Confession: Why I don’t hate promotion

Filed in: blog | promotion | slice of life    Tags: promotion | rambling

I was attending a Warrior Writer workshop presented by Bob Mayer last weekend and at one point he asked, “Who here actually likes to promote?” I raised my hand and since I was sitting near the front, I didn’t realize that all the chuckling was aimed at me. The odd ball.

I don’t hate promoting. I actually kind of like it. I like this whole author thing, really. (Stopping myself before I start sounding too Pollyanna.)

I know I’m supposed to hate promoting and networking and love the introverted writing part. Well, I do love the introverted writing part. I’m sometimes afraid that since I don’t babble enough about the angst of writing that people might think I don’t write, but who wants to hear about my day at the office? Well, maybe other writerly types might find it interesting, just like me and the techies like to go on sometimes about integration issues and data elements and message formats that only we understand–a day job aside there. Were you bored? I thought so.  And writing about the introverted writing part makes me more angsty and introverted, and I can only take so much of that even from myself.

Maybe I like promoting because I’m too clueless to realize I’m supposed to hate it? Or too self-absorbed to really realize that it’s a scary and confusing thing?

(more…)

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How to Promote Like a Big Name Author

Filed in: blog | workshop    Tags: promotion | rt convention 2011 | stephanie draven | stephanie dray | workshop

When You’re Not One…Yet

So after having one person in the audience for my fight scene workshop (thank you Christine!!), I didn’t expect the promotion workshop the next morning to be packed. So I fully apologize for running out of handouts. Stephanie Dray and I have promised to post the handout online so here it is.

Handout for RT Workshop on Promotion by Stephanie Dray and Jeannie Lin.

Enjoy and let me know what you think

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Dear Author/Kobo Books Promotion

Filed in: Announcements | blog    Tags: book chat | dear author | free ereader | kobo books | promotion

Huge thanks to Jane from Dear Author and to Kobo Books for setting up this special promotion for Butterfly Swords. In an effort to support the book, she contacted Kobo and the organization has offered to give away one free Kobo reader to a random customer who purchases Butterfly Swords any time between October 1 and October 31.

According to Jane:

“I wanted to promote Butterfly Swords, not only because it is a good book, but because it is a book that is set in a non European locale with non European characters. Not that I don’t love a good UK set romance. I do, but there is a plethora of them. And given all the struggles that authors have had trying to bring multiculturalism to fiction (think of the passing by big chains of Cindy Pon’s Phoenix Rising), I think it’s quite brave of Harlequin to buy this book, put some marketing muscle behind it (it was the only Harlequin Historical offered at NetGalley), and place an in-your-face Asian chick on the cover.” Entire blog post here

In addition to the giveaway, Dear Author is also hosting a book chat on Saturday October 9th from 7pm to 9pm EST. I’m very excited to attend. I apologize that the time doesn’t work for many overseas readers, but I believe the transcripts from the chats are usually released afterward.

The Kobo Books Butterfly Swords link will go live October 1. I am tempted to buy a copy myself….but that wouldn’t quite be fair.

I’m going to go and let this all sink in for a moment. Looking forward to meeting some readers at the book chat on October 9th!

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One more week…

Filed in: Announcements | blog    Tags: butterfly swords launch celebration | promotion | warrior women month

Exactly one week from today my first published work, The Taming of Mei Lin, will be released. It’s already available for pre-order on Amazon and B&N.com. With advance reviews, people have already started reading which already has my nerves singing. It’s a big thing to have your work “live” to the world. I’ve been waking up too early with butterflies in my stomach. It only makes me imagine what I’ll feel like as October nears!

September 1st is the start of my Butterfly Swords Launch Celebration complete with giveaways and special interviews. I’m dedicating this site in the month of September to “Warrior Women” with guest blogs from some spectacular “action gals”. I can’t wait to introduce them in one week.

I’ll also be starting a blog tour in September. I’ll be hopping all over the interwebs to chat about what inspired my stories, interesting trivia about martial arts, reflection on Chinese culture and history, pretty much about anything and everything wuxia, romance, and historical that went into the stories.

In the meantime, sit tight. And I want to send a special thanks to a few partners in crime who have already started spreading the word about Butterfly Swords on their blogs and websites. I’m very touched by the enthusiasm out there for my very first book.

