Why Should I Stay a Member of the John 316 Marketing Network After I Have Launched My Book? Part 6 of 6, John 3:16 Marketing Network

Why Should I Stay a Member of the John 316 Marketing Network After I Have Launched My Book?

Part Six of Six

John 3:16 Marketing Network

By Lorilyn Roberts

Why Should I Stay A Member of the John 316 Marketing Network After I have Launched My Book? Everyone will ask themselves this question following a launch. A few have left, but most have stayed. Why? I think the following comment from Bernard Boulton, a member of the John 3:16 Marketing Network, will help to answer that question.


Last year was my first full year after I released my first novel in December 2009. My promotional plan was to sell thousands of books and the only way I knew to do this was to travel and organize events that people would come to and buy my book.

After visiting seven cities from February to November I decided that that was not the best way to promote my novel. I did sell 200 copies but the cost to travel left me far behind the profit ratio. I did have a lot of fun meeting different people but I didn't reach my objective.

At the leading of the Holy Spirit I took the month of December to look back over my year and devise a plan on how I would promote and sell books. The plan I produced was to seek education from those who could teach me how to increase my sales without increasing my travels in 2011. I asked the Holy Spirit to send me a teacher that could mentor me and teach me how to reach my goal for 2011. His answer to my prayer was Lorilyn Roberts and the John 3:16 Marketing Network, but I have received so much more, which is the way that God operates.

From the first I have loved the energy in this group. The sense of purpose and the unity that is manifested here almost daily is life-giving. And to be connected to best-selling authors is phenomenal! I'm going to release my second book in a few months and I hope that I can be as successful using Lorilyn's program as the rest of you.

Right now I'm a little skeptical that it can work for me, and I'm frightened that it might. Sometime the smell of success gets to me like that. I can keep going but I'll stop now. I love all of you and I love being a part of this dynamic expression of genuine fellowship and partnership.

To God be the glory for sending Lorilyn for such a times as this.

Bernard Boulton - author

Do You Wanna be Made Whole?

Tuesday, May 24, will be our LAUNCH DAY on the membership drive. If you summit your application to join at http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.html

On Tuesday, May 24th, you will be able to download free e-gifts offered by some of our authors. The only requirements are: You believe in John 3:16 and you have a blog or website.

As part of the membership drive, our member authors are hosting a blog tour featuring eight of our John 3:16 Network authors.

Today we will meet three authors, Lorilyn Roberts, D. McCarragher, and JD Holiday.

Lorilyn Roberts is the founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network and is the author of two books, The Donkey and the King and Children of Dreams.

The Author Jeopardy Question to win Lorilyn's book Children of Dreams during the Facebook Event on Tuesday (today), May 24, 8-9pm, will come from this question:

                           

Question: Where have you felt closest to God?

Lorilyn Roberts: I have scuba dived all over the world-the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Caribbean. Thirty minutes from my home in sunny Central Florida, dozens of cold, clear, springs bubble up and lure divers from all over the country to dive in the caves.

On many of these dives, particularly in the Red Sea, away from the noise and distractions of a busy life, I have been overcome with the immense beauty and vastness of the world beneath the ocean. On one particular night dive in the Florida Keys many years ago, my dive buddy and I were at about seventy-five feet, which is rather deep for a night dive.  We were diving off a shipwreck, and when I shone my underwater light on the rustic red side of a sunken boat, I discovered a brown caterpillar-like creature with tons of legs. He was edging his way along at a rather slow pace. I probably stunned him by the intrusion of my bright light in what was otherwise total blackness.

As I floated beside the ship and examined the peculiar worm, I wondered why, in the middle of the vast Atlanta Ocean, I would stumble upon this rather ugly creature.

Asking questions of seeming insignificance can lead to discussions with latent deeper meaning. Why did God create me? Are the things we stumble upon in life purely by chance?

I am convinced I am here for such a time as this (and so are you). The books we write bear witness to the lives God has given us, from comedy to romance to tragedy. We feel God's pleasure in the stories that touch us deeply, whether written by us or others. On that night dive way back long ago, when I was much younger and fitter, it is not surprising that God used a worm to reveal something about His nature-I have never forgotten it some twenty years later.

There is also a story in the Bible about a worm that God used in a powerful way. In the book of Jonah in the Old Testament, God sent Jonah to warn the people of the city of Nineveh to repent of their ways. After being eaten by the whale, Jonah traveled to the wicked city and did as God had asked him. But when God didn't destroy the city and spared the inhabitants, Jonah brooded over God's mercy to Israel's enemies. Then God supplied a plant to give Jonah shade as he sat angry in the hot noonday sun. The next day, however, God provided a worm to eat the plant.

Sometimes life seems like that. I can't figure it out. But diving into the depths of the ocean for me is like diving into the depths of God's love. I see His creativity in the world of worms, garden eels, and sea urchins; manta rays that glide over the sea wall, nurse sharks that hide under rocky ledges, and barracuda that amass in the hundreds. God's underwater paradise gives me hope that harmony with the world through Him is possible. I may not understand it all, but I don't have to. Perhaps God just wants me to enjoy the journey more and channel His creativity that I so much love into my soul.

As my kids get older, I look forward to once again putting on the weight belt, BC, tank, and octopus. I always enjoyed spitting into my face mask to clean it (after all, how many times in life is that acceptable behavior); and, of course, getting that last strand of hair out of the mask so as not to burn my eyes with seeping saltwater. I can't wait to push in that regulator button and hear the compressed air spew out (pretty important down there to be able to breathe) and I will waddle like a duck in all my gear to the back of the boat and wait my turn (imagining I look better than I feel with  the cumbersome tank on my back).

I will make sure I remember all those hand signals (the out-of-air one might come in handy) and, hopefully, heave off the back of the boat in a spectacular somersault. The rising bubbles as I sink and the sound of the regulator imitating my breathing will bring me back to my favorite pastime. I will be wooed once more to enjoy God's presence in a fabulous world of unparalleled beauty. And for a brief moment, nothing else will matter.

Our second author today that I want to introduce is Deborah McCarragher. I read Deborah's book, Mission Possible, which is full of Biblical insights on the value and holiness of marriage. At a time when traditional marriage is under attack, this book is refreshing and a welcomed reminder of how beautiful a Godly marriage is.

                                          

The Author Jeopardy Question to win D. McCarragher book, Mission Possible,  during the Facebook Party on Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, will come from our discussion below:

Deborah's mission is to encourage women through Scripture to believe in God's Word, to transform their husbands by challenging women to minister to their spouses in a way that glorifies God. The author's candid approach makes this book an easy read, and compels the reader to join her in her quest to reach her husband for Christ. Alabaster Box Publishing's motto is: Books to stir your mind & stretch your Soul!

Her primary goal is to share her personal testimony with others while bringing hope and practical help through her books.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to stand in the gap for your mate's soul. Mission Possible  is a powerful tool for any woman who is married to a man who does not share her passion for Jesus. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God's promises for her spouse and their future together. You can influence your home for Christ even within a spiritually mismatched marriage.       

Question: What is your favorite book besides the Bible?

Deborah McCarragher: My favorite book is The Pilgrim's Progress  because when I was a new Christian, someone in my Sunday school class told me about the book and encouraged me to read it. I was fascinated by the story. I was intrigued by the allegorical meaning of the characters and their purpose in the overall plot of the book. Christian gave me a picture of perseverance in the face of difficulty and how life as a believer had struggles and triumphs. It revealed to me that we have Supernatural help available to us, and that the Word of God gave great strength and guidance. The Celestial City presented by John Bunyan as a serene and beautiful destination for the weary Christian has always given me hope and confidence to press on to my eternal home with persistence. And to behold my Savior Jesus will be the greatest gift I could receive.

Lorilyn: And I echo a great AMEN to that.

Our third and final author on this blog tour is JD Holiday. JD Holiday is the author and illustrator of two children's books: Janoose the Goose, a beautifully illustrated children's picture book; and a chapter book for six to eight year olds, The Great Snowball Escape. A chapbook of her short stories, Trespasses, was published in 1994. JD has published many short stories in literary magazines and written numerous articles about creative writing. She is a member of The Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators, (SCBWI) and Small Publishers of North America, (SPAN.)

                                    

Janoose the Goose likes life in the barnyard very much. She is there visiting her cousin, Molly Duck, and her baby, DeeDee. Her vacation is over and Janoose must go home because there are no job openings on the farm.

When her flight home arrives, the fox has begun a crime spree. Though the farm animals had a farm watch program once, they were no good at it! Janoose is the only one who can stop him.
                                    

Read the question below and remember the answer for a chance to win a copy of this book. If you can type the fastest, you will surely win the book Janoose the Goose

Question: When did you meet your husband and how long have you been married?
JD Holiday: I've known my best friend and husband, Angelo since we were 15 and 16 years old. We are married 41 years.
This concludes our blog tour-be sure to go to Facebook tonight for our Facebook Event (May 24, 8-9pm EST).  You will have an opportunity to win eight free books. During that hour, we will have many members online to answer questions, and we will be offering some technical tips on how to do things that will help authors. These tutorials/tips will include:

How to upload a .jpeg to Facebook/blog

How to resize a .jpeg and load it Facebook/blog

How to copy and paste widgets on websites
How to set up a twitter account.

Knowing how to do these things will help you in your marketing efforts My sincere thanks to Amanda Stephan for putting these tutorials together.

For information on the John 3:16 Marketing Network and to submit an application to join, please visithttp://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.html.

Make sure you wait to Tuesday to submit an application to join so you can download several free eBooks.

My thanks to everyone who contributed in various ways to make this blog tour and Facebook Event possible. As with any endeavor, lots of people make things happen. The following authors below helped me to pull this off:

Sherrill Cannon, Paulette Harper, Jay Miller, Dr. Ray W. Lincoln, JD Holiday, Janet Eckles, Dr. Robert McGinnis, Elaine Marie Cooper, Elisa Maria Crites, Lynn Dove, Amanda Stephan, Deborah McCarragher, Shelley Hitz, Marcia Laycock, and Anne Patrick.

Below is a complete listing of all the articles and authors featured on the John 3:16 Marketing Network tour this week. The articles can be viewed at: http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com.

Featured Author: Jay Miller

Featured Book: Sal and Sally

Featured Author: Sherrill Cannon

Featured Book:  The Magic Word

Featured Article: Are There Secret Formulas or Short Cuts for Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon-Part One of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing Network
Featured Author: Dr. Ray W. Lincoln
Featured Book: Innerkinetics^TM
Featured Article: What it Takes to Have a Winning Team-Part Two of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network
Featured Author: Dr. Robert McGinnis
Featured Book: Paradise is Where You Find it
Featured Article: Roaches That Eat Your Best-Seller Dreams-Part Three of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network 
Featured Author:  Elaine Marie Cooper
Featured Book: The Road to Deer Run
Featured Article: What is a Book Launch Anyway-and Slowly, Please, I am New at All of This - Part Four, John 3:16 Marketing Network
Featured Author: Lynn Dove
Featured Book: Shoot the Wounded

Featured Article: Why Should I join the John 3:16 Marketing Network

Part Five of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network

Featured Author: Lorilyn Roberts

Featured Book: Children of Dreams

Featured Author: Deborah McCarragher

Featured Book:  Mission Possible

Featured Author: JD Holliday

Featured Book: Janoose the Goose

Featured Article: Why Should I Stay A Member of the Network After I Launch My Book-Part Six of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network

FINAL BIG EVENT
Tuesday Night, May 24, 8-9pm EST
Location: John 3:16 Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Book-Launches-John-316-Marketing-Network/145412252147289Featured event: learn marketing tips, win free books, meet some John 3:16 Authors, ask questions, join the John 3:16 Network and download fee e-gifts!

Final comments from Lorilyn Roberts

In the John 3:16 Marketing Network, we share our thoughts, insights, knowledge, blogs, successes, prayer requests, and dreams. What started out as a way for authors to launch books has become so much more. I am not sure where God will take it, but I am trusting Him for the future. As I love to say, the best is yet to come!

To visit our information page and submit an application go to:

http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.html
Last day to join for a long time will be Friday, May 27^th.
DON'T FORGET THE FACEBOOK EVENT, Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm, on the John 3:16 Marketing Network Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Book-Launches-John-316-Marketing-Network/145412252147289

Why Should I Join the John 316 Marketing Network?

 

Why Should I Join the John 316 Marketing Network?

Part Five of Six

John 3:16 Marketing Network

By Lorilyn Roberts

I am the president of the local Word Weavers Critique Group in Gainesville, Florida, and I have encouraged my fellow critiquers who are serious writers to join the John 3:16 Marketing Network. Many are making great strides in their writing and working towards publication.

But most of them are not interested in joining. The main reason: "I want to concentrate on my writing."

Doing both IS hard, but it is essential for writers to begin marketing themselves long before they finish their book.

Why? Marketing is more time-consuming and more all-encompassing than writing. If you start early, you will be better prepared when your book hits Amazon and/or bookstores; and if you are a serious writer, that day will come.

Don't wait. Take some time and start making those connections TODAY-on Facebook Twitter, and other social networking websites.

The John 3:16 Marketing Network combines all those assets that social networking offers with many added bonuses, including:

1. We help you to launch your book to best-seller status on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. It is within reach for an unknown author to achieve best-seller status in one or more categories for a twenty-four period with some old fashion hard work and the help of the John 3:16 authors.
2. The forum provides encouragement and camaraderie in the Spirit of Christ.
3. A lot of information is shared by authors in the network-what has worked, what hasn't work, pitfalls to avoid, and ways to do things better.
4. We have several marketing gurus in the network who often give free help/advice on our forum.
5. Members feature other members on guest blogs. We've had interviews of authors on blog talk radio and other offers of various types involving social networking adventures. Creativity reigns supreme in the network.
6.  Because we are a cohesive group, we are in a position to test-drive new marketing products for authors before they are released to the public. There is "power" in numbers!
7. Your publisher will be thrilled when you tell him you have a large network of authors ready to Facebook/tweet/blog/announce your book on a book launch, and you have the opportunity to be featured on multiple websites as you promote your book. It is possible to reach thousands of people in a twenty-four period.
8. You will make lifelong friendships as you pour your heart/dreams/hopes and life into sharing your book and participating in helping others. As part of the Body of Christ with similar giftedness, there is nothing else like it on the web-at least that I am aware of. If there was, I would have joined it rather than starting one.
9. We are free-how many things in marketing cost money and give little back in return. You don't risk anything and have everything to gain.

Until Tuesday, May 24^th, we are hosting a membership drive and featuring some of our members. Our Facebook event will be on Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, when you will have an opportunity to win up to nine free books. During that hour, we will have many members online to answer questions. We will be offering technical tips on how to do things that will help authors. These tutorials/tips will include: how to upload a .jpeg to Facebook/blog, how to resize a .jpeg and load it Facebook/blog, how to copy and paste widgets on websites, and how to set up a twitter account.

Knowing how to do these things will help you in your marketing efforts.

For information on the John 3:16 Marketing Network and to submit an application to join, please visithttp://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.html on TUESDAY, May 24. If you submit an application on Tuesday, May 24, you will be able download free e-books from some of our member authors.

As part of the membership drive, our member authors are hosting a blog tour featuring eight of our John 3:16 Network authors.

Today I am pleased to introduce you to Lynn Dove. Lynn has been a delight to get to know through the John 3:16 Marketing Network and I know you will enjoy meeting her, too.

 

Lynn is a graduate of the University of Calgary, where she earned her Bachelor of Education degree in 1981. She has spent the last thirty years teaching children in the private and public school settings. In 2007, she earned a Masters of Religious Education degree from the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.

The Author Jeopardy Question to win Lynn's book Shoot the Wounded during the Facebook Event on Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm, will come from this short interview:

Question: Tell us about your two books, Heal the Wounded and Shoot the Wounded.

Lynn Dove:  Shoot the Wounded, the first book in the "Wounded Trilogy," is written for youth and young adults, and addresses how lies and gossip destroy a person's spirit. It speaks to the heart of relevant themes such as bullying, teen pregnancy and family violence all the while pointing the characters, and ultimately the reader, to hope in Jesus Christ.                                                                        

                                   

Heal the Wounded  is the much-anticipated sequel to Shoot the Wounded. After the death of their friend, Ronnie (in Shoot the Wounded), Leigh and Jake try to come to terms with their loss. As their love grows for one another, Leigh and Jake must face a series of devastating, life-changing events that will challenge their love and their relationship with God.

