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The Loyalist’s Luck

Chill With a Book Readers’ Award!

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Yay! Book 2 of the Loyalist Trilogy earned a new award!

The wonderful Pauline Barclay has announced that The Loyalist’s Luck has been awarded a Readers’ Award by her Chill With a Book site. I’m very happy about this because this site really takes the time and effort to make sure the books it praises deserve that praise. Thanks so much, Chill With a Book!

Here’s the whole gamut of awards given out by Chill With a Book. And now that I’ve told you about my newest award, I’m going to go chill with a 17th century book I’m reading at the moment.

Here’s where you can get your own copies of the Loyalist trilogy in Kindle and print.      Kobo.com also carries the trilogy.

 

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What’s Up For 2017?

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One of the gifts I received for Christmas shows yet again how closely my husband is tuned in to my writing life. He knows that having just launched the third in my Loyalist trilogy, I am working even harder on marketing. After all, what good is writing a great series if few people know about it?

While my next writing project is simmering in my mind, I’m going to step up my already busy book marketing life. My husband bought me this book: Online Marketing for Busy Authors. (Click to see it on Amazon.)

 

I have yet to crack this book open but soon!

Now I have a closet full of books on writing and even a few on marketing. The first book I read on the subject linked writing and selling right in the title so I know how important the selling part is to a writer’s career. And before I open Burke’s book I’m going to list my own marketing methods to date:

  1. Talk about your writing whenever you can. So many people will be thrilled that you’ve included them in your writing inner circle. (Of course, you don’t want to become annoying!) Believe it or not, having published books seems to give a writer the right to call herself an author and most people respect that.

  2. Get on as many social media outlets as you can handle comfortably and keep them up to date. I use Facebook, both my main page and my author page, sometimes I do ads on these; Twitter;  Pinterest; and, to a lesser extent, LinkedIn. I’m planning to step up my YouTube game in 2017 and post regular videos.

  3. Look for speaking gigs that relate to the subject matter of your book. Historical and Loyalist groups are delighted to hear about my Loyalist trilogy. Elementary schools would be excited to get in children’s book authors. Those with non-fiction books can look for their peeps among those who need/want their books about dog-grooming, lifestyle suggestions, or dating advice.

  4. Offer to do special presentations where your book is most suited. Last summer I did a July 1st (Canada Day) table at a wonderful museum in London. For that I did special games for kids that related to the history at the museum and in my books. Of course the woman who wanted to dumb my games down for her kids by giving them the answers kind of missed the point.

  5. Make it your goal to do at least one thing to market yourself and your books EVERY DAY. This keeps you on top of your marketing game and increases your chances of the world finding out about your books. It also results in all kinds of people knowing you. Just a few days ago I received a lovely thank you letter from a couple who subscribe to my twice monthly newsletter telling me how much they enjoy it and wishing me Merry Christmas. I so appreciated that both for the kindness it showed and for the feedback on what I am doing.

Here is a link to some blog posts related to this topic which will show you my journey along the marketing road. On that blog I really talk about my writing journey to publication and beyond so there may be other things there that interest budding writers. Whatever your interest I hope the articles help you. Meanwhile I am going to push on with marketing my Loyalist trilogy. For this morning? I’m going to go down my list of previous speaking venues and see if there is somewhere I might seek a return gig now that it’s almost four years since I’ve been to some of them. Happy New Year!

The Loyalist’s Wife, The Loyalist’s Luck, The Loyalist Legacy

by Elaine Cougler

Available at Amazon.com and many other places.

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How The Loyalist Legacy Launch Affects You!

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uncle-sam-wants-youNovember is launch month for The Loyalist Legacy, the third in my Loyalist Trilogy and what a month it has turned out to be. Our thoughts are on our American neighbors to the south and the most vitriolic and divisive election any of us can ever remember. No matter whose side you’re on, this was a dirty fight and it was hard to see dignity and even honesty go out the window.

And it’s the time of year when we specifically remember those who served that we who have come after might live our lives in freedom. remembrance-poppy-247x300

Of course almost my every waking thought is on my book launch with personal appearances, book signings and speaking engagements, and my three-week book tour all over the Internet. Yesterday I did a newspaper interview here in my hometown after two major events on the weekend. So much fun! Meeting people who love historical fiction in general and my Loyalist trilogy in particular is pretty darn rewarding.

As I drove home after one of these events I thought about the connection between my latest book (the Loyalist Legacy), November 11th and Remembrance Day, and this pivotal American election.

Five Items to Make Us Feel Better This November

  1. Though our history is relatively short it is full of catastrophic events which could have ended Canada. Wars, rebellions and civil disobedience are part of our past and yet here we are. My Loyalist trilogy is a testament to the efforts of individuals fighting for a good life here.

  2. Canada suffered through the 1837 Rebellion in Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec) yet managed to survive and become one of the best countries in which to live today. William and Catherine Garner, the real couple whose names I borrowed in The Loyalist Legacy, were there for that rebellion and survived.

  3. Reading fiction and particularly historical fiction lets us imagine things that may have happened in the past from which our ancestors recovered. We see the strength in ordinary people when faced with disheartening and even terrifying events going on all around. We can recover.

  4. One of the things my daughter started me writing with her is a gratitude journal. Every day we try to write 3 things for which we are grateful and it helps me to focus on the good in my life as well as have a wonderful view into just who my daughter is. We pick each other up with that journal and we remember how lucky we are.

  5. In The Loyalist Legacy the difficulties of being settlers in an unsettled land, of fighting to save children from disease with no healthcare, and of seeing one’s neighbors divided over just how to solve political and social problems every day–those difficulties seem so much larger than ours just at this moment. There is a bigger picture. Perhaps we can all focus on it while we strive to build a better world.

Come see the wonderful sites who have allowed me to guest for my book tour:

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Book Tour Dates and Agenda:

  1. November 7   Hook of a Book Review of The Loyalist Legacy

  2. November 8   Let us Talk of Many Things…  Guest Post

  3. November 9   Meyette’s Musings  Interview

  4. November 10 The Book Trail Review of The Loyalist Legacy

  5. November 11 Writer’s Treasure Chest  Guest Post

  6. November 14 Kristina Stanley Guest Post

  7. November 15 P.C. Zick Guest Post

  8. November 16 Cryssa Bazos Interview

  9. November 17 A Writer of History Guest Post

  10. November 18 Charlene Jones Soul Sciences site Podcast Interview

  11. November 21 Random Bits of Fascination Guest Post

  12. November 22 Hook of a Book Interview (taped)

  13. November 23 Annika Perry’s Writing Blog Book Release Post with excerpt

  14. November 24 Sally Moore’s Blog Interview

  15. November 25 Black Friday sale of The Loyalist Legacy on Amazon

 

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Five Reasons To Celebrate!

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2 down, 1 to go!
2 down, 1 to go!

This day has been a long time coming, this day of relief and smiles. No, I’m not talking about the two books in my arms although they’re part of my joy. Today I’m writing my first post for my updated blog on my brand spanking new website.  So that’s my number one reason to be ecstatic today and, I hope, for a lot of days to come.

  1. My new website is finally up and running after months of struggles. Thanks to the two people who came to my rescue. We’ll have more changes and updates and upgrades but the site is live today.

  2. My audio book of the first in my trilogy is all recorded and just waiting for me to have a spare moment to finish off the packaging details. Now The Loyalist’s Wife will be available to accompany listeners in their cars, their showers, and on their iPods. So great for those who have trouble finding reading time. Here’s a blog post listing great reasons for authors to create audio books.

  3. A re-edit of that first book is moving along nicely for the second edition coming out this summer along with a new cover to match the others in the trilogy. For some reason the e-version ended up with a lot of formatting errors so I’ve taken the opportunity to do a second edition for both print and electronic formats. Of course the audio book is of this updated version and will have the new cover on the CD versions.

  4. Book trailer number two for The Loyalist’s Luck is almost here, too. I might even have it next week. If you missed the first one, here’s the link. It takes a minute and a half to watch.

  5. My revisions for The Loyalist Legacy are well underway with all but one of my beta readers having finished and returned the manuscript to me. These wonderful people are from varied places and have a multitude of experiences to bring to this very important job. I love that they each see the work differently and am so thankful to have their help. Today is the day I’ll start going through their comments and suggestions, on track for publication in November.

So welcome to the new home of my blog. Please take a moment to sign up on the RSS or email buttons at the side to keep receiving my weekly blog posts in your InBox. Thanks so much for being part of my writing community. It means everything.

Many of you are already receiving my special newsletter every three months for news and opportunities no one else gets. I may send deleted scenes or updates on the books and even the odd coupon for $$$$ off at Christmas and Holiday time. Join 400+ subscribers and sign up for my newsletter in the box at the side.

As always if I can help you in any way please email me through the Contact button at the top. Now join me in a figurative sip of champagne!

 

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