The Drinkable Book

Nonprofit Water is Life has a new book available that presents safe water drinking tips, AND also purifies water and kills deadly waterborne diseases.

“The Drinkable Book!” 

Check out this video, and let me know if you think this is a solution or just some gimmick.

For me, I'm fascinated by the book, but not sure if this is the solution.

Offline Book Marketing Tips!

Robert B. Warren is not only a talented author, he's a BEAST when it comes to marketing. Check out his offline book marketing tips!


Hello Fellow Writers,

I'm Robert B. Warren, the author of Murder on Olympus and Delete.

Becoming an author has been a dream of mine ever since I could hold a pencil. It's presented me with many opportunities--my favorite being the chance to help other writers who, like me, are just starting out. Someone once told me that the real work begins after your book is published, and that's absolutely true. 

Writing a book is one thing. Getting it in the hands of readers is another. That's why every writer needs an effective marketing plan. The internet has made advertising easier than ever before. But the internet is only one tool at your disposal. Marketing offline can be just as effective. Here are a few tips that can help get the word out about your book.

1. Talk to everyone 

When engaged in conversation with someone--a stranger, a friend, a relative, etc.--always make sure to mention your work.  You can be in a bookstore, supermarket, or sports bar. It doesn't matter. Even if the person you're speaking with isn't particularly interested in your book, they could know someone who is. I've made several sales this way, so don't be afraid to be social.

2. Contact local news and radio stations

Robert Warren talking about his book on the local tv news.

You'd be surprised how willing people are to help promote members of their community. Going local shines a positive light on your hometown, and is a means of sharing your success with those around you. Once you've contacted a station and set up an interview, make sure to bring a copy of your book along. Presenting your potential interviewer with something tangible can leave a huge impression. 

3. Reach out to local bookstores 

 As with news and radio stations, going local first is usually the best course of action. You can ask the person in charge if they'd be interested in ordering copies of your book--so make sure you have your ISBN handy--or you can try to set up a signing. 

I suggest the signing. It's a great way to reach out to the community, and guarantees that your book will end up on the store's shelves. If you're in college, or a college grad, contact campus bookstores to set up an event. In addition to spreading the word about your book, it's also good publicity for the school. Everyone wins.

4. Take a creative writing class 

This will help improve your writing skills through critique and the exchange of ideas. It will also allow you to meet people who may be able to assist you in your marketing efforts. Many colleges employ successful, full-time authors to teach writing courses--authors that can tell you about conventions and other special events. That's how I was able to speak on a panel of authors at Daddy's Girl's Weekend 2013.

5. Don't be shy 

This is the most important tip. Be vocal about your book. Approach people, get them excited. You put your blood, sweat, and tears into creating something that readers will enjoy. Let it be known. People can't buy your book if they don't know about it.

I hope these tips help you on the road to success. Remember, no matter what you write, what genre you specialize in, there's always someone who will read your book and love it just as much as you do.         

Robert B Warren

Website       Twitter     Facebook

A fan of thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction, Robert B. Warren has been writing stories ever since he could hold a pencil. In 2009, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and creative writing from the University of Alabama—Roll Tide! He currently lives in the South.

Do Goodreads Reviews Matter to the Bestsellers' list? Nope.

 "Kenya pulls you into the story . . . no matter how f'ed up you might think the situation is she makes you believe that there is potential for anything and everything to work and fall apart all at once." 

Megan Martin on Complicated by You

On AMAZON  and  B&N

When my book "Complicated by You" hit the Interracial Romance Bestseller's list this week at #15, I was blown the f*** away.

I was shocked for TWO HUGE REASONS:

1.On Goodreads the review score was so freaking low and there were a lot of negative reviews.

My second reason is that this was not a book I thought that many would be able to swallow, especially my dedicated fans. When many of them didn't like it, I definitely understood and was glad they at least gave it a chance.

Then "Complicated by You" hit three freaking bestseller's list!

Yet, the negative reviews on Goodreads continued to come, and again. . .I know exactly why some can't deal with the book. It's not grammar, plot-line  bad character development, or any of the technical writing things that turn people off of a book.

It's the freaking situation my main character is put in, the decision she has to make for herself to be happy, and perhaps. . .just maybe. . .a few people want to slam my hero in his balls. 

A few love him. . .they just want to cut his penis off!

I get it.

I want to hurt him too. I tried so so hard to get his ass to do what I wanted him to do. Would he? No. Would any of those damn characters listen to me as I yelled at my computer? No. They just did what the hell they wanted and then forced me to write it all down.

Sorry.

I'm ranting!

So people are buying the book. On Amazon, I have five reviews that rock. Three four stars and two five stars. 

On goodreads? 

3- 5 Stars

4- 4 stars

2- 3 stars

2- 2 stars

There are shelves for this book that say:

disturbing

so-disappointing

didn't-like-it

Meanwhile, Complicated by You continues to rise on the Interracial Romance Bestsellers' list and sell really well.

My mail inbox is full of readers begging for the second book, demanding still that somehow Jay (the hero) gets his balls cut off, and for some strange reason they want a POV done for two secondary characters Pipe and Cynthia (in which I'm actually considering doing just for the fun of it).

Anyway, why am I saying this all in a blog post?

For one, I don't truly believe that Goodreads Reviews matter much to a book's success. 

I see authors all the time going crazy when they get some negative reviews on that site or even others. 

They say they're "defending" their book. 

I say shut the fuck up and write another book.

Keep moving forward.

It's bad business.

Bad for your writing career.

and Moronic at best.

Even statistics agree with me. In the recent study:

The Readers Sound Off! How They Read, What They Like and Where They Find Us    By: Marie Force

Click Here for the full post

When asked which reviews are most important to them, 50 percent chose the reviews posted to retail sites. Goodreads was a distant second at 16 percent, followed by blog reviews at 13 percent and publication reviews (RT Book Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, etc.) at 10 percent. An additional 10 percent of the respondents listed “Other” sources than those provided by the survey.

So why are authors yelling at book reviews?

I think it's two reasons:

One- the person is insane.

Two- the person just doesn't know any better.

When you see this happening, just send them over to this post. It will make them either feel better. . .or yell at me instead, which is fine. I get yelled at all the time. 

Meanwhile, if you haven't read my Goodreads Review for my own book (which many say is kind of in bad taste for authors to do, but I don't listen). Either way, check it out! 

MY REVIEW FOR Complicated by You!

Complicated by You is dark at times and odd toward the end. It was so so so much fun to write it.

“Sometimes love makes you do dumb shit. Stuff that you always told yourself you would never do, that you’d never let happen. Then you fall in love and all those limits shatter away like glass. You get cut, but you don’t feel it. All you sense is love. Only that connection keeps you breathing another day.” 

            He spun around and stopped my talking with a kiss. . .

            . . .and not just any kiss, but one that ignited flame to wick and set a blaze through me. I burned into a crispy husk of ash and need. I melted right there at the end of the stairs, wet, soaking so bad. . .

“Let me go.”

“No,” he whispered.

“I back down when I know I’m wrong. I back down when I know I can’t win. With you I won’t back down, I’ll keep coming harder and stronger. I won’t sleep or eat. I won’t rest. . ."