Ripley Patton's Blog, page 40

This is my lovely Ghost Hand cover designer, Kura Carpenter of Kura Carpenter Design, with her copy of the book and her ninja cat.

 

Listopia, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.
AS AN AVID READER
I have a confession to make. I LOVE lists. I love to make lists. I love to check things off lists. And I love to read lists. I also happen to love books, so when I discovered Listopia on Goodreads, I was pretty much in Ripley heaven.
If you’re not familiar with Listopia  it is a feature of Goodreads that lists books by just about every category you could imagine. Listopia also allows you to start your own book lists, vote for books on pre-existing lists, and generally just have a great listy time of it.
There are fairly normal reading lists like Best Biographies, Best Young Adult Book, and Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once.  But I like to hunt down and peruse the more obscure lists like Misleading Book Titles, Werewolf Mashups, or The Most Polarizing Books of All Time. Honestly, I could waste days just reading all the lists and marveling over how many ways one can categorize their reading.
AS A CURIOUS WRITER
Now, reading Listopia lists from the perspective of a reader is lots of fun, but reading them from the perspective of a writer is also very informative. It can really help you think about how readers view your book. What lists and categories are they putting it in? If they aren’t adding it to lists, why not? And if they did, what lists would you want it to appear in? And which lists do you NOT want your book on (ie Worst Books Ever Written)?
AS A LIST-MAKER
One of the wonderful things about Listopia is that you can add your own books to a list, either books you’ve read that fit that list or, if you are a writer, the books you’ve published.  I’ve had such a fun time looking for lists that Ghost Hand would fit under and adding it to them.  Here’s a list of categories to look under to list your own books.


By genre and subgenre.


By release year or month.


By topics covered or touched on in your book.


By type of author (ie Indie, unknown, well-known)


By type of main character (ie Alpha Male, Kick-Ass heroine)


By color or content of the cover (ie books with a hand on the cover)


Point of view used (ie first person)


Position in a series (ie second book in a series)


Length of the book (novel, novella, or page/word count)


By author (ie books by Ripley Patton)


And there are so many categories the options are basically endless.
AS AN INDIE AUTHOR
I’ve said it before. I’m an Indie author and as such I have to promote myself. No one is going to do it for me (except some of you amazing friend and fans, of course).  And maybe, at first glance, you don’t see how Listopia can be a promotional tool, but I promise you, it can be.
Visibility
First, the more places your book is visible the better, and people do peruse the Listipia lists just like I do looking for books similar to the ones they love or even something completely new. I’ve heard it said that a person has to see an unfamiliar book 3-7 times before they are likely to buy it. So, be sure to add your book to some appropriate lists where it will be seen. Don’t worry if you feel like you’re being redundant, because that is sort of the point. The more lists a reader sees your book on the better.
Promotional Pairing
If you’re a new author like me, not many people know your name or your book. They don’t know what it is about or if they’ll like your writing style. But, if they see your book in a list alongside books they’ve already read and loved, they have some context for trusting your book. They will think, “Oh, it’s like such-and-such by that famous author. I’d probably like that.” This is valuable promotional pairing and something new authors hope but rarely get. But on Listopia, all you have to do is add your book.
Gaining the Notice of Book Clubs
You might not be aware, but Goodreads is a treasure trove of book clubs. I happen to belong to several Young Adult Book Clubs, an Apocalyptic Fiction book club, several Indie Book clubs, and so on.  These clubs are great for meeting people who love to read what you read, to discover new books and new authors, and to participate in reading challenges.  The reading challenges and books of the month (BOM) are usually voted on by the club members, but many times these have a theme. For example, in February it is popular to have a love theme or choose a book with a red cover or something like that. And where does one go to find a bunch of books with red covers or love themes? Listopia, of course. Having your book on Listpia in various lists increased your chances of gaining the notice of the book clubs.
Call to Action
Now, if you liked this post, go forth and make lists on Listopia. You can also show your appreciation by Sharing this, liking my Facbook Author Page, adding me to your Goodreads friends, or adding and voting for Ghost Hand on a few of your favorite lists.
Stay tuned for my next post in the Listopia series. “Current Trends and Your Book Cover”

 

I have some exciting plans for Ghost Hand in February, and this is one of them.

