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Thursday, March 29, 2012

John 316 Blog Hop Coming May 7 through May 14!





Only one month to go until the John 3:16 Giveaway Blog Hop –


May 7th – 14th!

Join over fifty authors and bloggers who will be offering great books and other prizes on their blogs during that week. As a reader, you just “hop” from blog to blog and sign up to win some great prizes at each blog.


But wait…you also have a chance of winning one of two Kindles!

How’s that for fun?
Tell all your friends and join us May 7th – 14th for the



Monday, March 26, 2012

New Feature on Amazon: KDP Select for KDP Authors & Publishers



 This information is included in the latest version of the book, How to Launch a Christian Best-Seller.

Any Kindle books you have published on Amazon can be entered into the KDP Select Program. It’s the exclusivity that makes this a unique Amazon feature. You must remove your ebook from other distributors, like Smashwords and Barnes & Noble (even your own website or blog) for at least ninety days.

The KDP Select titles are allowed to be advertised for free for five days every ninety days. If you have U.S. rights, your Kindle book will be entered into the Kindle Owners Lending Library. Each time your ebook is loaned to another qualified member of the program, you can earn a certain percentage back, based on a complicated set of algorithms that I don’t understand. I didn’t give it much thought until one of our members shared recently on the forum that he had made a couple of hundred dollars the previous month based on the number of times his book had been loaned out by members.  


Some authors in the Network have “sold” thousands of Kindle books for free during the time their ebooks have been free in the KDP Select Program. While they didn’t receive royalties, their Kindle books were widely distributed, and many ranked in the top one hundred “free” Amazon ebooks. When Amazon returned their ebooks to the “paid” category, briefly they maintained their best-seller ranking, becoming a best-seller of sorts by default. In many instances, the increased sales of ebooks carried over into print books or other books they had published. To learn more about KDP Select, visit: http://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/KDPSelect.



Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Free Kindle Book for Your New Kindle Reader


Subject: Free Kindle book for your new Kindle reader by a John 316 Marketing Network Author

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
Free Kindle book by a John 316 Marketing Network author for your new Kindle reader  
John 316 Banner
To join the John 316 Marketing Network as a reader, click on the link. There will be future free offerings just like this one for subscribers.

Get your free Kindle ebook Tuesday, March 13 ONLY.



Breaking Pride
Breaking Pride


Breaking Pride
by  
Heather Bixler 





DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS FREE KINDLE BOOK, ONE DAY ONLY

Breaking Pride eBook Trailer
Breaking Pride eBook Trailer

BRAND NEW E-BOOK
FREE

Breaking Pride 
Have a new Kindle? Treat yourself. 
one-time offer!

Our Price: $00.00 
Tuesday only 
I invite those who read the book to post a review on Amazon.
You can read more about Breaking Pride at   


What is keeping you from walking in God's grace?

Tearing Down the Walls, Walking in His Grace


So many of us desire freedom - the freedom that is promised to us when we decide to follow Jesus. 

The freedom from the burden of our sin, the need to be "good enough," anger, jealousy, and envy.

Even though we are believers we would be ashamed to say that we don't always experience peace, contentment, and joy in our life. 

We are looking for the grace that God has so graciously given to us to be real in our life...




Taste and See
Taste and See, A Sampling of First Chapters
This email is sent from Lorilyn Roberts, founder of the John 316 Marketing Network.
Gainesville, Florida 32606
352338-6012
BONUS OFFER****************
Taste and See   
is still free on the Nook at Barnes & Noble and KINDLE! I can't guarantee for how long, but check it out before it is too late!





Saturday, March 10, 2012

Blog Hop by John 316 Authors May 7 through May 14


Guest Post by Lynn Dove 

Don't Miss Our Blog Hop by John 316 Authors 

May 7 through May 14 

Lots of free gifts, including two Kindles!



