Review: I'm Raving About Social Networking for Authors by Michael Volkin!

Social Networking for Authors:
Untapped Possibilities For Wealth
By Michael Volkin
Volkin Associates
ISBN: 9780615299853
127 Pages


Michael Volkin “practices what he preaches” in his latest book Social Networking For Authors! I loved this book and his complementary web site! I even had a short and immediate online chat with the author...

As a book reviewer, authors often look upon me as an individual who will help them work miracles—to sell their books. I believe a review helps; however, if nobody ever reads that review, it won’t help in the sales process. It is the author who sells, and I firmly believe that one of the most important opportunities for authors is through the Internet Social Networking activities.

Authors, this book may be just the one for you!

But, really, anybody who is in sales will benefit from this book (See, Michael, I’ve already started learning from your book and see the potential!)

Michael uses selling books via social networking as the method by which he shares much on social networking. I’ve been helping authors in small ways to do that for a number of years, so I must highlight that I learned new possibilities on many, many pages. For instance, at one site where I’ve been a fairly active member, Volkin highlighted a section/process that I didn’t even know about! I also immediately joined two sites based upon the description in the book.

Volkin’s book contains a chapter on various sites. He starts by describing “Their Niche” and then goes on to explain how to use the site as a free marketing tool. Obviously not every site will be of interest to each author; however, I believe the method of his analysis will also be a training tool by which other present and future sites can be evaluated. Also, various readers will be considering the potential sites for different reasons. That is, as a book reviewer, I provide a service, so my activity is selling myself to show the assistance I provide authors, while the authors would be interesting in marketing their books!

I loved this book because one of Volkin’s premises is that you must have a primary web site upon which you are selling your product. He then proceeds to give methods by which you begin to drive people to that web site...and, in writing his book, every single chapter gives you something to check out on that web site! He not only gets you there to his site, but he has used the tools he recommends to readers on his web site so that you can actually see it operationally as well as get specific directions on how to use it! Oh, be prepared, there is a charge for some additional information such as the videos—however, isn’t that the point of his book—and what you, the author, are trying to do!

I don’t rave about too many “how to” books, but this is one that I must say is a “must read” for anybody working online to promote books and other products. If you don’t have the creativity to imagine the possibilities, let Michael Volkin in Social Networking for Authors be the creative genius behind the innovative and common sense approaches for your future actions!

G. A. Bixler

First Book, The Art of Disappearing, from Literary Ventures Received!

I just got my first book to review via SheBlogs from the Literary Ventures Fund. The book is The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda and published by St. Martin's Press. How? Just by joining SheBlogs and then watching what was happening. I first noticed an article, sign up to review The Art of Disappearing.... Ah, a book! I fumbled through the process since I didn't immediately contact Mary...but after that, everything worked very well! My review will be up probably next week! Watch for it! In the meantime, you can click on the title of this article to link to the Literary Ventures Fund...or SheBlogs.org from the link below or my widget in right column!

SheBlogs.org

is a Web service that connects women bloggers, including mom bloggers, product reviewers, fashionistas, techies and others, with the public relations and marketing professionals who issue the news and promote the products that women care about most. Connect Now:Read more: http://www.sheblogs.org/#ixzz0SE3biiVH

Literary Ventures Fund


The Literary Ventures Fund, a first-of-its-kind, not-for-profit private foundation, serves as a primary “partner-in-risk” with authors and publishers in advancing works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Using a philanthropic investment model, we provide supplementary support to literary authors and publishers by offering them our foundation’s resources, including expertise and publishing ties to bookstores and media outlets, publicity assistance, innovative marketing and sales programs, and in some cases direct cash investments as well. LVF’s efforts help ensure that exceptional works of fiction, literary non-fiction, and poetry with a potential for broad readership reach the widest possible audience and remain in print for years to come. In addition, LVF fulfills its public-policy mission by presenting programs that generate discussion about the broader literary landscape, the role of publishing in serving literary writers, and how more readers can become engaged with literature.


Press Contact:

Mary Bisbee-Beek
mbisbee.beek@gmail.com
(734) 369-8238

Kill Me Twice - Exciting New Drama by Jerry Bayne

Readers, my review on this book is coming this week...So far, I can barely put it down without thinking about what's coming next!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New novel follows killer exacting revenge on American politicians

Kill Me Twice by Jerry Bayne tells the story of a killer with a vendetta against the U.S. government

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Kill Me Twice, a novel by Jerry Bayne, follows a trio of investigators as they work to stop an assassin who is targeting American political figures.

