IWSG - Marketing with the A to Z

THE INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP

ALEX J. CAVANAUGH

It's that time again, a day to express insecurities, and boy do I have a few. Just last week I asked my publisher for the rights to my trilogy. Now, I'm dealing with cover designs, but thanks to a picture taken just last month in the snow, I had my start. I then sent that on to Michael Di Gesu, and he worked his magic. You can see the results in the sidebar -->

Murder, Madness & Love is now up as a Kindle, and I'm going to use Amazon to publish in paperback too.

Memories of Murder should be up as a Kindle in a few days. Murder & Obsession will come next. All while I’m working to get the Prequel to the Series online too!

Amazing but that when it rains, it pours! Up to my elbows in edits, and designs, and more edits, plus getting ready for the book tour for the Snowman, and this month, all month the A to Z!

That’s only the half of it, but, well, no more crying over spilled milk. Pulling up my big girl pants and getting to work! Wish me luck, because I’m damn sure as Hell going to need it!

The tour for the Snowman begins in May, there are still a few spots open, please consider hosting me that day for a review, guest post, or interview! Thank you! Just click HERE!

Happy April, everyone!

Question:

Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?

Yes, as a matter of fact last year after the release of Murder & Obsession I used the A to Z to introduce the story and discuss Alaska. I sold 40 books that month. Not a bad start. And for this A to Z I'm going something similar for the Snowman!

Thank you, everyone, who stayed with the posts and bought the book! I enjoyed that A to Z almost as much as the one I did on Margaret Mitchell.

Be sure to say hello to the awesome co-hosts:

 Christopher D. Votey, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Fundy Blue, and Chrys Fey!

**

Be sure to check out the WEP Challenge for April

The post happens on the day for the letter 'P'

Sign up today!

B thru G for the A to Z

B =  Bear Stew 
Yum! In Alaska, if you kill it, you better be ready to eat it! Have you ever had Bear Stew? It's one of Steven Quaid's favorite meals.
Here's a recipe for Bear Stew, just in case...



C = Crena – the décolletage of the ass!
I used the word in my book and was told no one would know what it was. So, for your edification. Now you know! 😊

D – Dredging

Dredges were used to remove the gold from the land. It’s a bit like strip mining. The results ended up the same. Land

scared by the machines. Several dredges are still visible today. One scene in the book brought to mind the remains of a dredging site I saw in Ester, AK once. A large gravel pit. 

The photograph is of the Jake Wade Dredge

E – Exsanguination is the process of blood loss, to a degree sufficient to cause death. It also depends on which vein/artery that is cut as to the lengh of time it takes. One study says that to cut both wrist's it would take 8 minutes.
This is the Snowman's favorite method of delivering death.

F – Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature and has a strong odor. Used as a chemical in embalming fluid, it is highly toxic!
Stone uses it to keep red the color of his blood paint.

G – Girdwood enjoys its status as Alaska’s only true resort town. Just 30 minutes south of Anchorage, Girdwood is home to the luxurious Alyeska Resort.
Stone has a cabin nearby and his idea of an artistic reveal leaves nothing to the imagination.

Introducing Stowy Jenkins, aka

(also known as) Stone

the Snowman!

Coming Soon

It takes a true artist to pursue his victims in the art of seduction, and Stowy Jenkins is no exception, especially with blood as his medium.

Excerpt:

Little by little he added the formaldehyde to the viscous mixture, stirring it vigorously. Dipping his brush into its freshness, he began painting. Swirls, splattered droplets, and elongated dribbles soon filled the canvas. Waves of joy rose up from his deepest being, and a sense of satisfaction overwhelmed him. This creation will be my best. The addition of formaldehyde will keep the red as vibrant as the fountain of blood gushing from my Maggie May.

A maniacal laugh escaped his lips. “Rouge d’amour will be the star of my masterpiece! It will leave art lovers and critics breathless.”

Have you ever eaten bear stew?

Did you know what crena meant? Would you have looked it up? 

Is dredging to get to the gold, fair?

And as for exsanguination, would you prefer the slow or fast approach?

Formaldehyde, what can you say but yuck?

And Girdwood, a lovely place, have you ever been?

A - April Fools' Day

Alaska - the 49th State

I heard today that the President has arranged to give Alaska back to Russia, in payment to Putin for helping him win the election!

My contribution to April Fools' Day - an alternative fact! 😊

You've been warned.

My A to Z posts are all about Alaska.
&

Copyright

Surprise.

I also have a new book being released this month

the Snowman

And the setting is?

You guessed right - in Alaska.

Steven Quaid's first case after making Detective.

Also, I will only be posting on Monday's
the full week's letters and an excerpt from
the Snowman.

Here's the list and links:

B thru G

B =  Bear Stew 

C = Crena

D = Dredging

E = Exsanguination

F = Formaldehyde

G = Girdwood

H thru M

H = Hoodoo Mountains, AK

 I = Interior Alaska

J = Juneau, AK

K = Klondike

L = Liars

M = Marionette

N thru S

N = Natural Hot Springs

O = Obscene

P = Ptarmigan

Q = Quiver

R = Reincarnation

S = Sadistic

T thru Z

T = Taxidermy

U = Upholsterers' Regulator

V = Victim

W = Wicked

X –- Y –- Z = Random Variables

Coming Soon

The Snowman

Yolanda Renée

TE

Blurb:

Stowy Jenkins, aka, Stone, and as Alaskans refer to him, the Snowman, is a true artist. His muse, Gigi, is the ultimate inspiration for his painting. Her rejection inspires him to use a very unusual medium…blood.

While art may be his passion, the taste for blood is his obsession, and multiple murders, the result.

Rookie, Detective Steven Quaid, is no fan of the Snowman’s murderous exhibitions. A twisted and deadly relationship bond the two men and neither knows who will come out of it alive.

