MARKETING STRATEGIES

Hey folks, it's Monday and
I'm on vacation, actually at the beach, 
but Tara Tyler is here!

She's talking Simulation and Pop Travel 
her writing journey and marketing!

Take it away, Tara!


Thanks so much for the opportunity to be here, Yolanda!

Today I'm going to talk about Marketing Strategies & SIMULATION, she needs some love! And at my own blog, I'm lamenting The Second Book Syndrome.

Can you tell your readers something about why you chose this particular topic to write about? What appealed to you about it? Why do you think it is different, and your approach is unique?

SIMULATION is about clone androids, which are illegal copies of people with android brains that can be controlled and programmed - can you imagine a powerful politician or famous celebrity under control of an evil villain?

The Cooper Chronicles are set in the near future and I love coming up with new technology that could become reality. My approach is to use our current society and tweak it into the future with plausible new gadgets. That's where my sci fi is more realistic and hopefully more appealing to contemporary readers. I know some folks say "I don't read sci fi" but those who say that and try my series are pleasantly surprised. Plus there's LOL humor!

What resources do you use? In general and for this book?

Resources, well Google of course. But I have some technical geniuses in the family whose brains I pick frequently. And when I say Google, I cross reference and check my info on many reliable sites, like technology e-zines, college research, and government .orgs. For people to get into a book, the futuristic technology must be plausible as well as using proper terminology and procedures. I have had one or two criticize the believability of my gadgets and the methods they work, but sci fi also uses a little magic that most of us gloss over - how many people really understand the internet or how a TV works? Technology magic!

How do you handle the marketing required to succeed? Any tips or tricks that you can share here?

Marketing is THE hardest part of being an author. I doubt I'll ever make enough money to give up the day job, but I'll never give up writing either. Here's what I do for marketing:

• Start by inviting family and friends to a LAUNCH PARTY - the scale of each party is smaller for each book, which costs less money for me, so that's okay. I sell a ton of books at these things.
• Organize a BLOG TOUR - these aren't as popular because they're preaching to the choir, so I like to mix it up with informative posts that will draw folks to read them, and not just say, Hey I wrote a book, please buy it! I'm also trying new methods and reaching out to Book Bloggers.
• Solicit REVIEWS - I'm lucky my publisher helps out with this initially. And I hate asking for help in this regard, but it's a necessary task. We need reviews to let readers "try it on" and help them decide to buy the book! It looks so cute on you! Here's a tremendous Book Blogger List.
• Do LIVE BOOK EVENTS - these are my favorite things to do, especially with my writer friends, and I always make new ones when I go. Plus, the more books you have to sell, the more books you DO sell! And don't forget the swag!
• Host GIVEAWAYS - I have found that just giving away books doesn't always draw a crowd, you have to add a gift card to amp up the response... Doing a group giveaway draws more to it as well.
• BOOK TRAILER - I like to have them because I enjoy making them, but I'm not sure if they help yet - it's one of the items I'm reworking...
• INTERVIEWS & GUEST POSTS - after the initial Blog Tour, gotta keep talking about it, and get over the shamelessness of self-promotion
• Have a SALE! Pick a reason, a holiday, a birthday, whatever! And put the book on sale for a limited time
• BOOK SITES - Bookbub, The Fussy Librarian, It's Write Now, Shout my book, etc. There are so many sites to promote a sale or be highlighted, for a fee. They have reach to tons of readers and they fill up quick, so if you're having a sale, get in early!
• Get SOCIAL - don't be obnoxious, but do Tweet and Insta and FB and Pin (Snapchat is for the young and penniless from what I've heard) Things to post - again, NOT just "Buy my book" - post fun pictures, informative articles, as well as sales, sneak peeks, cover reveals, and release news. A Newsletter is a great tool as well.
• KEEP WRITING - I said earlier the more books you have out, the more you sell. And with all this marketing, we need to write to remind ourselves where our passion is rooted.

What's the funniest thing that happened to you on a book tour?

Well, the Sci Fi Cons are the funniest. The last one I went to, I was positioned between two antique/collectible toy sellers. The gentleman on my left wore a shark suit and he was a hoot. More surprising than funny, the group on my right had a little skirmish, an actual fight amongst themselves. There are many characters at the Cons and people-watching is primo!

What's the next step for you? Television, movies, a new genre? Tell us what the future holds - what can your fans expect?

Wouldn't we all love to do TV or a movie? I wrote a screenplay of Pop Travel and submitted it to a couple of contests (and sent it to a couple of agencies). I don't expect returns on a first script, but you never know! And I'm thinking of a TV series for kids that isn't mind-numbing like the ones they have out right now - can't stand them. We'll see. Hopes and dreams keep us going!

PS - To celebrate my book bdays I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY if you'd like to check it out!

Thanks again for having me here, Yolanda!



Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently she has two series, Pop Travel (techno-thriller detective capers) and Broken Branch Falls (fantasy adventures). To squeeze in writing, she economizes her time aka the Lazy Housewife. Make every day an adventure!

Talk to me!

Author Blog ~~ @taratylertalks ~~ Facebook ~~ Housewives Blog

***

Thanks Tara!

Well folks, what do you think of time travel? 

If you had the opportunity to travel via teleportation would you?

Do you have a marketing strategy that works?

Please share!

SIMULATION

MY NEXT VICTIM THIS HALLOWEEN!

IS TARA TYLER

Thanks, Tara, for agreeing to be part of the fun.

Without further ado presenting Tara's

Halloween Interview & Flash Fiction Challenge

1.      You're born on Halloween and have the ghostly evil super powers of one of the following: The Ghost from Poltergeist, The Frankenstein Monster, The Mummy, The most Evil of Witches, The Devil himself, Freddy Kruger, Pumpkin Head, Michael from Halloween, or Jason from Friday the 13th. Alternatively, if you prefer, pick one of your own. Otherwise, tell us which one you would choose and why? No friendly ghosts allowed! You're to wreak havoc in this scenario!

That's easy - I can be the most evil of witches in a snap of my crooked, bony fingers with long green fingernails when provoked!! Plus witches can make youth potions and live longer - even if they have to sacrifice a few kids to do it... And I already have a good cackle for it too!

2.      The Zombie Apocalypse is going to occur this Halloween and for 48 hours, the world is thrown into chaos. Live through it and consider yourself lucky, you've been warned. What is your first step, especially as no one else knows or believes you? Do you leave family behind and seek shelter to ride it out, or do you try to save your family? How and why?

My youngest will do what I ask, the others will be zombie fodder! And I know better than to waste my time convincing them, so my little guy and I will head for the hills! Or find someone with a secure shelter, fast!

3.      Because of the time of your birth, (see the 1st question) the angels have decided to forgive your sins and are offering to remedy one evil that now exists in the world, but only one! Which would you choose and why?

Terrorism. I don't think you need a reason.

4.      Why is Halloween a favorite holiday, or not a favorite, and if it isn't why did you participate in this query? Come on; tell us your biggest most secret Halloween fantasy!

I love Halloween, I have a blast decorating even if my boys are getting too old to appreciate it. And I'm a scaredy cat, not big on horror movies. Secret Halloween fantasy is to go to a costume party with my hub and us have a good time in matching costumes - unfortunately, he's not a costume guy =( oh well! 

     Now the fun part: Finish the story. I've given you the first 100 words. Provide us with the rest, but please hold the number to 750 words or less unless the restriction is just impossible then no more than 1000 words. The winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card. The contest will be judged by another lover of the horror genre, the person to be announced later. The winner will be posted no later than a week after Halloween!

DESPERATION HOLLER

Jerry sauntered along Desperation Holler Road that earlier echoed with the excited shouts of ghosts and ghouls as the children scrambled from house to house in colorful and frightening costumes.

Dusk dissolved into the blackest of nights as the little monsters disappeared into the shelter of the brightly lit houses with their chocolate goodies.

Jerry smiled, even suppressed laughter, because he knew there was no refuge, not in Desperation Holler on this most evil of Halloweens.

Concealed by the dark limbs of deformed trees and invasive ivy, the innocuous little cabin looked abandoned, but Jerry knew better.