Question: In your books you deal with topics that can be sensitive and disturbing for Young Adults - bullying, cutting, and teen pregnancy, among others.

Do you draw on personal experience at some level for your characters, or do you create your characters from scratch?

Lynn Dove:  I have worked with teenagers for over thirty years as a teacher/church youth leader. In that time I have seen the devastating results of children being victimized by bullying. My eldest daughter was bullied in middle school and I was bullied in high school so I do draw from personal experience to a large extent.

Question: Do you have any publishing and/or marketing advice for new writers? 

Lynn Dove: One thing I would tell new authors is to not feel shy about purposefully promoting yourself in the marketplace. I think that was one of the hardest things for me to do initially. As Christians, we value a humble attitude, but as authors the louder and bolder we are in promoting ourselves to our readers, the more books they will buy and read. Some self-published or POD (print on demand) authors are quite content to write for a select audience, family and friends, but for those of us who want to reach a larger, more world-wide audience, we need to be prepared to create a "buzz" about the book. The only way to do that is to get people talking about it. Word of mouth is huge! 

That said, I think it is also important to ask yourself the questions ahead of time about what your personal goals are with publishing a book. I applaud my publisher, Word Alive Press, for asking some pointed questions up front in their publishing questionnaire. One question in particular prompted me to prayerfully consider my personal goals: "What is the one thing, (the most important thing) you would like to accomplish with your manuscript (book)?"  I remember I wrote, "My hope is that teenagers and young adults who read this book will be touched by the message in the story, and ultimately that this book and any others I write will bring Glory to God."

Tomorrow on Tuesday, our big launch day for new members, we will be featuring Why Should I Stay A Member of the John 3:16 Marketing Network After I have Launched My Book? Part Six of Six, from the John 3:16 Marketing Network. Our guest authors will beLorilyn Roberts, Deborah McCarragher, and JD Holiday, hosted by Amanda Stephan (on her website).

If you have missed any of the previous postings for this blog tour, they are listed below:

Wednesday, May 18

Location: Lorilyn Roberts Featured Author: Jay Miller

Featured Book: Sal and Sally

Featured Author: Sherrill Cannon

Featured Book:  The Magic Word
Featured Article: Are There Secret Formulas or Short Cuts for Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon-Part One of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing Network

Thursday, May 19Location: Paulette Harper
Featured Author: Dr. Ray W. Lincoln
Featured Book: Innerkinetics^TMFeatured Article: What it Takes to Have a Winning Team - Part Two of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network

Friday, May 20
Location: JD Holiday Featured Author: Dr. Robert McGinnis
Featured Book: Paradise is Where You Find itFeatured Article: Roaches That Eat Your Best-Seller Dreams - Part Three of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing Network 

Saturday, May 21
Location Lorilyn Roberts
Featured Author:  Elaine Marie Cooper
Featured Book: The Road to Deer RunFeatured Article: What is a Book Launch Anyway-and Slowly, Please, I am New at All of This - Part Four on the John 3:16 Marketing Network

You can also find all the articles at http://john316mn.blogspot.com

What is a Book Launch Anyway-and Slowly, Please, I am New at All of This, Part 4 of 6, John 3:16 Marketing Network

Part Four

John 3:16 Marketing Network

By Lorilyn Roberts

A few years ago at the Florida Christian Writers Conference, I took Randy Ingermanson's marketing class. If you ever have an opportunity to do so, take advantage of it because he is thorough, honest, and entertaining. Now that's not something you can say about most physicists! At the time he was working on one of his many books and made the comment that his goal was to hit number one on Amazon when it was released.

Of course, being the newbie that I was, I didn't know exactly what he meant, but it sure sounded impressive. I had no idea how one would even begin to accomplish such a feat.

I have found many authors are pretty much like me when I took that marketing class. And while they may be on Facebook, they don't know how to use it very well (or how to make a fan page). Most groan when you mention Twitter, struggle with uploading a .jpeg, don't know how to resize one (you've seen those monstrosities that take up a whole blog page), don't know how to use widgets-the first time I heard the word, I thought it was a wizard-or make a video, use an URL shortener, or follow someone's blog (where is the button), or the importance of even having followers.

Authors know how to do one thing-they know how to write. That is what they are passionate about. I would also rather write than do marketing. I would pay someone to do it-except I am too poor. But I don't want to take my baby (my book) that I gave birth to and present it to another writer's conference and have no one look at it.

When an agent and an editor told me to "Come back and see me when you have a thousand on your opt-in list (I had twenty-six at the time), my thought was, you just wait. I was challenged to do something that two people at the conference made me feel like I couldn't do, and I wanted to prove them wrong.

I set about doing all the things writers do to begin marketing when they don't know what they are doing-except I had just taken Randy's marketing class, which ran for four days, and I learned A LOT.

And then the reality set in. Have you ever tried to get a thousand followers on an email opt-in list? Even though it's easier now than before with the growth of Facebook and Twitter, it still takes time and effort.

Recently I went into the hospital to have an outpatient procedure done (one of those rites of passage when you turn fifty). The pre-op stuff was a lot less fun than the actual procedure itself, but unless I did the pre-op, the doctor wouldn't have been able to see what he was looking for. It's the same with a book launch. You must do all the steps I have talked about up to this point in order to have a successful launch.

One of my goals with the John 3:16 Marketing Network has been to help authors who come into the network who can't do the above things. I am surprised at the number of authors who join who are still using a 54K dial-up modem. An author will be at a huge disadvantage if she doesn't upgrade to something faster. I can't imagine being handicapped to that degree and being successful at marketing, though anything is possible. But I would recommend a person have a cable modem or a fast connection, much faster than dial-up.

