Dawn Montgomery

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Elements of a Solid Blog Tour by Madeline Pryce

In Write Talk on January 6, 2014 at 12:00 am

UPDATED TO ADD LINKS FOR ALL OF MADELINE PRYCE’S BLOG TOUR

(Note, clicking on the links will send you to the direct blog post. The contest is now over, but this informational post will remain to help you.)

Winners: Rafflecopter selected Michelle Henry as the overall winner!

GuestPostIntro by Dawn: One of the coolest things about being a writer who loves to help others is when your friends start flying high and you can watch them soar!

Madeline Pryce is one of those people. Her career has been a colorful one. She, like me, took some time to settle on a genre and writing style. Now that she’s in her element, though, the sky’s the limit. 

When she became an Ellora’s Cave author, they requested a penname change (this happens, though not often anymore). I was honored to be in on her decision-making process. A penname is your brand, after all. When we talked about her up-and-coming blog tour, I invited her to talk about the business side of our writing lives. Specifically the marketing arena.

Marketing is something I’m terrible at. Organizing a blog tour is especially difficult for me as I never want to seem annoying or put unnecessary pressure on anyone else. Madeline is the one who taught me that reaching out is actually a mutual exchange. The guest author will bring their readers and the blog host will expose their readers to the guest author. 

This post not only launches her Dark Cravings Blog Hop, but also explains how she did it. This is a great opportunity to follow her throughout the week and see the effects for yourself. I’ll add the links to each blog post as they come available so you can catch up. She also provides us with an awesome drink recipe to coincide with her blog tour theme “At the bar with…” and link to a fabulous contest! Without any further ado: 

MADELINE PRYCE TALKS SHOP

DarkCravingsBlogTourBanner

Introduction

First off, I want to give a HUGE thank you to my host, Dawn Montgomery. Dawn is my mentor, my inspiration and the person who gives me a swift kick to the arse when I start slacking. She never hesitates to offer help, answer questions or encourage you when you’re feeling down. So, thank you for being you.

The feeling is more than mutual, my friend. Welcome to the blog! 

There comes a time in every writer’s life, after the contracts have been signed, the edits turned and the cover art revealed, that you think about promotion. Social media, ads and blog tours. The big question is, do you hire these things out or do it yourself?

I’m a do-it-yourself kind of gal.

STEP ONE
Avoid a promo dump fest into the blogsphere. One of my favorite things is “inside information” or learning about the characters in a novel. I like knowing who the author “sees” when they write their characters, what the characters like/dislike and other insight into their personalities.

At The Bar

To avoid dumping, I devised a blog theme. “At the bar with” delves into the major players in DARK CRAVINGS. I’ve got pictures, likes, dislikes and quotes. Now, I only have so many characters so I made some room for special excerpts, interviews and two other misc. posts that help dig into who I am and who my characters are.

STEP TWO
Make it interactive. I searched the far corners of the internet for perfect character based cocktails and have included recipes for off the wall drinks. For example—The Wolf’s Bite, The Lion’s Tail, Black Devil Martini…

Hopefully, some readers will try them out and think of the book!

STEP THREE
Give back. At every stop, I’ll be giving away an eBook to one random commenter. I saved the money I would have spent on getting a tour coordinator and am offering one grand prize using Rafflecopter. $25 bucks isn’t a ton of money, but it will get you quite a few books!

STEP FOUR
Coordinate! I set up a calendar in excel with possible dates and started the great blog search for potential places to host me. Now, here I cheated. I relied on friends, acquaintances and book blogger that have reviewed my work in the past. I’ve been simply overwhelmed by the generosity I’ve been shown. Once I got confirmation, I entered the blog stop data into my spreadsheet to keep track of everything.

For those of you who are flying blind or new to fathomless sea of erotic romance promotion, try for blogs you’ve never even heard of. Go outside of your comfort zone and reach new readers.

STEP FIVE
Pimp the shit outta your blog tour.

Now, in keeping with my “At the Bar” theme… I’ve found a drink as beautiful and colorful as my host, Dawn Montgomery. I appreciate you girl!! This drink involves some prep, but what good things don’t?

Bringing drinks and everything. You are so awesome! 

