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