FREE Promotional Week With Nikki Leigh

During the week of March 3-7, I'll be on the Coffee Times forum to talk with authors about many ways to promote their books. This is a special event that I'm doing with Coffee Time and everyone is invited. The link is listed below and all you need to do is register on their site so that you can access the forum.

In the mean time, feel free to visit my web page that links to about 100 promotional interviews and articles that I compiled - this is hte link - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/node/46. If you'd like some additional information about my background, feel free to visit my promotional services page - http://www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm. I look forward to getting to know each person in March.

March 3-7 at http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=480

For the last 16 years, I have done many types of promotional work. This background has been beneficial in preparing my book manuscripts for publication, in promoting my books and in helping others authors promote their books. We all know that the vast majority of authors need to promote themselves. I talk to many authors each week and most writers have little promotional experience.

That is one of the reasons why I wrote Book Promo 101 - Learn the Basics of Book Promotion. It's also a reason why I spoke with Karenne and agreed to be available during the week of March 3-7 to answer promotional questions. There are many different ways to promote. Some of the topics we can discuss include:

• Develop Your Marketing Mind

• Is It Ever Too Early to Promote

• Design Your Book for Promotion Create a Marketing Plan

• Utilize Press Releases

• Develop a Press Kit

• Build Your Credibility Use Blogsand Websites to Promote

• Promotional Items for Your Promotion

• Where to Sell Books

• and much, much more.

These are some of the topics that I discuss in Book Promo 101 and I'm working on Book Promo 201 and 202 - which discusses a wide variety of online promotional options.

Nikki Leigh

Final Week of the February Virtual Book Tours

There is a lot of activity with the virtual book tour authors this week and we invite you to read some information about their books. Earl Ofari Hutchinson - The Ethnic Presidency: Race and the Race to the White House Earl Hutchinson is a political analyst who has studied the political process for years. He gives interesting insights about this year's presidential campaign and similar trends in past elections. He is visiting http://xicanopwr.com/2008/02/the-ethnic-presidency-q-a-with-earl-ofari-hutchinson/ today. He was interviewed by Cheryl Malandrinos at www.americanchronicle.com/articles/53011. For much more information about The Ethnic Presidency and Mr Hutchinson, visit him at http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Earl+Hutchinson+-+Feb+2008 Steven Clark Bradley - Nimrod Rising Steven brings interesting insights to the events we see around us each day and the way mankind could've gotten to this point. Let him take you back in time to show you a wide variety of events that took place and which shaped the world we live in today. He's spent time in many areas of the world and this has given him a unique perspective about the current day events. For much more information about Nimrod Rising and Steven Clark Bradley, visit his virtual book tour home page - www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimrod-rising Virginia Vassallo - Unsung Patriot: Guy T. Viskniskki How The Stars and Stripes Began Virginia Vassallo didn't start out wanting to be an author. She took a round about way to get to that first book. But, when she did decide to write, she was able to delve into her family's background to write How the Starts and Stripes Began. Learn how the military newspaper, The Stars and Stripes, got its start. At the same time, you can learn more about Virginia's grandfather - Guy Viskiniskki. She has posted a variety of articles about her background, several interviews and interesting stories about experiences that she has had while promoting her book with her husband Russ, who is also an author. For much more information about Virginia, visit - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Virginia+Vassallo Everyone is invited to visit us at www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion. Each person can create their own profile page and feel free to post comments or thoughts for our authors. Monday, March 3rd, a new set of authors will be touring - so drop by to learn more. Nikki Leigh If you would like to participate in future virtual book tours. Feel free to contact me. I always have opening for virtual book tour hosts and all you need is a blog, a newsletter or a website. If you have another idea, definitely let me know. I'm always interesting in new and interesting ways to promote my clients. Would you lilke a chance to interview authors? Would you like a way to get some promotion for your blog or website? If so, contact me for more details. nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com For information about promotional service available from Nikki Leigh - you can visit www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

A Week of Promotional Firsts

Its been an interesting week. I talked to a good number of very diverse people about their upcoming promotional needs. Its very encouraging that my promotional services are catching people's attention and that I picked services that people feel they need. For anyone that isn't familiar with these things, the link for more information is www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm .

