Monday, October 15, 2012

Going To Hell in a Handbasket


By Beth Groundwater

(Keep reading to the end to find out about a contest!)

Very soon, on November 8th, my fourth mystery novel published by Midnight Ink will be released. It is the trade paperback and ebook editions of To Hell in a Handbasket, the second book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series. The new edition includes a bold, bright purple cover that I just love!

In the book, gift basket designer Claire Hanover is reluctantly enjoying a spring ski vacation with her family in Breckenridge, Colorado, when a bloodcurdling scream cuts the frigid air. Claire is appalled to find the sister of her daughter’s boyfriend dead on the slopes. Others assume the girl’s death was an accident, but Claire notices another pair of ski tracks veering dangerously into the victim’s path. To protect her daughter as incriminating clues surface, Claire unravels a chilling conspiracy.

To Hell in a Handbasket received some good reviews when it was first released in hardcover in 2009:

"Groundwater's second leaves the bunny slope behind, offering some genuine black-diamond thrills."
        -- Kirkus Review, April 1, 2009

"How it all plays out makes for an engrossing and entertaining mystery that keeps you reading until the final page. Tightly plotted and very current, the story manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. Even though the physical violence is off screen, the tension comes from the potential danger to the characters you've met and come to be concerned about."
        -- Gayle Surrette, Gumshoe Review, May 1, 2009

"Groundwater follows her Agatha-nominated debut with a solid mystery that should broaden her fan base."
        -- Molly Weston, Meritorious Mysteries, May 5, 2009

"Don't mess with Mama Bear. Mothers will be able to identify with Claire Hanover, who goes into protective mode when her daughter is threatened in Beth Groundwater's To Hell in a Handbasket…Groundwater's book is a fast-paced family mystery, for readers who enjoy Diane Mott Davidson's books. The book has the same family feeling that Davidson's fans will appreciate."
        -- Lesa Holstine, Lesa’s Book Critiques, May 24, 2009

I'm hoping that these new, less expensive formats will gain me many more readers--and many more reviews (on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.) from those readers!

I'm doing my best to find ways to promote the release, but it is often hard to promote a re-release. Bookstores who hosted a signing for the hardcover edition are reluctant to do so again for the trade paperback, even though three and a half years have passed. And, living in ski country in Colorado, I'm reluctant to commit to driving to events more than an hour away in November and December. We DO get a lot of snow in the winter around here! ;-)

So, with this release, I'm focusing on on-line promotion, such as: interviews, blog visits, newsletters, chats, announcements on mystery-writing organization websites, etc. I also decided to have a contest HERE for Inkspot readers. You can enter the contest to get a free autographed trade paperback copy of To Hell in a Handbasket sent to you by doing two things:

1. Leave a comment or question for me on this post.
2. Sign up to follow Inkspot, if you aren't already a follower. (If you're already a follower, you're in!)

That's it! Easy peasy. Check back here tomorrow to find out who the winner is. I'll draw a random number at random.org to pick someone. Good luck. Let's have some fun!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think you are doing the right things in promoting the book. Not a lot else that you can do.

would love to win.

nlb1050@yahoo.com

Jeanine Elizalde said...

I for one review on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I'm happy to get the word out. I hope I win!

jeanine_elizalde@yahoo.com

RoseMary said...

Good luck promoting this re-released book. I am an avid reader, and I often discover a new, favorite author when I discover a book they released a few years before. Good luck and thanks for the hours you spend writing for our reading pleasure.

keizerfire said...

I love the cover, and I haven't read this yet, so winning a copy would be fantastic!!

Lynn M said...

Great cover! Good Luck!

Sonny said...

I'm always happy to promote a friends book with comments on my FB and Twitter. Let's see how far you can go through us by word of mouth.

Barbara said...

Have noticed your postings on DorothyL and been intrigued by your surname. Easy to remember and look for.

Beth Groundwater said...

Thanks for the comments, folks, and Christian, thanks so much for the offer to spread the word about my new release via Facebook and Twitter! Barbara, many people think "Groundwater" is a native American name, but it is actually Scottish. My husband's family comes from Northern Scotland and the family legend is that the name comes from what the family did to earn a living--farming and fishing from the ground and the water.

Kaye Killgore said...

Good luck in book sales, I would love to win the book. I am truly addicted to reading.

Anonymous said...

Would love to win. You're always funny!


boots9k at wowway dot com

Kathleen Ernst said...

Love the new cover, Beth!

Denise Z. said...

Sign me up for the draw! I enjoyed your blog on jury duty and have been interested in trying your work since I see you on MMC on Facebook. Signing up for InkSpot to double my chances! Denise Z. dz87507 at gmail dot com.

Alicia said...

It is a great cover and would love to win!
Alicia
afarage(at)earthlink(dot)net

cyn209 said...

oooh!! another series to add to my WishList!!!

thank you for the giveaway!!

cyn209 at juno dot com

jan godown annino said...

As newbie to this blog , I enjoyed learning from your post, about the difference in publicity when a print book is now heading out into the world in a digital fashion.

I don't know this blogger below, but I did a search and found that
Tina is compiling a list of e-reviewers in her book- interest areas. Scanning them, at least one accepts mystery books.
http://www.tinahunter.ca/links/ebook-reviewers/

I hope this is of interest Beth! Happy new publicity whirl to you.

Beth Groundwater said...

Thanks so much for your comments, Kaye, Anonymous, Kathleen, Denise, Alicia, Cyn209, and Jan! Jan, I appreciate the information and will check it out.

I just went to random.org to pick a winner in the contest, and the winner is .....




... Alicia!

Congratulations! I will contact you at you email address.

For those who didn't win, I hope you'll read the book when it comes out, either in paper, on your e-reader, checked out of your library, or wherever you go for your mystery fix. Thanks so much for entering the contest and for following Inkspot. You won't be disappointed in the content of this blog!

Dru said...

Wishing you the best on the launch of the second book in the series.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good read. Good luck with the promotions! Love the title.

--BrendaW.

Unknown said...

Well it looks like I'm a few days too late on your contest. I just happen to see you link on GoodReads today but have joined! Thanks and good luck!

Unknown said...
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