When a U.S. Senator is assassinated in his home, a complex web of deceit and conflicted loyalties is revealed. The action begins when Bradley Cardiff, convinced he has been wronged by the government, starts exacting revenge on those responsible. Boston police detective sergeant Mike Sams is summoned to Washington, D.C. to assist in the investigation of the crimes. When the final target is revealed, Sams must race against time to unravel the mystery and stop the killer.

Bayne admits to being disenchanted for sometime with the political scene in our nation’s capitol. “This novel is pure fiction and not based on any factual person or event, but I think we are all aware that behind the political curtains there have always been nefarious goings on and skeletons lurking in the shadowy corners of cobwebbed closets. The book illustrates that political ambition can steer men to the dark side of life, no matter what the consequences. In the same way, those who are wronged somehow find the will to stand up and fight against the odds, to find their own justice,” says Bayne.

Kill Me Twice is Bayne’s second novel involving the adventures of protagonist Mike Sams. His first, The Gatherer, introduced detective sergeant Sams and Bayne relishes the idea of a new book that allows the character to grow.

Kill Me Twice is available for sale online at Amazon.com, BookSurge.com, and through additional wholesale and retail channels worldwide.

About the Author
Jerry Bayne is a writer whose published works include The Gatherer. Born in Bridgeport, Conn. Bayne moved to Cheyenne at a young age and was raised on the high plains of Wyoming. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a degree in physics at the University of Wyoming. It wasn't until a few years ago, when he and his wife moved to an island in the western Caribbean, that he considered writing a novel. Since then, writing has become his passion. His goal is to bring an entertaining and enjoyable experience to his readers.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jerry Bayne
Email: gerard_bayne@yahoo.com
Phone: (307) 630-0897
Web: www.jerrybaynenovels.com



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Veteran Writers: Check out News Release for New Book!

For Immediate Release Contact Carol Corbett, PublishingWorks, Inc., Carol@publishingworks.com

Publisher Seeks Veteran Submissions

Exeter, NH: PublishingWorks, Inc. seeks submissions from veterans for a book tentatively titled MOMENTS OF HONOR to be published Veteran's Day 2010. Final collection will be an approximately 500-page paperbound book, in large format to include 20-30 personal reminiscences, letters, e-mails, etc., from veterans depicting experiences during all conflicts, from WWII to present. These pieces may be as long as 20 manuscript pages, or as short as a paragraph.

The book will be divided into sections. Each piece submitted will be evaluated as to how and where it might best fit in. Any that do not fit the criteria will be returned:

Victory/Loss
Fear/Courage
Honor/Regret
Love/Longing

Contributors who are accepted will receive two free copies of the book as well as a 50% discount on all future purchases of the volume. All veterans will receive a 20% discount.

Requirements for Submission:

E-mail all submissions, if possible. If not, then mail to address below, and please include all contact information (phone, address, e-mail) as well as a SASE for return of materials. Materials will not be returned without a SASE. Do not send photos or any original material unless requested.

Submissions should be emailed to:
jeremy@publishingworks.com with Veteran in the subject line.
All phone queries may be directed to 603-778-9883. Ask for Jeremy or Carol.
The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2010. Final decisions will be made by July 1, 2010.
Submissions may also be mailed to:
Veterans
c/o PubishingWorks, Inc.
151 Epping Road
Exeter, NH 03833

Deadline is March 1, 2010.
Final decisions by July 1, 2010.

Is It Ever Too Late to Send Review Copies? (Reprint of Excellent Thoughts)

Is it Ever too Late to Send Review Copies?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Often when I teach my book review classes through AME-U I get a few authors on the call telling me they didn't know they needed to send their book out for review, or perhaps they did and sent it to the wrong reviewer, wrong publication, or to a market that didn't consider their genre or (if they were self-published) didn't want to review a self-pub'd book. So how late is too late to get reviews? Well, honestly that depends on what your book is about. We're currently working with a book that's two years old and review copies are flying out the door but guess what? It's an online campaign. Online tends to be a bit more "forgiving" of time.

If you're looking for more "bounce" for your book and want to get reviews, try pitching topic-focused blogs, web sites, and magazines. Often these places won't be as inundated with review requests as book bloggers and review publications. Also, consider pitching the book as a story, rather than a review. For example our local paper, The San Diego Union Tribune, won't consider any self published book, but if I pitch them based on a story they're more inclined to consider it.

So if you're feeling like you could do more for your older book, get creative. Go after the topic, rather than the glamour blogs and web sites. Often you'll find they are not only very receptive but also when you target a web site, blog or publication that is 100% your audience you're more likely to make a sale, and in the end, isn't that what all this promotion is all about?




Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com