CUCUMBER COLLINS

cucumber-collins

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz. Square One Cucumber Vodka
  • 1/2 oz. lemon juice
  • 1/4 oz. yuzu juice
  • 1/2 oz. simple syrup
  • 1 oz. seltzer
  • Cucumber slices
  • Pickled cucumber slices and huckleberries (recipe below)
  • Edible flowers

Add the first four ingredients to a mixing glass with ice; shake a few times. Add the seltzer; swirl; pour into a Collins glass. Garnish with cucumber slices, pickled cucumber slices and huckleberries, and edible flowers.

Bonus Recipe for Pickled Cucumbers/Huckleberries

  • 6 cups unseasoned rice wine vinegar
  • 2 cups mirin
  • 2 cups cooking sake
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 lbs frozen wild huckleberries
  • 4 English cucumbers

Thinly slice the cucumbers with a mandolin slightly thicker than paper-thin and place in a 2 quart container. Heat the vinegar, mirin, and sake in a pot.

Once it reaches a boil, add the sugar and stir until it dissolves. Remove from heat, pour into a metal bowl, add the huckleberries to the bowl, and allow it to cool for 1 hour in the fridge.

After one hour, strain out the huckleberries, using a mesh strainer or chinois, place them in a 2 quart container, and then add just enough liquid back to them keep them submerged. Now pour the rest of the liquid over half of the fresh cucumbers, stir gently, and let them rest in the fridge for at least three hours, stirring every hour or so.

The pickled cucumbers should be stained a nice purple color after the three hours; if not, just let them sit a few hours longer.

Now, onto the promo part of the blog post…

GIVEAWAY

darkravings_msrFor a chance to win an electronic copy of DARK CRAVINGS leave a comment (be sure to include your email). I’ll randomly pick a replier within three days for each blog stop. Don’t forget to enter the grand prize (Rafflecopter link at bottom). One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

BLURB
As a half-breed vampire, Ella Grey’s life sucks. She does her best to pass the time killing demons and secretly admiring her Shadow Hunter partner, Micah. He’s hot, dangerous and knows it. He’d be just Ella’s type if he weren’t likely to kill her the moment she put a toe out of line.

A chance encounter with a succubus changes everything. From the second the succubus’s spell washes over them, Ella and Micah are helpless to keep their hands off one another. The sex, when it’s not leaving them on the verge of death, is earth shattering and for the first time in ages Ella is connected with someone on a level she’d feared lost forever. But a dangerous prophecy has been set into motion, and if Ella’s not careful it’ll pull her straight from Micah’s arms and into the deepest bowels of the underworld.

A Romantica® Paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published under the title Blood Lust Rising. It has been revised and expanded for EC.

PUBLISHER BUY LINK

ABOUT MADELINE PRYCE
Madeline Pryce wrote her first novel when she was ten, penned with neon-pink ink in a loose-leaf binder. Captivated by romantic literature, yet intrigued by the paranormal, she continues to develop her own voice, writing the kinds of stories that inspired her as a teen.

EC AUTHOR PAGE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

TO BE ENTERED TO WIN THE LARGE PRIZE, YOU MUST CLICK ON THIS LINK: RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

  1. Thank you so much for having me here today–er–tonight… You are an amazing friend and a gifted author! *Smooooches*

    Reply
    madelinepryce 6 January 2014 at 1am

  2. Thank you both for taking the time to share and help other writers. I appreciate it very much! Great blog post!

    Reply
    tambra kendall 6 January 2014 at 3am

  3. Dark Cravings sounds like a delicious read and one that i would love to have the chance to delve into, as i love paranormal fiction!

    Would it be possible to be put forward for the giveaway? My email is ~ lfountain1(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk

    Thank you x

    Reply
    lfountain1 6 January 2014 at 10am

    • You have to sign up for the rafflecopter link located at the bottom of the post in order to be eligible to win. 🙂

      Reply
      Dawn Montgomery 6 January 2014 at 1pm

    • Hi lfountain1! Thank you so much for stopping by! And, yes, there is a “Rafflecoper” link at the very end of the post which enters you into the grand prize. But, by commenting, you’ve automatically been entered into the daily giveaway, which is a copy of Dark Cravings. I’ll randomly choose a winner in 2 days for that. The grand prize winner will be announced at the end of the tour! ❤

      Reply
      Madeline Pryce 6 January 2014 at 1pm

  4. Good luck on your blog tour, Madeline. I’ll have to keep your advice in mind when i get ready to pimp my next book.

    Reply
    Qwillia 6 January 2014 at 2pm

    • Thank you Q! The entire process has been a learning experience but a good one 😀 I’m happy help for any future pimping you’ll need down the road! ❤

      Reply
      madelinepryce 6 January 2014 at 5pm

  5. Great, post, lady. Very informative. I’ll keep all this in mind when I do my own later this year. 🙂

    Reply
    Tanya 6 January 2014 at 7pm

    • Hi Tanya!! Fancy meeting you here. And yes, when you do your own later hit me up and I’ll try to give you as many tips as I can. I’m bound to learn a few things (both good and bad) over the next two weeks. ((HUGS)) PS… make sure you enter into the Rafflecopter thing. 25 bucks is a lot of books, lol.

