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Hi F.M. (Marilyn),
A warm welcome to you at Acme Authors Link. I'm in awe of everything you do to write and market your books!

Morgan Mandel
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

F.M.
Wonderful blog and some terrific advice. I agree with you, Rob Walker does an incredible job promting his books, as does J. Konrath-another marvel.
Thank you for stopping by.
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com

Thanks for having me today. Since I wrote this blog two of my events were canceled, the Jane Austen event and Mayhem in the Midlands. (That one made me really sad and cost me a lot because I already had my airline tickets.)

But, not one to stand still, I am going to have a booth at the Jackass Mail Run in my own town (certainly not as elegant as the Jane Austen Fest, but it's a place to sell books.

And I was able to transfer my tickets (with some added money) to go to Killer Nashville in August.

Waving madly at Morgan and Margot.

HI F.M./Marilyn,

Setting up blog tours is a lot of work, but if done right, they certainly can draw attention to your work and to you.

Sounds like you are one busy lady these days. Thanks for taking the time to visit Acme!

Debra St. John

Hi F.M., I love the name of your book! (That's a pick me up and read me title)! You sound like one busy author. Of course, you have to be in this business. Thank you for sharing some great ideas.

I have often thought that you were actually seven people with all the posts and activities you're involved in, Marilyn. Great interview - as always.

And Meredith, I just have to ask...what is the Jackass Mail Run. I'm seriously fascinated (love events, books, whatever with interesting names).

Ever since I have toured with PUYB I have greatly admired your perseverance and no-holds-barred approach to promotion.

I don't know if you ahve been to the Tucson Festival of Books yet, but it is becoming the largest event of its kind in the southwest. Won't happen again until next March, but you would probably do pretty well at it.

J.D., I sometimes wonder that too. How is it possible that she is everywhere all the time?

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Morgan and the rest of the gang at Acme Authors, thanks for hosting Marilyn today. I feel blessed to be able to help her promote her books and to call her a friend.

Best of luck, Marilyn. Angel Lost is a great book.

Cheryl

My friend Morgan invited me over today and I'm glad I came.

FM you are a whirlwind of information and publicity. I'm so glad to meet you and I can see that you are very good at what you do.

Wishing you all the best!

Maggie
author of the Cleopatra Jones mystery series
www.maggietoussaint.com

Marilyn, you must be taking Wonder Woman energy pills. I can't imagine how you have time to write, travel and promote your many books. I'm in complete awe!

I agree with Jean, I'm tired just reading about all you do! Seriously, though, you've offered some incredible tips for authors wanting to promote themselves and their books. Hope to meet you in person some day at one of them!

Your energy is contagious, Marilyn! Wishing you continued success and well-deserved fulfillment.

Marilyn,
Thanks for the great tips, especially regarding blog book tours. I'll be checking out Rob Walker on Facebook, too.

Great advice. One thing authors have to do is think outside of the box - and keep reaching out instead of waiting for someone to call you.

These days it does seem speaking engagements are where the money is. Bookstores for me have been mostly a losing proposition.

Morgan Mandel

Wow, so many of you posted, thank you!

Well, I'm a great-grandma who just keeps plodding along, no big secrets, no energy pills. I make a list every a.m. and do one thing after another. Have to be careful though to leave time to write.

The Jackass Mail Run actually begins 17 miles away in the town of Porterville. About 100 horseback riders come up the hill escorting the mail wagon which is pulled by a team "jackasses"--the animal variety. They stop at a local bar for lunch and keep on riding--by afternoon many of them are jackasses of the human variety. Sheriff cars and the SPCA ride along too.

By 4:30 or so p.m. they arrive in Springville and bandits try to steal the mail, complete with lots of drama and gunfire. The mail always makes it to the postoffice eventually.

Meanwhile, people peruse the many craft and food booths and of course, my book booth, and in the park there's live western music.

In the olden days, not all that long ago, there was drinking on the streets and a row of sheriff cars lined up and began hauling people to jail at the end of the day.

Marilyn

Hi Marilyn, I've learned so much on promotion from your post, but I also learned that promotion pays off. I have a book RX in Russian to be released in three weeks. I'll try to put in practice some of the advice you gave us here, particularly the blog tour and posting on Facebook.
www.monarisk.com

The Jackass Mail Run sounds like a lot of fun. We have Frontier Days around here, but it's nothing like that!

Morgan Mandel
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Sage advice from a forward leaning author, one I'm pleased to count as a friend.

Mona, promotion takes a lot of time and work, but if you aren't going to let people know about your book, who will?

Yep, Morgan, the Jackass Mail Run is wild and woolly. The next event in two weeks after that is the Springville Rodeo.

Wonderful interview, Marilyn. Your information on promotion is a valuable resource. The old saying, "No guts, no glory", comes to mind when reading about all your efforts to promote your books. Good luck at the Jackass Mail Run. Hope it doesn't rain you out.
Mary Benton

Oh, Mary, I didn't think about rain. We're had a plenty. Thanks for stopping by.

Marilyn

I looked over this again and saw your comment, Carl, thanks. I'm going to miss seeing you at Mayhem in the Midlands.

Marilyn

Thanks Marilyn. Great post. I will stop whining about my schedule now that I see yours. It is good inspiration for me to see what it takes to be successful. You have to get your name out there. Let people know how to find you and what you are offering. The task is ever so much harder for me as I am only an ebook author. If you don't have a computer with Internet access I wouldn't exist. Anyway glad to know you exist and will follow your exploits with awe. Liked what J D Webb said about he thought you were Seven people. He he. Come check out my blog sometime at http://characterswellmet.blogspot.com and please buy my short story Safe Haven by Reggie Ridgway on Kindle. Thanks

Mariyln: You are such an inspiration to all writers. Thanks for sharing your ideas and your schedule with us. Enjoy promoting Angel Lost!
DL Larson

What a wonderful post full of many promoting ideas and types! Online promo is such a huge thing now and I can see it only continuing to expand!