Spreading the love around

This was posted on the Marketing for Romance Writers discussion group last night. With permission, I'm posting it here for anyone who is looking for some free promo opportunities.

I'm planning to attend several GLBT related events this summer, including several Pride festivals and CON.TXT. I'd like to offer goodie bags at these events, but I need things to stuff in them other than my own promo. This is where you guys come in. If anyone wants to send me promo goodies, you're more than welcome to. I'm going to make up around 300 bags. However, you can send me much or as little as you'd like and I'll make sure it goes to good use. As long as it'll fit inside a 9x6 inch goody bag, I'll take it. :D You can mail to me at:Amanda Young PO Box 713 New Castle, VA 24127 Feel free to pass this call around to any groups or people you think might be interested. Thanks,Amanda

As it happens, I'm going to Con.Txt too this June so it works out really nice. I've already arranged to meet up with Amanda at some point during the convention and give her some of my promo items.

I'm also still debating the pros and cons of having a room party as a sort of coming out for Lost and Found. It would be great timing as the release is that Monday we get back from Con.Txt. Since I'm driving down with a friend, bringing stuff like munchies and drinks for a room party wouldn't be that hard to do.

At the very least I do plan on having post cards with my stunning cover art as well as book marks. And thanks to my editor, Cyn, who pointed me in the right direction- I will also have these great camoflauge pencils to hand out with my URL on them. I'll decide on the rest later.

I'm a guest blogger today

My editor asked if I'd write about the different promotion opportunities/interviews I've started to line up. :) Why not?

Promotion is a Never Ending Process

Editors unmasked

My editor (who btw, I feel so lucky to have) was the blogger on Lyrical's blog today. I know I've brought this up before, but she's both an editor and an author. I never pretended to understand the process in which a manuscript gets accepted or why it might be turned down. This was an interesting look at some of the reasons why.

She's also offering a free copy of her book as a prize to a lucky commentor. :) What's not to like there?

And while I'm here, I'll promote her blog Light Hearted Writer/Dark Hearted Editor as well. She just did an author interview there. She's a lot of fun to read, trust me.

Bragging rights

Okay, I have to brag- I just found out that my son, who is a medic in the Army National Guard, got promoted to sergeant. Now how proud am I?

Venturing out

It's time I start dipping my toe in the promotion pool as it were. I've been really cautious and okay, I admit it- afraid to do this. But Lost and Found is coming out in a few short months so I need to get moving here.

So, to that end, I've signed up for a blog interview and book review at Toni V Sweeny's blog. The interview is May 28th and the review on June 25th. I've also contacted a lovely lady who is putting together an entire month focused on GLBT authors and their books. Rayna very much wants me to join in for that so I'll have another interview there, some very much needed book promo and possibly a live chat session as well. It really works out perfect since Lost and Found is coming out in June.

It's a start. Now that I've nosed out there a bit, I'll keep working on it. I'm also going to a slash convention in June (Don't look at me that way- it's where I got my start in M/M!) and I'll be handing out postcards printed with the cover art and book info. This is a good sized and fun convention and who knows, maybe I'll arrange a room party. I'm thinking about it anyway.

Sort of an update...

After getting home from my second job, I sat down and finished up the last tidbits and markups on Lost and Found and (gasp) shot it back to my editor. So there you have it, round one done. Go me.

I've decided to take this weekend off from my regular writing- including VN2. I really need to clear my head so that I can get it wrapped around Nate and Ian again. Next weekend is a three day weekend and unless my edits are back (and they could be), I'll sit down again with my two bonded men who don't know what to do with each other. LOL. Besides, I'll have the house mostly to myself as it appears my husband will be going north to visit his family.

I've also been collecting names, both first and last names, that I want to use for my Melody Blue characters. I have Dennis and Holly of course, but there is a lot of other characters around these two and I've been researching for more period appropriate names.

Also next weekend, I'll pick back up on Then and Now as well. (My sequel to Lost and Found.)

signs of spring

While driving to my second job, I noticed several strands of Canada geese in the skies. Spring can't be far. I hope!

Still here

I'm not being very good with this promise to myself that I would try to blog every other day. But honest, I had a good excuse here as I was pounding out my first round of edits on Lost and Found all weekend. The good news is, I finished them tonight. My friend is taking a quick look at a scene I overwrote and then I'm sending it back to my editor tomorrow. (Hopefully she won't kill herself when she sees them!)

With that out of the way, at least for a week or two, I can come back to VN2.

My friend, who I mentioned above, also sent me this blog entry which I absolutely loved and have to share. Men in combat boots- who knit. I mean, how cool is this? (And yes, Gwenna knits. Not like my friend who is this amazing knitter, trust me.)

The Pacific

I just ordered HBO in anticipation of what promises to be a stunning mini series- The Pacific. Done by the same people who created and produced Band of Brothers, this promises to be just as incredible. I'm really excited about it.

Tomorrow I settle into the hard core edits for Lost and Found to make my March 12th deadline. I've got a three day weekend to kick some serious butt here. Told my husband he's on his own for the entire weekend- I'm surfacing only to watch the SU vs Louisville game on Saturday. (SU ranked #1 trumps everything!)

I'm probably kidding myself but I think I see hints of spring. It's there somewhere under the three feet of snow in my yard, I just know it.

How cool is this?

Coming Soon from Lyrical Press

It gets more real all the time. :) Now I just need to get those edits done in time.