Every day I learn something new about the vagaries of book marketing. For instance - did you know that a part of the Ranking of a book is the Ranking of an author on Amazon? Who knew? I did but I forgot until I was explaining to someone yesterday. Since I’ve written Chasing Mercury - I have 2000 followers on face book. This means I should have been asking you all— a long time ago— to go to my Amazon author page and follow me.Why do I care — higher ranking gets your book above the horizontal middle fold on various places on Amazon where more people can see it when browsing — So please follow my Amazon Authors page at:
https://www.amazon.com/September-Williams/e/B073W74X34/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 and follow me.
I’ll report back to you if it’s horse-hocky about affecting author rank or not.
I'm so Honored by Leigh Morgan's review of Chasing Mercury. Leigh is a Top Contributor: True Crime Books Please read her review and if it is helpful to you, indicate it either on Amazon/ Good Reads. Reviewers are the life’s blood of literature. Encourage those with a passion for reviewing books! There are also other books Leigh may have reviewed that you would like to read. In honor of Leigh’s review I’m posting the cover image for the second book in the Chasing Mercury Toxic Trilogy — Weighing Lead. Shoot me a note and let me know what you think of the image — in this romance, suspense and now vetted “True Crime.” Also, the image is a hint for those who have read Chasing Mercury as to where the book might begin — and the name of it’s first chapter… .
WAYS TO HELP: This is from my National Writers Union sister. We all have communities — this information comes from one and it may be helpful to yours. Keep the Message Clear:
Stop Homeland Security from Separating Children from their Parents
I’m wondering how to help the children, as I’m sure you are too. A letter to the Senate is just one way to help. Here’s a link:
Another is to donate to the charities on the border. (Links follow below.)
Call Senators: Stop Homeland Security from Separating Children from their Parents at the Border
Your voice can help put an end to the Department of Homeland Security’s cruel and needless practice of tearing apart immigrant families who are seeking asylum from ternary . Her is a draft:
Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and my zip code is [YOUR ZIP]. I’m urging the Senator to denounce Trump’s family separation policy and use all of Congress' authority to stop it.
I’m excited about having 2 online interviews coming up this week. Also, If you are a member of the Good Reads Romance Audiobook Group — I was given 6 Chasing Mercury Audible audiobook codes to give away. These are highly desirable because using them doesn’t require buying into the monthly commitment — you just get your book. So sign up for the giveaway . If you like Romance and You like Audiobooks sign up for the group. The Audiobook giveaway begins tomorrow June 21, 2018 on the Good Reads Romance Audiobook Group and runs for a week.
I have always appreciated Dr Gerritsen’s crime stories and particularly the humanity of the friendship between the polar opposites,Rizzoli and Isles... But the historical fiction that is this book, ‘Playing with Fire’ brings to bear this author’s full humanity and craft. Not one twist or turn was anticipated, the medicine was sweetly blended with it’s strengths and foibles. It’s a story that brings new fans and grows the old beyond our borders. It reminds us that humanity is not a physical designation but an inspiration, a reason to be. Victor Hugo would be proud to call Tess Gerritsen a colleague. SDW
THURSDAY JUNE 21st is the first day of Summer! There is a body of water and a beach chair waiting for you to show up with a good book? But do you know where your summer books are?
Now I've done enough bookstore events to have an opinion. Book stores are not theaters. For me the classic book store event doesn't work. The classic being where you stand at a podium or a mic with an audience seated before you. A few weeks back I figured out that I am better at meeting and greeting patrons who are in a store because they came to buy books not because they had an appointment for an author’s reading. I strike up a chat with them which encourages them to buy my book.
It happened at the Bindery and Book Passage last week — more books were sold before than after. A “meet and greet” is where a book store sponsors you to hang out with a display of your books, talk to people and directly sell to them books which the book store has stocked for the purpose. This doesn't usually include a reading. Well, tonight's event at Books Inc. Alameda became a new kind of platform — I became a bard in the room.
So one thing about writing is that you want to surround yourself with written words. It keeps your head in the game. There are only a certain number of hours in a day so I listen to audiobooks while exercising -- sometimes it is the only thing that makes me exercise! I'm a member of the Romance Audiobook group on Good Reads and from time to time there are book giveaways that I am interested in. I just learned that I can also share my goodreads reviews on my own blog. Below is my review of Interior Design and Other Emotions —a story about a Stock Analyst and an Autistic Woman who works in his daily visited coffee shop. It's a good read.
So, when I was asked to read in the new LitQuake Comfort Lit program I was ecstatic! Lit Quake gets it! After all, Chasing Mercury is a Romance with a capital ‘R’ — and a suspense, memoir in the low case. Yet, Chasing Mercury held in the top ten of an Amazon International Suspense and Crime category for over a month. My signature during book signings is something like Think <——>Love. People keep be confused thinking the book is non fiction when we are talking about it — they are somehow stuck in “think mode." or somehow think I am — the curse of an academic background.
Apparently she has stowed away in someones carry on. ( I wonder whose? Perhaps a dancer's!) Now on a layover in Houston. Two young men at the Goodman's Ace Hardware were also spotted with copies today. IF you have a Chasing Mercury spotting or are traveling with Chasing Mercury - please send me a photo!
This project is directly related to themes in Chasing Mercury. I can't begin to express the admiration I have for the founder/executive director of the Performing Stars Youth Program -- Felecia Gaston. She is truly a woman who knows "What plot of ground she has been given to till," As Ralph Waldo Emerson would say. And thanks to my dear friend Ola Bonds for flagging Performing Stars and it's director. PS is onto a new venture after taking children on driving tours across the USA to historically significant sights of contribution to the world of African American figure the program's right place is being honored. Performing Stars' youth ( http://performingstars.org) from Marin City are invited to attend the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Legacy Museum From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in Montgomery, Alabama.
Come experience a night of amazing creators sharing their work and unique backstories on the topic of mortality, loss, memory, and love. Our exceptional contributors include: Dr. Paul Ekman and his daughter Dr. Eve Ekman, Angelica Ekeke, Yoko Sen, Dr. Liz Ogbu, Loren Rhoads, Daniel Barash, and September Williams, MD
