IngramElliott Publishing
  • Welcome
  • Titles
    • A Call to China
    • Benny Moon: Racing the Medicine Wheel
    • Benny Moon Eats Dirt
    • Clown William
    • Clown William and the Lincoln County War
    • Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance
    • The Cornbread Letters
    • Crooked Lines
    • Indian Country
    • Island Whispers
    • Medicine Hat Moments
    • Ms. Mulligan and the Enchanted Ice Cream
    • Mystery Muffin & Soda Pop Slooth: The Legend of Mr. Creepy
    • Mystery Muffin & Soda Pop Slooth: The Ghost of Crippler's Creek
    • Path of the Half Moon
    • Courses of the Cursed
    • Surrender
    • Whispers on the Wind
    • WWCC Heroes
  • Submissions
  • News & Updates
  • Contact
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Holiday Gift Guide 2020 - Give the Gift of Reading!

12/13/2020

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Shop Amazon
Shop IndieBound
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For thrills and chills

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Winner in the Chanticleer International Book Awards for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction
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"A rollicking, Western-flavored frightfest."
-Kirkus Reviews
Book 2 in the award-winning Curtis Jefferson series
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​This intense thriller is set against a backdrop of biker gangs, drug cartels, terrorism, and dangerous liaisons. ​ All secrecy is not meant to deceive. 

For heroes and horses

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Silver IPPY winner and Finalist NIEA & NextGen Indie Book Awards
A reluctant 1870's gunslinger with Tourette's and a quick draw . . ..William just wants to fit in somewhere. But people keep picking on him. People with guns. ​
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​Winner NIEA & IPPY - Western Fiction; Best Fiction Series
When William escorts the lady Emily over the mountains and into Lincoln, New Mexico he finds her brother John in a battle for survival in the infamous Lincoln county War.  
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Book 3 in the  award-winning Clown William series. While the battle for Lincoln, New Mexico, rages on, William is consumed by his own war against Jesse Evans, the man he blames for the loss of his friends and the start of his life as a gunfighter.

For lovers of literature and romance

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New Release! This new novel by award-winning author Jeffrey Meyer explores government, religion, and  ​​personal transformation in this visionary work of literary fiction. 
IBPA Silver Winner & Finalist NIEA and NextGen Indie Awards
"An engrossing fictional exploration of family, culture, and what it means to belong in both China and America." 
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Kirkus Reviews
Love, tropical style. Travel with Jessica as she explores mystical locations and exotic scents, sights, and tastes. Long-forgotten passions will awake as you take a journey into the unknown. A journey into love. 

For young adults

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New Release! This debut novel by Marsha G. Cook will take YA fans into new realms of mystical magic and whispers . . . on the wind. ​
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Finalist NextGen Indie Book Awards
Young Authors under 25

​Something ancient is stirring on the island…and it’s out for blood.​

For young readers

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Silver Winner Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, Finalist NIEA & NextGen Indie Book Awards
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When Tabby wakes on her twelfth birthday magically transformed into grown-up "Ms. Mulligan," she and her friends must solve the mystery before it's too late.  
xciting middle-grade mystery series
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Mystery and Soda are on the case with the whole town relying on them . . . even the police! They'll do whatever it takes to save the town and learn the truth about the legend of Mr. Creepy.​
k 2 in the Mystery Muffin Series
​Join the kid sleuths, Mystery Muffin and Soda Pop Slooth on their investigation to find out the truth. Is the ghost of Crippler’s Creek fact or fiction?

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Boys 8-11 will love Benny Moon and his exciting adventures. With the help of a wise Owl, Benny learns the tools and techniques of the ancient Medicine Wheel to help him cope with the emotional toll often felt in an ever changing world.
Benny Moon’s dream of winning the Motocross Nationals is about to come true.
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Will Benny be able to use the lessons of the Medicine Wheel to get a second chance to fulfill his dreams? Find out in Book 2 of the series. 
Kids 2-6 will adore Pablo Prairie Dog and his half-animal/half-human wrestling heroes. 
 Pablo learns that value is found in everyone, no matter our size or differences.​

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IngramElliott Publishing wishes you a wonderful holiday season.
​Happy Reading!
​www.ingramelliott.com

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On author Jeffrey Meyer's latest novel, Crooked Lines, and time not wasted

9/17/2020

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PictureAvailable in print and e-Book
Fans of Jeffrey F. Meyer may be surprised to know that he was a member of the Franciscan Order and studied to be a priest for seven years. This important time in his life, combined with thirty-five years as a professor of Religious Studies, informs, inspires, and influences his latest novel, Crooked Lines. 

