Coffee Talk, Part II

GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS! Angie here again! I am still full from yesterday! Thanksgiving dinner was amazing, but I am just going to have coffee for breakfast...how about you? Perfect for this Coffee Talk. 
Last week, there was some great discussion and several entries into our 4 part giveaway. Be sure to check out what's up for grabs at the end of the post, and then comment for an entry. We had three great authors share with us about book promotion at our first Coffee Talk, and we have three more award-winning, multi-published authors here today! 


Sit back and sip your beverage (let us know what you are drinking too), and let's begin our Coffee Talk!

 Welcome to our three authors:

Becky Wade makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.  She’s the Carol Award, INSPY Award, and Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award winning author of contemporary Christian romances, My Stubborn Heart, Undeniably Yours, Meant to Be Mine,  A Love Like Ours, and Her One and Only.
Website: http://beckywade.com/

Sarah Sundin is the author of nine historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm and When Tides Turn (coming March 2017). Her novel Through Waters Deep was a finalist for the 2016 Carol Award, won the INSPY Award, and was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” A mother of three, Sarah lives in California.

Please visit her at http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse who believes love, laughter and faith are the best medicines. She likens her exciting Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series to "Grey's Anatomy finds its soul." A native Californian, she is the mother of two and proud grandmother to seven. 
Website:  http://candacecalvert.com/

Thank you for joining us, ladies! Here are a couple of questions. We are looking forward to learning from your past book promotion experiences!

First, how soon did you start promoting your book, and what is the most effective way you stirred interest? 

BECKY-I typically brainstorm promotion ideas and meet with my publisher's marketing manager to discuss those ideas 4-5 months prior to release. From then on, I work slowly and steadily, ticking off items on my marketing 'To Do' list. I ramp up my efforts two weeks prior to release, then promote the new book wholeheartedly through its release month.

I think that the blog tours and giveaways that Litfuse Publicity has organized for me have been the most effective at stirring interest.

SARAH- It starts in a soft way as soon as I sign a contract with mentions in my newsletter and

social media, with occasional mentions through the writing phase and a bit more of a push when the cover is revealed and the book is available for pre-order. Real promotion doesn’t start until about three months before the release, gaining steam in the final month before release (to encourage pre-orders) and in the first three months after release. Then it quiets down again. Whew.

I don’t know what the most effective method has been for me. In reality, it’s probably a cumulative effect—email newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, review blog tours, giveaways, contacting libraries, speaking engagements, launch parties, book signings, radio interviews, press releases, articles, and blog posts. Most of this is very hard to measure, but I’m willing to try new things and see what sticks, what I like, and what resonates with readers. Some I cast aside after a trial, and others I embrace.

CANDACE- My Tyndale House team is really so amazing. We have a conference call about 6 months before the release of each new book to go over the marketing plan and toss around ideas—they really encourage author input. I’ll have my book image/blurb/first chapter up on my website 4 months before release, and we’ll make plans for blog tours and discuss ARCs for key reviewers and influencers. For my upcoming release, Maybe It’s You, we’re trying some new things like author videos, short little films to give readers a “glimpse behind the scenes” at the making of a story. My talented videographer is also my daughter and we have a great time; it goes without saying there will also be some silly outtakes. I seem to have a particular talent for bloopers.


Okay, book signings, launch parties, online launch parties...what was your favorite way to promote your book? What are a couple of things you did during that time to encourage readers?

BECKY-For the last two releases, I've done both a launch party/book signing at Barnes & Noble and I've done a Facebook launch party.

For the launch party at Barnes & Noble, I send out postcard invitations. The night of the event, I offer cookies and scones from the Cafe to snack on. I give a Power Point presentation followed by Q&A time. Then I chat with everyone and sign books.

