Monthly Archives: February 2012

Move over Vampires. Move over Angels…The Valkyrie have arrived.

dr-cover_final-front
Bryn is a character who grabs hold of you from the first page. TG Ayer has created an unforgettable heroine in the young Bryn, a heroine that girls can look up to, women can respect, boys can think her kick-ass and men can want a woman that strong at their side. This is no fragile young girl. This is a warrior. But there is not only Bryn to love in this book. TG Ayer has created a cast of acutely drawn characters that will continue to live in your mind long after finishing their story. Greek mythology has been done a million times, Egyptian mythology countless times but this fresh spin on the little known but fascinating Norse mythology is a fresh breath of air in a genre where it is rare to find something new and original. TG Ayer has done this. This is fresh, original and entertaining. You will want to keep turning the pages of this phenomenal story and then you will want to read it again when you reach the end. You will want to be Bryn or be the men that love Bryn. Blending mythology, fantasy, poetic prose and the contemporary, TG Ayer has cemented her reputation as a true Storyteller in this magical debut book and a name to be watched in the world of YA fiction. I dare you to not want to read every one of this storyteller’s books. TG Ayer is a name you will remember. Bryn’s story is one you will not forget. Move over vampires. Move over angels. The Valkyrie have arrived.

...Showcasing White Hot talent in Indie Fiction

I am very proud to be introducing the Debut Publishing Release of my close friend and fellow author – TG Ayer. I have known Tee for about 2 years now and in that time she has become one of my closest friends both in writing and friendship. Both of us are immigrants to New Zealand from South Africa. Both of us call Auckland, New Zealand home. Both of us started out with a love of poetry. Both of us have a love of words and story. So it is with great pleasure that I have the honour of being the first kick-off blog stop on her whirring 2 week blog tour. But let’s get down to why Tee is here with me today. We are announcing the release of her Debut Book, the first book in a trilogy. 

Dead Radiance

So Tee sat down, in the midst of a crazy pre-release week to answer some burning questions on Dead Radiance and what it is about this book and why this is the book you will want on your shelves, both electronic shelves and your proper book shelf. Personally, this is an incredible debut from a very talented author with a flair for language and emotion: I have been privileged to be there from the birth of the idea for Dead Radiance all the way through to the arrival into your – the reader’s – hands. This is a story that I fell in love with from the first moment I heard of it. I only wish I had come up with this story first. ;) It is that good a story that writers will wish it was their’s and readers will choose as their favourite tale.

TG Ayer, Author

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain crosseyed.

~~~~~~~~

1.) Congratulations on the 25/02 release of Dead Radiance. Tell us what is going through your mind right now on the eve of the full release?

Thanks Kim! Right now its a little surreal. My whole writing ‘career’ has been a bit of magic carpet ride. It’s been amazing fun writing Dead Radiance and before I knew it I had an offer and a publication date and now, a release

2.) Introduce us to Bryn, your main character. Who is she?

Bryn is a foster kid, (technically not an orphan as her mother abandoned her at a young age so she has a fair tonne of issues). She’s a loner although a part of her still longs to belong. She’s strong – certainly has to be strong running through the foster system. She’s not so confident in herself though and that’s what she needs to learn – to trust herself to make the right decisions, and to allow herself to trust others – that she’s isn’t always going to be let down. Essentially these are issues most teens grapple with (not to mention adults!)

3.) In my review of Dead Radiance, I stated “Move over vampires. Move over angels. Welcome the Valkyrie.”

     What a fresh subject to tackle. What drew you to the Valkyrie? Was it a new interest or had you always been interested in this subject?

Thanks Kim! That was a great review and I’m glad you loved DEAD RADIANCE.

I have always been fascinated by mythology. To be quite honest I have a soft spot for Egyptian mythology but as always a writer needs to delve deeper and I thought Norse- its not a subject that’s been touched too much. I do know Neil Gaiman features Norse mythologicalcharacters in some of his novels. And Carrie Jones’ NEED series takes a fresh look at Norse myths. I wanted to do something different and I hope it pleases my readers…

4.) Would you say this trilogy is aimed at girls or guys or both?

