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
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
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 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: InnerkineticsTM
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 27th.
DON'T FORGET THE FACEBOOK EVENT, Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm, on the John 3:16 Marketing Network Facebook page.
I'm enjoying the author features. to answer your question, I think it is important to stay a member for a number of reasons. First of all, if we have been helped by the network it behooves us to help others. Second, it is a great place to network and find answers and encouragement. Third, what if you launch another book? Hopefully we're in this writing thing for the long haul, not just as one book wonders!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracy and uhooi.
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