I'm coordinating a "blog blitz" for several days in March for a project with Kathleen Gage. If anyone who reads this has a business related blog, please contact me as soon as possible. I have a really easy request that will get some additional exposure for you and your blog.

One of my March virtual book tours is almost finished and we were able to get a lot of very specific blogs that will reach the authors target audience. Any mystery, romantic suspense and horse fans should stay in touch for more details. This is the home page for Patricia Guthrie's tour - http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Patricia+Guthrie

Okay - back to the unique things that are happening this week - I have been experimenting with listing my books for sale on ebay and I sold two copies of Lilah and the Locket today. That was very encouraging and I noticed that several other people marked all the Misty Cove books to be watched. I just relisted them and we'll see how that goes.

I got an email from the director of the Virginia Festival of the Book yesterday and I'm going to be participating in two different author panels at the festival. One is Why We Write, What We Write (writing about things we know) and the other is about Entrepreneur and Small Business books. Those should both work out well with my books and they are the same day, so I'll just spend the day in Charlottesville. They also allow me to sell books myself at the event. This is the page about these events - http://www.vabook.org/site08/participants/details.php?partID=245

And, thanks for Carolyn Howard Johnson who suggested a site to check, I broke down and I'm adding auto responders to my website. I needed one since I'm participating as a promotional partner in an Amazon bestseller campaign for Dr Capista's book about finding success in business and in life. (For more information about his book - http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Dr+Joe+Capista)

So, it was time to bite the bullet and figure out how to create an auto responder and how to insert it into my website. Now I need to find time to add links for people to join my mailing list and also for people to download copies of the samplers I have for each of my series. I finally learned how to insert download links on my website :)

So many interesting and unusual things going on this week, I just had to share with you all.

Nikki Leigh

Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE
www.nikkileigh.com/book_ promo_101.htm
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Would you like information about the newest
blog tour option? www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion

Would You Like to Participate in Dr Capista's Book Tour

Many of you know that I'm always on the lookout for virtual book tour hosts. Anyone who would like
to participate is welcome to contact me and I'll add you to my list of tour hosts. Its good exposure for
you and will drive new people to your blog.

On March 4th, Kathleen Gage (http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/) is coordindating an Amazon
Bestseller campaign for Dr Capista's book - What Can a Dentist Teach You About Business, Life &
Success.

These are some of the topics in his book -

• Spirituality and Business

• Business

• Sales

• Marketing

• DiSC Profiles

• Mentors

• Goal setting

We are working to coordinate a "blog blitz" before, during and after the Amazon campaign. That's why
I'm contacting you. Kathleen has a variety of information about Dr Capista - bio, book detail sheet,
several articles and much more. You can post any of these items on your blog.

For the people who have worked with me in the past, this is going to be easier for you. There are no
interview questions, I only need you to agree to post information on Dr Capista on your site on March
3rd, March 4th or March 5th. 

If you have a blog that touches on any of the topics listed above, feel free to let me know. If you have
any friends with a blog that deals with any of these topics, have them contact me. Also, if you or your
friends have any questions, feel free to contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com

I will post a complete list of each person that participates. This will contain your name, your blog name,
your blog address, and a short description of your blog. This information will be posted along with a
thank you for your assistance. This message will be on my blog and on numerous other sites, so you
will receive a number of links back to your blog - which is beneficial for you and will give you added
exposure for the blog.

I have a limited number of spaces available in this promotion and I'll schedule blog owners on a first
come, first serve basis - so contact me soon to reserve your spot in this promotion.


Nikki Leigh

For much more information about the virtual book tours I coordinate, visit
www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion and for more information about the promotional services I offer,
feel free to visit www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

Cover of the Year - Asking for Your Vote

I just scanned the covers for Cover of the Year on Erin Aislinn's website and saw a lot of familiar covers - many were on my Judge A Book By its Cover blog last year :)

I invite you to visit http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheYear2007.htm and I hope that you will vote for Lady Lightkeeper which is one of my covers and it is listed as the winning cover for September.

If you prefer the easier route - feel free to email webmail@erinaislinn .com and put "VOTE for Lady Lightkeeper" in the subject line. I appreciate every vote :)

Nikki


Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE
www.nikkileigh. com/book_ promo_101. htm
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Would you like information about the newest
blog tour option? Ask me for details and visit
www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion

Free Ways to Blog Your Book Promotion

I've been at it again and I added some new promotional blogs. I keep saying "no more", but then some new idea hits me and I have to start a new blog. So, I figured it was time to update people about the blogs that I have available.

