An Opportunity Too Good To Pass Up

Before we get to today’s topic, a bit of housekeeping. I recently discovered that my computer has been dropping quite a few emails. Actually, Norton has been eating them. I had no idea Norton was that hungry. (Down, Norton, down!) I think I now have this fixed. At any rate, if you’ve emailed me in the past two weeks, and I haven’t responded—I never received your email. Please resend.

Now for today--an opportunity for you novelists to gain new readers.

Over on Callapidder Days, one of the Christian mom blogs I enjoy reading, Katrina has set up a "Spring Reading Thing." Yes, not a Club. A Thing. Let me tell you, these moms stick together. When Katrina announced her Thing, asking folks to comment about the books they plan to read this spring, 204 people responded. Read the post and their comments here.

Well, next thing you know, Bethany House gets wind of the Thing thing and ships Katrina a box of nine books to give away to participants (hereafter called Thingies). Each week she will post a blurb about a book, and those Thingies interested in reading it will leave a comment. The lucky Thingy will be chosen randomly to win the book.

Not to be left out, I asked Katrina if she wouldn't mind a few authors honing in on her Thing. She said the more Thing Authors the better. So here's the deal. They're readers. We're writers (well, most of us, anyway). If you have a published book or books you'd like to give away through the Thing to interested Thingies, all you need to do is email Katrina and tell her so. Your book will be blurbed on her site, and salivating would-be readers will come rushing to comment. (Yes, readers do salivate--especially when there are free books involved.)

To become an official Thing Author, visit Callapidder Days to find the link for Katrina's email. In your email include:

1. Title(s) of your book(s)

2. Blurb about the book(s)--back cover copy, if you like.

3. Book's genre

4. Links to your web site and/or blog

5. Where you are willing to ship your books. This is important. Some readers are international. If you don't want to pay for international shipping, Katrina needs to know that.

Please respond by Monday the ninth. Katrina will see how many books are made available and will portion them out over the next couple months for give-aways. She will email the Thing Author with the address of the Thingy--and it's up to you to get the book out.

Now, really--is there any reason not to participate? We love readers, don't we? And what's a better way to market than to give away our product and gain a new reader? Let's show these readin' moms what awesome writers and sisters in Christ we are. Let's load 'em up with books!

If you choose to participate, please leave a comment here to say so. Know that you'll be speaking to the readers in your comment, as Katrina is sending her Thingies over here today to see what we're up to.

Do try to behave, BGs. We have a reputation to keep.