The witches' abode . . .cast an eerie purple glow from it's windows and the smoke from its chimney sparkled in the moonlight. Jerry couldn't resist peeking in a window to catch a glimpse of magic and see what he was up against.

Being a novice witch hunter, Jerry knew he had to be extra careful and more silent than an awkward moment. He crept along, taking one slow soft step at a time in the crunchy Fall leaves toward the back where the kitchen should be, avoiding the creaky old porch in front. If he drew their attention and lost the element of surprise his chances of survival dropped dramatically. That was lesson number one.

"Hello, deary."

Jerry flinched. There went his first line of defense. He spun around to see the wrinkled old lady who looked more like a grandmother than a wicked witch. But Jerry knew her for the hideous hag she was.

"Trick or Treat?"

She cackled at him. "Aren't you a little old for that?"

"Who's out at this witching hour, Bernie?"

The other witch stuck her long nose out the back door. Her lips curled into an evil smile when she spied him.

"Ooo. It's Jerry. Finally got your license, eh boy?"

"Just for you, Fiona." Jerry said and smiled right back at her. Exude confidence, or at least hide fear, that was lesson number two.

Jerry backed away from them, further from the house. He needed to draw them out. Lesson number three was to stay out of a witches' lair where they would definitely have the advantage. Glancing behind him, he noticed a small fenced-in area with reaching, oozing, and creeping plants.

"I love what you've done with the place. What's growing in your garden here?"

Bernie stepped toward him. "Flattery and trickery won't work on us. We've been around for far too long to let a new cub like you win over a couple of cunning cougars like us."

Jerry knew he was young and inexperienced, but these two wily witches had been terrorizing Desperation Holler since he was little. The Halloween he escaped their treachery and his cousin didn't was the night he vowed vengeance. He wasn't giving up without a fight. He had all the tools he needed, following lesson number four.

Taking out his anti-witch wand, he wielded it wildly waving it at them and spoke his wishful words.

"Howl wind, darken night,

Stir the leaves, douse the light,

In this full moon shining bright,

Curse these witches, take their sight!"

With a switch of his wrist, the moon electrified his wand and shot out at the witches' eyes, blinding them.

They screeched like demons and screamed like damsels. Fiona flew at him as Bernie lunged for him.

Jerry ducked and tried to escape, but he'd stepped too close to their garden. He hadn't realized during his incantation the vines wrapped around his legs and tangled him up.

The witches dragged poor Jerry into their home and he was never heard from again.

Poor Jerry ignored the final, most important lesson. Lesson number five, never attack witches on Halloween!

*****

That was so much fun, Yolanda! What a way to bring in Halloween and wind down my blog tour (only 2 more posts!) How clever of you! Thanks for letting me participate and for helping me with my release.

Truly, Tara, so much fun and I'm thrilled to be able to help you with your blog tour but more so that you were game to do this crazy interview and flash fiction Halloween Challenge while in the middle of a tour! You rock!

Now for the SIMULATION tour!

SIMULATION

by Tara Tyler

Release Date: Sept 14, 2015

In 2082, androids are an essential part of daily life. Some are helpful, some would make better toasters, and some are so human-like they're creepy. Back in Atlanta, Detective Cooper takes a case to uncover an illegal clone android simulation operation. He hopes it will take his mind off his recent break up, but he winds up crossing paths with his ex, FBI Agent Geri Harper.

As Cooper closes in, Geri is kidnapped. But when she resurfaces in Washington and goes on a killing spree, he knows it isn't her. Now under suspicion himself, Cooper must find the real Geri to prove her innocence, not to mention hunt down the powerful villain behind it all. Never a dull moment.

SIMULATION delivers more technology, more intense action, more humor, and more, distinct new characters. Come along for the ride.

Available Now!

Amazon ~~ Kindle

Goodreads giveaway!

Tara Tyler writes sci fi and fantasy action-adventures from her little corner of the world in Ohio as she tries to keep up with her three boys and coach husband. Always making time to write, she sometimes puts off chores and lets laundry pile up... hence, she's also the Lazy Housewife, offering advice and tips to other gals out there trying to do it all without going crazy.

She and her housewife friends blog at The Really Real Housewives of America.

tara tyler talks and tweets and facebooks

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