My Latest Release

by Linda O. Johnston

Since my last post here on InkSpot, which occurs on the first Monday of each month, I've had another mystery released by Midnight Ink: TO CATCH A TREAT, the second of my Barkery & Biscuits Mystery.

As always, it's been fun.  I seem to learn more with each release about how to let people know about them in as many ways as possible.  Some ways are done by Midnight Ink and my wonderful publicist there.  Some I do myself, or with the help of friends.  And I'm always looking for more.  Sort of.

I'm not very techy, so my social media efforts are somewhat limited.  I admire those authors who do it all, and some of them write for Midnight Ink.  But although I have Twitter and Goodreads accounts, I know I don't use them as much as I should.

I do a lot of blogging, though.  I did a Great Escapes Blog Tour, which is always enjoyable.  I provided some blog posts and interview responses and watched with great excitement when reviews were posted by the blog hosts as well as those that featured me for the day.  I've also done other blogs, including those I write for on a regular basis, and others hosted by friends who invite me to write posts.

I did personal appearances, too.  One I considered the launch of TO CATCH A TREAT, at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in San Diego, California.  Its Birthday Bash coincided with the release of my book, and they scheduled a bunch of different authors to speak on panels that day, including me.  Unfortunately, despite my leaving home in Los Angeles very early in the morning, there was an accident on a freeway in front of me so I was a little late, but I think it still went well.

Then there was another bookstore visit, to Book Carnival in Orange, California, about forty miles from my home.  The store has been there for a long time, and I've been publishing for a long time, but although I'd heard of it I didn't realize it was all about mysteries and romantic suspense.  Fortunately, a friend who's also a publicist arranged for my appearance there along with another author--and it was great!  Plus, the owner is interested in having me come back in October for her Halloween event, which is also the release time for my third Superstition Mystery--a good fit for Halloween, don't you think?  I do!

And I always visit other bookstores such as Barnes & Nobles in my area, where I can sign copies of my books in stock there.

But now, after nearly a month, my promotion events have slowed a bit.  Even so, I'm always watching for more.  Being online certainly helps, and so does going to conferences.

And here, when I started out, I thought writers just wrote.  Hah!