About Guest Authors
Well, it’s a new week and I have some new thoughts, which is actually a dual-edged sword. On one side I’m glad I’m still sharp enough to have new thoughts, and on the other side I never know in which direction they'll head.
Okay, so this time I’m thinking about something a friend recently asked me. Why do I have guest authors on my blog instead of promoting my own books more often? The answer is actually a lot simpler than you might think.
I only have so many books that I can promote. Which reminds me, Bogey’s Ace in the Hole will be out sometime in February, 2012. Does anyone remember the Snoop Sisters? Well, think Snoop Sisters who go to church. Yes, a gaggle of Church Ladies want Chris Cross to find a missing friend. She turns up on her own, but it appears she’s overheard a Murder for Hire plot. Even Church Ladies enjoy becoming involved in a good mystery.
Okay, so enough self-promotion – for the moment.
So why do I have guest authors on Marja’s Mystery Blog? Again, the answer is simple. Yes, I’m an author, but I’m also a reader. What better way to find out about authors and their books? It can be fun to learn more about the writer as a person. We can learn what motivates them and where some of their stories come from. Just when I think I’ve got writers figured out, they come along and tell stories which surprise me. And some of these authors are brand spanking new. S.L. (Sharon) Smith’s first book, Blinded by the Sight, came out not long ago. She participated in an interview on my site and I was interested enough to read the book. I truly enjoyed the story, and I’ll look for more by her in the future. The same applies to the interviews by established authors like Dorothy Bodoin, Marilyn Meredith, and all the other authors who've visited.
I surprised a few people when I told a story on someone else’s blog about having to search a women’s restroom for a bomb without any training back in the 1970s. Things were very, very different at that time. There was a job applicant who threatened to kill me because she didn’t get the job. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t made the decision not to hire her and didn’t have any input. She told me to watch my back, because she’d get me when I least expected it. Okay, so I’m still here and she never went to work for the agency she’d applied to, but good grief! All I did was administer a typing test. I’ve got a lifetime of stories, and people wonder why I became a mystery writer.
Authors have lots of stories and if you’ll give them the chance, they’re more than happy to share. Some of the stories are sad, and some are quite funny. All you have to do is sit down, ask questions, and listen.
As Chris Cross would say, I want the skinny about mystery writers and the capers they’ve been involved in. Give me the lowdown – all the background behind the writer. Tell me where you’ve been and where you’re going. I want it all.
Ever hear of reciprocity? I sincerely believe that what goes around, comes around. So if I give someone a chance to discuss themselves and their books, then on occasion someone else will allow me to do the same. It’s a win-win situation.
In the process, I find new books to read and make new friends. How much better can it get? Well, maybe my books could become bestsellers appearing on the New York Times bestseller list, but if not, I’m still having a great time and meeting some outstanding people.
So I’ll continue to have guest authors visit, and I’ll promote my books, too. And on occasion I’ll do a blog about writing issues. I almost did one about overused words this week, but I have to admit that I was bored with it. So I took a break and went to the movies where I saw “One for the Money” (based on the Janet Evanovich book), which is a whole different topic.
Until next time, do for others, and just maybe they’ll pass it on and do for someone else.
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Categories: Authors, Mysteries, Guest Author, Questions for Authors, Books, Fiction Writers, Fun, Book Marketing and Promotion, Humor, Reading, Marja McGraw
Tags: Marja McGraw Blog Fiction Writers Mystery Blog Mystery writer Authors Books Humor Humorous Mystery Mystery Fun Readers Book Promotion Cozy Mysteries New books Chris Cross Questions for Authors The Bogey Man Marja's Mystery Blog Author Interview Oak Tree Press Marilyn Meredith Missing Woman Blatant SelfPromotion Dorothy Bodoin Guest Blogger Anne K Albert Barbara Emrys Beth Anderson Chancey Hernandez Chris Redding David Coles Denise Dietz First time author Jack Everett Jackie King Jean Henry Mead June Shaw Lea Chan Mary Ellen Dennis Mary Martinez Pat Browning Patrice de Chauncy Janet Evanovich
Marja,
I feel exactly the same way! And, you know what "they" say? "To promote others is to promote yourself."