ANY published author is welcome to submit these questions and answers to promote their books. The cover blog always has a long waiting list, but most of the others will allow you to be posted within a few weeks. If you have an upcoming release, feel free to send the submission and list your release date in the subject line along with the blog title.

To use any of these blogs - click on the link, click on "how to submit" in the top corner of the blog and following the instructions. I ask that you send the questions and answers in an RTF file. It is also good to send a jpg file of your book cover. When you have completed the interview, send to nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com and I will add your name to the list for that blog.

I have divided the lists up for fiction and non fiction books to make it easier to find the ones that will work for you and your blog. Many people tell me how much fun they had with these blogs, I hope you have fun too.

Two other quick updates -

We are putting the final polish on the print edition of Book Promo 101 and its looking great. The book will be an oversize 8" x 10" and the layout is gorgeous. Most of the pages which contain review questions also have room to make notes. The print book should be available the beginning of March- but it will be announced on my blogs and to my mailing list.

Also, I have recently added a wide array of promotional services to authors. Feel free to take a look at the possibilities and contact me to discuss some possibilities. If you are interested in something that you don't see listed, feel free to let me know and we can talk. There are many ways to promote and I enjoy working with other authors on their book promotion. For a list of these services visit - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm


Blogs for Fiction Books

http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/ - Information about your book cover.

http://itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com/ - Details about the setting of your story.

http://badguysandvillains.blogspot.com/ - Tell us about the villains in your book.

http://shareyourheroine.blogspot.com/ - Tell us about the heroine in your book.

http://shareyourhero.blogspot.com/ - Tell us about the hero in your book.

http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/ - Share the First Chapter of your book

http://mybestfriendsstory.blogspot.com/ - Tell us about a Best Friend

http://startwithfacts.blogspot.com/ - Share Details about your Books

http://frombookstomovies.blogspot.com/ - From Books to the Movies
If a movie was made about your book, which actors and actresses would play the main characters? This is your chance to case a movie of your book and it can be a lot of fun.

http://lethimtalk.blogspot.com/ - Interview any Male Character From Your book

http://lethertalkabit.blogspot.com/ - Interview any Female Character From Your Book

http://detailwithnikkileigh.blogspot.com/ - In Detail With Nikki Leigh
Give potential readers more information about you and your background.

http://beforeiwaspublished.blogspot.com/ - Before I Was Published
Tell us about what you did before you were published and especially include anything that relates to your books and your writing.

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/current+events+promo - Can you tie a topic or element from your book with current events? This is the place to submit them. Send them to me and I'll review them.

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/author-promo-interviews - Do you have interesting promotional ideas and suggestions that you would like to share with other authors? If so, contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com and I can send you the interview questions.

Blogs for Non-Fiction Books

http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/ - Share the First Chapter of your book

http://startwithfacts.blogspot.com/ - Share Details about your Non Fiction Books

http://detailwithnikkileigh.blogspot.com/ - In Detail With Nikki Leigh
Give potential readers more information about you and your background.

http://beforeiwaspublished.blogspot.com/ - Before I Was Published
Tell us about what you did before you were published and especially include anything that relates to your books and your writing.

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/current+events+promo - Can you tie a topic or element from your book with current events? This is the place to submit them. Send them to me and I'll review them.

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/author-promo-interviews - Do you have interesting promotional ideas and suggestions that you would like to share with other authors? If so, contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com and I can send you the interview questions.


If you have ideas for any specific blogs that would be useful to promote non-fiction books, feel free to contact me - nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com. I do maintain the right to refuse any posts that are sent, but I haven't needed to turn any away yet :)

Nikki Leigh
Author of the Book Promo 101 Series
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

The X Factor for Obama

During February - I'm working with author, Earl Ofari Hutchinson to promote his timely new book. He is featured on the virtual book tour site - www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion. Each evening on the news and throughout all primary news coverage, we hear about how the black vote and the Latino vote have an effect on each vote. That is the message in The Ethnic Presidency. Mr Hutchinson delves into the many ways ethnic voters have impacted elections throughout the years for democrats and republicans. There is much more behind this topic than the fact that there is a black man and a white woman in the race for the presidency of the United States.

