Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author

This little gem is a marketing must for authors. ~ Bette A. Stevens

“Kathryn has written the How-to-Book for authors of reviews, interviews, blogs, and social media. She has creative ideas for book signings, contests, and author speaking engagements. This is a great marketing outline for me, as I get ready to publish new novels. I highly recommend this book to the new author and anyone needing a quick update on book marketing.” Michelle Renea Anderson, author of Shelby’s Plan  

“This is an extremely useful little book… jam packed with tips that will help you market your book. Many of us have sweat blood and tears to write and self-publish a novel, and then wondered how we could get it to sell. This book will really help.” Charlie Bray, author of Open House

Kathryn Elizabeth Jones, author of fiction and her latest non-fiction gem.

Welcome to 4writersandreaders, Kathryn. It’s a pleasure to have you with us today.  Your awesome little book is a gem for authors and I’m sure glad I’ve got my copy as a handy reference right on my laptop. 

First, tell us a little about yourself. I have been a published writer since 1987. What that means is that I’m fairly old but young at heart. I graduated from college in my 40s, and started a new business (Idea Creations Press) just last year. I guess that also means I am a go-getter and never allow age to stop me from doing anything.

How about your family? I have a husband and three daughters. One of my daughters and her two children live with us. Yes, she’s divorced, but sometimes life is that much sweeter when you make a needed change. My home is sort of a mix between grandma type fare and children’s toys. It’s difficult to keep the living room clean, but the kids are cute and I love them. My husband and I run Idea Creations Press. I do all of the stuff that has to do with writing and editing and he takes care of the technical stuff like the book’s interior and exterior layout. We make a good team.

 How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you normally do? I have been writing for quite a few years (as discussed above) but I didn’t start out writing books. My first endeavor was a short article for a magazine. It took eight long years to just reach that point. After that I continued to work on short projects and published my first book in 2002. My second book wasn’t published until 2012, some ten years later, because I was doing other things—college being one of them. I write fiction and non-fiction and some YA.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book? How does an author best get book reviews? What of interviews, blogs and social media? How can a new author expect to be seen while crowding the lane with other authors of his/her genre?

Marketing Your Book on a Budget is tiny for a reason; any author can afford it. But be prepared for the endless information enclosed. You’ll never wonder again about the best ways to speak up about your book, get free advertising, or learn why postcards can help you get the word out faster and easier than any other way.

Plus, once you have downloaded the Kindle version, expect yearly updates for FREE. Just contact us to register via the email at the end of the book. Never be in the dark again when it comes to marketing your book. See what little or no money will really attract!

What prompted you to become a writer? The first time I wrote anything down, hoping to publish it, was when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I was sick, and feeling as if I couldn’t do anything but sit on the couch. That’s when I decided to be a writer.

Do you have a favorite line from the book?

“It’s easy to say you’re going to market your book, far more difficult to actually do it.”

Any writer who reads and applies the ideas within this book will have success. A writer who does more than dream of success, but does something, will have it.

What was the hardest part about writing your marketing book? The hardest part of writing was actually making sure the sites that I chose for the book were still in operation at publication. This is one reason I decided to bring the book out once a year. So many things change, including websites, and I wanted to make sure readers got the most up-to-date information possible.

Do you do anything besides write? Yep. Since I’m a grandmother I do some pretty hefty tending, and of course I love to read. I love working in the flower garden and taking long walks (especially if I’m on vacation and near an ocean).

How can my readers get a copy of your book? They can get a copy of Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Your-Book-Budget-ebook/dp/B0094XV6MA or at my website: kathy@ariverofstones.com. They may also want to check out http://ideacreationspress.com/, especially if they have a book in the works.

Need some fresh marketing ideas? Grab your copy of this great little book today!

What’s next for you, Kathryn? I have a follow-up book to Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones, called The Feast: A Parable of the Ring, that will be released summer of 2013. My husband and I are growing the business and are looking for a new home big enough to house both the business and our family. Lots of changes!

It has been a pleasure to learn more about you and your books, Kathryn. Thanks so much for sharing insights into your great little marketing gem with us today. ~ Bette A. Stevens