Definitely both guys and girls. There is romance, but it’s more about strength of character, about making life choices and knowing when it is okay to trust.

5.) Besides your main character, Bryn, who is your favourite character in the story and why?

It’s a toss-up actually. Joshua and Sigrun. I adore Joshua, he’s just adorable and so kind hearted and honest. Not a mean bone in his body and yet there is a silent strength in him. I was just as upset as Bryn when Joshua died, but there is hope of course.. I’d better stop there- if I say anything further it’d be a spoiler! I love Sigrun. She’s a Valkyrie, and despite having lived hundreds of years she is still very much an innocent. She’s a straightup kinda girl, thoroughly out of her depth with the modern world of Midgard(Earth). She’s quirky and funny and kind. Sigh… I’d love to have her as a friend.

6.) There’s love interests in this story. What guy can resist a girl with a sword and kick-ass attitude after all.
     Who do you want Bryn to get together with and why?

Well… Aidan is the bad-boy biker dude, and Bryn falls for him pretty quick. He’s a rebel, the dark and mysterious out-of-towner who spells trouble for Bryn’s heart. Who wouldn’t fall for him? But that doesn’t mean we should rule out other potentials love interests for Bryn. As in real life, nothing is ever set in stone. Love is sometimes fleeting and fitting only for that moment in life. People change, life changes. So yeah… one never knows… Will Aidan prove himself? Will he break through Bryn’s defenses and win her heart? I guess we will just have to wait and see.

7.) This book is the first book in a series. What more can we expect from the books 2 and 3? 

Mmm… things just get worse… pretty much. With each book Bryn delves further into the Norse mythology, peeling away layers of lies and layers of truth. The journey in book 2 continues into Book 3, and gives her strength and courage to take on a huge battle, not only physically but mentally.
     

8.) So far do you have a favourite plot line from the series?

I love the way DEAD RADIANCE ends. So… I can’t really say why right now – the readers will have to find that out when they get to the end of the novel. And of course I love that when DEAD RADIANCE ends, there is more… I’m a series fan so am hoping my readers will be series readers too :)

9.) When can readers expect Book 2 to be released? I know it is cheeky, but any hints at what to expect from Book 2?

Book 2 is currently on the cards for end May. And yes Kim, very cheeky! All I can say is the reader will see more of the mythology, and get to know a few characters better. There are a few shocking twists, but what’s a novel without a shocking twist?

10.) If you could choose to be a character type from Norse Mythology which would you be and why?

I think I want to be Thor! And I don’t care that he is a boy either. I love the power he wields and yet he balances it with thoughtfulness and the essence of good. Of course he messes up now and then and thats good too. And I like the hammer!

11.) Can you tell us one secret about yourself that readers would be surprised to find out?

You know the Barbie movies? LOVE them. I just think they are so adorable! Secret okay- no telling!
      

12.) What is your guilty pleasure to indulge in when not writing?

I love to mess around with photoshop- usually using the excuse of inspirations covers to try and create my own. I love learning to create things and I get a real kick out of it when it looks at least passable. Don’t get me wrong- it’ll never be a profession, but I enjoy it too much.

13.) Can you tease us with an excerpt from Dead Radiance?

“A moonless night and a patch of oil were never meant to be friends. Not anywhere and certainly not within the dark embrace of Craven. A black and angry cloud hung over the town, permeating the spirit of the place, hiding behind closed doors and beneath masks of pleasantry. Paranoia? Maybe.
I blamed my jaded opinion on the ache in my heart. The first time I understood that the damned glow was synonymous with death, it happened to be coming from the first friend I’d ever made.”

14.) Where can readers buy Dead Radiance?

Dead Radiance is available at Amazon.com and all other Amazon marketplaces – both in paperback and e-book.
At Whitcoulls NZ (New Zealand) stores countrywide- in paperback.

15.) Where can people find you online?

online I’m at tgayer.wordpress.com
twitter- @TGAyerAuthor
FB- T.G. Ayer, Author

email: tgayer@xtra.co.nz

Thank you Tee for stopping in the whir of busy-ness that is pre-release to answer these questions.