Crooked Lines follows Jeffrey's award-winning debut historical fiction novel, A Call to China, heralded by Kirkus Reviews as "An engrossing fictional exploration of family, culture, and what it means to belong in both China and America."

Set in the late 2020s, Jeffrey's latest visionary work of fiction asks the question: Can our hero and his strange band of friends find the courage to restore democracy to an America teetering dangerously on the precipice of authoritarian rule?

When asked about his motivation to write, Jeffrey notes, "Since I retired from UNC Charlotte in 2008, I have spent most of my time writing fiction, a first novel that I could never get right, then A Call to China, now Crooked Lines, and I’m working on another novel, now about half way through the first draft. I consider myself lucky to have this inner urge to write fiction¸ which I suppose was inborn, something in my heart and mind that can’t be fully explained."

And Crooked Lines is no ordinary literary journey. The reader will encounter action, humanity, humor, and serious issues, all wrapped into a framework based upon an abridged translation of the Chinese classic Journey to the West.  This pilgrimage story follows a famous Buddhist monk traveling from China to India in order to bring back to his native country all the sacred scriptures that were lacking in China. The monk seems unlikely to succeed.  

In Crooked Lines, Bishop Donovan is an ordinary man, neither brilliant nor possessed of heroic virtue. Set in a future where authoritarian governments have taken hold around the world
 and the planet heads toward a climate disaster, Bishop Donovan and two unlikely companions—an Asian monk and a former pro-football player—risk everything to share a way forward with the world. 

​Accepting the complexity of all human beings, Crooked Lines also deals with a number of important issues: authoritarian government, the threat of climate change, the intersection of religion and politics, the place of faith in a cynical world, women’s role in traditional religious institutions, and the meaning of success and failure as individuals and institutions strive to realize their ideals.

We chatted with the author about his new novel in advance of it's upcoming release. Crooked Lines is available September 18, 2020 in print and e-Book. 


Interview with author Jeffrey F. Meyer
What fact about yourself would surprise your fans?
Readers might be surprised to know that I was a member of the Franciscan Order, studying to be a priest, for seven years. I left the order about a year and a half before ordination, but my time in the Order was very important in my life.  I became aware that a number of my colleagues who also left the Order resented the time wasted and years lost. I did not.  I felt that I gained a lot by the experience, maybe the most important thing was learning how to live in a community. Another thing was learning of the importance of religion or spirituality in human life, a conviction I have never lost.  That conviction is obvious in Crooked Lines, as it is in all my writings, fictional and academic. 

Where do you find joy in life?
Exploration and travel.  Learning about nature, in the manner of Mary Oliver (for its spiritual meaning), and exploring and foreign lands and peoples.  I’ve spent, for example, about three years of my life in Asia, mostly China and Taiwan, amazed and intrigued at times at how different these cultures are from my own, and at other times marveling at how much alike all of us are, from the east or west,  as human beings.

Tell us something about Crooked Lines that's not in the summary.
The inspiration for Crooked Lines comes from an Asian source.  About three years ago I was reading an abridged translation of the Chinese classic Journey to the West, a sort of pilgrimage story in which a famous Buddhist monk goes from China to India in order to bring back to his native country all the sacred scriptures that were lacking in China. The monk seems unlikely to succeed.  He is often diffident, somewhat fussy about his own comfort. How will he be able to make the arduous and dangerous journey across the Silk Road to India?  He does it by finding three companions who will accompany and help him, the chief one being Monkey, probably the most popular character in all of Chinese fiction. The three are mischievous, sometimes badly behaved characters as well as “superheroes” so there is a strong element of fantasy in the novel.  My aim was to retell this story in a western setting, preserving the serious religious purpose while using elements of fantasy and humor. 