Speaking of promotion - I finished reading "Old Murders Never Die" last night and I absolutely loved it! Anyone who enjoys a good mystery really should read it!
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Thank you so much, Patricia! Old Murders Never Die is my own personal favorite in the Sandi Webster series.
Yes, it's all about promotion, and I'll do what I can to help others. I've always wondered if books sales are better after doing a guest blog, but I don't honestly know.
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Cover looks inspirational. Church ladies sound like fun. Enjoy your visitors as broadens reading options.
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Thanks, Jake. I don't know if the Church Ladies are inspirational, but they sure are a lot of fun. I'm delighted that you've found reading options through the guest appearances.
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I agree, Marja. I feature lots of other writers on my Mysterious Writers blog and have learned from them. I'm looking forward to reading Your latest Bogie Man novel.
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Thank you for stopping in, Jean. I've found some great authors through your blog. And I hope you enjoy Bogey's latest adventure.
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My fan base is built on my blogs. While I don't have my own blog, I do appear every six weeks over at Buried Under Books. I always hope that when I take the time to blog, it will be of interest to readers who want to know more about writing and publishing.
Although I don't like to be TOO open about my life, I love dropping in bits and pieces. Like a puzzle, those who are interested can piece together what the THINK my life is all about. I do the same in my novels. I'll always take the 5th, but some of that stuff I write is absolutely true.
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Your blogs are always interesting, Sunny, whether they're personal or about writing. And that's what keeps people coming back for more. It's also a showcase for your style, which is part of what sells books.
I don't think I'm overly open about my life either, but that's okay. A mystery writer needs a little mystery surrounding them. Thank you for stopping in.
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I liked all your points, but thought of another one as well. Anytime we have a guest not only our friends and readers click onto the blog, but their friends and readers do as well, so we increase our own recognition as well as theirs. This is true reciprocity too.
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Very good point, Velda. It's that old ripple effect. Thank you for stopping in and adding your thoughts.
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I love Chris Cross's comment about wanting to know the "skinny" about mystery writers and the capers they've been involved in. And I'm eagerly looking forward to Bogey's Ace in the Hole.
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Thank you, Tricia! I don't think he'll disappoint you. : )
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Promoting authors is the name of the game. People will come to your site to read about someone and they may stick around, check out other posts, maybe invite you to be on their sites. I love visiting new sites or familiar ones.
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Thanks for stopping in, Stephen. You did a guest blog some time back, and as I recall it was quite well-received. I hope readers find authors they've never tried before, in addition to authors finding authors. I hope that makes sense.
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Marja,
Good topic and good answer. I've had some people ask the same thing. (I'm just starting my blog and asking authors to be a guest.) Your answer was a lot better than mine. Thanks.
Jim Callan
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Hi Jim, My answer probably wasn't better, just different. There are so many authors writing so many books now that we need to help each other whenever possible. It's all about getting our names "out there". Best wishes for your new blog!
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Hi Marja,
Thanks for putting in a good word for "Blinded by the Sight." My sister is sharing your Bogey Man and Bogey Nights novels (unfortunately when it comes to sales). Both she and her friends like them very much. I'm still hoping for audio versions so I too can enjoy them.
Best wishes,
Sharon
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Thanks for stopping in, Sharon. I'd love to see the books come out in audio version, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon. Sharing is good; it might build a bigger fan base. I hope your next book is coming along well.
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FUNNY MAR, I'M READING DOROTHY'S BOOK NOW!
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Thanks for stopping in, Linda. I think you'll enjoy her writing. There's nothing like a good mystery to entertain us.
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Blinded by the Sight was a great referral from Marja. Enjoyed and intend to share with reading group. Marja is a most unselfish writer whom I admire. Eat chocolate!
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Yea! My kinda guy. Eat chocolate! Thank you for stopping in, Jake. And thank you for the compliment.
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