Readers, make sure you get hold of a copy of this book. This is a trilogy that will grab you emotionally. As I said in my official review: 


 TG Ayer has cemented her reputation as a true Storyteller in this magical debut book and a name to be watched in the world of YA fiction. I dare you to not want to read every one of this storyteller’s books. TG Ayer is a name you will remember. Bryn’s story is one you will not forget. Move over vampires. Move over angels. The Valkyrie have arrived.

Blog Tour for DEAD RADIANCE – Debut Release by TG AYER

[24/2  Friday Feature - Author Interview with Kim Koning http://dragonflyscrolls.wordpress.com ]

25/2  Take Ten Questions with Maria V Snyder   http://officialmariavsnyder.blogspot.com
26/2  Melissa Pearl – Author Interview     http://yalicious.blogspot.co.nz
27/2  Excerpt          http://readinglittlebitofeverything.blogspot.com
Guest Post         www.goodchoicereading.com
28/2  Interview With Megan       http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com
29/2  Syd Interviews Bryn       http://pattilarsen.blogspot.com
01/3  Guest Post + Giveaway
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com
Review          http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com
02/3  Review          http://readinglittlebitofeverything.blogspot.com/
03/3  Interview          http://absolutevanilla.blogspot.co.nz/
04/3  Interview          http://noveldtales.blogspot.co.nz/
05/3  Song Post         http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.co.nz/
06/3  Q&A with Mandy        http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/
07/3  Interview          http://www.wovenmyst.com/
08/3  Review and Interview       http://kimberlykinrade.com/category/blog/
09/3  Interview          http://cameorenae.blogspot.co.nz/

Friday Feature | YAlicious Time Travel with Melissa Pearl

...Showcasing White Hot talent in Indie Fiction

...Showcasing White Hot talent in Indie Fiction

It is my pleasure to welcome my first FRIDAY FEATURE Indie Author:
Melissa Pearl…The new voice in Time Travel in YA Fiction.

The new voice in Time Travel - Melissa Pearl (The Author)

Thank you for agreeing to be my first Indie author of 2012 on Dragonfly Scrolls.
Congratulations on the release of the complete trilogy now with the release of Pure Blood, the last book in the         Time Spirit Trilogy.
1) Tell us a little bit about Melissa Pearl, the woman behind The Time Spirit Trilogy.
I’m super excited about Pure Blood’s release. Having the trilogy complete is such a fantastic feeling. I really wanted to get them out close together so readers didn’t have to wait to find out what was going to happen.
Thanks for letting me be first interview for 2012 too. How cool.
i)  Who are you?
I am the mother of two young boys, the wife of a gorgeous school teacher and a passionate writer. I have grown up with stories dancing around in my brain, but I didn’t write my first one until I was 23. Ten years of learning and studying has flown by and I finally feel as though my work is good enough to be published. I am also a fully trained elementary teacher and particularly like teaching middle grade students. They are such a cool age. I think that’s one of the reasons I like writing YA.
ii)  What/Who inspires you?
My best friend was the one who inspired me to write my first book, but the actual stories come from all over the place. Songs, movies, concepts, poetry, nature. It only takes the smallest spark to ignite the imagination.
iii)  What is your “guilty pleasure” when not writing?
Watching movies. I love getting lost in a great story.
iv)  What is one thing about you that your readers/fans would be surprised to find out?
Hmmm – that’s a tough one. I’m quite an open and honest person, so I don’t tend to surprise people much.
How about this? I used to take kick boxing classes. Loved them. I suck at sport, but I love beating up a punching bag :)
2) You decided to go the Indie route and self-published your debut YA trilogy.
     Can you tell us why you went this route?
Had you tried the Big 6 route before deciding to go Indie?
It was a difficult decision and I took my time making it. I had been trying the Big 6 for a while, with no luck, but I really felt like my stuff was good enough to put out there. I also knew that traditional companies were sometimes hesitant to go for a trilogy. My brother suggested I check out self-publishing as he’s an avid reader and had enjoyed numerous indie authors. I decided to look into and realized that it was a very plausible option for me. I knew it would be really hard work and I wouldn’t have the backing of a publishing company or agent, but I liked the idea of being my own boss and I felt like I was up to the challenge. I figured my trilogy could spend the next 5 years sitting in my hard drive while I tried to win over a publishing company, or I could jump into the Indie river and see how far I got swept down stream.