What books did you love growing up?
As a kid I remember riding my bicycle to the local library in Cincinnati, where I grew up, and checking out books regularly.  I read all the Wizard of Oz series, the Hardy Boys (young detectives) stories, and I recall going through an African period, reading stories about its fascinating animals and terrain. I can remember only one title, Treks Across the Veldt, though I read many. These were books written from the imperialist’s point of view, glorifying the big game hunters and explorers, with the actual people of Africa playing secondary roles as scouts and bearers. But early in my teen age years I began to read adult books that left a permanent mark on my mind, like Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth, about a Chinese farmer and his family. Another was J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye.  I was also deeply moved by the Anne Frank story. 

Why did you pick this particular subject matter to write about?
Besides my love for the original story of Journey to the West, I took up this novel as a way to touch on three issues that I consider crucial at this time in American history, and really, world history.  The first is the growth of authoritarian governments around the world and the corresponding weakening of democracy, which can be seen right now in the U.S., China, India, the UK, Poland, Hungary, Brazil and the Philippines. The second is climate change, and the third is the role of women in world religions—name me a single world religion where the patriarchal model does not dominate.

I hope these issues become more tangible as the reader encounters them in real social settings in the novel. 

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A professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for thirty-five years, Jeffrey F. Meyer taught Asian religions in the Religious Studies department, with a focus on Buddhism and Daoism. He is married with three grown children and currently living in Davidson, North Carolina.
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His first novel, A Call to China, is a Silver winner in the 30th Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards and a finalist in the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and the 2019 NextGen Indie Book Awards.

Follow the author on Goodreads.


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Author Marsha G. Cook's new YA novel glimpses what's beyond

9/7/2020

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Marsha G. Cook's debut novel, Whispers on the Wind, will transport YA fans into new realms of mystical magic. The author knows a little bit about new realms, too, and shares some insights into her world upon the launch of her book this month. 

Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a five-year-old Marsha was known to chat with her maternal grandmother, Nanny Angel. Marsha had plenty of opportunity to witness magical moments raising her own six adopted children. After a career as a YMCA director, Marsha followed her intuition and studied metaphysics and spirituality, leading to her current passion: teaching and co-directing an accredited school of metaphysics and meditation. 

These unique experiences inspired Marsha to write her first novel, geared towards helping  young people understand their special abilities and insight, and planting the seeds to help them see beyond our three dimensional world.

"Whispers is meant to take you on a journey of discovery," says the author. "As Meems learns there is more to our world than she ever thought, so may the reader discover what's outside the box in their life."

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​Whispers on the Wind
Now available in print and e-book anywhere books are sold​

Mary Elizabeth Emily Mearcham--known to all in her life as Meems--has a gift. She has several actually. She just doesn’t know it. Meems is a psychic. After a frightening experience as a toddler she closed herself off to her gifts. Her Grandmother, who is also quite clairsentient, knows it’s time for Meems to awaken her power. Drawing Meems into the journey of becoming all she is meant to be isn’t going to be easy. Will her fear override her potential? Will darkness stop her from accepting she is no normal girl?
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Interview with author Marsha G. Cook

What fact about you would surprise your fans?
At one time, back in high school, I performed in musical theater and was headed to NYC to sing and dance in an off Broadway show.

What makes you the happiest?
Seeing the light shine in another's eyes when the seed I've planted becomes a flower.​

What's your favorite scene in 'Whispers'?
I really enjoy the moments in Chapter 21 when Meems meets Emme. How often do people get to chat with a Ghostie?!

What inspired you to write about this particular subject matter?
My gifts as one who sees beyond the three dimensional world we live in began when I was a young child. ​I've dedicated most of my life to sharing these gifts with others, so that they too will enjoy the enormity and connections that surround us and know how connected to everything in the Universe they truly are and how powerful they may choose to be.

PictureAuthor Marsha G. Cook
Marsha grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and at the age of five was known to chat with her maternal grandmother; often telling her mother that Nanny Angel was sitting in the corner and all ‘mom’ had to do was talk to her. After raising six adopted children, Marsha returned to the work force as a YMCA director.

Obtaining both a bachelors and master’s degree in holistic nutrition at the age of fifty, she then studied and became ordained as a non-denominational minister with a doctorate in metaphysics and spirituality. This led to a decade-long foray in teaching and co-directing an accredited school of metaphysics and meditation center known as The Nook (Kent Cook Institute). Marsha considers herself a ‘seed planter’, helping people to discover there is more to our world than meets the eye. 

Connect with the author on Facebook and Instagram @whispers_on_the_wind.

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Celebrate the 4th by celebrating yourself!