***

Hope you're up for some more interesting facts about the 49th State or just some interesting facts.
 Some mentioned in the book others just because they fit the days letter!

Now,

your turn.

What's your best April Fools' Joke?

FYI Sign up starts today for the April WEP Challenge!

STORM CLOUDS

Yolanda Renee © 2017

One of the last pictures taken on my visit to the beach.

A strong foretelling of things to come.

The temperature was 29 degrees and storm clouds were on the horizon.

For you - For me - a little inspiration!

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.”
― Robert Fulghum

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
― Langston Hughes

A to Z Reveal 2017

A to Z Challenge Reveal for 2017

It just so happens I have a new book coming out in April. So of course, my A to Z Challenge is all about Alaska and Stowy Jenkins, aka Stone, the Snowman!

I hope you’ll enjoy the little snippets of information and the book excerpts that I’ll share!

Happy Spring everyone!

Although I'm no longer at the beach, snow and ice was my greeting – but Spring is finally here!

Well, almost!

Happy A to Z ing!

Photo Copyright

In your comment, please leave a link to your reveal. I'd love to follow your posts for the Challenge!

IDES OF MARCH 2017

Today is the day they say beware of

Because poor Caesar

lost his life this day

It may have been for him,

a day to beware

But today, is truly a day

for counting blessings

Tomorrow is the day for wariness

HE GAVE ME BARN CATS

Author Maria Santomasso-Hyde

is visiting today as part of her

HE GAVE ME BARN CATS

Blog Tour with MC Book Tours.

Her book is scheduled to be

released March 14 by Dancing Lemur Press.

Introduction

Charlotte, 6-1-09

Apparently, my name is Charlotte now. The woman keeps saying it in my direction―and I like it. The way she says it makes it sound like I’m something special, “Charrrr-lit.” It’s like she’s trying to purr; maybe I can teach her how.

I’m B.C.―Barn Cat. The woman’s friend told her to name me “Charlotte” because I was living in the barn and that’s the setting of the book Charlotte’s Web. The women laughed and thought they were so clever. Whatever. All I know is I like the way the woman says my name, so I tend to perk up and listen when she says it. Also, it sounds classy. Perhaps Queen Charlotte would be better, since I am regal, especially for a B.C. I have large, golden eyes and a silky all-black coat that looks like something humans would pay a lot of money to wear. I’m sensually slim, and humans find me quite attractive and want to touch me all the time.

Since I’m the voice of this book (for now), I need to take a minute to warn you. If you got this book because you saw the title and thought this would be about cute, little kitties, then you’re only partly right. As a cat, I know deep, mysterious things. If a person wants to spend time with me, then he or she will learn to be quiet and still, to listen, to be calm. Then the human will think more deeply, and they, too, will know the mysterious things. That’s why we cats were worshipped in the ancient days (the good old days).

*****

If you’re looking for a story that will touch your heart, you’ve found it in this tender story of love, loss, and inspiration. You could win your own copy, just check out the giveaway details.

◊ He Gave Me BARN CATS
◊ by Maria Santomass0-Hyde

◊ Published by Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

◊ Available March 14, 2017

◊ $10.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 134 pages

◊ Genres: Christian Fiction / Christian Life-Death, Grief, Bereavement

◊ Print ISBN 978-1-939844-21-7 eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-22-4

◊ Order through Ingram, Follett Library Resources, or from the publisher

◊ $3.99 eBook available in all formats

Inspired by true events...

        Maria has cared for her very ill mother for many years. Her burdens are heavy, causing a sadness bordering on darkness.  When she discovers her historic barn is now home to a mother cat and kittens, she feels lighter than she has in years. As the kittens grow, they teach her as only animals can do.

          Then tragedy strikes. As Maria loses her family, the darkness envelopes her like the heavy fog that blankets her Blue Ridge Mountain home each morning. She creates a scorecard:  God: 9, Maria: 0.  Her questions turn into anger at God.  She searches to find answers as to why her loving God would take away so much in such a short time.

          How will she learn to trust again? Can the kittens in her barn help her heal?

HE GAVE ME BARN CATS is available for pre-order in print format at following sites: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Everything Cats, Foyles, and Chapters-Indigo.

HE GAVE ME BARN CATS is available for order in eBook format at the following sites: Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and Amazon.

Be sure to add HE GAVE ME BARN CATS to your shelf on Goodreads.

Formerly a newspaper reporter, Maria Santomasso-Hyde now owns Alta Vista Fine Art Gallery.

She lives in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, with her husband, Lee, and The Queen of the Universe (Roma, their Black Cat) … and other Black Cats who decide to move in.

Connect with Maria on her

Website or on FaceBook

Come join the blog tour and learn more about Maria and HE GAVE ME BARN CATS by visiting the following blog:

March 7 - Joylene Nowell Butler, Suspense Author - Feature

March 8 - Rockin' Book Reviews - Guest Post

March 9 - Mello & June, It's a Book Thang! - Feature

March 10 - Defending The Pen - Excerpt

March 13 - Reviews by Crystal - Q&A

Alex J. Cavanaugh - Guest Post

March 14 - Thoughts in Progress - Review

March 15 - Open

March 16 - A Bluestocking's Place - Excerpt

deal sharing aunt - Review

March 17 - Juneta @ Writer's Gambit - Q&A

March 20 - Reviews From the Heart - Review

The Story of a Writer - Feature

CBY Book Club - Excerpt

March 21 - bookworm1102 - Excerpt

Storey Book Reviews - Excerpt

Celticlady's Reviews - Feature

Giveaway Details:

This is a tour-wide giveaway for two (2) print copies (U.S only) and two (2) eBooks (international). To enter just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway