• Author Marketing,  New Writer Tips

    Where can authors go for help? To MFRW right here: @MFRW_ORG #MFRWhooks #MFRWauthor

    What is MFRW?

    MFRW is Marketing for Romance Writers, a peer-oriented mentoring group open to the entire literary community. Ask marketing-related questions, request help, advice, and opinions. You can ask for opportunities to join other authors in promotional efforts. You can learn the business aspects of writing. What’s it cost? Nada, zip, zilch, zero — just come join up and share.

    Marketing for Romance Writers promotes for its members on most social media. Get your book cover pinned on one of the MFRW Pinterest boards, and share your tweets on MFRW’s monthly Retweet Day. The hashtags #MFRWorg #MFRWauthor and #MFRWhooks help you promote.

    If you have questions about marketing your books, join us. The MFRW motto is “seek, teach, share, learn, succeed.”

    MFRW was founded in 2006 by Kayelle Allen, who heads the group to this day, guiding its direction and overseeing the numerous volunteer staff members that help it run. The group began with a dozen friends, and today boasts over 2400 members, and over 7000 members make up our Facebook group. We have a multiple award-winning magazine. We have over 400 followers on Goodreads and feature our members books there in the MFRW Book Place group. On Pinterest, we are followed by over 1500 people, have 55 genre related boards, and almost 1000 pins. Want your book cover pinned on our site? Even if you don’t have a Pinterest account, you can take advantage of our presence there. Join our Yahoo group today and you’ll get information. Services and membership are free.

    MFRW Volunteer Staff

    Alice Orr, Barbara Donlon Bradley, Carmen Stefanescu, Emerald, Jessica Cale, Kayelle Allen, Libby McKinmer, Lisa Lowe, Lyncee Shillard, Michelle Davis, Mona Karel, Nicole Morgan, Paloma Beck, Reet Singh, Rochelle Weber, Tina Gayle

    MFRW Online

    Yahoo group (where you can get help) https://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/MFRW_ORG
    Kayelle Allen on Twitter https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
    Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/161092-the-mfrw-book-place
    Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/mfrworg/

  • Author Interviews

    What is RLF? Romance Lives Forever #RLFblog #Author #Book

    What is RLF? Romance Lives Forever in 2018 #RLFblog #Author #BookWhat is RLF and why should I care? RLF is Romance Lives Forever and it’s both a blog and a belief. When I married back in the dark ages of the 70s, I had four sisters, three of whom had been divorced. The youngest had been married less than a year. (They broke up many years later). My parents had been married forever (it seemed like) but I had grown up hearing them argue. My mother was temptestuous flame and my father solid as the earth. They didn’t mix well, but they loved each other. However, when I was a young girl, starry-eyed about a boy (whose name I don’t recall) my mother told me, “romance doesn’t last forever. One day you’ll learn that.”

    For some reason, that didn’t set well with me. I nodded with respect, but in my heart, I knew I would prove her wrong. I wanted a love — and a romance — that would last forever. I was blessed that the man I married is THE most romantic man and tells me he loves me every day. This month we celebrated 44 years together. Is it perfect? What is? But we are committed to being not only married, but kind to each other, generous with each other, honest with each other, and fair with each other. Romance can live forever, but it takes work. Trust me; it’s worth it.

    When I began writing about immortals, I searched for a good tag that would express volumes about them. I hit upon, “When you’re immortal, romance lives forever.” I’ve had “romance lives forever” in my logo since I got started back in 2004. It’s part and parcel of my brand. I’ve abbreviated in RLF in things I write, especially notes to myself. What is RLF? It’s the entire concept of romance lives forever.

    When I created this blog, it was to showcase romance books and authors. I’ve since broadened its reach to cover many more types of writing. What is RLF besides romance? It’s authors and readers coming together to share a devotion and love for books and stories. The only thing we don’t take is religious, political or children’s books. To see any other limits, please visit the FAQ page.

    [bctt tweet=”RLF is authors and readers coming together to share a devotion and love for books and stories #books #authors” username=””]

    What is RLF doing?

