you to most fully enjoy this benefit.
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DeleteWe so appreciate book review bloggers and interviews, Kathy. Thank you so much for all that you do!
DeleteJenn, congratulations on the starred review!! You are a star! And that is the question I've been wanting to ask of readers. So far no one has mentioned podcasts or bookstagram, things our publishers are certain sell books...
ReplyDeletePodcasts...ugh. I have so many coming up...it's ridiculous. Even I'm sick of me.
DeleteHas anyone but me joined the AARP Girlfriend Book Club on Facebook? I won a giveaway of the Thursday Murder Club there and that's how I discovered Richard Osman.
ReplyDeleteOooooooh, thanks for the tip! I'm going to check them out, Susan!
DeleteJenn, I am in awe and also relate to you, having just had back-to-back releases almost. It's very interesting how few people action social media here. A few brought up Facebook, but that's it.
ReplyDeleteBut it makes me glad I invest so much time in my newsletter. I feel like it gives me a specific and personal connection to my readers. Now, off to check out the AARP Girlfriend Book Club, lol!
Blog posts and bookstagram tantalize me. Then I check out the titles on goodreads.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is on the FB book groups I belong to. One if which is MacKinlay’s Mavens🥰🥰🥰
ReplyDeleteSorry!!! MCKINLAY!!!
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