7/3/2020

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As you celebrate our country's birthday this weekend, take a moment to celebrate yourself! Whether you're a reader or a writer, take a moment to love your self and your work this holiday weekend. For anyone who writes a novel or a blog or even a letter or email pat yourself on the back! Completing any creative work takes dedication and bravery -- to put yourself out there. We appreciate all of our authors and fans and wish you all a happy 4th of July!

And if you're looking for something to look forward to, here it is! New releases coming soon to everywhere you buy books!



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Available August 1

Courses of the Cursed

Book two in Vince Bailey’s award-winning Curtis Jefferson series brings back African American youth Curtis Jefferson as he battles the curse of Fort Grant. Winner of the Arizona Authors’ Association Literary Award and the Chanticleer International Book Awards for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction, the Curtis Jefferson series presents an edgy and thrilling escape from the ordinary.

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Connect with the author at VinceBailey.com


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Available September 1

Whispers on the Wind
Mary Elizabeth Emily Mearcham, known to all in her life as Meems has a gift. She has several actually. She just doesn’t know it. Meems is a psychic. After a frightening experience as a toddler she closed herself off to her gifts. Her Grandmother, who is also quite clairsentient, knows it’s time for Meems to awaken her power. Drawing Meems into the journey of becoming all she is meant to be isn’t going to be easy. Will her fear override her potential? Will darkness stop her from accepting she is no normal girl? ​


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Coming Soon

Crooked Lines

A new novel by award-winning author, Jeffrey F. Meyer
​Jeffrey Meyer's new novel explores the vision of a few brave souls hoping to restore democracy to an America teetering dangerously on the precipice of authoritarian rule.. This visionary work of fiction takes readers into new realms as it follows a man who wants to effect a positive change in the world, but possibly at his own peril. The journey will take him . . . in crooked lines. 

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Connect with the author on Goodreads

Fireworks Image by Gerd Altmann/Pixabay
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The End of the Tour . . . Clown William Rides Strong

3/16/2020

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Author Robin Elno's latest installment in the award-winning Clown William series enjoyed a successful virtual blog tour throughout February. IngramElliott Publishing partnered with Premier Virtual Author Book Tours for several stops at prominent book bloggers around the globe, including reviews, excerpts, and exclusive interviews with author Robin Elno. Thanks to our reviewers and fans everywhere for their tremendous support for Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance!

Enjoy the reviews below as well as two special author interviews hosted by International Book Promotion and Teddy Rose Book Reviews. 


Praise for Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance

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"An excellent Western and one I would recommend to any reader even if this wasn't their usual fare."
This book just kept getting better as I read along. I can't rate or recommend this story highly enough! I had a blast reading it and, after it was over I found myself wanting more. Elno's plotting and pacing were skillful and talented. I never felt lost in the narration or like I wanted the story to hurry along at any point. William's quest to find and kill Jesse (in what some might call a gentleman's death match) encompasses the main premise of the book but it never dominated it, and I loved getting to know the side characters and their stories just as much as I loved getting to know William. 
-Bookgirl 86, Goodreads Reviewer


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I love a good Western, and this was a great one . . . I was instantly transported into William’s world. A world of gunfights, horses and lawlessness. Where a man’s word is his only currency and debts are expected to be paid in full—even if it means paying with your life.
-Bob D. guest review Teddy Rose Book Review Plus More

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"Elno's writing was so strong and evocative and so pretty while also carrying what I consider to be the hallmarks of a great Western."
William was a main character that I sympathized with heavily. He had suffered a great deal but still had a strong moral center; an aspect that I thought was a really telling and enjoyable character trait. I love to see my heroes being actual heroes . . . The terse dialog, the gorgeous descriptions of barren and dry scenery, the thrilling action scenes, all of it was present and accounted for. And, as a reader, I felt like I wanted for nothing. Elno definitely nailed the setting and genre. I ate this book right up, reading it in only a few hours and now I can't wait for the next in the series!
-Betty Bee, Toot's Book Reviews

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Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance, by Robin Elno, is a good-old fashioned western novel, with some twists. The main character, Clown William, a gunslinger, is on a vengeance hunt for Jesse Evans, for killing an associate. In some ways it reads like a Louis L' Amour novel, and I am big fan of L' Amour - who generally depicts his characters as having a strong sense of integrity, courageous and obstinate to a fault, and yet, who usually labor under the weight of other issues. 
​-Real Laplaine, Amazon author of Dead but Not Gone and Twilight Visitor