As nice as "real world" launch parties are, Facebook launch parties are my favorite. I've had Facebook parties on my publisher's page, I've had them on event pages, and I've had them on my own author page. I prefer to host them on my author page because, when I have a party there, readers don't have to go somewhere separate to attend. Also, each post that I put up during the party has a chance to be seen by a wide number of people over the next few days (whether or not they were able to attend the party 'live'). I prepare every post and graphic ahead of time, so I'm free to spend the party interacting with readers. I encourage readers to come by: A) Giving away a lot of great prizes. B) Making the party (hopefully) fun. I never say 'buy my book'. Instead I ask a lot of questions about themes and careers and settings that tie in with my book in some way.   

SARAH-My all-time favorite promotion was the launch party for Through Waters Deep. It started as a simple “book signing plus” at my local Barnes & Noble. We planned to have a reading and refreshments and do some fun giveaways. But it grew. We added nautical decorations to go with the WWII Navy theme. We played big band music overhead. A high school musical group performed. Barnes & Noble agreed to donate profits to Homes for Our Troops, which aids wounded veterans. Best of all, my agent, Rachel Kent at Books & Such, came and taught swing dancing! We were literally dancing in the aisles! Not only was it a blast and a fun way for me to give back to my reader friends, but it ended up creating some publicity buzz.

To encourage readers, I try to focus promotion efforts on them. First, I try to respect their time and honor their trust by not inundating them with emails and Facebook posts and tweets. Moderation and restraint. Second, I try to make promotional events educational or inspirational, to provide “added value” to the reading experience. For example, I went to Hawaii earlier this month and visited Pearl Harbor. Since my readers are interested in World War II, I’m planning a blog series in early December for the 75^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I’ll share photos, plus I’ll give away commemorative items I bought there. It’s “promotion” because it stirs interest in WWII and in my books (I hope), but more importantly it will provide information, time for reflection, and gifts someone will treasure. I love doing things like that.

CANDACE-While book signings and local parties are fun, online venues reach a much larger number of readers and accommodate folks across the country—and the around the globe. My Tyndale House social media team (ARC podcast, @crazy4fiction) are wonderful at cyber hosting for upcoming releases. We’ve already had a “Sweetest Day” feature (using some of my favorite recipes!) and are planning several fun reader-interactive opportunities that will include book-themed giveaways—we love those giveaways! Meanwhile, my Facebook author page is a happy gathering place; it’s great to have a chance to chat one on one with folks there. And (hint) it’s where I recruit early readers, aka story “cheerleaders” (pom poms optional, somersaults not required).

***

OOh, wow, such great ideas brewing for me now. How about you? Thank you so much ladies! 
Now it's your turn! Please share in the comments! What have you found to be a great marketing tip as an author? What questions might you have? Any author that has input, feel free to answer! We love to converse here at the Alley...and give presents....so....

WE HAVE GIVEAWAYS!

All comments will be entered in drawings for these FOUR FABULOUS PRIZES (we will draw consecutively for these prizes, except the first one will be from those indicating they are on the indie road to publication) We will share the winners on DECEMBER 2nd:

• Indie Authors! Last week's featured author Heather Gilbert has her own Indie Publishing Handbook ebook that she'd like to give a copy to one of our indie-journeying authors! Indicate in the comments if you are interested in the Indie route! 

• Reader's Choice Prize! Heather is also generously giving away a reader's choice of one of her Fiction ebooks (check out her books here ).

• AlleyCat Surprise! Our dear Casey is giving away A BOOK FROM HER STASH...who knows what amazing novel it shall be...but we know Casey's taste is impeccable so be very excited!

• AlleyPal Book! Mary Vee is amazing, and will also be giving away The Rimgmaster's Wife by the lovely AlleyPal, Kristy Cambron.

New Releases are Blooming in May

Trees are budding. Flowers are blooming.

And new releases are bringing some sweet reads our way for May.

                                           Robin Lee Hatcher's Whenever You Come Around











Richard Mabry's Fatal Trauma











                                                                  In Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot

The Proposal of Siesta Key by Shelley Shepard Gray











                                Lorna Seilstad's As Love Blooms

Chance of Loving You - a 3-in-1 surprise by Terri Blackstock, Susan May Warren, and Candace Calvert










                To Win Her Favor, by Tamera Alexander

 

And as weird as it looks to write it....Pepper Basham's debut novel, The Thorn Bearer

March Release Madness!!