I was told when I took a class, "How to Launch a Best-Seller," that people would be more than willing to help. That has not been true for me. Most people never respond to my emails unless they know me personally. Getting reviews is not always easy (many don't know how when you ask them or are too intimidated to post anything on Amazon). Getting someone to read my book is hard (authors who like to read books and write reviews are already overcommitted, including myself). I have sent several copies of my book to people and never heard back from them. Sometimes I think those are the books that show up later  on Amazon for a bargain price that you don't get a cut of. I found it to be a lot harder to get partners than I ever thought it would be.

That is when the idea of the John 3:16 Marketing Network was born. If we had authors who were willing to come together and help each other, who understood the process and cared about others in the network, it would be a dream come true not only for me but for others as well. There are far too many authors like me with good books waiting to be read and no way to effectively market them.

Out of my need for a way, God laid it on my heart to form the John 3:16 Marketing Network for Christian authors. I thought about what impact we could have, changing the landscape of book marketing and publishing with sheer numbers and personal commitment, pushing Christian books higher in sales to best-seller status, and impacting what kids and adults read with a Christian worldview.

That leads to the question, "What is a book launch anyway?" A book launch is a 24-hour event. You tell everybody in your little world (or big world) about your incredible, awesome, one-of-a-kind book, and then you get all of those people to tell everybody in their little world (or big world) about your incredible, awesome, one-of-a-kind book-and, as a result of the amazing world of mass media, everybody will hear about your book, and able to receive all the unique, one-time free e-gifts that will be offered if  he buys your book on "launch day." The other key factor is all the sales must go to one specific location; i.e., Amazon. The book sales over that period will surge, enabling you to hit best-seller status in one or more categories. Again, to incentivize people to buy your book on your launch day, you offer free e-gifts that are immediately downloadable; but only on launch day. Then the e-gifts go away.

We have over 125 authors as of this writing in the John 3:16 Marketing Network. Some are beginners and some are pros, but we are all Christians. We are individuals blessed with the passion for writing.  We help each other with book launches, blog postings, book reviews, following each other on social networking sites, and on and on.

I am reminded of Hebrews 12:1 from the New Testament in the Bible: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the AUTHOR and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

One of our members, Amanda Stephan, is preparing some tutorials for the John 3:16 Marketing Network which will be available Tuesday night during the Facebook Event to be held on the John 3:16 Marketing Network page, 8-9pm EST (the tutorials are listed toward the end of this article).

We have marketing gurus who offer free advice on the forum. And I guarantee you, if there is some marketing opportunity out there that you have a question about; i.e., is it worth the money? Is this a good publishing company to use? Is this business venture a waste of my time? With the numbers we have now, somebody will know the answer, and the best answer is usually from someone who personally knows or has experience dealing with whatever it is you are asking about.

When the big day arrives, what happens? Your partners will send out Facebook and Twitter announcements. Those with big opt-in lists will announce your book to their subscribers. Some of your partners (friends) will feature you on their blog, host an interview by you or post some of your articles. Hopefully glowing reviews on Amazon and other sites will entice the public to push that "buy" button; and, you will have some fabulous bonus gifts for your buyers-free downloadable e-gifts available right after the buyer receives his confirmation email-available nowhere else!

What is a good launch? At the John 3:16 Marketing Network, we look at rankings. If we hit best-seller status in a category, we are thrilled. If our rankings get pretty low in terms of book sales, we are happy.

It's important to note. Whether you reach best-seller status or not, you are gaining exposure. Others are tweeting, Facebooking, and sharing your book with their social networking contacts. It's all about exposure. Oftentimes, people have to hear a name many times before it starts to register, "I need to watch that movie," or "I need to buy that book." We tell our authors not to get discouraged if you don't sell as many books as you had hoped. Remember, it's all about process, not outcome.

From Wednesday, May 18^th through Tuesday, May 24^th, we are hosting a membership launch featuring some of our members in a blog tour. Our Facebook party will include many events which you won't want to miss. Mark your calendar-Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, when you will have an opportunity to win eight free books. During that hour, we will have members online to answer your questions, and we will be offering tutorials on how to do some technical operations for internet marketing. These tutorials/tips will include:

• 1. How to upload a .jpeg to Facebook/blog
• 2. How to resize a .jpeg and load it Facebook/blog
• 3. How to copy and paste widgets on websites
• 4. How to set up a twitter account.

The information will be useful whether you apply to the John 3:16 Marketing Network or not.

In addition to an opportunity to win a minimum of eight free books, on Tuesday, May 24^th, if you submit an application to join the John 3:16 Marketing Network , you will be able to download free e-gifts

For more information on the John 3:16 Marketing Network and to submit an application, please visit my website at Lorilyn Roberts.

Again, Tuesday, May 24, will be the membership launch day. If you summit your application on Tuesday, May 24th, you will be able to download free e-gifts offered by some of our authors.

Today on our Blog Tour we will meet Elaine Marie Cooper.

Elaine Marie Cooper grew up in Massachusetts but now lives in the Midwest with her husband Steve, her three dogs and one cat. She has two married sons and triplet grandbabies, who are often referred to (by her) as "the most beautiful grandbabies in the world." Elaine's only daughter Bethany passed away in 2003 from a brain tumor.