3) What has been the biggest teeth-cutting lesson for you in going the Indie route?
I have learned sooooo many things on this journey and I am still learning all the time. I’m not a great marketer (so I’ve discovered) so I have found that aspect really challenging. Knowing who to target and how to target on a $0 budget has been really hard. If I could afford to hirer a marketing guru to work with me, I’m sure my sales would jump through the roof, but I can’t and so I will continue to take one step at a time. I am still gaining momentum, day-by-day, but it is a slow-moving vehicle :)
There is so much support out there in the writing world though and that has been a salvation. I think if I was doing this all over again, I’d take more time to research marketing strategy and build up my social media presence before putting my book on-line.
4) Now having released your debut trilogy yourself what tips would you give other pre-published writers?
Take your time. Edit until your eyes bleed. Get feedback from your critique partners, your beta readers and then keep working on the story until it’s brilliant. Once you’ve done that, you’ll want to get your work properly line edited. No mistakes is always your ultimate goal.
You also want to take time to get your cover right. A professional looking cover speaks volumes. I was lucky enough to have a friend who was a graphic designer who generously offered to do the work for me. I’ll pay her back when I make my millions ;o)
Also read up on as much as you can. Make connections in the writing world. Get your book reviewed before it’s even released. Make yourself known throughout social media. You’ll get a following who are dying to support you. The writing world is a very warm and encouraging place to hang out.
5) What aspect of the business end of releasing your books was the highlight for you?
Seeing your book on-line, watching it sell and then having people write to you and tell you they LOVED it, is the biggest buzz in the world.
ii) What aspect of the business end was the most difficult to learn?
I still have much to learn, but it’s been hard wrapping my head around the best way to target and reach my audience. Getting exposure can be really challenging.
6) Can you give us a short summary of the process of self-publishing that you undertook?
I started by letting people know my intentions and getting some advice. I was led to Smashwords and Kindle Direct Publishing. These are both awesome places to publish your books. I decided to start with just e-book copies of my books, but have since realized that putting paperbacks out is also a really good idea. Hence the reason this trilogy will be re-released in paperback with new covers in March, April & May.
I read every thing I possibly could on both sites until I felt comfortable that I knew what I was doing. Smashwords has fantastic information, outlining everything really clearly. It made formatting the book a breeze and I didn’t have any issues uploading my book as I had followed everything to the letter.
Once Golden Blood was up, I then started looking at marketing (as I said earlier, this is possibly the wrong way around, but it has still worked for me). I e-mailed numerous sites to review my book and heard back from about 50% of them. I also got linked into sites that would support me and promote my books. YA Lit Chat has been awesome, as well as all the great groups on Facebook. Goodreads is another excellent site. It’s all about getting exposure for your book.
I participated in a blog tour in December, which brought a ton of traffic through my blog and gained me a steady flow of new followers on Twitter. I also have a big blog tour coming up at the end of March. I have my fingers crossed for good things.
7) What has been your best marketing strategy or promotional strategy in both building your brand as a YA author and selling your books?
Getting in with people who have some influence and sway is a really good move. I am hoping for really good results from this blog tour in March. I guess I have to wait and see how that goes, but bringing traffic through your sites and getting exposure is a great way to go. I also think giveaways and sales are a really good move. I made Golden Blood available for free for two weeks leading up to the release of Black Blood. I had a whole bunch of people grab it, so that was worth doing.
8)  In terms of marketing and promotional strategies:
Do you think there is a different strategy in releasing a trilogy compared to a stand-alone title and what is the difference, if any?
I was advised, that if I could, I should release the trilogy close together. The more books you have out there, the more potential for sales. I took that advice on board and released them quickly… maybe too quickly? It’s been really hard to build up much momentum for Black Blood (Bk 2) as Golden Blood is still getting off the ground. At this stage, I’m still spending quite a bit of time promoting the first book. I really hope it has a good flow on effect. If people love Golden Blood then they will hopefully be after Black Blood and it will be immediately available for them. However, I am going to spend some time shifting my focus to Black Blood and Pure Blood leading up to the paperback releases.
