As a typical writer—introverted, a little obsessive, not particularly schmoozy—promotion of my books and myself an author is daunting. I mean, that’s like SALES. Did I sign up for a sales job when I decided to put finger to keyboard and share my stories with readers? Because I would sooner mow my own yard than have a job as an official salesperson. Talk about an area where I have zero talent! Yeah, I had to “sell” my books to an agent and publisher, but now it turns out I have to sell my books and myself to readers in order to supplement my publisher’s efforts on my behalf.
Yeah, I pretty much stink at this part of the job, the promotion and marketing. I try to take it in segments. The basics: a website. I just redesigned mine so it’s all fancy. Then, a blog. I share with the cat in order to add a little pizzazz. Then you have blog hopping, social networking sites, chats and loops…. You have booksignings, paid ads, bookstore visits and mailings, articles in writerly and readerly publications….seems like it’s never-ending!
There are also author giveaways. Contests. Let’s talk about this particular segment today. I’d like to ask you guys a few questions about the “giveaway” or “contest” part of author promotion. Most giveaways I’ve seen involve free books (duh!), bookstore gift certificates, spa-type items and/or chocolate (duh!). Keeping in mind airline tickets and island vacations aren’t in the budget, what types of things do you like to try to win from authors? Are books enough? Do you like backlist or only new releases? Paper or plastic? What extras do you appreciate? What cool stuff have you seen? I have been doing hand-made reusable gift bags for all my giveaways, and all sorts of stuff just jumps into the bag, I swear.
If you are an author, feel free to tell us about your contest! If you’re a reader (oh, heck, we’re ALL readers), tell us what you’d like to win—or even what you have zero interest in winning and what you consider a waste of postage.
Right now I have a contest to win a gnome prize package to celebrate today’s release of Survival of the Fairest from Samhain. It’s a paranormal romance featuring recalcitrant fairy princesses, sexy magicians, misuse of magic, cross dressers, dangerous gnomes and Area 51, all against the already-strange backdrop of Las Vegas. I’ve been exposing the truth about gnomes at my blog, too, if you like crazy pictures, snark and humor: blog.jodywallace.com
Now it’s your turn. Tell me what makes an author’s contest stand out for you!
Jody W.
www.jodywallace.com
SURVIVAL OF THE FAIREST—Available now, Samhain Publishing
Not one comment? Sheesh.
I’d like to know what makes a contest stand out, too. Lots of prizes you can win all at once seems to be big (like the review sites scavenger hunts, etc.)
What else?
Hi, Selena and Jody, Just a reader here, and my favorite prize to win is definitely books
Sometimes the cute related-to-the-book packages are awfully nice, too, but when it comes down to it, I’d love books. Oh, and chocolate 
The rest is just extra, but I’m sure there’ll be readers for whom that isn’t the case. I guess what has definitely happened before is that I’ll win a copy of an author’s book, like it, and then I’ll have to get the rest of that author’s backlist and current books, and if I like those, then that author’s on my to-buy list. I guess I’m a bit obsessive that way 
Books, check! I’ve never participated in a scavenger hunt, which sounds like fun. We should do a Samhain authors one!
Oh, do! With so many authors, you could do a lot of fun questions!