      Reply
      Madeline Pryce 6 January 2014 at 11pm

  6. What a very informative and entertaining post. I agree with promoting yourself! I also agree that your book is HOT, and because it is through on of my Favorite publishers, I know I am going to love reading it! Thank you so much for all the tips, the drink recipe, the sexy book cover, the titillating blurb, and the awesome giveaway! kbinmich AT yahoo DOT com

    Reply
    Kimberly Mayberry 6 January 2014 at 9pm

    • Kimberly, make sure you also enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking on the link. That’s how you’re entered to win the big prize. 🙂

      Reply
      Dawn Montgomery 6 January 2014 at 9pm

    • Thank you so much Kimberly!!! I’m so glad you found your way over here. And – don’t you worry – Dark Cravings is guaranteed to heat up any eReader, lol. If you try the drink recipe be sure to tell me what you thought.

      Reply
      Madeline Pryce 6 January 2014 at 11pm

  7. I have not read this book, but I would love the chance to win it and read it. Excited and hope to win.

    Reply
    Michelle 6 January 2014 at 10pm

    • Hi Michelle!! Thank you for dropping by and commenting!! I’ll be choosing a random winner on the 9th for this stop. But, never fear, I’ve got 17 stops and at each one, I’ll be giving away a book. ((HUGS))

      Reply
      Madeline Pryce 6 January 2014 at 11pm

  8. Good luck with the tour Madeline 🙂 I can’t wait until it’s my turn to host you. I love the bar and cocktail theme. Brilliant!

    Reply
    Maggie Nash 7 January 2014 at 2am

    • i CAN’T wait until its your turn either. You’ve got Micah. *le sigh* I thought it was appropriate, ya know, staying the the Aussie theme. LOL. ((HUGS)) Thank you for coming over and showing your support!

      Reply
      Madeline Pryce 7 January 2014 at 9am

  9. Well well well…If it ain’t two of the sexiest ladies in erotica! I so enjoyed this blog post! Maddy baby…You are going far….FAR. I’m just gonna pull up a chair and watch 😉
    Dawn…Great post, babe! ❤

    Reply
    Ditter Kellen 7 January 2014 at 9am

  10. I just love the excerpt and can’t wait to try the recipes bibbiesparks@yahoo.com.

    Reply
    Toni Whitmire (@bibbiesparks) 7 January 2014 at 11am

  11. Dark Cravings sound like a great book. Ella and Micah’s story sounds like it is going to be Hot! Thanks for the into to a new author to me. I love finding new authors and new blogs, this blog tour allows me to find new bloggers and to find out more about the book Dark Cravings and it’s author. Thanks to Madeline for your wonderful blog site. I loved your intro story about blog tours.
    Tamye

    Reply
    Tamra Whitener 7 January 2014 at 3pm

    • Hi Tamye, thank you for coming out. I’m so pleased to hear that you like the book! And yes, HOT is one way to describe this novel, lol. You kick butt!! So, glad you stopped by!

      Reply
      Madeline Pryce 8 January 2014 at 9am

  12. The book sounds interesting and exciting. I’m always looking for a good read and would love a chance to win it and read it.

    Reply
    Ashley M. 7 January 2014 at 4pm

    • Hi Ashley!! Thank you for coming by the tour and good luck on winning! If you don’t, never fear, I’ve got several stops planned over the next two weeks. ((HUGS))

      Reply
      Madeline Pryce 8 January 2014 at 9am

  13. And….. the winner is: lfountain1!! You’ve won an electronic copy of Dark Cravings.

    Note: This tour stop is closed, but comments are still welcomed! If you didn’t win, there are PLENTY of other chances. You can follow the blog tour here:

    http://madelinepryce.blogspot.com/p/dark-cravings-blog-tour.html

    Reply
    Madeline Pryce 10 January 2014 at 8am

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