Ebook Cruise 2012

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Last October, I threw together a Trick or Treat for Ebooks with authors hosting "treats" for readers under disguised link names so they could virtually "Trick or Treat." It was a ton of fun, got picked up by a few reader blogs, and overall, authors saw increased sales and exposure. It was also free.

I'm all about free ways authors can come together and show off their books for readers to browse. By coming together, we leverage all of our social media reach to maximize exposure. It's a team thing.

And so I give you, Ebook Cruise 2012. It will run from March 19-23. The cruise is simple. We're highlighting the settings of our novels as "destinations" readers can go to. Travel far, pay low fare. Each author who participates will write a blog post highlighting one of their book's settings, and there are no restrictions on that blog post whatsoever. I was 100% blown away by the creativity of the authors in the Trick or Treat, and I'm sure I will encounter the same.

There is also a grand prize sponsored by The-Cheap.net, and I will be giving out gift cards to readers. I am also programming Mad libs (you know, where you put in a noun, verb, etc and make a silly story?) and an open mic flash fiction contest where readers can be the author (most have no idea that you can write a story in 200 words lol).

Anyway, it's going to be fun and I've opened up signups. You might not see hundreds of sales, but it's a great opportunity to meet and work with new authors and get free exposure.

http://eawestwriting.com/ebookcruise/join-the-crew/

[Beth Dolgner]

How fun! I just submitted my info. My series is set in Savannah, and I think cruisers should be treated to a ghost tour while they're in town!

[Elizabeth Ann West]

LOVE IT!

We just moved from Charleston, SC, so I know all about ghost tours!

I know it's not for everyone, some authors like to just buy advertising and that's it. When I first started last year, I didn't have any money for marketing. Can't join 'em, make your own! I had 15 other authors sign up and we all tweeted etc and had thousands of clicks on our posts.

[S.A. Mulraney]

Hmmm...travel to exotic NJ, PA, and OH.  Luckily, things get a little better in the sequel, which should be out by then. Will definitely take a look. Sounds like fun.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Hmmm...travel to exotic NJ, PA, and OH.  Luckily, things get a little better in the sequel, which should be out by then. Will definitely take a look. Sounds like fun.

Those places might be exotic to people in a small town in Iowa. My setting is Washington, DC. Not everyone has been there, either.

[Rebecca Burke]

Speaking as an Iowan (and no offense to SAMulraney), but I doubt we'll find those places "exotic." We're very big travelers here in Iowa--gotta get out!

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Speaking as an Iowan (and no offense to SAMulraney), but I doubt we'll find those places "exotic." We're very big travelers here in Iowa--gotta get out!

I shouldn't pick on Iowa, you're right. It's the first state in the middle that came to mind as my sister used to live there. And I know plenty of people in small towns all over that like to read about places they haven't been to in books. I'm sure Iowans and Texans, and Virginians all travel, but also have citizens that don't. And no one said the location has to be exotic. One of my best vacations in real life was in Orlando, FL and I hardly call that exotic. One of my most miserable? Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (but that's because I missed my hubby's submarine). So exotic, schmexotic.

[S.A. Mulraney]

We've got plenty of exotic wildlife in NJ! I'd especially like it if someone thinned out the "NY beachgoer" population at the shore. 

[Rebecca Burke]

Not to worry, Elizabeth, just kidding. Most Iowans have thick skins because it IS usually the state folks like to grab as an example of "Middle American hicks in the sticks." Look up the YouTube sensation (post-caucus) "Iowa Nice" if you want a laugh (we're not actually that nice).

I would prefer everyone pick on Missouri or North Dakota but I think "Iowa" just rolls off the tongue easier.

My poor sister lives in Peoria--you talk about a picked-on city  --and it's actually quite a cool place, lots of history, culture, pretty river bluffs, etc.

Cheers!

[T.K. Richardson]

I'll sign up! My new book Shield the Heart is set in Russia, so this sounds like a fun way to help spread the word about its upcoming release. I'll send along my info.

http://tkrichardson.com/Shield_the_Heart.html

TK

[Lisa J. Yarde]

I'll submit my info. My last is set in Spain, centered around Granada's Alhambra.

[smreine]

Everybody wants to visit Reno, Nevada on a cruise, right? ...Right?

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Everybody wants to visit Reno, Nevada on a cruise, right? ...Right?

Yep, it's a virtual cruise, so no port necessary. We can go by air ship.

[Marie S]

Just signed up. Thanks for the opportunity!

[ToniD]

Sounds like fun!

But how to choose? Death Valley in triple-digit summer or Mammoth Lakes during a volcanic eruption? 

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Sounds like fun!

But how to choose? Death Valley in triple-digit summer or Mammoth Lakes during a volcanic eruption? 

Just me, but i want to read the "Official Ten Steps to Enjoy Your Explosive Vacation at Mammoth Lakes."

LOL

[sibelhodge]

Fab idea, Elizabeth! I just signed up My Perfect Wedding which is set in North Cyprus. Thanks 

[liafairchild]

Does it have to be a full length novel? I have a series of short story mysteries for Kindle that take place in Northern Calif.

[MSTHRILLER]

I signed up Asylum Harbor which is set in Freeport, Bahamas. Thanks for the opp!

[Krista D. Ball]

I have a DIY novella set in Newfoundland, and I have a trad novel set in space.
Would either qualify?

[wraylewis]

Submitted my info.

Two things puzzled me.

First, your form asked for a twitter ID. Mine is @wraylewis. I had to leave that blank because it told me that @wraylewis is not a valid url. Didn't know twitter IDs were urls.

Second, it said that it was sending me a confirmation email. Haven't received one yet.

(Took a while, but I DID receive the email!)

Anyway, this looks like a lot of fun. Looking forward to info on the next step!

[AllisonBruning]

Sounds exciting. I just signed up. :-)

[BarbaraSilkstone]

Elizabeth Ann,

Another fab idea. You are brilliant! Please sign me up as my Wendy and the Lost Boys ends up on Nevis Island in the Caribbean. On Nevisland to be precise. Where else would Wendy find Peter Payne?

Can't wait.
This should be jolly good fun!

[Elizabeth Ann West]

All books, all genres, all lengths!

There are sites that are all about qualifying ebooks out there, or doing the special book of the day. This is about quantifying the ebooks available Remember as a kid (if you're American) getting that Scholastic Book Fair flier on tissue paper? That thing was interesting because it had books for girlie girls, the jocks, the science nerds, the adventurous kids etc. Imagine a Scholastic Book Fair flyer with three books. Only three books. Most of the kids would not run home to Mommy and Daddy and beg for money.

I like to put together fun events for authors and readers that's a smorgasbord of options. Nothing where the reader can't walk the whole buffet in a timely fashion, but where hopefully there is something for everyone.

And the twitter thing is the link for the profile, sorry. It makes it easier for me because this information will go out to all of the authors once they sign up so we can follower each other on Twitter etc. I fixed the instructions to reflect that it's an URL.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Barbara can tell you all how much fun Trick or Treat went.

Barbara, can you click the JOIN THE CREW button and fill out the form? I'm being smart this time, and using a mail chimp mailing list so I can keep all the groups straight, so those featured on Monday of the blog cruise are one list etc. etc.

[Angela Kay Austin]

This sounds like a really fun idea!

[Lyndawrites]

Hi Elizabeth

I've signed on for the voyage too, thanks. We'll be visiting the mountains of Keraylia and taking in the sights - including the forbidding Grey Keep - the setting for most of my fantasy. Originally written for children, it is being enjoyed as much  - if not more - by their parents and grandparents, so there's something to entertain everyone. Except for the balloon animals, obviously  

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

Will sign up when I get home tonight (computer at work not playing nice with your site  ).   A Game of Blood is set in South Jersey, which may not sound exotic, but my tour stop includes a vampire tour guide! 

Darius promises not to eat any of the cruise guests.   

[Phoenix Sullivan]

Ooh, ooh! Rural North Dakota during a pandemic! Like Toni's choices, I'll have to think about how to spin that one .

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Will sign up when I get home tonight (computer at work not playing nice with your site  ).   A Game of Blood is set in South Jersey, which may not sound exotic, but my tour stop includes a vampire tour guide! 

Darius promises not to eat any of the cruise guests.   

I'm sure a few of our more adventurous readers won't mind a nibble.

I'm so glad some of you are really excited about it! Everything is always about plot and characters, and the poor setting is just cast aside like a bad backdrop.

[KayBratt]

I'm in and plan to take readers on a tour through the canals of Suzhou, China.

[ToniD]

Just me, but i want to read the "Official Ten Steps to Enjoy Your Explosive Vacation at Mammoth Lakes."

LOL

Okay then. Will do. 

[theraven]

I just signed up and one of my characters will be giving a tour through Limbo. 

[cegesmith]

Sounds fantastic- I signed up!