It’s time to celebrate March Release Madness!!

Here at the Alley we love to read, write, eat, fellowship, and encourage other authors, so at the end of each month, we are going to feature a celebration of upcoming releases and news!!

Who doesn’t like a party, right?

So here are a few March releases that have popped up on The AlleyCats radars!

 Our very own Krista Phillips’ second novella is set to release in March. A Side of Hope.

Spy of Richmond by Jocelyn Green

A Horse for Kate by Miralee Ferrell

Jaded: A Novel – Varina Denman

Then Sings My Soul by Amy Sorrells

The Tomb by Stephanie Landsem – 3/17

Mist of Midnight by Sandra Byrd - 3/17

By Your Side by Candace Calvert

Dauntless by Dina Sleiman

After a Fashion by Jen  Turano

Stranded by Debby Giusti

An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund

If you’re looking for a new story to read, March has plenty of choices for you!

Reminders:

Carol Awards and Genesis entries end on 3/15, so send in your published

novel or polish up your prepublished manuscript before then.

Walk on and Touch my Heart: Guest Post from Candace Calvert with GIVEAWAY!!

Walk On . . . and Touch My Heart

Giving your minor characters their fifteen minutes of fame

by Candace Calvert

Unless you’re on the list of famous recluses like Harper Lee, J.D. Salinger, Michael Jackson, and the Uni-Bomber, chances are—even if you put up the Do Not Disturb sign when you write—your everyday life brings you into contact with all sorts of people. The major players, of course: family, friends, and close co-workers. But there are the simple acquaintances too, like that grocery clerk who always has a joke, the UPS gal who brings your Amazon boxes, the man with the eager Jack Russell terrier you always seem to pass halfway along your jogging route—that airport employee once, singing like an angel as she cleaned the women’s lavatory. Each, in his own way, becomes a thread in the fabric of your life. You don’t live in a vacuum. Neither should the characters that you write.

Of course, your hero and/or heroine get the spotlight, the big speaking parts. As they should. You’re writing from their point of view. Very likely there are secondary characters in your story too, the aforementioned “major players” in a main character’s life. Absolutely, spend your time on them; make them genuine and loveable (or convincingly despicable). But don’t forget to include a few tertiary—minor-- characters in your story as well. And please don’t fashion them out of cardboard. They need to breathe, too. Do that and bit-players can go a long way toward showing your readers the kind of stuff your main characters are made from.

In my newest release, Rescue Team, two of these minor characters are an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s and her beloved plastic doll, Nancy Rae. Yes, a plastic doll.  In this scene snippet, we see our rugged search and rescue hero Wes Tanner having tea with these two characters.

***

“Yes, ma’am,” Wes told Amelia Braxton, hoping his finger wasn’t permanently stuck in the handle of the dainty flowered cup. “Best tea I’ve ever had.”

The elderly woman’s barely visible brows rose and he hurried to amend his compliment. He turned to Nancy Rae, sitting on the porch swing wearing a cherry-print dress and something that looked like an old Pilgrim hat. Only faint scratches gave evidence to her near-miss with the business end of a shotgun. “Thank you, too, Miss Nancy,” Wes said, fairly sure that Hershey, wriggling beside him in hopes of a cookie, would laugh out loud if he could. “It was very nice of you to invite me to tea.”

Amelia giggled. “She thinks you have beautiful eyes. So do I. And good manners.” She peered at Wes through lenses finely dusted with powdered sugar. “Your mother did a fine job of raising you up. Manners, Sunday school, music lessons. Yes indeed. . . . But we hardly see Lee Ann these days. You must tell her to come by for tea. We miss her.”

“I’ll do that.” Wes promised, wondering if anyone really did—miss his mother.  Twenty-seven years was a long time.
***
For me, Wes Tanner’s willingness to sip tea and make polite conversation with these rather quirky characters says “hero” in a very special way.