Big thanks to:

Mom – Yes. Mom. I think she’s more excited about promotion than the book. She’s hitting bookstores around my hometown to distribute bookmarks and also talking it up to local newspapers. She’s also reading Butterfly Swords right now.  *gulp* I have a feeling she might be my toughest reviewer. Little Sis gets her critiquing skills from somewhere…

Stephanie Draven – Fabulous speculative fiction and romance author who is featuring Butterfly Swords in her own Launch Party for her October debut novel from Harlequin Nocturne, Poisoned Kisses. (You’ll see I’m giving away a copy of Poisoned Kisses as part of my launch. Karma, reciprocity, more positive energy to go around)

Susan – The director of the Silk Road track at DragonCon who’s giving away free copies as well as doing readings from Butterfly Swords at the Con this year. I can’t wait to go next year!

Victoria Dixon – Her site “The Ron Empress” is dedicated to the promotion, education, and networking of authors of Asian novels.

Dara Sorensen – “In the Write Mind” is a wonderful blog about her writing journey including fascinating research about Japanese history and mythology

David Bridger – Romance and Urban Fantasy Author of Beauty and the Bastard put out a great mention on his LiveJournal. His own debut  has been receiving some great reviews!

Redd – Whose blog “The Forgotten Hollow” features reviews and gorgeous cover art.

Hafelina – A Southern California tweep who has generously volunteered to spread the word on the west coast with bookmarks and other goodies.

Jennifer Leeland – Fellow Romance Diva who writes edgy romantic stories and some of the best action/suspense I’ve read put out an amazing Thursday Thirteen about Butterfly Swords. I’m so humbled!

Lexie – Who runs the review site “Poisoned Rationality” has not only posted on her blog about Butterfly Swords, but has come up with her own contest to promote it. Wow! Check out the “Butterfly Swords – OMG I Want Now” Contest.

The Diva Bookcase – Is another wonderful romance review site who’s reviewing the book and has been kind enough to jump in by linking, tweeting, and passing out bookmarks to spread the word.

Carol Rose – An author and newly minted Romance Diva has given a great mention on her blog Moonlight and Roses.

FredTownWard – Fellow tweep and Amazon reviewer has also hit the bookstores with bookmarks

…and many, many more supporters who’ve tweeted and blogged independent of the launch celebration. Your enthusiasm is making this all the more special.

I know I couldn’t mention everyone and I won’t be able to do this going forward, but I just wanted to give a special shout out to the early birds. I hope you’re as excited as I am for October!

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First Butterfly Swords giveaway!

Filed in: Announcements | blog    Tags: giveaway | newsletter | promotion

So far, newsletter subscribers have received insider info, sneak peeks at the book trailer, and advance news about new stories and sales. This week, they’ll be eligible for my first giveaway:

My agent Gail called me yesterday and gushed that she was holding a copy of Butterfly Swords in her hands and that it was gorgeous! She wanted to warn me so I didn’t run into  the wall or burst into tears or kiss the mailman when I saw them. I’m waiting eagerly…

So I’m giving away my very first copy of Butterfly Swords this weekend! The entry link is only in the newsletter, so join up and enter with the correct passphrase for a chance to win.

Also, anyone who subscribes before September 1 will be given two free entries for the Launch Celebration giveaways. Come see the goodies and join the launch crew activities.

Sign up for Jeannie’s Email Newsletter

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The promo push begins

Filed in: blog | promotion    Tags: bookmarks | jaxadora designs | promotion | publicity muse

July is almost here so it’s time to start the promotional push for Butterfly Swords. At least, I think it’s time. (???)

I took the wise advice of my agent who told me she’s never really seen an impact on a book due to having or not having a magazine ad. So I took ads out of the budget and instead invested in a publicity muse and a graphic designer.

You know how authors with big releases have publicists and/or assistants that take care of non-writing tasks for them? Well….I can’t actually afford a publicist or an assistant LOL. But between revisions and drafts and the day job, I figured out really quickly that it would be nice to have someone assisting me so I don’t have to do it all myself. Especially true because I’m most likely to overreach on publicity for my first book and try to do too much.