Excerpts from Chapter 1 - The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race for the White House by Earl Ofari Hutchinson

In a wide-ranging interview with Newsweek in July 2007, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama was piqued at the very suggestion that he was the transcendent racial candidate. This implied that he was racially neutered and was a living and breathing repudiation of the politics of racial polarization that supposedly characterized Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Obama took even greater umbrage at the notion he deliberately stoked thoughts among whites that he was the prototypical post civil rights African-American who no longer saw the world in black and white hues and whose mantra was racial conciliation, compromise and outreach.

Obama had good reason to be miffed at such talk. There was absolutely no evidence that he had ever experienced an identity crisis about his blackness. He spoke candidly about his bi-racial lineage, his early childhood years in Hawaii and Indonesia, his half-Indonesian sister, his campaign for editor of the Harvard Law Review, and his Illinois campaigns for the state house and senate. He never shied away from proudly embracing his blackness. He didn’t have too---back then.

Now that he was in the race for the biggest prize of all, the White House, things had changed. The slightest hint, let alone perception, that Obama was the “black candidate” would be the political kiss of death for him.

For more information visit -

http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Obama+X+Fac+tor

News for the Virtual Book Tour Site

We’re having a great week at the Virtual Book Tour website and I’d like to extend an invitation to each person to visit us. We have three great authors touring this month and they have posted a wealth of information about their books. You will find book summaries, excerpts, information about how current events tie into their books, why they decided to write that particular book and much more.

For people who haven’t heard of the Virtual Book Tour website – let me share a few details. Each month a variety of authors are featured on the site and they share all sorts of information about their books. The website is www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion. Each touring author has their own tour page and all information about their tour can be accessed from that page. This is the page for February – http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/february-authors-2008.

Feature Authors for February 2008 -- Click for tour details

Earl Ofari Hutchinson - The Ethnic Presidency
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Earl+Hutchinson+-+Feb+2008

Steven Clark Bradley - Nimrod Rising
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimr...

Virginia Vassallo - How The Stars and Stripes Began
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Virginia+Vassallo

We invite you to visit each author to learn more about their books.

The Ethnic Presidency by Earl Ofari Hutchinson - Who hasn’t heard about the presidential primaries this week? In many of the news programs, one of the topics of conversation is the part that voters’ race and gender will play in their vote. This is the topic of The Ethnic Presidency. Take a look at the part race plays for each and every candidate in 2008 and he provides many examples throughout the last century to show how race affects the elections. On Thursday February 7^th, Mr Hutchinson is making a guest appearance on several different sites. You can visit him at any of these links - http://philipharris.blogspot.com/2008/02/ethnic-presidency-how-race-decides-race.html, www.americanchronicle.com/articles/51521 and http://community.myfoxmaine.com/blogs/PhilipHarris

Nimrod Rising by Steven Clark Bradley - Nimrod Rising is a book about the history of life itself and the origin of evil. The story and the geographical and historical background, centered around current events, will cause readers to pose such profound questions as, Who are we? Where did we come from? What was here before us? Where are we going? Are there answers to the question of why the world faces its current condition today? Nimrod Rising offers “possible” answers to those questions. It will awake the imagination and the cause self perception as they read. I am convinced it will hold your attention to the very end.

How The Stars and Stripes Began by Virginia Vassallo – Have you heard of the military newspaper, the Stars and Stripes? Have you ever wondered how it was started and who was the driving force behind its birth? If so, you must visit with Virginia. Her grandfather, Guy T. Viskniskki, the dynamic first officer-in-charge and editor-in-chief of The Stars and Stripes newspaper. This book is partially based on his autobiographical notes, family history and military records.

Any questions, feel free to contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com. You can also visit the website to learn more about book promotion. There are over 100 promotional articles and interviews posted at http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/node/46.

Nikki Leigh

www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

Radio Interview Followup and Link

I did a radio interview with Melissa Alvarez yesterday and for anyone who would like to hear the show, it is available to listen or download at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/MelissaAlvarez

Or, this is the page to listen to the show -
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/MelissaAlvarez/blog/2008/02/01/Nikki-Leigh

Nikki

Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Would you like information about the newest blog tour option? Ask me for details and visit
www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion