Discoverability is the latest buzz word in the book biz. Like African killer bees in search of new territory, social media sites are attempting to nest in writer psyches with promises that they will help readers find us. With The Sheep Walker’s Daughter approaching sales that will help validate my publisher faith in me and a second book on the way, I’m looking for ways to make readers’ fingers itch to push the Click Here to Buy button.

Giveaways

I tried a Goodreads giveaway this month and true to promise, it was easy and fun. Easy to set up and fun to see the stratospheric number of people who clicked to win a free book. Congratulations to Christine Hewitt in Ontario, Canada and Matthew Thompson in North Yorkshire, Great Britain. Your books are on their way.

How does this help me get discovered? It puts my book in front of voracious readers who are building their collections with the aid of free book contests. I wish they all could win, but I can’t afford the shipping costs. In theory, if a contest winner likes my book they will tell others. In this case, they will tell others in Canada and Great Britain and I will be discovered internationally! I’ll let you know how this plays out.

Guest blogs

Another way to get discovered is guest spots on other people’s blogs. You meet the nicest people that way, and they introduce you to their friends. I am very impressed with the preparation Fay Lamb of Florida did for the three feature spots she offered me on her blog. She read my book and then tailored questions for an interview with my main character, Dee. Now keep in mind, Dee is not the most forthcoming person you will ever meet. Fay drew her out and Dee surprised me with her candor. Read Dee’s first media interview here.

Coming up next:

Wednesday, May 28, Author Interview: I dish on the challenge Christian writers face in making choices between being real and risking offense.

Friday, May 30, Guest Post:  Faith Lessons from Father Mike. Where do you start if you don’t know God? The new TV drama Black Box aired a thought provoking segment in which science types were trotting out tired arguments against the existence of God (can’t prove what you can’t observe) and the bi-polar heroine said in effect, “Well that’s the thing about faith; it’s believing something you can’t see.” That is the point at which Father Mike begins with Dee. Make an assumption. In science that is called a hypothesis, right?

Going for it

Visit me today, Wednesday and Friday on Fay’s blog. Leave a comment on one of those days and we will send one random person a free copy of The Sheep Walker’s Daughter. Your comment doesn’t have to be clever. Just make sure we have a way to get in touch with you.