Category Archives: promotion

June 13, 2019

Success By Any Other Name

So. I’ve been off Facebook for a while. I’ve been away from here, too, but Facebook has been the big change.

I needed quiet.

It’s not the updates or the friends that I’ve been avoiding, or even the unavoidable drama. It’s about me and my anxiety. My depression. And above all, my creativity.

I’ve been struggling for a long time. As much as I love writing–as much as I NEED writing as a way to connect with the world, figure myself out, and say things I can’t say any other way–the business side of it has never been good for me. Marketing is an anxiety trigger (for reasons I won’t go into here), and when I found myself unable to do it without breaking down in tears I was getting insanely stressed out in a seemingly unending spiral of stress-anxiety-shame-stress-lather-rinse-repeat.

You see, I thought I was a failure if I never got back to the sales numbers and income that I had with my first books, so I kept pushing.

Because here’s you see on social media when you’re an author:

SELL MORE BOOKS! WRITE FASTER OR FANS WILL FORGET YOU EXIST! TAKE UP MORE SHELF SPACE! WRITE WHAT’S POPULAR AND GRAB NEW FANS! MASTER FACEBOOK ADS! HAVE IT ALL BY HITTING A LIST! BUY THIS COURSE! HUSTLE HARDER AND YOU CAN WIN THE GAME!

And I’m not saying those are bad things to want. They’re good things for the right person, and I’m glad there are people out there who can help.

But when I’m on Facebook and it’s all I see, I start to think that that’s the only way to define creative success these days. Amazon followers. Little orange flags. Instagram likes. Facebook comments. Newsletter subscribers. HUSTLE HUSTLE HUSTLE, and there’s something seriously wrong with you if you’d rather not be in the fast lane.

I needed some time off to get myself away from all of that to understand that I’m allowed to define success for myself.

Honestly, I still don’t know what that means. What I have figured out, I think, is that I can’t let writing become a constant source of stress or I’ll lose everything that made me fall in love with it in the first place. I can’t chase goals that will leave me mentally and emotionally exhausted, with nothing left to offer my family and friends at the end of the day. And that’s where I’ve been headed, honestly.

I do know what I want, I think. I want to take my time, writing gorgeous books that I’ve had a chance to fall in love with, exploring every bit of inspiration and insight that I didn’t see until the second (or third, or fifth) draft without worrying that I have to publish NOW to keep the balls in the air. I want to take days off when the sun is shining and the beach or the blueberry patch is calling, or when the kids are sick or have a snow day. I want to read more. Learn more. Be bored more. Explore stories that have no chance of selling but that I want to tell because they inspire me. Blog more, and not just about writing. Take more time to share other people’s ideas and projects and successes and help them achieve the goals that feel right for them.

I can’t do that AND be stressed out about ticking all of the marketing boxes. Some people can do it all. I can’t. And I’m not sure I want to, given what I know of what it costs me and my brain (bless it).

So I’m in the process of choosing new goals. It’s hard. It’s one thing to say that I want my writing to be about creativity rather than fame or finances, but I do tend to compare myself to others and feel like I’m somehow falling behind if I let myself be happy with what I have instead of CHASING THE DREEEEAAAAAMMMMM that it seems I’m supposed to have.

It’s a process, as is everything else in life. Maybe some day I’ll get there.

I’m not giving up on writing or publishing, or even marketing. I’m at the end of a (damn good, if I may say so myself) 7-book series under my pen name and would really like to see those stories connect with readers who will love them. I’d like to keep publishing, which means making money for edits and such, which means selling books.

I think what I’m trying to do, really, is give up on the stress,the time-suck, the HUSTLE, the bitterness, and the expectations of anything other than writing books that I’m proud to call mine.

I’m trying to get back to the pure joy of playing in my sandbox and then showing off what I’ve made in the hope that others will also find pleasure in it.

I’m trying to fall in love again.

We’ll see how it goes.

13 Comments | tags: anxiety, goals, stress, writing | posted in about me, ADD, Depression, Hows & Whys, Mindfulness, promotion, publishing, writing

May 23, 2018

Email permissions are like Taco Bell: A pain at both ends. However…

By Kate Sparkes

(I was going to call this post “the agony of email”, but come on. That was mildly amusing.)

Raise your hand if you’ve received a bunch of emails lately asking you to update your preferences and give permission for authors and other marketing types to send you emails.

Okay, I actually can’t see you. You can put your hand down.

I’m guessing it’s at least a few of you though, right? And if you’re on my list or Tanith Frost’s, you’ve definitely received them from us.

