Image: Gerd Altmann, Pixabay

Book marketing has come a long way since Medieval scribes advertised their services in the Middle Ages. For one thing, there is an entire branch of psychology that deals specifically with marketing. I recently came across a great post by a marketing student with 7 psychological tricks you can use in marketing. That post formed the basis of this one, only this one deals with book promotion in particular instead of marketing in general. I hope you find it useful!

1. Your Book Needs To Fit Your Genre

It’s important to understand your readers and what they expect from you. Every genre has some common traits. And you need to respect that.

Everything about your book, from your title to the book cover, needs to fit your genre.

Let’s take YA fiction, for example. Your readers will probably be 15-to-25-years-old. The most…

In a post I became aware of on someone’s blog via a link today thanks to a blogger friend, its author was talking about whether or not it might be a good idea to employ story-boarding when it comes to writing fiction. To the uninitiated, it may sound like a sensible suggestion. But, while new writers might wish to employ the technique, writers like myself largely refrain from doing so for the simplest of reasons.

Most full time writers (I include myself in this group) will tell you that writing a story is a dynamic process where ideas constantly change direction during the story’s evolution. By relying rigidly on a mapped out storyline, it is far too easy to literally ‘paint yourself into a corner’. I’m a firm believer in ‘flexibility’ being the key to good writing.

One other valid point to consider – story-boarding is just another name for…

It’s been a while, and for that, I apologise, my dear readers.

I haven’t been wallowing in a puddle of misery because I got another rejection.

Nothing like that. Unfortunately it has been my health that has held me back from progessing further.

You see, I made a decision to become an Indie Author, and self publish my baby!

And, in order to self publish, there are a few things that need to be done.

• Finish editing my book – so close, I am just in the throes of discovering my crutch words… cringe-worthy!
• Sending it to my editor for that final look over
• Formatting the text for paperback as well as e-book
• Writing the blurb
• Writing acknowledgements, etc. for inside the book
• Setting a publication date
• Designing a cover

Wait. What?

I actually have an item on the list that I…

Ghostly Rites Anthology is here!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghostly-Rites-2019-Plaisted-Publishing-ebook/dp/B07ZQV2Y4Q

And for my friends across the pond…

https://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Rites-2019-Plaisted-Publishing-ebook/dp/B07ZQV2Y4Q

Today, I’m welcoming Marjorie Mallon onto my blog to chat writing and to find out a little more about the author of dark and scary stories…

1 How do you write? Is everything plotted, planned to perfection? Do you ever change tack as you go along or always stick to a pre-made plan?

I don’t tend to plot much at all. Instead, I rely on my crazy imagination to create and form the story. The only problem with this approach is a fair amount of editing is required.

But it’s exciting though! I love allowing my characters to tell the story for me.

2 Do you have a writing ritual? Meditation, certain cup for your tea, writing trousers?

Not really, but, I sometimes get ideas when I’m out walking.  For instance, on my usual route to…

Special Offer, just in time for Halloween!

I know most of you aren’t into horror stories, but for those of you who are, I have a book for you!

My latest horror anthology Nightmareland is available FREE to my Readers Club members for a limited if you contact me and ask for it.

That’s it!

I’ll send you an e-copy of Nightmareland, a horror anthology 23 stories from 14 authors for you to read and enjoy. I’m especially fond of the three I wrote for this one.

LIMITED TIME!  Let’s get scary!

Wanna be an even bigger help? You can buy Nightmareland NOW ON AMAZON for just 99 cents and leave a verified review (regular price is $2.99 and it’ll be at that price in a few days). The verified reviews count for more, I hear, so that’s extra helpful – plus you’ll have my eternal thanks, so there’s that.

Here’s…