But even a brief, non-verbal encounter with a minor character can give readers new insight. Or foreshadow events to come. Like here, where Rescue Team’s heroine nurse Kate Callison reacts strongly to a stranger she sees on her drive home from a rugged hospital shift.
***
. . . She braked, waited for two bearded cyclists—one in tie dye, the other in a faded purple “Keep Austin Weird” T-shirt—to weave through traffic. Then she rounded the next corner, and—
Oh . . . Kate’s heart cramped. The mother. Standing on the busy corner with a long scarf draped over her hair. And that sign with the beautiful baby’s face. Need money for my baby’s funeral. The light from a single candle flickered on the face and downcast eyes of what could have been a likeness of the grieving Madonna.
Kate’s foot found the brake; she reached for her purse and heard the sudden blare of car horns behind her. Then she drove on, all thoughts of dinner extinguished. All she wanted was to get home and close the door, blot everything out: that poor woman on the street corner, the girl in shadows this morning, the tearful triage nurse . . . and a baby born on the bathroom floor.

***
Sometimes, if you allow your Muse to take the lead, these colorful minor characters may simply walk into your office and whisper, “Pssst, I’m in this story too.”  This has happened to me many times during the creation of my Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series. I’ve been privileged to meet a rag-tag collection of characters who were nowhere in my synopses and yet served as important catalysts in the unfolding stories. These quirky bit-players have included an elderly goldfish named Elmer Fudd, a wise and loveable former rodeo clown, the owners of seaside bait & bakery shop, a hospital janitor with PTSD, and a one-eyed miniature donkey.  I’m grateful to each and every one.

I will caution you that minor characters have a strong tendency to try and shanghai your story. They love the unexpected limelight. Rein them in gently but firmly. But please do give them a chance at their fifteen minutes of fame. These characters may very well enhance your story, touch your readers’ hearts . . . and even become a friend.

That wise and loveable rodeo clown from Trauma Plan is still hanging around my office.

Thank you for hosting me, Julia. It was a pleasure to meet The Writer’s Alley readers!

Candace
www.candacecalvert.com


Just a note: This is an excellent summer read! It held my attention until the very end and the characters are so likeable.

Thanks so much, Candace!




Questions: Have you made room for walk-on characters in your stories? Were you taken by surprise by their unplanned appearance?

AND A GIVEAWAY:

Answer Candace's question in the comments and include your email address to be entered for a copy of RESCUE TEAM!!!

Interview with the fabulous Candace Calvert!

I am ecstatic to have author Candace Calvert as my guest on the Alley today! Not only are her books some of my personal favorites, but she is just so sweet and lovable. Read a little further and you'll soon see why you absolutely must pick up one of her fabulous books STAT!

The lovely and uber-talented Candace Calvert....

Often called the author of "medical hope opera," Candace Calvert is an ER nurse who landed on the other side of the stethoscope after the equestrian accident that broke her neck and convinced her love, laughter--and faith--are the very best medicines of all.

Her popular medical drama series (Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical) offer readers a chance to "scrub in" on the exciting world of emergency medicine, along with charismatic characters, pulse-pounding action, tender romance, humor, suspense--and an encouraging prescription for hope. Think "Grey's Anatomy finds its soul"!

A native northern Californian, mother of two and proud grandmother to seven, Candace is a passionate "foodie," equally at home with a whisk in her hand as she is penning stories. Folks who follow her on Twitter and Facebook will find photo-embellished recipes, funny insights into the writing life, snippets of upcoming work, and a chance at book giveaways. Please visit her website at: www.candacecalvert.com.

So Candace, what is your favorite thing about writing?

Oh, good question! Though for most writers it’s a bit like asking (smile), “What’s your favorite thing about breathing?”

We. Must. Write.

A dear friend sent me a card once, with a photo of an old typewriter and this quote by Anais Nin:

“We write to taste life twice.”