I guess if you only have one title to promote, it would be a lot easier in that regard, because you’d only be pushing one book.
9) What was the best advice; if any, you received from other Indie authors or even traditionally published authors?
I read a blog post by Patti Larsen about the Dos and Don’ts of Indie writing. It was SUCH a good post and I found it so encouraging. The thing that really stuck out for me was – don’t worry about constantly checking your stats and fussing, just write another book :) She had lots of great advice, but her main point was to write another book.
10) What is your best advice to up and coming authors whether choosing to be self-published, small press published or Big 6 published?
Write because you love it. Write a story that will capture people’s hearts and minds. As awesome as this industry is, being a writer is really hard work. If you find yourself slogging along and hating it, then you should probably stop. Whichever path you choose to take in the publishing world it’s going to be really challenging and there will be days you feel like a totally crap writer or that no one will ever accept your manuscript or buy your book.
I have been riding a roller coaster ever since taking the plunge. I can go from a low to a high to a low, all in one day, but not once have I wanted to quit. You have to take all the hard stuff on the chin and just keep writing.
11) Tell us why you decided to go YA fiction. Have you always be drawn to YA fiction and why?
I have always loved high school movies and books. There’s something about teenagers that I just adore. They are so passionate about life. They think they are invincible yet can be totally insecure as well. I love the way they fall in love with everything they have. They are complex, awesome, fascinating beings. That’s why I like to write about them :)
12) Do you have a favourite YA author and why?
I really like Simone Elkeles – she writes excellent stories with lots of emotion and tension. I find her books really hard to put down. I quite like Ally Carter as well. She has a fantastic sense of humour. I also have a long list of indie YA authors on my “to read” list so keep an eye out for my reviews. I’m bound to discover more brilliance as I work my way through these books.
13) If you could throw a dinner party with two of your favourite characters from your own books and four from other authors’ books:
Tell us who would be on the guest list and tell us what food would be served?
What a great question :) I love it.
Okay…
My two favourite characters from the Time Spirit Trilogy are Harrison and Gabe.
Along with them, I’d invite Kat and Gabrielle from the Heist Society Series (Ally Carter), because they are just fantastic, funny & very entertaining.
I’d also love to be joined by Mark & his best friend, Brian from Screwing Up Time (C. M. Keller)
So that would give us two gorgeous, sassy girls, three very likeable teenage guys and one relaxed father figure.
Food wise, we’d have to go for pizza :)
14) What do you want readers to get out of reading your books?
I want to provide them with an entertaining story that they struggle to put down. I want them to be thinking about the characters when they’re not reading. I want them to step out of reality for a little while and get lost in someone else’s emotional and physical adventures.
ii)  Do you have an overall premise/message/theme that guides your stories?
The overall message for the Time Spirit Trilogy is about breaking free. As Gemma walks this journey throughout the books she is learning to fight for what she wants and ultimately gain her freedom.
Each book has a main theme that drove me through the stories…
Golden Blood – hope
Black Blood – betrayal
Pure Blood – sacrifice
5) Your trilogy has elements of time travel in it.
i) Have you always been fascinated with time travel.
Yes – I love history. The idea of being able to travel back and see it with my own eyes is tantalizing.
ii) What other time travel stories, if any,  have inspired your own trilogy?
To be honest, I haven’t read many time travel stories. I quite like that I haven’t, because it means all my ideas were fresh to me. In saying that, I have seen a few time travel movies I enjoyed like, Timeline and of course the Back To the Future series (how old am I?)
16) Do you have a favourite out of the three books of your trilogy and why?
Black Blood is my favourite. I’m not even sure why. I just really love Gemma’s journey through that book. I feel like she really starts to come into her own and discover the strength she has buried deep down inside her.
ii) Do you have a favourite character from the trilogy? Who is it and why?
I love Gabe. I don’t want to say too much, because of spoilers, but Gabe is the coolest guy. He’s calm, relaxed… a brilliant contrast to all of Gemma’s turmoil.