Be sure to visit Nikki Jefford’s website  to sign up now for an e-mail reminder of the event as well as multiple chances to win one of the books free.

Thanks for the pic Matt Cowens!

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Ghost Hand
by Ripley Patton

Giveaway ends January 20, 2013.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Traditionally published authors have marketing teams and big publisher money behind their book campaigns. Self-published authors like me have the internet, social media, and word of mouth. So, I thought I would make a list of 15 simple ways readers can help promote their favorite authors, each in five minutes or less. I’ve inserted my new YA paranormal thriller, Ghost Hand, in the list below, but the same list can be applied to other authors and books you wish to support as well.
1. Tweet about Ghost Hand, or follow my twitter @rippatton and retweet my tweets.
2. Like my NEW Facebook Author Page.
3. Like Ghost Hand on its Amazon page.
4. Recommend Ghost Hand to friends on Goodreads.
5. Become my friend and fan on Goodreads.
6. Rate Ghost Hand on Goodreads.
7. Add Ghost Hand to a shelf or Listopia list on Goodreads.
8. Vote for Ghost Hand as best book of November 2012 on Goodreads.
9. Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Ghost Hand and send it to me or post it somewhere. Be sure to send me a link:)
10. Tell a friend about Ghost Hand and lend or gift them a copy.
11. Request Ghost Hand at your local library with their “Suggest a Purchase” form.
12. Talk to the clerks in any bookstores you visit and ask if they carry the book. If not give them a short book report and recommend they order a few copies.
14. Share my website www.ripleypatton.com with someone.
15. Suggest Ghost Hand to your favorite local or online book group.

I am thrilled to announce the three winners of the Ghost Hand YA Short Story Contest today.
So, without further ado:
FIRST PLACE and the winner of $100, a signed copy of Ghost Hand, and publication in The PSS Chronicles: Book Two is EMMA SHI, 16, of Auckland, New Zealand for her wonderful story “Blue, Blue Eyes.” 
Why did I choose it?
“Blue, Blue Eyes” was poetic and haunting with a beautiful use of literary techniques that tied the whole story together.
SECOND PLACE and the winner of $50 and a signed copy of Ghost Hand is TIERNEY REARDON, 13, of Lyttelton, New Zealand for her story “Powers.”
Why did I choose it?
“Powers” was a clever tie-in to Ghost Hand from the perspective of a television news reporter doing an editorial piece on PSS.
And THIRD PLACE goes to AUTUMN KLASE, 16, of Columbia, Pennsylvania for her story “Power of Insanity,” a heart-pounding tale of how our own fear can defeat us. Autumn wins $25 and a signed copy of Ghost Hand.
Thank you to all those who entered, and congratulations to the three winners. I will be contacting you soon to arrange prize delivery, so watch your e-mail inboxes.

 

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Ghost Hand
by Ripley Patton

Giveaway ends December 15, 2012.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

I LOVE Contests.
I love entering them, I love running them, and I REALLY love judging them. So, as a way of celebrating the upcoming November 2012 release of my YA paranormal thriller, Ghost Hand, I have decided to run a writing contest just for YA-ers.
If you READ YA, and LOVE YA, and ARE YA, this contest is FOR YOU.
After all, who better to write the experience of being a young adult than young adults themselves? And now’s your chance to prove what you’ve always known: that you can write better YA than most of the adults out there doing it. Plus, you could win a wad of spending money, a signed copy of Ghost Hand, and get your story published in Ghost Hunt, book two of the Ghost Hand series (coming in 2013).
For more details on how and when to enter go HERE.