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The Clown William novels by Robin Elno are a fantastic guilty pleasure. Part Western/part Thriller, the writing is tight, compelling, dramatic and at times even amusing and romantic. William is an excellent, complex character. He is a man who suffers from Tourette syndrome and, therefore, creates a very interesting and varied character . . .If this is an example of Robin Elno’s Westerns, color me intrigued. Without spoiling the ending of the book, I can’t wait to find out what happens next! This one should definitely be added to your ‘to read’ list, asap.

-Sol A. Bound 4 Escape Book Reviews

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The book, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance, as the title suggests, illustrates William’s change of mind in seeking revenge. The best part about this book is how the author has chosen to explore the dilemma of a character, making the plot of the book more complex and interesting . . . This is not like a typical Western historical book where the protagonist seeks revenge and kills the antagonist. How the author chose to explore the character made the book interesting as I think that we all have dilemmas and struggles in our lives as well. A 4 star for this book.
​-Jas, International Book Promotion

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“Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance” is a breath of fresh air."
Robin Elno has taken a genre that sometimes seems as dusty and worn down as the Old West itself and turned it around with a unique protagonist, some inventive plot threads, and a healthy dose of actual history. Moreover, it’s often an unpredictable book, as I found myself guessing how William would get out of some of the trouble that he found himself in. I’m ready to saddle up with William to wherever the trail takes him (and the author) next.
-Steve, Silver Screen Videos, 4-star Amazon review

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 For all who enjoy tales of the "wild West", this will surely become a favorite series. It is about a time when only the vilest men lacked in strong principles and when one's word was one's life. This is a great story, based on facts, to entertain YA and adults, as well. The characters are very believable and well-portrayed. The events are well described and the reader can easily visualize them. The story steadily flows in a smooth manner and action is "just around the next corner". I offer a Five Stars rating!
-LAWonder 10, Rockin' Book Reviews


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The story is highly spectacular, with the author taking his time in matters of character development with his writing being so vivid and well researched. Elno paints a vivid landscape that transports the reader. For western fiction literature lovers, Clown Williams is an outstanding masterpiece which is not only worth your time but also deserves a place on your shelf. 
​​-Gud Readers review, Goodreads

Learn more about the Clown William series and find all three books in print and e-book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, and anywhere books are sold. 
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2019 Holiday Gift Guide - Give the Gift of Reading!

11/25/2019

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Holiday Gift Guide 2019

Shop Amazon
Shop Barnes & Noble
Shop IndieBound

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Book 3 in the award-winning series! For Western, History, and Action fans.
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Book 2 in the series follows William, our unique hero. 
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A gunslinger with Tourette's and a quick draw . . .

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Award-winning paranormal historical fiction. For thriller and history lovers. 
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Pulse-pounding action for military thriller fans. Great for guys!
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Book clubs take note! Award-winning historical fiction for fans of family and culture. 

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Sweet vacation romance for anyone who loves love! Great for the women you love. 
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Great for teens! Fantasy and romance collide in this island of magical creatures. 
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Your tweens and middle-graders will love this award-winning magical adventure!

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Book 1 in middle grade mystery series for all the young sleuths on your list!
Book 2 is great for boys and girls ages 8-12 who like ghost stories with a twist!
Fun picture book about friendship and inner strength for ages 2-6. 

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For boys who love animals and motorcycles! Or any kid struggling with today's challenges. Book 1 in series.
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Book 2 in the series takes Benny on a Vision Quest and into the racing finals. For kids ages 8-12. 
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These animal spirit cards are for the nature lovers on your list. Native American wisdom for every day.
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New story, old soul . . . Clown William rides again in the Wild West

10/11/2019

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​There’s something inherently classic about a story set in the Wild West. Guns slinging, spurs spinning, cowboy hats casting a shadow on the dusty ground. Maybe this is one of the reasons why Robin Elno’s Clown William series has been so successful.

The first book, Clown William, was the Silver Winner of the 2018 IPPYs & Winner of the Arizona Literary Award, as well as a finalist for the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in Western Fiction.

​The second book, Clown William and the Lincoln County War was the winner of the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in Western Fiction, and the series, as a whole, was the Bronze Winner of the 2019 IPPYs Best Fiction Series.

William's latest ride – Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance – ​will be released December 1, 2019 and continues our hero's journey from clown to friend to hero. 
Sometimes our greatest strengths can come from what we view as our greatest weaknesses. Robin Elno says this idea was a huge inspiration for him when he was writing the Clown William series, which is about a young man, William, who suffers from a physical ailment we now know as Tourette's Syndrome. After being kicked out of his house by his father in the first book of the series, a self-defense situation teaches him that he has astounding accuracy with a six-gun.
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​The book series follows this unexpected hero through Colorado and New Mexico as he defends himself and those around him with this unexpected talent. And now, Elno has the third installment in the series ready for readers.
 
Picking up where book two left off, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance finds William still in New Mexico. In the book, he is obsessed with tracking down and finishing his war with the man he blames for his life turning out the way it has – Jesse Evans. 
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​As always, William is a target for many. He battles an inner conflict, as well, deciding to wait until Jesse is out of a compromising position before making his attempt on Jesse’s life. William is in a race against his own inner tornado . . . Will he beat it before it takes him out?

Robin Elno brings his experience as a retired army colonel and semiretired psychiatrist to this book series. He says he was also inspired by neurologist Oliver Sacks’s work about the unusual speed and accuracy often displayed by people with Tourette’s syndrome. The third installment in this series, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance, is now available for pre-sale at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. And, until then, here’s a little sneak peek . . .

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An isolated cabin in the New Mexico wilderness, February 1878

A bullet splintered the wood window casing of the cabin where William waited to kill Jesse Evans. William ducked lower. Things had not gone as planned, though one of Jesse’s men lay dead on the snow-covered ground a few yards in front of the cabin. Jesse hid in the tree line fifty yards away, cracking away with his rifle at William.
     “You’re a damn fool, William,” Jesse shouted and fired again. “I know you’re fast, but a six-gun against a rifle?”
     “This d-d-day has been coming for three years.” William watched the trees, trying to spot Jesse’s position. “Hoot. Ever since you first put a gun in my hand.”
     “Seems more like God’s act than mine,” Jesse bellowed. “He’s the one made you defective with your jerks and mumbles. It was me helped you discover the gift that came with that curse.”
     “It is no gift.” William fired at the trees. “I hate being a gunfighter. But you and God made it so I have no other choice. I despise you both for it.”
     “Your hatred addled your brain. You let yourself be caught under my gun like this.” A shot, the bullet digging another splinter from the cabin wall, punctuated the statement.
     The muzzle flash marked a spot in the trees, creating a perfect target for the next time Jesse fired—provided the outlaw didn’t shift to a new spot. William goaded him into another shot. “Your men killed my friend. You drove away my girl, Emily. Sheek, poot. You ruined my chances for a real home in Lincoln.”
     “Well, when it comes to killin’, your Regulator pals ain’t any better. How many of Brady’s men have they killed? And locked Sheriff Brady up in his own jail. This war ain’t personal. Hell, I offered you a job on my side.”
     “This is personal. I am not riding with those murdering Regulators now. This is about me f-f-finding a place to settle down, in peace.”
     “Why're you gunnin’ for me?”
     “Because God is out of my reach.”
     “And so am I.” A muzzle flash just where it had been before.
     
William snap fired. And waited.

The sun climbed the sky, and the branches of the trees shed their white sleeves. Ice crystals glistened in the receding snow banks. The air lay still and cold as the top of a frozen stream. The dead man he’d shot that morning sprawled in front of the cabin. The man’s horse stood in the open, its head down, nuzzling snow aside as it pulled at tufts of dry grass.

The waiting dragged on. Was there some way to draw Jesse out? With one eye on the tree line, William threw a side of bacon onto the griddle of the potbelly stove heating the rough-hewn cabin. A pot of coffee simmered beside it—a nice welcoming scent to torment a cold and hungry man. He hoped it would make Jesse act rashly. Come and get it, William thought, revolver ready in his hand.

The bacon crisped and the coffee boiled. Jesse did not take the bait.
William ate the bacon and drank the coffee.
​There had been no more shots. All was quiet. Too quiet. 
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Under the influence! Creating relationships with influencers can help build both brands.