7) A trilogy can be tricky to write and release. Some readers love them, others don’t.
For readers: Does your trilogy need to be read in the order it was written to be best appreciated?
Yes – very much so. I actually wrote all three books in one go. There is a big story arc that spans the three books and then three smaller arcs inside that (one for each book). To understand all the links and subplots, you really need to read them in order.
18) You have come to the end of this trilogy now. It must have a bittersweet feel to it.
Are you working on anything new? Can you give us a sneak peek/blurb?
I have a few things in the pipeline.
The next book to be released (hopefully July this year) is co-authored with a friend of mine, Brenda Howson. It is the first book in the Mica & Lexy series. These books will stand on their own and not need to be read in any particular order. We are hoping to release one a year. They follow the adventures of two kiwi girls who have been best friends forever. As they reach their senior years in high school, their friendship is put under different pressures as the girls acquire boyfriends and have to deal with the new dynamics. On top of this, they have the uncanny ability to get themselves in the worst situations, so each book will be filled with plenty of tension and nail biting. I’m really excited about this series. I love these two girls so much and we have so many cool adventures planned for them.
I am also in the early planning stages of a stand alone paranormal romance called Betwixt… about a girl who is hit by a car. She is lying in the forest, lost and dying, stuck between two worlds. In her ghost like form, the only person who can hear her is a boy who just happens to hate her guts. With the clock ticking, she must convince him to help her and then do whatever she can to find out where she is so that he can save her life.
19) Where can readers find your books?
ii) Where can readers find you online?
I have two blogs:
http://yalicious.blogspot.co.nz/ (co-authored with Brenda Howson)
Facebook:
Twitter:
I love connecting with people, so please leave a comment anywhere and I will always do my best to respond.
20) Lastly what do you want to say to your fans and readers, if anything?
I have had some fantastic feedback on these books and it warms my heart everytime. My goal was to write stories that entertained and were really hard to put down. To read the reviews and realize I am doing just that, totally makes my day. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review or rate my books or leave a comment on any of my pages. It means so much to me.
For those of you who haven’t read my stuff yet, I really hope you enjoy it :)
To celebrate the release of the final book in The Time Spirit Trilogy, Melissa Pearl has decided to give away 2 complete ebook sets of this trilogy to commentors of this post. If you would like to be a lucky recipient of this awesome YA trilogy from a fresh voice in the YA fiction world…then just tweet the following tweet:
 
I am traveling in time with the YAlicious Time Spirit Trilogy by @MelissaPearlG Check out this exciting new YA author and her trilogy!
  • The first 2 tweets will be the lucky winners but make sure you comment on this post with the URL of your tweet.
 
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Melissa. I look forward to your next release and wish you many sales with the Time Spirit Trilogy. 

The Time Spirit Trilogy

by Melissa Pearl

They were an enigma. Throughout the ages there had only ever been rumors of these mysterious people who appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly, whispers of swirling gold dust, unexplained piles of abandoned clothing left in dark alleys. Only a select few had glimpsed the reality and they chose not to speak of it. They knew the truth needed guarding. These people were special… chosen. Created for the sole purpose of changing history.

Book 1 ~ GOLDEN BLOOD

Purchase here on Amazon

Purchase here on Smashwords

St. Augustine, Florida – 2011 AD

Book 2 ~ BLACK BLOOD

Purchase here on Amazon

Purchase here on Smashwords

Daytona Beach, Florida – 2011AD

Book 3 ~ PURE BLOOD

Purchase here on Amazon
Purchase here on Smashwords
Rome, Italy – 2006AD
   
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Spinning my Web on Wednesday | Triberr-tastic | The Cool Kids Choose it

Throw in your bones and become a Tribe member of Triberr....

