Writer friends, finally -- I'm back in the game. After almost 10 years I've returned to the workforce and I'm thrilled that it's in an industry which will help my writing. Working with a big book publicist, I'm sure to learn a lot. I know it'll help me with promoting my own books, but I want to share any info that comes by my desk. So with that, I'll be posting some tidbits of info occasionally.

Here's a few tips/tricks for book promotion - The ABC's if you will...

A - Always refer to your novel as "book" i.e. my book called XXX... Readers don't think of books as novels. You want to use words that reader can connect to...like book, story, etc.

B - Beware. Don't be a bragger. Use review snips for promotional opportunities, but don't brag on blogs or groups about how fabulous your book is. Readers don't appreciate authors who come singing their own praises.

C - Create Controversy. Got a unique hook that readers can relate to? Use it. Get readers interested by creating controversy or using that hook to get the buzz going.

Now for a few more tips:

A good way to get readers seeing your name is to do book reviews on Amazon. At the end of your posts you can even go as far as saying... If you enjoyed this book you might enjoy, and list your book if it's in the same genre or whatever. Might get a few interested readers.

A great thing to do is to use numbers in your book title or press release headline. i.e. 10 ways to beat stress...Read my book.... It's a proven fact readers respond to numbers : )

Connect with book clubs. Join them to get to know readers of your genre. Get the inside look as to what readers are reading, what they're saying about books and authors. Sort of like the inside scoop on the market.

Have a newsletter? Use a bulk email service to get subscribers. And be sure to use a press release for your books. Make sure you always include an opt-out link so readers can unsubscribe if they choose to.

Have an author website? Another great source for readers is an actual website for your book. Or even a blog for your book. Make your book stand out and design it to the theme of the story. If you can't afford to pay for additional websites, use the free website services like freewebs.com or braveheart.com or even homestead.com

When your book comes out, do a book announcement. Spread the word and let everyone know. Make it stand out by using special terms related to your book. Design it like a press release for the umph and attention getting feel.

Schedule yourself for interviews. But don't be half-hearted. Be yourself and be open. Even written words can be spoken with warmth.

Lastly, enjoy your successes, even the little ones. Appreciate each opportunity even the smaller venues or sources. The chances of getting on Oprah is slim, and any buzz about your book, no matter where is a success.

That's it for now. I'd love to hear what you think about some of these methods. Have you tried any of them? Got others to add? Feel free to comment.

Kara Griffin

Hi friends,

So much to tell you--so much new stuff in my life... I recently got a new job and will no longer be working at school. I'm heavy-hearted about leaving, but I know this is the right decision. My new job is exciting and I can't wait to get started. I'll be the assistant to the president of a publicity company, which is really cool. I hope to learn a lot there, and maybe...I will even be able to apply some of that knowledge to my writing.

So it's a new life for me, and sadly my writing time will be more limited, but I promise to keep writing.

If you're waiting for news about my cosmic series, Cosmic Hearts is already out and available at Aspen Mountain Press. Cosmic Chemistry is due out at the end of the month, and Chaos early in the new year.  Two or three more stories coming, hopefully sometime next year! I can't wait to share these hilariously funny sexy stories with you.

I've writting a sort of sequel to Fishing Lures & Love Tackle about Keely's friend Tane. Tane finds his own love in Cupid Can't Come. It's a Valentine short story that'll be romantically sweet and sexy.

Look for more coming soon.

~Kara Griffin

Hi friends. It's been a while since I've been in here. Things were kind of mundane...getting back to schedule and trying to fit in writing. BUT the big news is I just finished a short story for Aspen Mountain Press. The story is called...

Cupid Can't Come ~ It's a sweet, funny, erotic short about the God of Light, Tane, who's friend, Cupid, plays a trick on him. Tane wants to find love and when Cupid strikes Amy with his arrow, love explodes between her and Tane. Now Tane unaffected by Cupid's arrows falls hard for Amy, and when Tane tells Cupid he can't go to a party, what's he do? He takes away the arrow strike and Tane now has to win Amy's love on his own. This story is due out in February, just in time for Valentine's Day.

What else have I been doing? I just finished Cosmic Chaos competely and editied. My critique partners are now looking at it and should be coming out early in 2009. I sure hope you enjoy Vance and Kullan's zany far-out futuristic story. : )

What else... I just realized today that I have written 32 books/stort stories. I couldn't believe the number. I really must do something about getting all these books out there and available for you readers. I promise to get started on that right away.

I've been thinking lately that with hard times (financially) it's been tough for readers to get all the books they want. I know I've had to put some books back on the shelf that I wanted. But you know, reading is a great way to take your mind off the world's problems...and if you're an ebook reader you have the best of both worlds. You get to save the environment, buy cheaper products, and get your 'take me away from the world' fix. : ) I am so happy I found ebooks and I'm proud to be an ebook author, doing my part to help readers get more books and at the same time...doing something beneficial for the environment.

Enjoy your Friday. Can anyone say...Miller Time? Boy I need a nice drink.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend,

~Kara

It's been a while since I've blogged here. But I was thinking today that autumn is such a motivated season, especially for writers. The weather cools, so we're inside more, it gets dark earlier, which gives us more down time...hence, more writing. At least for me. I find myself more motivated and with more time to write. I finally got back into my unfinished manuscript and with the help of my crit partner, I will get it finished soon. : )

I'm really happy autumn is here. There are so many projects I need to get to. They're all on my mind, but lately I was uninspired to get to them. Now that I'm making progress, I find my mind drifting again to those unfinished stories. An excitement comes and now I'm anxious to get back to them.