A retired registered nurse, Elaine has been a magazine freelance writer for many years, and is a regular contributor to a blog on the Midwest called The Barn Door (http://www.thebarndoor.net/) and a blog on Christian living called Reflections In Hindsight  (ReflectionsInHindsight.wordpress.com) 

She is also the author of "The Road to Deer Run" and has just completed the sequel "The Promise of Deer Run" which should be available by fall.

Elaine's debut book, The Road to Deer Run, received the following awards:

Honorable Mention in the Romance category at the 2011 Los Angeles Book Festival Awards

Finalist in the Religious Fiction category at the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

Winner "Best Romantic Moment" in the Clash of the Titles contest, February 2011

                                                           

The Author Jeopardy Question to win Elaine's book, The Road to Deer Run  during the Facebook Party on Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, will come from our discussion below:

Question: Who has been the most influential person in helping you to achieve your dream as a successful author?

I would have to say my husband Steve has most influenced me as a writer. I have been interested in writing since I was a child, penning poems and prose and lyrics for songs. When I was a stay-at-home Mom with three little ones, I began creating poems about the craziness of motherhood.

Steve worked at a newspaper at the time and decided to ask if one of the sketch artists could illustrate the four-liners. One of the editors there saw my writing and asked Steve if I'd be interested in trying some feature freelancing. I was thrilled beyond words! Steve coached me on a few key points and once I got the drift, I took off writing. Soon I was given two feature columns a week. Just to prove I could do more on my own, I went to another newspaper and offered to freelance for them as well. I was soon interviewing, arranging for photo shoots, and typing my fingers off.

When we moved for Steve's job to Iowa, most of my writing went on hiatus. I worked at a hospital part time and went to nursing school to get my RN. For several years my pen lay dormant, until I went part time as a nurse and started freelancing again, this time for magazines.

Steve really became my cheerleader when I decided to write my first novel. Even after a long day at work, he would come home and edit my chapters as I went. He has been my supporter, coach, and wonderful friend through many hours of editing. While I give God the credit for any talent I may have, my mentor in technique has been my husband and I count him as my greatest earthly blessing.

Don't forget, during our Author Jeopardy Game, you will have an opportunity to win Tuesday night, The Road to Deer Run, May 24, 8-9pm EST during our Facebook party at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Book-Launches-John-316-Marketing-Network/145412252147289

Monday we will be featuring, Why Should I join the John 3:16 Marketing Network, Part Five, from the John 3:16 Marketing Network. Our guest author will be Lynn Dove  hosted by Elisa Maria Crites (on her website).

Wednesday, May 18

Location: Lorilyn Roberts Featured Author: Jay Miller

Featured Book: Sal and Sally

Featured Author: Sherrill Cannon

Featured Book:  The Magic Word
Featured Article: Are There Secret Formulas or Short Cuts for Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon-Part One of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing Network

Thursday, May 19Location: Paulette Harper
Featured Author: Dr. Ray W. Lincoln
Featured Book: Innerkinetics^TMFeatured Article: What it Takes to Have a Winning Team - Part Two of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network

Friday, May 20
Location: JD Holiday Featured Author: Dr. Robert McGinnis
Featured Book: Paradise is Where You Find it

Featured Article: Roaches That Eat Your Best-Seller Dreams - Part Three of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing Network 

Roaches That Eat Your Best-Seller Dreams Part 3 of 6, John 3:16 Marketing Network

By Lorilyn Roberts 

John 3:16 Marketing Network

 

Many years ago my ex-husband and I drove to Gainesville, Florida, from Augusta, Georgia, when he was finishing medical school and applying to residency programs. We had brought along our dog, Shelley, and it was dusk after the long eight-hour drive before we arrived at the motel.

As I headed into the bathroom exhausted, I was aghast to discover the ugliest creepy crawler I had ever seen-a huge, brown roach with antlers (okay, they were feelers, but they looked like antlers), crawling around on spiny, hairy legs, and the worst part-he turned his head and stared at me with dark beady eyes.

I ran out of the hotel room screaming at my husband, "I saw a roach."  After calming me down, we went back in so he could murder the invader. But the roach had scampered away. Of course, I insisted that we find him. As we examined the room in minute detail, we started seeing roaches everywhere-on the walls, on the floor, in the bathroom, crawling on the bed-I stood there and cried, "I can't stay here." 

                                    
 

It was a football weekend, and if you know anything about Florida Gator football, you know that means almost every motel is full. We went from motel to motel for hours after driving all day to find one that had a vacancy that would accept dogs.


While my husband was contemplating an important interview for his residency, I was facing the horror of sleeping in a roach-infested hotel room. It was many years after that experience before I could stay in a hotel and not do the standard "roach check" - inside the bed sheets, under the bed, the dark bathroom, the closet-I would turn out the lights after I got into bed and then five minutes later turn them back on again to make sure one hadn't come out of hiding.


As I learned later, because my husband did accept that position at the University of Florida, there are many species of roaches besides those big ones. There are little ones, ones that fly, ones that hide in dark places, and ones that fall into the water while you take a bath (I would know). 


What does a roach-infested hotel have to do with book marketing? When my husband finished medical school, I had huge hopes and dreams. I had spent the first five years of our marriage supporting him while he was in medical school in a job which was less than satisfying. I couldn't wait to take the next step toward my dream of earning that elusive college degree, which didn't include meeting a roach upon arrival.


The roaches of life have a way of catching us off-guard. They appear out of nowhere when we least expect them, and usually at the worst opportune time. Recently I had my one-another group over for prayer and put out a nice spread of food. While enjoying the sweet fellowship of Christian believers, one of my guests pointed out a large handsome roach crawling across the floor toward the table of food. That pang of embarrassment at an unexpected moment, we have all been there. I ran and fetched the roach spray. Such is life in Florida for those folks who live in Canada and the hinterlands.


