murder.booklocker.com

As a novice in the art of book promotion, I’ve had to rely on what fellow writers have said and tried, as well as sift through numerous articles on line. Much of what I’ve found has to do with getting your book and your name out there — out there generally referring to the web.

Building a web of links back to your blog or your website (or both) is both easy and hard. When your book is reviewed online, the reviewer posts to their site and hopefully gives a link to your site. If not, they at least give the publisher’s name. Fortunately for me, BookLocker maintains a page with excerpts from the book, a press release, one review, and ordering information. I could wish that they had a link to my website and my blog, but maybe they don’t because I failed to provide it. [Note to self -- follow up on this!]

Most reviews are also posted to Amazon as a matter of course. Again, with luck, you as the author have created a profile page for yourself with links to both your blog and website. As I write this, the phrase what goes around, comes around, keeps whispering in my ear. But it’s true, especially in web-building.

Another way to create connections is to take advantage of places offering to list you and your book for free. There are lots of these BUT I warn you now, be prepared to really read some of the terms that you agree to. Some sites require a link back, often called reciprocal linking. I just did this at Author Insider. Others require that you carry a graphic image PLUS a link to them. Still others say that they’re free but the fine print says otherwise. One in partcular that I looked at never mentioned that you were signing up for a free trial period — it simply said free.

Then there are owners of websites who (for their own reasons whatever they are) offer to list you and your book just because. Following a recommendation from Randy Richardson (his name keeps coming up here — hopefully one day I’ll get to meet him!), I sent an email off to Elizabeth Henze.

Elizabeth owns MurderExpress. The site carries reviews, author listings, and a great collection of freebies that authors will send out to those requesting them.

Two others that Randy listed for me are reasonably priced: Mystery Writers Corner at $25 (one-time fee) and Mystery Authors ($40/yr). I’m not sure when was the last time that Randy visited the Mystery Writers Corner, however. The link takes you to a page full of things that you can pay for — to be listed in Meet the Authors ($25), Bookstore listing ($10 for 1 bk, $15 for 2-3, etc.), and add your chapter to the Library ($10). The site is owned by Dawn Dowdle, who specializes in copyediting mysteries. A general site that also charges a fee is gotta write network owned by Denise Fleischer.

Other options for getting listed include other blogs. Once mine was functional, I ran right out and put mine on BlogHer. I’m also listed at Authors’ Blogs. Your city may have a blog; Chicago does.

Don’t overlook other state and city listing. PARK RIDGE: A Senior Center Murder can be found in the Illinois Authors Database online.