    The Romance Lives Forever blog moved from Blogspot to Wordpress on May 17, 2017. Once the move completed, posts to currently available books appeared on the new site. On the Blogspot site, a note at the top redirects readers to the new location. Links on original posts remain active, and all posts remain on the Blogspot old blog while also appearing on the WordPress blog. We still use the hashtag #RLFblog and it has an even larger reach.

    By October, that reach had grown so large RLF had to upgrade its servers to accommodate readers. Why did that happen? Because a combination of the blog’s promotion strategy plus its guest authors sharing the posts, mixed with reader interest and sharing caused traffic to reach all time highs. YOU the readers and authors made a difference. Thank you!

    RLF added SignupGenius this year. Authors can sign up for their preferred date, get automated reminders, and have links to the site and interview formats all in one place. It’s been one of the best additions to the site in years.

    Going forward, RLF will do even more to reach readers and provide them with easier ways to find good books. Google this: good book to read online. You’ll get well over 10 million results. People want to find books and RLF wants to help them find those books.

    What is RLF doing in the future?

    Do It Write — This new interview is about writers and where they write, including habits and recommended software and books on writing. In Sci Fi World Science Fiction and Fantasy writers provide an in depth look at how they create believable worlds. Authors can find all interviews here.

    #FreeBook Friday — Each Friday, authors will offer books available at no cost. This might be KDP Select’s free option, KindleUnlimited, or a book readers can download when they sign up for a newsletter. The link to the book will go straight to the link on Amazon, or straight to the sign up page for the author. No middleman. No one giving the author a list of people who want to sign up. What does this mean for authors and readers? For readers, it means they only sign up for exactly what they want, not being put on a list of authors they have no interest in reading. For authors, it means a double opt in, where readers sign up and then confirm their interest by verifying email. Who wants a bunch of newsletters showing up all at once? Nobody. Who wants a bunch of unsubscribes all at once? Nobody. #FreeBook Friday aims to fix that. Only five spots are open each Friday. One is a paid spot for extra opportunities and reach, and the others are free. Authors can sign up here to take part in #FreeBook Friday.

    #Christmas #Romance Saturday — Each Saturday during December, RLF will offer Christmas and other holiday romances, up to 10 each day. One is a paid spot for extra opportunities and reach, and the others are free. Authors can sign up here to take part in #Christmas #Romance Saturday.

    Cancer Awareness — this event helps authors share their stories about facing cancer or whose loved ones have. Each year this event brings in a huge outpouring of love and support. Authors can sign up here to take part in the Cancer Awareness here. As of this post, only three spots are left.

    Salute to Veteran Authors: Each year on Nov 11, RLF salutes authors who are veterans. The list accumulates. Author veterans (or active duty) can sign up here.

    Do you have ideas for more features? Please click the comment button and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

    What is RLF?

    RLF is romance lives forever. It’s author support. It’s honoring author veterans. RLF is reaching out to readers. It has been my privelege to see my idea grow from a spark to a huge flame. Thank you for coming alongside and going on this journey with me.

    Here’s to a wonderful year, filled with positive endeavors, great writing, massive success, and above all, happiness and peace.

    Please bookmark the blog and come back every day for good books!

    Kayelle Allen

     

     

     

  • Author Marketing

    Happy Birthday Marketing for Romance Writers #MFRWauthor @MFRW_ORG #Authors

    Kayelle Allen here. Wow, has Marketing for Romance Writers grown! Back in 2006 when I started this group, I was a busy author with four books. I was promoting, learning more about promoting, and asking friends about promoting. All the ins and outs of book marketing were starting to gel and I was beginning to understand the overall concept. That said, I had a constant list of questions. Facebook was two years old. Twitter had been founded that year. Pinterest and Instagram were four years away. How was I supposed to promote on social media? Did I need a blog?

    I had friends who had similar questions, and we would email each other and ask. Often, I’d get the same question several times in a row. I found myself going back to my “sent” file to copy an answer and resend it. Not that I wasn’t asking questions myself, but I think because I’d take the time to go find an answer if someone asked and I didn’t know – I started getting more and more questions.

    It was Halloween, and I was busy with all sorts of details of writing, and I got the same question from two different people. I remember thinking that there had to be an easier way to handle this. I needed a way to let everyone know what I’d discovered at the same time, and if I had a question, get an answer from someone who knew. Yahoo Groups was established and well-used, so I decided to create one that all of my friends and I could use together. We could post a question there, and anyone who knew the answer could reply.

    I set it up as Marketing for Romance Writers because that’s what all of us were at the time. Our members are not just romance writers, however. They come from all genres. Looking back, I’ve often wished I’d named it Marketing for Every Writer. Of course, then the initials would have been MEW vs MFRW and our symbol might have been a black cat!

    In 2006, we had 12 members. Eleven years later, there are 2420 of us, plus 6781 on Facebook, 3875 on Twitter, untold numbers on Goodreads, and 1492+ on Pinterest with 54 boards and over 790 pins. Our staff of volunteers produces an award winning newsletter and in 2018, we will publish a monthly magazine. How can we promote for you?

    About MFRW

    Marketing for Romance Writers is a peer-oriented mentoring group open to the entire literary community. Ask your marketing-related questions, or request help, advice, or opinions. You can learn how to create a professional image and use it effectively, as well as ask for opportunities to join other authors in promotional efforts. You can learn the business aspects of writing.

    News about pitch sessions and calls for submission are posted on the Yahoo group. As a member, you can attend exclusive, member-only pitch events with publishers. Members can attend free, online workshops and seminars.

    Marketing for Romance Writers promotes for its members on most social media. Get your book cover pinned on one of the MFRW Pinterest boards, and show off your cover models. Share your tweets with the MFRW street team and get them shared on Twitter. The hashtags #MFRWorg #MFRWauthor and #MFRWhop promote for you. You can get interviewed on BlogTalkRadio. Link your blog to a community hop via a unique software “ribbon” with exciting themes, and draw readers to your site.

    Find and Join MFRW

    Marketing for Romance Writers Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/

    Marketing for Romance Writers Website http://marketingforromancewriters.org

    Marketing for Romance Writers News https://www.facebook.com/mfrworg

    Marketing for Romance Writers Promo https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/

     

    Free Promotion for MFRW Members

    Follow us – we follow back.

    Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/mfrworg/
    Goodreads http://is.gd/mfrwgoodreads
    Google+ http://bit.ly/mfrworg-gplus
    LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/marketing-for-romance-writers-organization/
    Twitter http://twitter.com/MFRW_ORG our hashtags are #MFRWauthor #MFRWorg #MFRWhooks

    MFRW Volunteer Staff

    Kayelle Allen, Founder https://kayelleallen.com
    Emerald, Facebook Coordinator and Editor http://www.TheGreenLightDistrict.org
    Mona Karel, Moderator, Blog Hop Coordinator http://mona-karel.com
    Paloma Beck, Blog Director http://www.romancebeckons.net/index.html
    Rochelle Weber, Newsletter Publisher http://www.rochelleweber.com
    Barbara Donlon Bradley, Newsletter Editor http://www.barbaradonlonbradley.com
    Michelle Davis, Newsletter Editor https://twitter.com/michelle40768
    Libby McKinmer, Newsletter Editor http://libbymckinmer.com
    Mari Anne Christie, Newsletter Editor http://marichristie.info/
    Reet Singh, Goodreads Coordinator http://www.reetsingh.in
    Lisa Lowe, Goodreads Coordinator (website under construction)
    Zeenat Mahal, Goodreads Coordinator http://www.zeenatmahal.com/
    Tina Gayle, Twitter Promo Coordinator http://www.tinagayle.net/home.html
    Carmen Stefanescu, Blog Coordinator http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.com/


    If you have questions about marketing your books, or you want to share an opportunity such as being a guest on your blog, join us. It’s okay to ask for guest spots too. The MFRW motto is “seek, teach, share, learn, succeed.” Services and membership are free. Are you part of the Marketing for Romance Writers success story? Please share in the comments.

     

  • New Writer Tips,  Vampire

    The Awakening Blog Tour : Tips on Editing #RLFblog #AmWriting #MFRWauthor

    An editor is a crucial piece of the publishing puzzle and your relationship can make or break a project. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.

    There is something to be said about the rush you get when you finally type the words “THE END” into a manuscript. You have put your heart and soul into the page and for me, it was like I finally reached the top of a mountain. Little did I know it was just the first plateau.

    I had been fortunate by this time to have worked with some of the best self-publishing authors in the business and knew that editing was going to be a beast. I was a first time author for goodness sake. I thought it would be perfect to team up with a good friend who wanted to get into editing. This played out like a bad horror movie where everyone could see the monster behind the curtain but you.

    I first want to go on record that the editor in question is an amazing editor. She really did help polish The Awakening into what it is today. Also, had I continued working with her it would probably be 1,000 times better. Yet, I know it would have lost the harried style that I was truly going for. We ultimately parted ways amicably and I shelved my book for four years because I lost all confidence in the project.

    Finally, I couldn’t stand seeing all the Facebook Memories showing me a project that I truly loved. I went through and got the story edited and finally pushed publish on it. I figure that it was never going to win a Pulitzer, but it is a fun addition to vampire lore that is worth telling.

    So what advice do I have for someone who is finishing up their novel?

    Do your research! Talk to your editor about what they like to read and do a first chapter edit. It gives both of you the opportunity to see if you want to work together.

    Remember that as a self-published author, you are the boss. Don’t let anyone discourage you from publishing if that is what you want to do.

    The editor is ultimately out to create the best version of the story. If you have done your research and know that they are a good fit, then trust what they are saying.

    The Awakening by JP Adkins

    What would you do if you found out you were genetically a Vampire? Would you embrace it or run? I have found that power is a strange
    thing – sometimes it pulls you into places you never knew you would go. I have done things that most have only dreamed of; ran through walls, jumped off buildings but it all seems like folly.
    I am what happens when genetics mutate, when the species collide, when the beauty can’t resist the beast. I can’t infect with my kiss, but I can awaken with my seed — if they are a mutation such as I.
    The Awakening Genre Paranormal
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    Publisher: http://trueawesome.com/publishing
    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34647318-the-awakening
    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XRFPLGX/
    Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/712655
    Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-awakening-jp-adkins/1126059455?ean=2940154080863
    iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-awakening/id1220166996?mt=11
    Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-awakening-192

    JP Adkins Social Media

    JP Adkins sees it as his mission in life to help you realize your dreams and to uplift your mood. He is a celebrated graphic ,web , and clothing designer, has helped many authors publish their books, and has recently published his first novel, The Awakening.

    JP Adkins gets pleasure in finding ways to make life more beautiful for himself and those around him. His dream is to travel the country writing inspirational stories and leading meditations wherever he goes. He believes too many times we allow ourselves to quit trying because we tell ourselves we don’t know how, we don’t have the money, and we aren’t good enough. He wants to inspire others to take the inspired action required to design their lives. In his quest to serve the world, he has taken the first steps in ordainment in the Order of the Jedi. You Are Loved!

  • Suspense

    Tying a New Series w/an Old One @EmilyMimsAuthor #RLFblog #suspense

    By Emily Mims
    When I wrote ‘Solomon’s Choice’
    back in 2012, I had no idea that it would become the first book the nine book ‘Texas
    Hill Country’ series, set around the fictional lake community of Heaven’s Point
    of Verde County, Texas. I had a wonderful time with those stories. I drew
    deeply from my own lake community and quaint charm of the Hill Country of
    Texas. I used my own house in the story, and sent my heroes and heroines on the
    same moonlit boat rides and eagle watching trips I had been on. I wrote about a
    place and the people that I loved.
    At the same time, as a writer I
    recognized that series have, or should have, a finite lifetime. As long as two
    years ago I was already thinking about my next series and getting to know the
    characters as they developed in my imagination. But at the same time, I didn’t
    want to just drop the Hill Country series cold, leaving my readers wondering
    what had happened to that series and those settings and characters. So I
    decided to do something I’ve seen done a few times but not often enough in the
    world of series romance. I decided to tie the two series together, by
    introducing a couple of characters in the last book of the Hill Country series
    that would travel to Tennessee. They would become two of my heroes in the ‘Smoky
    Blue’ series, set in the folk and bluegrass music world of the Appalachian
    Mountains. Hopefully, my readers would be eager to travel with these characters
    and join them in their new setting.
    My readers have already met Ren
    Navarro, the hero of ‘Mist’, in the last two books in the Hill Country series. He
    and his friend Sawyer Ellison both find themselves in Appalachia, again
    investigating drug dealing associated with a music club. Ren and Sawyer were
    both mysterious characters in ‘Once, Again.’ Although Ren’s true nature and
    Sawyer’s true mission are not revealed until the end of that book, I wrote both
    characters with the subsequent series in mind, making sure Ren had the traits
    and talents he would need as the hero of ‘Mist’ and laying the groundwork for
    Sawyer’s continuing development as a character and his role as an eventual
    hero. As cousin to the heroes of the last two Hill Country books and a part of
    the family business, through Ren we will see Alex and Misty again, and the
    series will continue to have ties to Texas and the characters we left behind
    there.
    But not too many ties. The Smoky
    Blue series has its own characters and stories. And it is set in a part of the
    country that in many ways is very different from Texas. This time the story is
    set not around a community, but around a bluegrass nightclub called Acoustics,
    and the heroes and heroines are in some was associated with the club. Many of
    the characters are musicians. This time, I’m drawing deeply from my experiences
    as a musician and avid lover of mountain music. The jam sessions depicted are
    modeled after those I’ve played in. My dulcimer-playing heroine, Kylie, plays
    the same songs on her dulcimer that I do on mine. The ukulele-playing heroine
    of the third book, ‘Evergreen’, plays the same music I play on my uke. The
    festivals-I’ve been to every one of them. Even the dulcimer on the cover
    belongs to me. These stories are coming from a very different
    place than the others. They call for fresh characters in this new setting, with
    new challenges to face as they find the man or woman of their dreams.

    About the Book

    Title Mist
    Genre Romance/romantic suspense
    Author Emily Mims
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
    Someone is distributing drugs out of the nightclub
    Acoustics, and musician and undercover operative Reynolds Navarro has come to
    Bristol, Tennessee to find out who. His prime suspect is the beautiful dulcimer
    player Kylie Barstow Richards, whose drug-dealing husband was gunned down and
    who has an unexplained source of money feeding into an offshore account. As
    part of his investigation, Ren must gain her trust-and access to her home. What
    better way to do that than to become her lover?
    Kylie hates liars-she has been lied to all her life and she
    vows never to be lied to again, especially by the appealing Ren Campbell. But
    with danger drawing nearer and everything Kylie’s ever wanted about to be lost
    to her, can Kylie put her faith in the man she loves but knows she cannot
    trust?

    Buy This Book

    Publisher Boroughs Publishing
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mist-Smokey-Blues-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01LZBLPWO/ 

    About the Author

    Author of twenty-eight romance novels, Emily Mims combined
    her writing career with a career in public education until leaving the
    classroom to write full time. The mother of two sons and six grandsons, she and
    her husband Charles live in central Texas but frequently visit grandchildren in
    Tennessee and Georgia. For relaxation she plays the piano, organ, dulcimer and
    ukulele. She says, “I love to write romances because I believe in them. Romance
    happened to me and it can happen to any woman-if she’ll just let it.”

    Author Social Media

    Amazon Author Page https://amazon.com/Emily-Mims/e/B00FQQ247K

  • Author Marketing

    Happy MFRW Founding Day #MFRWauthor #Authors

    Kayelle Allen here. Back in 2006, I was a busy author with four books. I was promoting,

    learning more about promoting, and asking friends about promoting. All the ins and outs of book marketing were starting to gel and I felt like I was beginning to understand the overall concept. That said, I had a constant list of questions. Facebook was two years old. Twitter had been founded that year. Pinterest and Instagram were four years away. I had friends who had similar questions, and we would email each other and ask. Often, I’d get the same question several times in a row. I found myself going back to my “sent” file to copy an answer and resend it. Not that I wasn’t asking questions myself, but I think because I’d take the time to go find an answer if someone asked something I didn’t know – I started getting more and more questions.

    It was Halloween, and I was busy with all sorts of details of writing, and I got the same question from two different people. I remember thinking that there had to be an easier way to handle this. I needed a way to let everyone know what I’d discovered at the same time, and if I had a question, get an answer from someone who knew. Yahoo Groups was established and well-used, so I decided to create one that all of my friends and I could use together. We could post a question there, and anyone who knew the answer could reply.
    I set it up as Marketing for Romance Writers because that’s what all of us were at the time. Looking back, I’ve often wished I’d named it Marketing for Every Writer. Of course, then the initials would have been MEW vs MFRW and our symbol might have been a black cat!
    Then, we had 12 members. Ten years later, there are 2420 there now, plus 6230 on Facebook, 3411  on Twitter, and 1400+ on Pinterest with 71 boards and over 1000 pins.

    About MFRW

    Marketing for Romance Writers is a peer-oriented mentoring group open to the entire literary community. Ask your marketing-related questions, or request help, advice, or opinions. You can learn how to create a professional image and use it effectively, as well as ask for opportunities to join other authors in promotional efforts. You can learn the business aspects of writing.
    News about pitch sessions and calls for submission are posted on the Yahoo group. As a member, you can attend exclusive, member-only pitch events with publishers. Members can attend free, online workshops and seminars.
    Marketing for Romance Writers promotes for its members on most social media. Get your book cover pinned on one of the MFRW Pinterest boards, and show off your cover models. Share your tweets with the MFRW street team and get them shared on Twitter. The hashtags #MFRWorg #MFRWauthor and #MFRWhop promote for you. You can get interviewed on BlogTalkRadio. Link your blog to a community hop via a unique software “ribbon” with exciting themes, and draw readers to your site.

    Find and Join MFRW

    Marketing for Romance Writers Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/
    Marketing for Romance Writers Website http://marketingforromancewriters.org
    Marketing for Romance Writers News page https://www.facebook.com/mfrworg
    Marketing for Romance Writers Promo page https://www.facebook.com/groups/mfrwauthors/

    Free Promotion for MFRW Members

    Follow us – we follow back.
    Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/mfrworg/
    Goodreads http://is.gd/mfrwgoodreads
    Google+ http://bit.ly/mfrworg-gplus
    LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/marketing-for-romance-writers-organization/
    Twitter http://twitter.com/MFRW_ORG our hashtags are #MFRWauthor #MFRWorg #MFRWhooks

    MFRW Volunteer Staff

    Button is sized for blogs

    Kayelle Allen, Founder https://kayelleallen.com

    Emerald, Facebook Coordinator and Editor http://www.TheGreenLightDistrict.org
    Mona Karel, Moderator, Blog Hop Coordinator http://mona-karel.com
    Paloma Beck, Blog Director http://www.romancebeckons.net/index.html
    Rochelle Weber, Newsletter Publisher http://www.rochelleweber.com
    Barbara Donlon Bradley, Newsletter Editor http://www.barbaradonlonbradley.com
    Michelle Davis, Newsletter Editor https://twitter.com/michelle40768
    Libby McKinmer, Newsletter Editor http://libbymckinmer.com
    Mari Anne Christie, Newsletter Editor http://marichristie.info/
    Reet Singh, Goodreads Coordinator http://www.reetsingh.in
    Zeenat Mahal, Goodreads Coordinator http://www.zeenatmahal.com/
    Tina Gayle, Twitter Promo Coordinator http://www.tinagayle.net/home.html
    Carmen Stefanescu, Blog Coordinator http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.com/
    — 
    If you have questions about marketing your books, or you want to share an opportunity such as being a guest on your blog, join us. It’s okay to ask for guest spots too. The MFRW motto is “seek, teach, share, learn, succeed.” Services and membership are free. Are you part of the Marketing for Romance Writers success story? Please share in the comments.