As authors, we hope that story we have been mulling around in our heads becomes the next best-seller. But what about those marketing roaches? Have you met one? They are those "horrid things" that threaten to make an even bigger mess of your best-seller dreams. They rob you of sleep, steal your money, destroy relationships, and take away your peace of mind, filling you with worry, apprehension, and doubt.


I encountered my first roach in marketing when I went to a writer's conference in the Southeast. "No one reads memoirs" several people commented. Many attendees ignored me when they found I wasn't a VIP-an editor, agent, or well-known author. Others sounded judgmental with comments like, "Did anyone edit your book? 



I came home and wanted to crawl back into my little cubbyhole and forget all about marketing. The experience squelched my creativity and motivation in one fell swoop. Even the proposal that I spent several days working on that an agent asked me to send him following the conference was never looked at.


I've learned there are a lot of roaches in the publishing business, and I have by no means met them all. On the forum, some of my fellow authors have shared some of their experiences with other kinds of roaches that I didn't even know existed.  


My first step to a healthier mindset was to quit focusing on all the things I couldn't do or control and figure out what I could do. I found I could do a lot more than I thought if I just took the time to learn how and wasn't so impatient. Your roaches are probably different from mine, but whatever they are, they will handicap you more than you realize unless you deal with them. You will be able to do more than you think if you have a teachable spirit, a positive attitude, and invest some time in helping others. When you help others, you are really helping yourself.  How? I don't know how, except it's one of the laws of nature that seems to work itself into equations that have eternal value. God sees it all and rewards us in ways we least expect it.


I had to go back to my faith and recommit my dreams. There is nothing anybody can do to prevent God's perfect will from being accomplished. No one has any power over my mental state except if I willingly relinquish that power to them. In the process of adversity and difficulties, God makes us strong. Nothing is ever wasted without serving a useful purpose.


Nevertheless, it's important to be aware of the more common kinds of roaches in marketing. A couple of months after my book was published, I bought two pricey email blast services-the kind where companies send out book announcements to their email lists, including subscribers, libraries and bookstores. Beware-these pricey roaches in the end were worthless. I sure wish I had that $600 back. 


There are some other not-so-subtle roaches in marketing-laziness. If you are not willing or you don't want to work hard at marketing, I hope you have some influential contacts. You've probably heard this before but it's worth repeating: Nobody cares about your book. Your job is to make other people care. How do you do that? Through building relationships (I won't say anymore about this for now, but will address this again in the sixth article). 


For those who have day jobs, kids, school, and major commitments outside of writing, I feel your pain. And this is where my concept of "process" comes in. I must focus on what I can do and leave the outcome in God's hands.  


The roach of discouragement: Quit complaining and ask God to help you. The John 3:16 Marketing Network is all about encouragement and lifting each other up. If you are hoping that "best-seller" status will bring you happiness, it won't. There is truly nothing "out there" that will fulfill you. Only your relationship with God, family, and friends can bring you happiness. 


Now that we have dealt with some major roaches in marketing, let's look at some things you can do to start marketing effectively. Before we begin a best-seller program, we need to look at what goes into launching a book, focusing on Amazon.


What you must do-long before you approach anyone to help you. We've had authors come into the network who did not have these things in place. Without fixing them, their book launch was doomed to failure. 

1. Make sure your book has been edited completely-no ifs, ands, or buts. In addition to a professional editor, ask twenty people to read your book and look for things that are wrong, unclear, or misleading-from grammatical errors to content issues to structural problems. I guarantee you, honest people will find the problems-even though your mother will tell you it's wonderful the way it is. All the networking and promoting in the world won't salvage a poorly written book.
2. Make sure your book is not overpriced. Nobody will buy a book that is too expensive. There are unscrupulous companies out there that will overprice your book-roaches feeding on your desire to get published that care nothing about making your book salable. They will take your money up front and offer empty promises. Don't fall for it. Be wise. Remember the Proverb, "A fool and his money are soon parted." Go to Amazon and compare your book with others of similar content and length. Make your book cheaper if it's possible (and some publishing companies do listen. I asked that the price of one of my books be reduced and they did it).
3. In my opinion, e-books are the wave of the future. Price e-books lower and you will sell more copies. Remember, you must be competitive to sell books. Not only publish your book on Kindle, but in other e-formats as well, including Nook and Sony. Smashwords is an excellent service for publishing all types of e-books.
4. Get as many reviews of your book as possible. If you are an unknown author, you should have at least 5 four/five-star reviews before asking others to help you. We ask for two reviews on the John 3:16 Marketing Network now, but we will probably increase it to five soon.  
5. Here is a screen shot of my reviews for Children of Dreams. Reviews are important-both good ones and bad ones. My worst review was one three-star review. Why?  The reviewer thought I had too much Bible content. I thought it was actually a good review-after all, it's an accurate assessment of my book for someone who is thinking about reading it. The reader will know what he is getting before he buys it. That's what reviews are for.

 

1. Take advantage of all the functionalities of Amazon.com to market your book; i.e., the inside-the-book program. It allows others to sample your writing before buying your book.
2. Upload a nice photograph of yourself for your Avatar. While I love those goofy animal shots, I am not so sure if they pass the screen test for promoting oneself as a professional.
3. You will notice on Amazon all of the author names are hyperlinked to something called an Author Page. These are set up through the Amazon Author Central portion of Amazon. The Author Page will show your profile, bibliography, published books, a book trailer if you upload one, and a link to the Amazon Associates Program. The Amazon Associates Program will allow you to sell Amazon books on your website or blog.  All these things can sound very intimidating at first and overwhelming, but if you take it one step at a time, anyone can learn how to use these tools effortlessly. Because they are technical in nature rather than creative, all an author has to do is switch to the other side of his brain, which is where most adults spend their life anyway. Again, I repeat, anybody can do these things.  