9/16/2019

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As any author knows, your job is not finished when you finish writing your book. Marketing is key for sales of your book, and, as social media continues to evolve, there are continually more possibilities for how to do this.

Enter the Influencer.
​In recent years, influencers have become quite popular, especially in the world of social media. An influencer is someone who has built a following of people that trust and respect their opinions in an area of expertise. Some influencers specialize in fashion, others in food, others in family life, and still others in blogging – just to name a few areas.
 
Influencers exist, as you may have guessed by now, in the book world, too. And these influencers can be huge assets to you in marketing your book! But, understandably, it can be a daunting task when considering how to go about reaching out to them.
 
First and foremost, it’s important to look at this like you would any relationship. It should never be entirely one sided. Yes, you want them to do you a favor and promote your book. But don’t forget that, as with anything, these things work best with a symbiotic relationship.


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Nice to meet you!
​When it comes time to finally reach out, there are a few things you should be certain you do. If you haven’t formally introduced yourself yet, start with that! Keep it brief and personable. Then, give a quick description of your book and why you feel like it connects with her or his area of expertise. When it comes to your ask for support, be clear and concise. Provide them with all resources they will need – obviously a copy of your book, any hashtags or social media handles you would like them to use, as well as any copy you would like them to use when promoting your book.

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Show sincere interest
In other words, be sincere. Consider what you can do to help them, as well. If you have the time margin, focus on building a good relationship with the influencer before you ever reach out asking for anything. Simple things like promoting them on your own social media, writing about them in a blog, and sharing things they are working on all contribute to a positive relationship.
 
This, of course, is easiest to do when you find influencers that genuinely interest and inspire you. Consider who your target audience is, and go from there. For example, if young adults are your target audience, a simple Google search will let you know some influencers in that sphere. Take some time, look through their profiles on social medias, and find a few that you are intrigued by. Give them a follow and begin building the relationship!


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Quid pro quo
When it comes to the specific ask for help, be clear with what you want them to do. Consider where their sphere of influence is, and go from there. Do they have a successful blog? Ask them to read and review your book on their blog. Do they have excellent engagement on social media posts? Ask them to post a message of support and a link to buy your book.
If you haven’t heard back from them within a week, follow up in a brief manner. Check that they received the material and let them know you would be happy to answer any questions they may have regarding the information.
 
Finally, continue to maintain relationships even after they promote your book and continue to follow their posts and offer to promote their content across your sites. You can both be beneficial to each other in the future and become mutually benficial allies in this new online world. 

Images by Free-Photos from Pixabay

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Goodreads giveaways? Good!

8/26/2019

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When it comes to Goodreads, the possibilities as an author are endless. We've talked much in the past about Goodreads as an essential tool for your author platform. (Read a couple of our past blog posts on Goodreads and other social media strategies here).

Goodreads is owned by Amazon and it's a true community of readers and librarians that take their reviews seriously! They are avid readers and writers and make it very easy to connect with others. As an author they offer amazing tools such as a Goodreads Author Profile where you can connect or create a blog, create a giveaway, and participate in a plethora of community groups tailored to various genres and interests. 

One major way to use Goodreads well? Book giveaways.

But wait! First things first. It's critical that you spend some time creating a compelling Goodreads presence first. Goodreads makes it very easy to give and get reviews, update your author profile, create or link to an author blog, and connect with other readers and writers. 

The more positive reviews you have, the more likely someone is to buy your book if they click on your ad. Spend the time necessary to establish this presence before spending the money necessary on advertising your book and you will be more likely see favorable results.


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Let's talk about Giveaways!
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Goodreads giveaways have been shown to dramatically increase book sales, and they’re so simple! They come in two options – standard or premium. Read all the detail here and get the quick notes below!

A standard giveaway will cost you $119, no matter how many books you give away within it. Everyone who enters will add your book to their Want-to-Read list, all of your followers and anyone who already has your book on their Want-to-Read list receive a notification of a new giveaway, Goodreads emails the winner of your giveaway reminding them to rate and review your book, and your giveaway is featured in the Giveaways section of the website.

A premium giveaway will cost you $599. You get everything from the standard giveaway, as well as premium placement on the Giveaways page. Additionally, Goodreads will send a message (that you create) to the entrants who don’t win, which could increase your book sales and build relationships with readers. 