Stories I'd like to get to...

Republishing the Pith Trilogy. Don't know why I'm not getting acceptances, guess I need to take a closer look at those stories and resub. I'm saddened that historicals aren't well coveted lately. Crossing my fingers that they'll be out there again soon.

I have yet to complete the redo of the Shallcross stories. They've undergone a major transformation to YA and will be awesome when finished. I can't wait to see what younger readers think of them.

I plan to write some more shorts, probably holiday themed. I was thinking of doing a Valentine short, one for St. Patrick's Day, and another for spring. Got some ideas rolling around in my head.

Then there's the cougar book I promised to write for AMP. I have to come up with a great storyline for that, but fortunately, I've some time before I have to get going on that.

In the meantime, I plan to work on more cosmics, and hope readers are enjoying Cosmic Hearts until Cosmic Chemistry comes out. Right now, I'm on the verge of finishing and submitting Cosmic Chaos to my publisher. Chaos is much more action packed and not as silly as the prior two. I sure hope Vance and Kullan find their way into your heart, as they did to me. : )

Flexing fingers, and getting ready to get to work.

~Kara

Hey friends!

Whew...I got so much done today. First let me tell you that I've just put up my Autumn Newsletter. If your not a member of my newsletter group, you might want to hightail it over there and join : ) I often give away free stories and do exclusives. In my Autumn Newsletter, I'm giving members a chance to win a personalized bracelet (like the one Valeen wears in Cosmic Hearts)!! But only members on my newsletter group are eligible to win.

Here's the link in case you'd like to join:

I mean it, I was sitting here working on a YA novel that I set by the St. Lawrence River in upstate NY and even though I'm close, I don't have the means to travel there right now to get a good idea of the area.

So what did I do? I used Google Earth to scope out the area to see where I could have the characters go. Pretty neat tool if you're stuck. I was able to see where the wooded areas are, residences, and all that. It will certainly make my writing more real, which is what I always strive for.

I realized that the world is really getting smaller. I mean if you think about it, years ago an author did not have these tools available. They had to research in books or going to actual places. I'm so glad I'm a writer now with all this technology available.

~Kara

Hi everyone, want something fun to read this weekend? Here's a scene from Cosmic Hearts, a fun, sexy, sci-fi that'll have you laughing...and sighing.

Excerpt:

All right, so he remembers your drink. He wants to socialize, does he? Don't do anything stupid, Valeen. Keep your cool, and maybe you'll get another kiss.

She nodded at the offer. Could he read her thoughts? She didn't know much about Kion's people, but many planets had beings who could do mind alterations and magical charms. She could easily counter any mind alterations, if need be. Double damn, no she couldn't. She didn't have her wristband or phaser-ray with her.

She nodded again, muttering, "Make it a strong one. It's been a hell of a solar-day."

He gave directions to a man standing beyond his shoulder, who she hadn't noticed until Chance spoke to him. Chance seemed content to sit there, waiting for the beverages to arrive. His eyes stayed on hers as if he tried to will her obedience or acceptance. She took a slow, calming breath to ease her tension. Patience was definitely not one of her abilities, but for the sake of finding out what the gorgeous hunk wanted, she would wait.

Oh, stars. What if he wanted to unite with her? Their last encounter certainly implied that he wanted to. Could she? Should she? She was saved from those thoughts when a serving woman placed her beverage in front of her. The bright aqua martini looked inviting. She thought she'd probably drink it straight down. Her throat felt dry, and as she drank the chilled liquid, it wet her throat and cooled her edginess.

She set the drink down and turned back to him.

"So, what's this all about, King Chance? Why the need to abduct me from my VeBus in the middle of nowhere?"

"I have a proposition for you, Valeen."

"That's Princess to you, King Chance. What, you couldn't send me a videograph or a message delivery like any normal person would? I had to come in person to receive your summons? My, but yes, you're a king, an important peer that won't be ignored, huh?"

"Ah, yes, Princess. My apologies for abducting you, but it was the only way. You wouldn't have come if I had requested your presence. Would you?"

She almost laughed at his question. "Probably not."

He smiled at her and seemed to ignore her sarcastic tone. He had to know how frustrated she was. Wouldn't he be so if he were in the same position?

"I hope my agents didn't hurt you. I directed them to use the greatest care. They didn't hurt you, did they?"

His obvious concern lightened her heart. Before answering him, she took another sip of her drink.

"I believe I did more damage to them than they did to me. I'm in one piece, as you can well see. Will you just get on with it and state your proposition? I wish to leave." That lie went over well.

Chance frowned. He didn't seem pleased by her tone.

She resisted smiling.

"I will release you when I am ready to do so, Princess Valeen. You will hear me out before you make your decision." His tone hardened slightly, but then gentled. "This is what I propose: a roll of the dice."

Now she'd done it; she had angered him. She should turn him down with the blink of an eye. Valeen's heart seemed to race inside her chest. What in the vast universe was he talking about? A roll of the dice? Holy stars, she would have to humor him to find out what he meant. If he meant what she thought he had, she wasn't sure if she could go through with it.

"All right, King Chance, and what do I get for a roll of the dice, hmmm?"

"Me."

Get it today at Aspen Mountain Press.  Cosmic Hearts-a new release