The John 3:16 Marketing Network


For the past couple of years, I have had the privilege of being one of many authors in the John 3:16 Marketing Network.  When I was a ”newbie” marketing my books I struggled…”floundered” is a better word, in getting the word out there about my books.  I STILL do!  But praise God for the John 3:16 Network of authors.  From the moment I became a member I have been whole-heartedly encouraged by a great group of Christian authors who share the common goal to reach others for Christ through our books.  The thing is for us to reach that goal, people actually need to pick up  our books and read them, and that’s where the John 3:16 Marketing Network comes in.  It’s authors helping authors through the use of online social networking to help with book launches and promotion.
But it goes beyond that.  We are offered techniques and tips to help us achieve “Best Seller” status on Amazon.com  Achieving “Best Seller” status is not only incredibly encouraging to an author, but it elicits even more public interest in the book.  In my case, with the help of the Network,  I not only achieved best seller status on Amazon.com with my second book, Heal the Wounded on the day of its launch, but I garnered renewed interest in my debut novel, Shoot the Wounded, so it climbed to #1 on Amazon.ca !

I can’t tell you how excited I was to see that!  More recently the Network has been looking at other ways of promoting the authors and their books.  Lorilyn Roberts, founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network with the help of a few others put together a great promotional book: Taste and See, A Sampling of First Chapters by John 316 Marketing Network
Authors
  As one of the contributors I was delighted to participate in this innovative project.
May 7 – 14, the John 3:16 authors will be hosting a Giveaway Blog Hop where our readers can go from blog to blog and win some great book prizes and more.  We’re also going to offer a chance for subscribers to our blogs to win one of  TWO Kindles!  More details to follow as we get closer to the date.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012





My first book Shadows From the Past is going to be free this week on Smashwords. Here is the link if you want to pick it up:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/42323  

Please feel free to share with anyone who would like it!
Thanks,
Ashley




If you know anyone with questions about God, please give them my ebook "Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about our Maker." 


This short ebook can impact lives by answering critical questions like is God real, is Jesus real, what does he expect from us, how why can find him and how we can accept his precious gift of salvation. It is free during Smashwords Ebook Week special at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/122476. Or you can download it free at the New Christian Books Online store at http://www.songsfromtheword.com/NewChristianBooks/store/products/category/free/ 


Thanks for partnering with me! May the Lord meet you and bless you in all your needs! 


Cheryl Rogers Writing, Editing, Desktop Design

Friday, February 24, 2012

Two Launches and Two Best Sellers - How Do They Compare?

Phew! As I wipe my brow after my second successful book launch, I can't help but compare the two experiences. First of all, let me say that it is doubtful I would have managed either without the support of the John 3:16 Marketing Network.

For those who missed it, the 'Best Sellers Book Launch' of my third novel PLAY IT AGAIN took place online this past Tuesday - Feb. 21. Once again, I managed to nudge my way into the 'best seller's' circle at Amazon.ca - the Canadian branch of amazon. Amazon.ca does not allow for category changes, so the book was locked into the broad 'Romance-Contemporary' category but still managed to make it into the top 100. (In fact it's holding its own in the top 100 after the third day.) The stats at amazon.com weren't quite as astounding, but it did manage to move up the ranks to 29,000 in books - not bad considering there are millions of books on amazon.

It was almost one year ago to the day that I held my first book launch with the John 3:16 MN. This first foray into the world of online book launches was for my book MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER. It too managed to make it into the top 100 on amazon.ca/ 

So how did these two compare, you may ask? The outcomes were very similar - something I am obviously grateful for and quite excited about. As far as the actual preparation, however, there were a number of differences. To start with, I found about 50 people to help with the launch of 'Man-eater'. For launch number two of  PLAY IT AGAIN, I had a solid 75 participants with several others emailing me after the fact to say that they had joined in the promotional efforts when they saw it on the John3:16MN listserv. There were also those who retweeted or shared links, so the actual number of those helping was probably closer to 90.

Beyond the numbers, the biggest difference for me was the fact that I was much more relaxed for launch number two. I knew what to expect and the day progressed quite smoothly. I also found that the preparation was much easier to do. I knew how to keep myself organized ( a MAJOR component, believe me!), how to approach and support potential participants, and how to create my landing and gift pages. All of these factors are key components to a successful book launch. You need to make it as painless as possible for those who are willing to help. Don't expect them to do the leg work or to even remember the date! It's up to you, the author, to look after the details and provide timely reminders without bombarding anyone.

The long and the short of it is, if you put in the time and the effort, this form of marketing and book promotion really works. Thanks again to all of my online friends who helped make PLAY IT AGAIN  a best seller. I especially want to thank Lorilyn Roberts for her vision and tirelessness, as well as all the members of the John3:16MN community. We really have something special here, and I'm sure this is just the beginning of good things to come.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Book Launch of "Play it Again," Free egifts TODAY ONLY (Feb 21, 2012)


Banner
Play It AgainPress Release for Play It Agan
Tracy Krauss, Author
John 316 Marketing Network

 
An unlikely duo meet in Play It Again, a story of love, life and faith. Sparks fly when an ex-rock and roll junkie and a stuffy accountant rendezvous at a local resort, but neither are prepared for the emotional entanglements, family complications, and threat from the past that unexpectedly resurfaces. Set in the 1980s, this story brings two opposing forces together in a clash of romance and danger, while its musical undertones highlight the theme that God can turn anything into beautiful music. Play It Again is the much anticipated prequel to Tracy's debut novel And the Beat Goes On. Find out where Mark Graham's journey began in this, the story of his parents. 


Tracy Krauss, author of 'edgy inspirational fiction,' is launching her book PLAY IT AGAIN on Feb. 21. You can help her achieve 'best seller' status by purchasing the book at amazon.com TODAY - and receive all kinds of cool free gifts while you're at it! 
  

Here's how:
1. Go to the Landing Page on Tracy's Website at this link
2. Buy the book at amazon.
3. Go back to the Landing Page and fill in the form with your name, email and purchase number.

It's that easy! You'll be directed to your free gifts and all you have to do is choose which ones you want. 

 

What others are saying about PLAY IT AGAIN

"This is one of the best contemporary novels I've read all year. . . Not only was it well-written, but it was edgy in that the story dared to be honest. . . I can see this touching a lot of people who have thought about God but have been afraid to move forward."
-  Michelle Sutton, author of more than a dozen inspirational novels

"This book is hot property, and grabs your interest from page one."
-   Yvonne Pat Wright, author of From Spice to Eternity




Tracy Krauss 
Tracy Krauss is a high school teacher and prolific author, artist, playwright, and director.  She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Saskatchewan and teaches Art, Drama and English - all the things she is passionate about. After raising four children, she and her husband now reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests. Her first two books were both nominated for the 'Indie Excellence Book Awards' for religious fiction in 2011.




FREE STUFF:
Here's just a sampling of the FREE e-gifts from generous supporters:
-          An e-copy of Lisa Lickel's award winning novel Meander Scar
-          Sample chapters from The Promise of Deer Run by Elaine Cooper, Warring Spirits by April Gardner, and The Right Person by Stacy Padula
-          Beautiful downloadable art cards by author and artist Brenda Hendricks
-          A free subscription to 'PixApple'
-          You copy of Frazzled No More by Shelley Hitz
-          A cool 'Daily Scheduler' developed by author Janalyn Voigt
-          And much more!

All if you buy your copy of PLAY IT AGAIN at amazon.com on Feb. 21!  All links will be operational on the 'Landing Page' at www.tracykrauss.com/ 

John 316 BannerDISCLAIMER: This 'Best Seller book launch' has been coordinated with the help of the 'John 3:16 Marketing Network' and many other generous supporters. The free gifts are deliverable electronically over the internet or by email by individual authors and supporters. They are not in any way associated with, nor deliverable by, amazon.com  








Monday, February 13, 2012

What is The Biggest Mistake Authors Make When Featuring Their Books on Amazon?

The biggest mistake authors make when launching their books on Amazon is their failure to properly subcategorize their books. If you want to reach best-seller in subcategories; i.e. best-selling Christian romance book, then the author must tell Amazon how to categorize his or her book. Here is some helpful information from my book How to Launch a Christian Best-Seller.



How to Categorize Printed Books on Amazon

For the purpose of the next discussion, I am going to address specifically how to get printed books categorized on Amazon and raise the possibility of reaching best-seller status.