Or your spam folder has. And if that’s the case you’re going to want to go hunt for them ASAP, assuming you want to stay subscribed to get news on upcoming giveaways (both), cover reveals (Tanith), upcoming new releases (also Tanith), and future free stories (fingers crossed all over the place on that one). Because as of May 25, subscribers who haven’t confirmed permission for us to send emails are going to be unsubscribed.

Dun dun dunnnnnnn…

Spoiler alert: The actual cover will look significantly more badass than this

I mean, I know. What a pain in the ass, right? You already took time to sign up once. WHAT MORE DO WE NEED?

Honestly, I’m not the best person to ask. I know this is a Serious Legal Thing that has something to do with Europe and privacy, and we can get in Big Trouble if we’re caught sending emails without the proper permissions*. So yeah. We asked you to do this. There may be some marketing types who are super organized and on the ball and already have the right permissions, or who actually keep track of which subscribers are in the EU and which aren’t.

If such unicorns exist, I am not one of them. If you’re one of my subscribers, you got the email. And whether you live in Topeka or Tuscany I’ve asked you to update your permissions just so I know who still wants to be on the list.

Two birds/one stone. Bumbling GDPR compliance/”are you still there?” service. Boom.

BUT KATE, WHAT A PAAAAIIIIIIIN.

I know.

But look at it this way. It’s like spring cleaning for everyone! If you signed up for my newsletter because you wanted to win something in a giveaway but haven’t opened one since, you never have to see them clogging up your inbox again!** Same goes for anyone else who’s doing a big clean-up. We’re doing the work for you! YAY! And if you do find our content interesting and want to keep receiving our Big Fun Newsletters, it only takes a minute to click the button, check the boxes, and submit… and then maaaaybe some authors might be planning fun stuff for the subscribers who stick around.

I dunno. It’s just something I heard.

Gratuitous photo of a past giveaway

And though it’s maybe a liiiiiitle bit painful to let go of all of the people who haven’t updated preferences and won’t be receiving future Big Exciting News, this is good for me, too. I do this now, and in the future I’ll know that everyone who’s getting my emails is getting them because they’re excited to see what’s coming next, not because they entered a giveaway or other list-builder promotion and happened to get signed up along the way. The people who stick around now are in it for the long haul. THEY WANT TO WIN THE SIGNED PAPERBACKS. GO TEAM!!!***

I already refer to my newsletter subscribers as VIPs, and that will only be more true by next week.

So long story short: If you want to keep receiving my super-fun newsletters packed with good stuff on a seriously irregular basis (because hey, I’m not going to bother you if I don’t have anything to say), please make sure you check for either the first GDPR email or the update I sent today (and Tanith asks that you do the same) and take a minute to click and update your preferences.

You can of course sign up again at any time in the future if you get bumped. But this feels easier, doesn’t it?

(And if you’re not subscribed yet but want to be, here’s the link for mine. And what the heck, h ere’s Tanith’s, too. We do have fun.)

—

*Dammit, Jim. I’m an author, not a marketer. I DEAL IN MAGIC, NOT LEGALITIES!

**Yes, yes, or your spam folder…

***Fun fact: I didn’t know until I had to start a newsletter list that it costs money to have subscribers on there whether they’re opening emails or not. So releasing uninterested parties back into the wild (hopefully we’ll meet again some day, insert wistful sigh here) means I may just have a liiiiitle bit more in the ol’ budget for more awesome giveaways. ANOTHER WIN! HOLY CARP! (Side note: NEVER take marketing advice from me. This is probably terrible.)

Leave a comment | tags: author newsletter, GDPR | posted in promotion, publishing

May 16, 2017

Bound (Bound Trilogy Book One) FREE for a limited time!

By Kate Sparkes

I know, I know. Too much promotion here these days, right?

I promise I’ll be back with something else when I have anything interesting to share with you. Right now I’m buckling down, trying to avoid wasting time on social media, and working on getting the first three books I’ll be releasing under my pen name ready for publication. There’s a lot going on here… it’s just behind the scenes.

I do have one bit of excitement to share, though! For the first time ever, Bound is free on all of its regular ebook retailers! Whether you read on Kobo, iBooks, Nook, Kindle, or those smaller ones whose names I can never remember, I’m giving the ebook away.

I wish I could say I had a big strategic reason for doing this, but honestly? It was the end of winter, I was in a funk, and not much lifts my spirits like giving something away. And between this and the paperback giveaway I just wrapped up with my newsletter type people*, I’m having a pretty good time.

Besides, we’re coming up on Bound’s third anniversary as a published book. Why not invite some new people in to explore this world and get to know my beloved characters?