 

 Make sure you list your book correctly in the subcategories on Amazon, going from the largest category to the smallest. It is more difficult to reach best-seller status in a huge category like fiction than in the subcategory Christian Romance Fiction. The biggest roach-killer for the John 3:16 Marketing Network authors has been not optimizing the best-seller categories to enhance the probability of reaching best-seller status on book launches.
  

1. Again, don't let the laziness roach eat at you. Persistence pays off.
2. Don't let the discouragement roach take away your dreams. As long as there is life in you, give it your best shot. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.
3. Start a blog and post to it as often as you can. To be a member of the John 3:16 Marketing Network, you must have an active blog. Write about what stirs you, interview other authors on your blog, review books, and post your reviews on your blog, Good Reads, Amazon, and other social networking sites.
4. Build up your Facebook contacts, Twitter followers, and create a Fan Page on Facebook.
5. Seek out positive people to interact with on the Internet. Avoid roach people-those who are self-centered, negative, bitter, or judgmental. They will pull you down into a funk you may never get out of.
6. Enjoy the journey. If you feel overwhelmed, pull out the roach spray. What do you need to kill? Examine what you are doing and consider what isn't working. Know yourself, your limitations, and your strengths. Focus on process, not on outcome, and ask God to give you wisdom.
7. Finally, don't give up. Join the John 3:16 Marketing Network today and experience the blessing of sharing your marketing journey with others.

From Wednesday, May 18^th through Tuesday, May 24^th, we are hosting a membership launch featuring some of our members in a blog tour. Our Facebook party will include many events which you won't want to miss. Mark your calendar-Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, when you will have an opportunity to win at least eight free books. During that hour, we will have members online to answer your questions, and we will be offering tutorials on how to do some technical operations for internet marketing. These tutorials/tips will include:



1.      How to upload a .jpeg to Facebook/blog
2.      How to resize a .jpeg and load it Facebook/blog
3.      How to copy and paste widgets on websites
4.      How to set up a twitter account. 



The information will be useful whether you apply to the John 3:16 Marketing Network or not. 



In addition to an opportunity to win a lot of books, on Tuesday, May 24^th, if you submit an application to join the John 3:16 Marketing Network , you will be able to download free e-gifts 


 For more information or to submit an application to the John 3:16 Marketing Network, please visit my website at Lorilyn Roberts.



Again, Tuesday, May 24, will be the membership launch day. If you summit your application on Tuesday, May 24th, you will be able to download free e-gifts offered by some of our authors. 



Today on our Blog Tour we will meet Dr. Robert McGinnis.  

The Author Jeopardy Question to win Dr. McGinnis' Young Adult book,Paradise is Where You Find It during the Facebook Party on Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, will come from our discussion below:

 

Kids read so much garbage these days, how about a YA book with clean language, no sex or extreme violence, a book that has adventures galore, and teaches values for life. Joy, my twelve-year-old daughter, calls Dr. McGinnis' Books "Fun and Thrilling to Read!"
                                                           
Question: Dr. McGinnis, you are one of the most complex, yet simple and fascinating authors I have met. You have a beautiful family with lots of children and grandchildren, and from what I have seen, two passions: Writing and family. In the midst of the joys and pleasures that those blessings bring you, you try to figure out the complexities of how God created us. What are two things you could share with us to help us know you even better?


Dr. Robert McGinnis: There are two things about life that I have always loved most. 
1: Each of us is an individual and completely and totally different from anyone else, and there is no one exactly like us and never will be.
2: We are just like everyone else even with our differences, and we are totally and irreversibly exactly like everyone else.

If you can understand this, then you are way ahead of the game.

It can't be explained, it has to be felt, but let me give an unsatisfactory example. Every person is paddling a small boat every which way they choose while floating on a huge sea in a universe going in a preplanned direction of which the small boats have no control.

That doesn't do it, but try to think of the insignificance of all the smalls and the power of the large.

If that is not good, try this: No matter how hard you try, you are going somewhere over which you have no control at all and everyone else is going, too.

Well, I guess I will leave this for some of you to explain to me. I am trying to understand how I got here, where I am going, and what does it all mean?



Don't forget, during our Author Jeopardy Game, you will have an opportunity to win Tuesday night, Paradise is Where You Find it , May 24, 8-9pm EST during our Facebook party at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Book-Launches-John-316-Marketing-Network/145412252147289



Saturday we will be featuring What is a Book Launch Anyway-and Slowly, Please, I am New at All of This, Part Four, from the John 3:16 Marketing Network. Our guest author will be Elaine Marie Cooper  hosted by Lorilyn Roberts (on her website).


If you missed the previous postings on this blog tour, here is the information which hyperlinks:  


Wednesday, May 18
Location: Lorilyn Roberts Featured Author: Jay Miller
Featured Book: Sal and Sally
Featured Author: Sherrill Cannon
Featured Book:  The Magic Word


Featured Article: Are There Secret Formulas or Short Cuts for Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon-Part One of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing Network

Thursday, May 19Location: Paulette Harper
Featured Author: Dr. Ray W. Lincoln
Featured Book: Innerkinetics^TMFeatured Article: What it Takes to Have a Winning Team - Part Two of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network