There are different ways a book can be categorized. Categories are different from tags. Tags are what people reading a book do to label how they think a book should be listed. But that is not the same thing as what an author needs to do to get his book categorized to reach best-seller status.

I am going to go into specific detail here because many people have missed best-seller status simply because their books were not categorized narrowly enough in the subcategories.

Most authors are familiar with the Amazon Bestseller Rank. Unfortunately, most authors will never hit the top one hundred best-seller status on Amazon. But that doesn’t mean one can’t make the best-seller list in the subcategories or sub-subcategories on Amazon. It is possible for a debut author to reach best-seller status in one or more subcategories on Amazon. The problem is that most authors know nothing about how to do this.

What does being on the Amazon Bestseller List mean? Most people would say it means a book reached the top one hundred in sales at a given time. To do a book launch in the John 3:16 Network, the author should track sales for a 24-hour period. Sometimes there is a slight lag, but not so much that the highest ranking won’t appear during or shortly after that 24-hour period.

I encourage authors in the Network to take a “screen shot” several times during the day to try to record their lowest ranking toward number one in one or more subcategories. To take a screen shot, if you are using Windows, hit control/print screen together, go to a blank Word document, and hit Control-V. Your screen shot will appear and you can save it as a Word document.

How do you get your book categorized on Amazon in subcategories? This is crucial for a debut author to have a chance to claim “best-seller” status.


Amazon has several platforms in place to help authors. One of these is their Author Central Program. If you do not have an account, the site will prompt you to set up one. The link is https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/home.  Here is a screen shot of the page.



You will see the tab about halfway down the page called “Give Us Feedback.” If you click on this, it will take you to another page. You will see “Contact Us” and underneath that, it will say, “Select an issue.” You want to click on “my books.” Underneath that, it will say, “select details.” Choose “update information about my book.” Beneath that another window will open, and you want to “browse categories.” Under that another window will open, and you should choose, “I want to update my book’s browse categories.” There is a “Did You Know” tab and you can read more about categories, the inside-the-book program, and other important related topics.

Beneath that, you will see the number 2, and the question, “How would you like to contact us?” You can either email or phone Amazon. I would email them first. You will explain to them that you would like to update the categories of your book.

How do you know what categories to use? On printed editions of your book, you are allowed two categories. Don’t assume Amazon will do it the way you want. It’s best to be pro-active on such an important point and give them what you want exactly the way you want it.

To know what categories in which to list your book, you need to be familiar with how Amazon categorizes books. Go to http://amazon.com and look on the left-hand side for the search browser. Click on books.

Here is a screen shot at what you will be taken to (some versions of this e-book may not display it):



You will notice on the left-hand side the category “department,” and underneath it “books.” Listed underneath books are all the main categories on Amazon beginning with “arts and photography” and ending with “travel.”

You will notice that under “arts and photography” are listed 387,013 books. That means in order to reach best-seller status in this category, you will have to beat out 387,000-plus books.

Let me go down to the category “parenting & families,” which has 88,692 books. If you click on that, you will see it breaks down into subcategories of adoption, aging parents, family activities, family health, family relationships, fertility, parenting, pregnancy & childbirth, reference, and special needs. Children of Dreams reached number eight in the subcategory of adoption, out of 1,641 books. That means my book has been a bestseller on Amazon in adoption books.

In the email that I sent to Amazon, I listed one of my categories as parenting & families/adoption. Since I could list two for my printed copy, I listed the second category as “parenting & families/family relationships/motherhood. The category for motherhood has 4,550 books. I also reached best-seller status in this at number eleven.

Obviously, the more books there are in a category or subcategory, the harder it’s going to be to get into the top one hundred, so the narrower the subcategory, the more successful you will be.

That brings me to the second part of this discussion on categories, which is important. You must categorize your printed edition and your Kindle edition separately. With Kindle, you also get two categories. It is much easier to reach best-seller status on Kindle than with a printed book. Why? There are fewer Kindle books that you are competing against than printed books. Not every book has been published in Kindle.


According to the latest information from Amazon, here is how to get your categories set up for a Kindle e-book.




Second, sign into your account.

Third, click the "actions" button for the book you would like to update

Fourth, scroll down to number three, target your book to customers

Fifth, click on add categories. That will open up to a new screen, add or change categories

Sixth, click on the plus button in front of these main categories to open up subcategories and sub-subcategories. Make your selections.

Seven, click on save.

The screen will return to the default page, where you started. Please notice that this is also where you make other changes to your e-book, including editing your book details.

To learn more about how to have a successful book launch, you may purchase How to Launch a Christian Best Seller.

 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Free Kindle eBooks from the John 316 Marketing Network


Free Kindle book by a John 316 Marketing Network author for your new Kindle reader  
John 316 Banner
To join the John 316 Marketing Network as a reader, click on the link. There will be future free offerings just like this one for subscribers.

Get your free Kindle ebook  February 9 through February 12.
   
 
   
Brother Half Angel  
by  
Martin Roth 


A military operation gone tragically wrong. An elite commando loses his forearm. The angel tattooed onto his arm is sliced in half. And the man acquires a new nickname.
 
Brother Half Angel is the leader of a secret new church military order, dedicated to helping Christians under attack around the world. 

In this book, the first in the Military Orders series, he is dispatched urgently to China, where an underground seminary is under siege from fanatical sword-wielding members of a local cult who still pay homage to the bloodthirsty extremists who tried to expel all foreigners from China in the nineteenth century.

But at the same time the seminary has its own internal divisions. The director, Uncle Ling, a hero of the underground Chinese church, holds secrets that he cannot reveal.
 
And now the tensions are threatening the marriage of idealistic young American missionary Daniel Westloke and his wife Jenny.
 
Relentless suspense is the hallmark of this gripping thriller. But it is also a book that raises serious questions - how far can Christians go to defend themselves? When should they turn the other cheek? What happens when a Christian kills in self-defense? And should those who live by the sword really expect to die by the sword?

To get your copy go to AMAZON

  

   
By Martin Roth

NEW E-BOOK
FREE

Brother Half Angel
Treat yourself, you deserve it, and don't miss out on this one-time offer!

Our Price: $00.00 Thursday to Sunday at Amazon
To get your copy CLICK HERE

Martin Roth (www.military-orders.com) is a veteran journalist and foreign correspondent whose reports from Asia have appeared in leading publications around the world, including the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun. He is the author of many books. The first three thrillers in his Military Orders series are Brother Half Angel, The Maria Kannon and Military Orders
  
He is also the author of the Johnny Ravine private eye series, with Prophets and Loss, Hot Rock Dreaming (a finalist in the 2011 Australian Christian Book of the Year awards) and Burning at the Boss


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Steps to Hosting a Book Launch on the John 316 Marketing Network


  Dear Future and Current John 316 Marketing Network Members. Please take a few moments to read and digest this information.


1. You must be a member of the John 316 Network for 45 days before announcing a book launch or posting a launch date on the calendar. If you will be offering free e-gifts, you need to allow a minimum of one month to prepare for your book launch.


2. You must have a total of five reviews posted at http://amazon.com and/or beta reader feedback before announcing a book launch. Reviews work best for books that are already published. Beta reader feedback works best for books that are not yet published. It is an opportunity for readers to sample your book and make suggestions before your book is published. Beta readers cannot be author members of the John 316 Marketing Network. The network is building a list of readers who can be beta readers, and the author should attempt to have several people read his book before publishing it. If you don’t use beta readers through the John 316 Marketing Network, make sure you find readers who are not immediate family members that will give you constructive criticism. Many pairs of eyes make books better.


3. Before a book is launched on the John 316 Marketing Network, the author is responsible for having his or her book professionally edited. Please DO NOT submit a book to be launched unless this requirement is met. No amount of marketing will salvage a book that is full of grammatical errors, poor sentence structure, disorganized thoughts, boring content, or nonfiction books that lack documentation. Remember, an author is writing to sell his next book, not the one he is currently writing. A reader might be fooled into buying one "bad" book by an author, but he won't buy a second one by that same author unless he is a fool.