So if you haven’t started the series yet, check out the links at books2read.com/bound. If you have read and enjoyed these books, why not offer a recommendation to a book-loving friend? This offer is only going to be on for a few weeks, and when it’s over, I don’t know whether or when it will happen again.

Enjoy!

Bound free promo rectangle

*Newsletter subscribers get the VIP treatment. Giveaways, bonuses, free stuff… want to join in? Visit my site to sign up, then watch your inbox (or spam folder) for the confirmation email. Add me to your contacts so you don’t miss anything, and enjoy!

Leave a comment | tags: books, dragon, ebook, ereader, fairy tales, fantasy, free book, ibooks, kindle, kobo, magic, mermaid, nook, promotion, writing, YA, ya fantasy | posted in books, Bound, promotion

February 16, 2017

How I Survived My First Live Reading

By Kate Sparkes

I’m just going to say this, in case there’s anyone who hadn’t picked up on it: I’m an introvert.

Beyond that, I’m also shy and socially awkward, and I’m non-confrontational to the point where introducing myself to someone or asking for something over the phone sends me hightailing it for the hills.

So when a lovely woman from the library board called me and asked whether I’d be interested in doing a live reading from my books during our town’s winter carnival, the answer was obvious.

“Of course!”

I mean, I started a YouTube channel so I could get more comfortable with speaking, didn’t I? And I have to get out there and do these things if I ever want to expand my comfort zone (or at least get used to stepping outside of it).

So yeah, I agreed. And then I freaked out, second-guessed myself, prayed for a blizzard, and hid my head in the sand before actually thinking to ask for help from people who do this a lot.

Thanks to help from those lovely people and readers who helped me choose passages to read, I survived. And I decided to pass along their fine advice and tips in a video, just in case anyone else can use it. 🙂

(here’s the link in case you can’t see the embedded video)

3 Comments | tags: author, comfort zone | posted in Bound, promotion, youtube

October 3, 2016

Romancing the Rock EXPOsed… Exposed

By Kate Sparkes

I know. I should have posted this last week, right after the event, but better late than never, right?

For anyone who’s as late as I am to the party: As I mentioned in a post here and on my YouTube channel, I was involved in my first live event as a professional author last weekend. Like, LAST last weekend. That’s right. I’ve never done so much as a book signing or a reading at the library. This was a first for me.

And I was… well, I was a bit nervous, as you’ll recall from the video I posted here the day before the event. I don’t like having to mingle or make small talk, and all of that pales in comparison to how much I hate having to talk about my work or (heaven forbid) SELL IT TO SOMEONE.

And yet I agreed to this.

screen-shot-2016-08-25-at-3-11-37-pm

But the event was good. We had 13 authors from Newfoundland, mostly dealing in romance of one sort or another, under the lovely roof of Magnum & Steins in downtown St. John’s. We each had a table in one room where anyone could come in, talk to the authors, and buy some signed books.

We also had the option to pay $10 for access to readings by several of the group’s authors and four panel sessions on writing and publishing.

And we had a great turn-out. This was the group’s first event, and it went very well. The people who attended the panel I did with Candace Osmond on self-publishing had lots of questions that we were happy to answer, and it sounds like the other sessions were just as great.

Here’s my video recap of the day and my reactions to it. And below that is the link to the CBC story where I WAS ON TV GUYS WHY DID THEY DO THAT.

Here’s the CBC story.

Kind of nifty. ^_^

Leave a comment | tags: author event, book promotion, romancing the rock | posted in promotion, vlog

September 15, 2016

BOUND TRILOGY SALE!

By Kate Sparkes

Hey, everyone!

Just a quick post to let you know I’m running an ebook sale on the Bound trilogy! If you haven’t started this bestselling YA Fantasy series yet, or if you’ve been waiting for a sale to complete your collection, now is the perfect time!

bound-sale-september-blog-2

Enjoy! And if you have any friends who might be interested, your help in spreading the word is, of course, most appreciated. Thank you. You are so wonderful.

Available for Kindle, Kobo, iBooks, Nook, yadda yadda. You can find all of the links on my site, katesparkes.com, or just click the links below.

Bound

Torn

Sworn

And here’s my latest video. This one mentions the sale, but is mostly about the reading order for the trilogy when you throw the prequels in (you knew you could get those free by signing up for my newsletter, right?). And you get to hang out with me on a migraine day, which is only a little like being around a tipsy yet pleasant and absent-minded drunk. So… yay! ^_^

2 Comments | tags: #indieauthorsbeseen, bestseller, book sale, ebook sale, fantasy, romance, sale, young adult fantasy | posted in books, Bound, promotion, Sworn, Torn, writing

January 22, 2016

PARTY!!!