Enter Anna – Publicity Muse. She’s a mix of assistant/publicist for a limited engagement. Nowadays with authors worried about blogging and reviews and an online presence, it’s nice to be able to offload that to someone else. She’s setting up guest blogs and interviews for me and will take care of organizing and sending out ARCs to reviewers. So far, worth WAY more than an advertisement in a magazine.  And it’s not even October yet.

My second ace is Jaxadora Designs. I enlisted author Jax Cassidy who’s also a graphic designer to put my bookmarks and postcards together. I absolutely love them. She made Butterfly Swords look like it’s a movie up for an award at the Cannes Film Festival. I love her website and book covers so I knew she’d do an awesome job.

I know there is a lot of debate in the writer-verse about what type of promo is necessary and effective. Since this is my first time, I’m trying a few strategies and keeping watch on what works. It’s kind of a fun scientific exercise in and of itself, no?

And, you know….getting bookmarks and such…it feels like part of the ritual of a debut release. Like the pinning of the corsage before prom. Maybe I could get through prom without a corsage, but I don’t want to be the only girl without one.

In the meantime, I’ve been writing and writing. So everyone’s happy.

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June Edition of My Newsletter

Filed in: blog | promotion    Tags: gossip | newsletter | promotion

I’ve just sent out issue #2 of the Jeannie Lin newsletter. Interestingly enough, readers don’t constantly hover over the internet and live, eat, and breathe books….hmmm…fancy that! Even my friends in the writing community don’t constantly visit forums, so several readers have contacted me to express excitement over the October release of Butterfly Swords with a note to “remind them” when it’s time.

That brings me back to a time before I became immersed in Romancelandia. When I only knew books were coming out because I browsed through the bookstore and saw a new book by my favorite authors. Only once in a blue moon would I know in advance.

Hence, the newsletter. My little gossip column and monthly reminder.

In the June issue:

• The dates and locations of my first book signings
• A special promotion for newsletter subscribers
• Find out how Robert Downey Jr. and Jeannie Lin are related
• What happened on my recent L.A. tour

What? You don’t receive the newsletter yet? Sign up here:

Sign up for Newsletter

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A little help from my friends…

Filed in: blog | promotion | slice of life    Tags: amanda berry | kimberly killion | promotion | time sucks | writer's resources

I’ve been a little bit skittish since my agent told me she occasionally reads my blog. I’m afraid she’s going to wonder why I’m not spending more time writing. *looks left* *looks right*

I’ve been multi-tasking and trying to plan promotion activities and materials as well as get ready for my first workshop at the New England conference in two weeks. I’m waiting for the “back to school” nightmares to start because I’m already getting the lesson planning jitters.

But I do want to take a moment to say, it’s nice to have friends who have done this before. Reason #104 why I’m glad I joined RWA.

Kimberly Killion’s website has been heaven sent. I have to give her a shout out. I’d really suggest any aspiring authors or soon to be pubbed authors go there. She’s gathered so much good information. Plus she writes some pretty sexy Scottish medievals if you’re in the mood!

Kimberly Killion’s website

Also my Little Sis comes through again. I’m trying to format excerpt booklets for printing to use as handouts at NECRWA. With her background in print production, she’s been able to de-mystify all these formatting issues for me and help me lay everything out. I really owe her a scone or two, with clotted cream and everything. (Though I did make about 50 delicious crab cakes for her 30th birthday party. I’m sure it all balances out.)

And then of course there’s my CP and writing buddy Amanda Berry. I was gushing about all the promotional materials I’ve been creating and her response was a dry, “And you’ve been avoiding writing.”

But, but…It’s just been slow going, that’s all.

I did make a banner for her upcoming June debut. Time suck #310. I loved that they got the Hollywood sign and the building in back that looks so L.A.

Alright Amanda, I’ll get back to work now.

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Photophobia

Filed in: miscellaneous    Tags: author photo | pictures | promotion

I have to go and get pictures taken today for the Golden Heart® promotional pictures in the RWR. I don’t have any idea what to wear and I’m completely awkward in front of the camera. I think the things can smell my fear because I’m always making a weird face.

Shoot, and if I knew they’d be projecting my face at the national conference, I would have tried to lose a couple pounds. Okay, how’s that for neurotic?

I guess I’ll have an official “author” picture up on the web soon. Stay tuned!

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