What to Give, Elvis, and Writing Tips by Alicia Dean

As usual, I didn't prepare a blog post ahead of time, procrastinator that I am. So, I thought I'd share a few things that are on my mind. 

1) Giveaways - I believe it was on our loop where there was a discussion about what to give away to readers? Someone mentioned that they'd given away a gift card and the recipient thanked them and told them they were buying Nora's books. Yes, that's a risk when you give a gift card. But then, if you give away your book, then those who are 'entering to win' have no reason to buy it. Sure, we have other books, but still, the act of giving away a book doesn't seem to be a great promo tool. I like to give away items that are representative of my book, such as, in Haunting at Spook Light Inn, a spinel pendant was part of the story. I found a reasonably priced pendant on Amazon that was similar to the one in the story and I did a few giveaways with small goodie bags that included the pendant. Did it help my sales? Who knows? But, it was a fun attention-getter. The thing is, if your book doesn't appeal to people, they aren't going to read it, buy it, and like it, regardless of what you give away. As most of you know, I have a Kindle Rafflecopter giveaway I do each month, where authors pitch in $6 each and they can submit a task they want entrants to do. It helps increase your followers, likes, etc, although, of course, that still doesn't mean entrants will buy your book. However, it does give you a bit of exposure and, if they like what they see, they'll stick around and maybe buy your books. No guarantees, but there are no guarantees in life anyway, right?

2) Anyone who knows me or is a FB friend, etc, knows how much I love Elvis Presley. Thursday was the 41st anniversary of his death. Also, December 3, 1968 is the 50th anniversary of his '68 Comeback Special, which was an iconic, critically acclaimed show and was touted as being his best performance ever. At the time the show was produced, Elvis hadn't been in front of a live audience since he left for the army in 1958. When he returned in 1960, he began making movies and was not touring. He was so nervous about being in front of an audience again, but you certainly couldn’t tell it.  The show is/was shown in movie theaters all over the country on August 16 and August 20th. My sister and I went to see it Thursday, and wow...I never get tired of it, even though I saw it IN 1968 when it was released and I was seven years old, and I've watched it countless times since. The theater, one of three in the OKC area showing it, was packed with people of all ages. I ran into one of my writer friends there. We both want to go again Monday. :) It's phenomenal that, 41 years after his death, he still has such a following. Like him or not, it can't be denied that he was one of a kind. Here's a clip from the show:

A pic I took of the screen, just because. :)

3) I ran across this blog post again, having read it a while back, and I thought I'd share. There are some fantastic tips, especially for someone like me who constantly lets other things come before my writing. 

http://positivewriter.com/36-writing-tips/

Lastly, I'd like to once again thank the Roses for your kind thoughts and the beautiful card when my mother passed. She was a special person and I was so blessed to have her for a mother. Friday evening, I saw one of my friends for the first time since Mom passed and she told me she was sorry, and that, from what everyone was saying about Mom, I'm a lot like her, I have her caring spirit and desire to help others, so I will always carry her with me. I cried, of course, but her words also gave me a warm, peaceful feeling. It’s not exactly accurate, I can’t begin to compare to the person my mother was, but it was a lovely sentiment.

Mom and I at her 79th birthday celebration