4. While I never make a distinction about how authors are published, I must point this out because it seems some do not think they need an editor. An editor is an author's best friend. POD or self-published authors, please do not skimp on this step. It is not fair to our network's reputation or the good graces of our member authors to expect them to promote a book that has not been properly prepared for readers. No ifs, ands, or buts. Not having the money to pay for it is not an acceptable excuse. And please do not expect authors to edit your book for free. I hope to start a critique group within the network this year. Critique groups help authors to become better writers. But even a critique group is not sufficient. You need to "hire" someone to perform this service.


5. If you are new and want to do a book launch, you must first participate in another author's book launch and one showcase by a second author. Participation is more than just sending out tweets. It includes featuring a launching author on your blog, offering a free e-gift for an author's landing page, writing a review for a book launch, and other activities including Facebook, Twitter, and Good Reads promotions of an author's book.


6. There are certain words that are absolutely not allowed in a book hosted by the John 316 Marketing Network. These words include the "N" word, the "S" word and the "F" word. We also do not allow the Lord's name to be taken in vain. We do not want to launch a book that would be considered offensive, pornographic, or that promotes a lifestyle in conflict with Scripture. If your book contains "edgy" material, let me (Lorilyn Roberts) know and I will submit it to a panel of pastors within the network for one of them to review. We are a Christian network and some books may not be appropriate for us to launch. If for some reason your book is rejected by the panel for promotion by the network, please do not take offense. It won't mean your book is "bad" or not inspired by the Holy Spirit. It would just mean your book is too edgy. We may even come up with a rating system to promote "edgy" books down the road. Each book presented and considered "edgy" by the author will be approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. If you are in doubt, please check with me.


7. If you are planning on doing a book launch in the immediate future, say within 60 days, it is expected that you set up your emails so you can receive them individually or on a once-a-day basis (condensed). This makes you an “active” member of the network. A personal gripe of mine is to discover an author who wants to launch a book and he or she is not a participant on the forum and is only receiving "special notices" or "no emails." If you are only receiving special notices or no emails, you are a “non-active” member of the network and are not eligible to host a book launch with the John 316 Marketing Network. You will need to change your status to active and wait 45 days before announcing a launch on the forum or posting one on the calendar.
The reason why you must be an active member of the John 316 Marketing Network to host a book launch is this: Our network is built on relationships. If you have isolated yourself and do not want to be involved with others, please do not expect others to promote your book. Those who have reached best-seller status on book launches have been those who have actively participated on the forum and given of themselves, in many cases sacrificially. They have established relationships here.


8. Please re-read the book How to Launch a Christian Best-Seller Book before setting up your launch. The book is frequently updated and the information is very detailed. Some authors make key mistakes that could have been avoided if they had read the book more closely. I hate being the bad guy when I have to inform an author that he can't launch his book because he has no reviews. And usually, when there aren't any reviews, there are other issues that need to be addressed.


9. If you purchased the book through Smashwords, you can download the newest edition at any time. If you bought your copy through Amazon, let me know and I will provide you with a coupon to download it through Smashwords for free. If you received a "free" copy with a coupon, you may need to purchase a new copy. Right now How to Launch a Christian Best Seller is free on Smashwords and only 99 cents on Amazon. It was revised in December so now is a good time to get an updated copy.



10. Please remember we represent the King of the universe. He expects us to give our best. Please don't compromise. Write well; have your book edited by at least one professional, maybe even two; build relationships with others in the network; and read How to Launch a Christian Best-Seller. If you do these things, we will come alongside you and cheer you on. God gets the glory for a job well-done, and, just maybe, readers will buy your book and make you fabulously happy. Whatever the result, the outcome is in God's hands. And usually, when we give God our all, He gives us much more in return.



11. I also want to thank each one of you who have launched books with the network. We have never launched a book that I am aware of that did not meet the above requirements. As with any organization, though, we are going through growing pains. I want to lay a solid foundation for God to use the John 316 Marketing Network. The publishing world is in a state of flux, but our commitment to one another, marked with love, truth, and integrity, will help us to stay on the straight and narrow path of excellence. As I tell my kids, the world is full of mediocrity; don't be like the world. In everything you do, do it as if you are doing it unto the Lord, and then give Him the glory.


Lorilyn Roberts, Founder of the John 316 Marketing Network

__._,_.___