For the giveaway, you select the span the giveaway runs and how many copies you want to give away. As the author, it’s your responsibility to get your book to the winner in a timely manner and to cover the cost of shipping. While it will cost you less to give away one book, you will get more reviews from readers if you give away more. 

You’ll want to make your giveaway description as attention grabbing as possible. Is it an autographed copy? Have you won any awards for it? Why should readers want to sign up to receive a free copy of this? Remember that they can simply check your book listing on the Goodreads site to read the synopsis of your book, so don’t make the only description!

Pro tip: If you schedule the giveaways for a few days in the future, you won’t lose any run time to Goodreads’s approval process. Also, if you select a short span for the giveaway (think 2-3 days), your giveaway will appear on both the newly listed and the ending soon pages, meaning you will get double the exposure at the same time!
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A note about self-serve ads on Goodreads


​Unfortunately, Goodreads is retiring their self-serve ad feature as of next month. They will focus on giveaways and other advertising opportunities. If you already have a self-serve ad funded and created you can still edit and run it through next February. These ads run (used to anyway) on a cost-per-click model. You set the budget, and your account gets charged for each click until the budget runs out.


Many authors who have used this service say not to plan on immediate results from your ads. However, after time, the momentum usually builds, and the more exposure the book gets, the more interest there is in it.

Check out your author dashboard for whatever new advertising opportunities Goodreads will roll out next or to manage anything current you have going on until February of next year. 

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A brief history of Amazon ads . . . the more you know!

8/7/2019

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​This series will focus on Amazon and Goodreads ads and how they are used in helping promote books and helping readers find the next unique find for your library or beach bag!

As an indie publisher and author, Amazon and Goodreads ads can be a great opportunity to promote titles and get visibility for books.

​Amazon is currently the largest platform for purchasing  eBooks and Goodreads currently garners 300 million pageviews and 45 million unique visitors a month.
 
​Amazon Ads: Sponsored Product Ads vs. Lockscreen Ads
Now for a quick history lesson! It’s important to know that what is now known as Amazon Advertising used to be called Amazon Marketing Services, or AMS. AMS was rebranded to Amazon Advertising back in September 2018. With the rebranding, things have changed!
 
Before AMS was rebranded as Amazon Advertising, it offered two main types of ads – sponsored product ads and product display ads. Now that it’s been rebranded, it’s out with the old and in with the new… kind of. Instead of product display ads, Amazon Advertising offers lockscreen ads alongside its sponsored product ads.
 
So what’s the difference between a sponsored product ad and a lockscreen ad, then? In Amazon’s terms, product display ads “promote products to shoppers actively searching with related keywords or viewing similar products on Amazon,” and lockscreen ads are “based on shoppers’ interests and are shown when they ‘unlock’ their Kindle E-readers or Fire Tablets to begin reading or shopping for books.”
 
In other words, sponsored product ads will help when readers are actively searching for a new book to purchase and your book fits in with the keywords they are searching for (think “mystery”, “fantasy”, “romance”, “quirky,” etc.). Using keywords, sponsored product ads can be very useful! Lockscreen ads, meanwhile, are based on the readers’ interests and habits and not so much on what they are actively searching for in the moment. Both can be valuable, if used correctly!
 
These types of ads are both great because they cater to a very specific audience, and, when it comes to ads and the sales of a book – the more specific the audience, the better! It’s also important to note, however, that lockscreen ads are only for Kindles and Fire Tablets; therefore, your exposure and target audience will be much smaller and more limited with this option than it would be with a sponsored product ad.
 
Maybe you have noticed when you search for something on Amazon and your first several results have the “sponsored” label at the very top? Those are sponsored product ads! If you’re a Kindle or Fire Tablet user, chances are you’ve probably come across some lockscreen ads catered to your own interests and habits, too.
 
Would you be more likely to buy what comes up as a sponsored product or a lockscreen ad?


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We'll have more interesting info on Amazon and Goodreads ads and giveaways in the coming posts , so stay tuned!

As we've shared in many past posts about author marketing, it's important to use a variety of tactics to generate awareness for your books. You can leverage givewaways and ads on Goodreads, reach out to bloggers and journalists for reviews and articles; run organic and paid social media campaigns; participate in talks and events; publish articles, opinion pieces, and become of guest blogger; get interviewed on podcasts; and even expand your author social media accounts by creating profiles for fictional characters from your books.

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