By Kate Sparkes

One week to Sworn’s big release day!

And I’m throwing a party to celebrate. How could I not? The Bound release party was small (as hardly anyone knew about the book), but a blast. The one for Torn was a little bigger, a little crazier, and STILL a blast.

This one’s going to be even better. We’ll have more giveaways (signed paperbacks, bookish goodies, and special little gifts to go with e-book giveaways), guest authors giving away THEIR books, a big (spoiler-free) Q&A if anyone has questions for me about the books, writing, what’s next, yadda yadda…

It’s going to be fun.

And the best part is that it’s happening on Facebook, so you don’t have to travel to Newfoundland to join us! I’ll be there from 3-10 PM my time (1:30 to 8:30 eastern), but some of the giveaways will stay open overnight for people on the other side of the world who can’t drop in during party hours.

Here’s the event link. Click to say you’re coming (and to get notifications of early-bird posts and/or giveaways), and drop in any time when the party’s on. Grab a fictional friend or date to bring with you (it might be worth a prize, you never know), find a comfy chair and some snacks, and we’ll see you on the 28th!

My prize bucket a few months ago. It’s overflowing now. We’ll see how much we have time to give away during this event…

Leave a comment | tags: books, bound trilogy, fantasy, giveaway, party, release party, romance, Sworn, YA | posted in books, Bound, promotion, release party, Sworn, Torn

July 29, 2015

Last Chance to Enter!

By Kate Sparkes

Teri Polen’s giveaway (signed paperback copy of bound, mermaid charm, sea glass, and assorted papery swag) is ending soon! She’ll be announcing the winner July 31, which means there’s only a day or so left to enter. This is a fantastic prize from a generous reader, so be sure to enter!

(US and Canada only for this one, but I’ve got something different coming up for everyone else next month)

Click here to enter. Good luck!

1 Comment | tags: book, bound trilogy, fantasy, free, giveaway, kate sparkes, mermaid, novel, paperback, prize, romance, sea glass, swag, teri polen, YA | posted in Bound, linktastic, promotion

May 5, 2015

Paperback Giveaway!

By Kate Sparkes

Hey, guys!

Just a quick note today, and one some of you might be interested in.

Paperback copies of Torn are finally here! Formatting issues are all cleared up, and they look fantastic. Drool-worthy, even. A little distracting, actually.

*stares at front cover*

Ahem.

Anyway, to celebrate, and to say thanks to readers, I’m doing a signed paperback giveaway for newsletter subscribers! All you’ll have to do is watch for the rafflecopter link in the next newsletter (coming Thursday) and click through to enter. The winner will be chosen at random, and given the option of which book (or Bound audiobook) they want. Open internationally. The only requirement will be that you get the newsletter.

Not signed up yet? No worries, there’s still time! Follow this link and enter your name and e-mail address. I don’t send out newsletters very often, just when there’s something exciting going on like a cover reveal, release news, giveaways, new project sneak peeks, and other fun stuff.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

6 Comments | tags: Bound, bound trilogy, fantasy, giveaway, kate sparkes, kate sparks, paperback, torn, YA | posted in books, promotion

March 31, 2015

Another One Flies the Nest

By Kate Sparkes

This is it.

This is the last day when Torn gets the spotlight, at least in my office. Starting tomorrow, it’s all about book three (which I will use the proper title for soon, I promise–I just don’t want to spoil it for the first people who discover it at the end of Torn).

Today, though, we celebrate.

We celebrate a little over two years of off-and-on work. The struggle of a skeletal first draft, the joys and pressures of revisions, the triumph of positive responses from alpha readers, and the crushing discovery that edits won’t be as easy as anticipated. The months of struggle to make the book what readers need while remaining true to my own vision for the story as a whole.

The frustrations of the publication process.

Even the things that were stressful or seem negative at the time are worth celebrating, because they’re part of a beautiful process. A new book is a victory.

It’s like raising a baby bird, really. You nurture it, encourage it, feed it, and give it tough love when needed… and in the end, you have to shove it out of the nest and let it fly on its own, knowing you’ve done everything you could to prepare it for this day.

Maybe it’s the painkillers I’m on right now (hello, migraines that helped inspire this whole story!), but I’m a little weepy.

No. No tears. This is happy, exciting, wonderful!

And in case anyone missed the announcement yesterday, we’re having a party to celebrate. A Facebook party, because I don’t expect all of you to come to my house (you’re welcome).

Here’s the link. Drop by any time between now and about mid-afternoon EST on April 1–we’ve got great prizes!