I know that’s true for me. If I visit an intriguing place, eat an amazing food, see a sunset, hear a unique sound, inhale a heady scent, sink my feet into warm sand, or touch a baby’s skin—I almost ache to re-create the experience with words, savor it all again. And then I long to share it with others. My feelings too: belly laughs, joy, heartbreak, passion, frustration, pain . . . and the incredible awe of feeling connected with our great God himself. I want to write it so my readers can feel it too. And be encouraged by that.

When it works, that’s my favorite thing about writing.

Tell me something about yourself that might surprise your readers. Good, bad, or quirky—we can take it J

(Laughing) Quirky is my middle name. But we’ll spell it with a C to make a perfect alliteration: Candace Cuirky Calvert.

-Chewing gum makes me feel claustrophobic.

-Intellectually, I’m awed by whales. Personally, I have a serious phobia about them. I think I may have been scarred by the movie Pinocchio.

-More seriously: In a former life, I was married to a police officer. I carried his gun in my purse when we went to the beach and he wanted to take his shirt off.  In my novel Code Triage, I wrote the happier ending to that ill-fated love story.

What has been your favorite story you’ve written so far?

That’s a hard question! Each story was personal in many ways—it’s like picking a favorite child.

I’d probably say it’s a tie between Code Triage and Trauma Plan. Both feature nurse-chaplain Riley Hale.  Her story (from injury to happiness) is one that speaks to me.

What character is most like you and why?

My DNA can likely be found in all of my heroines—and a few secondary characters. But I’d say I’m probably most like nurse Erin Quinn of Disaster Status. It took me a long time to stop trying to be a “strong woman,” and learn to become a “woman of strength.” The difference is faith.

What was the best book you’ve read in the last 12 months?

I’ve had the great privilege of having been (historical fiction author) Nancy Herriman’s critique partner for more than a decade. Mind you, I normally read contemporary fiction. But Nancy’s work is (for me) like overdosing on “Downton Abbey” with a chaser of pure poetry. Her imagery, dialogue, subtle humor, story “texture” amazes me. If I didn’t love her, I’d be pea-green with envy. 

Josiah’s Treasure is her latest. Loved it.

Do you miss nursing? Or do your medical dramas keep you feeling connected to the field?

When I hear sirens, part of me still wants to leap up and join in. When I remember how rugged the last few years in ER were (short staffing, high census, heightening acuity of cases), I’m grateful to hang up my scrubs. I do very much miss the camaraderie of the medical team and the beautiful moments of connection with patients, when “being there”  meant so very much. YES, writing medical fiction does mimic all the best things about being a nurse. The connection with fellow writers feels very much a “team,” and sharing a story with readers (all over the world!)—hearing how they are touched by my story—is much like those special moments with  my patients. A blessing, indeed.

What’s your favorite TV show?

I admit to having too many lately. Superb, tight writing is what grabs me most. Right now, it’s probably “Downton Abbey”, followed (so contemporarily) by “Castle,” “Rizzoli and Isles,” “The Good Wife,” and “Scandal.” British gentry, police procedurals, law and politics—how’s that for eclectic?

How much of what you’ve written in your books has happened to you in real life?

A fair amount. Right down to a marriage in jeopardy, sick horse, paralyzed arm, reconciliation with my father, and . . . skydiving. 13,000 feet.  Seriously. My life in fiction.

What’s next?

The third and final book in my Grace Medical series, (working title) First Responder, is scheduled for release in spring of 2014. I’m currently working on a proposal for another inspirational medical fiction series. Have stethoscope, will write.

Thank you, Amy, for letting me connect with your readers! An honor, indeed.

Didn't I tell you? Yep, she's amazing! 

Don't miss out on Candace's upcoming release Rescue Team! Due out in May and comes highly recommended by this Alley Cat!

 Your turn: What's your favorite Candace Calvert novel? 

-----Mine? Trauma Plan followed very closely by Disaster Status. 

But honestly, you really can't go wrong!

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