Image courtesy of free poster.com

Well I am back from my blogging break. Was it worth it? Would I recommend taking a break? Yes and yes again. I feel refreshed and ready to dive back into the blogosphere. I also took the time off from blogging to take a moment to decide whether I was going to continue blogging on Dragonfly Scrolls and if I was; what direction did I want to go in. The good news is that I am going to continue with this blog. But I am going to be going in both a promotional and a brand-building direction: I will be interviewing and featuring authors and their new releases. I also want to expand on the marketing aspect of social networking so you will be seeing a lot more posts in that regard. For any and all purely writing-related posts please find me at my writing blog Wrestling the Muse.

But in this blog I am going to focus on new authors and new books with some great authors beings featured over the next couple of weeks. I am also going to be focusing on the business end of social networking. I am no expert in this realm but hopefully I can pull in some experts and they can chat to you. But as I learn new tools and discover new tips I will be sharing them with you.

I am an expert however in sales and marketing a product so I will be doing more posts in that vein. Every life experience and every job you have adds to your knowledge bank. I have been fortunate enough in being based mostly in sales and marketing over the last 10 years and it has definitely given me a helping hand when it comes to how I am going to approach my new writing career. After all, you as a writer and your book are both products after all. So what is the best way you can sell yourself, sell your brand and sell your product? That is what I am going to be focusing on over the next few months. So if you are interested in learning about becoming your own best salesman and marketer – then stick around and follow this blog.

WEDNESDAY on the WEB

But for today I am going to share a little nugget of gold that I found…

It is simply TRIBERR-tastic.

Throw in your bones and become a Tribe member of Triberr....

I had heard of this new social networking community called Triberr but had not really paid much attention. Until I got an invite to become a Tribe member of a friend’s tribe. So I signed up and joined. Then I left it for about a week not knowing what to do with this new tool or even whether it was a tool or just a waste of time. Then I looked at it closer again and I thought that I would give it the benefit of the doubt.

Why Triberr?

Triberr calls itself “The Reach Multiplier”. Triberr is simply put the tool for small-middle size blogs. Triberr is a tool that increases the reach of your own blog. This means more blog traffic, more blog comments, more followers and yes more REACH across the web from wherever you are.

Once set up, Triberr is relatively simple to use and pretty much does the work of pulling people to your blog feed without much added effort from your post. (Other than posting good content on your blogs.) But setting up Triberr is a pain if you are a newbie. I was in the process of pulling my hair out wondering how I would figure this out. But I have good news. You do not need a computer degree or even be able to converse in HTML. All you need is some kind social networking whiz to set you on the right path.

I found that social networking whiz. She blogs at just-ask-kim.

Here is her vlog (video blog) post on Triberr101: Getting started with Triberr.

So far I have been using Triberr for a week, in which I posted 3 blog posts on my writing blog.

Have I noticed a difference? 

YES

Before Triberr: Average blog views per day = 30 – 50 depending on whether I had posted a post that day or not.

After Triberr: Blog views over 3 days = 417 total which is an average of  139 posts per day.

Just from Triberr mentions alone = I had 86 visits over 3 days.

Before Triberr: My social reach = Twitter (1473) and Facebook friends & Facebook Page (728)  and WordPress followers (127) = 2328

After Triberr: My social reach = 16,157 (I only have 16 Tribemates.)

So my Reach has increased by just on 694%.

These are actual stats from my blog. 

I have also spent far less time tweeting my own posts which saves me time online to spend doing my writing and editing. So for those of you who feel they just can’t add one more social network to their web, think again. This one will not create more work for you. It will save you time, save you marketing/promoting and increase your blogging reach. For me that is a Win/Win/Win situation. 

I am impressed.
If Triberr can do this for me in just 3 posts than how can I not be a part of it?

How can any blogger ignore it?

I am a converted Triberr member now. 

So the only question I hear from you is: How do I get involved?

Well this is the tricky part, you need to be invited. When you get invited you are IN. 

If this sounds up your alley and you want to increase your blogging reach, feel free to comment under this post in the comments section. You can also include your twitter name and I can tweet out an invite to you if you are interested. 

What are you waiting for?

Next week Wednesday I will be talking a little more about Triberr so watch this space.

Also watch out on Fridays for a new Friday Featured Indie category: this is where I will be featuring some awesome Indie authors and their books. So come back here on Friday.

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