Keep the Freebies Flowing - Guest Post From Author Natalie Buske

Keep the Freebies Flowing

Book giveaways are an effective promotional tool, whether the goal is to bring attention to a new book, a new series, a new author; or simply to get sales jump-started. However, how do you keep the freebies flowing when a book is no longer free, or even while a book is in a free book promotion?

Offer readers MORE freebies!

- Supplements

For example, character maps showing readers how the characters in a book relate to each other are especially valuable for thrillers, mysteries, and other fiction that contains multiple plots.

- Bonus Features

Humor is well received; turn your editing notes and missteps into bloopers for readers to enjoy. Share behind-the-scenes stories of how the idea for the book was born, who helped along the way, how the book changed from the original plan, and how the book cover came together.

- Contests

Creative contests draw people in, especially if the contest involves voting. The more personal the contest is, the greater the involvement. My most popular contest is the one that is live on my site right now: The Serena Wilcox Mystery Pet Contest: Does your pet have what it takes to be in a mystery novel? Readers entered their favorite animal to win, by popular vote, a feature in my next book.

- Interactive Polls

In "Who's Gonna Die in Bluebird Flown?", readers voted on which Serena Wilcox Mystery character gets immunity in the next mystery novel. The winning character is saved from being bumped off in the next book. Readers interact with, and even direct, how the series is written.

- Games

If you are tech savvy or know someone who is, games are a way to engage readers and keep the good times flowing. I write a "Choose Your Own Mystery" game that is free on my site. It features the characters from my series, which encourages readers to remember my books.

- Photo Albums

Entertain readers with the back-story of your career. Photos of you at author events, photos of you at book-signings, photos of you receiving your shiny new books in the mail, etc., will connect your face with your book. Be yourself and let readers know your fun side.

- Freebie Your Other Job

If you have another venture that you can wrap into your career as an author, use it! I collaborate on a comic project with my graphic artist daughter. I offer the comic stories for free on my site. When the "Dramatic Mom" comic is shared, pinned, re-pinned, tweeted and burped, people see not only the comic, but also the links to my book pages.

Bottom line, the more you offer your readers, the more opportunity you have for readers to remember you. The attention you receive from sites like Free Book Dude, and the exhilarating ride of a successful free book promotion, are only the beginning. Before, during and after a free book promotion offer readers as much as you can of your books and yourself. Most of all, only give away what you truly enjoy sharing. Life should be fun, don't you agree?

Natalie Buske Thomas is an author, artist and entertainer. She is best known for the Serena Wilcox Mysteries for adult readers and for her oil painting "Savannah Reading in the Butterfly Garden". She also sings, plays instruments and is a tap dancer.

The Serena Wilcox Mysteries is a series Natalie Buske Thomas first published when she was in her 20's. The early books are sold as a three volume set in "The Serena Wilcox Mysteries: Books 1, 2 & 3". Natalie returned to the Serena Wilcox mystery series over a decade after book #3 "Camp Conviction" was published. Her return to the publishing scene was with the debut of "Angels Mark", which hit the bestselling lists on Amazon. The newest Serena Wilcox mystery is "Covert Coffee", book #5 in the series, and will be continued with "Bluebird Flown", book #6 in progress.

Natalie is also the author of the science fiction mystery "The Magic Camera" (target age preteen) and the nonfiction book "Fred: Born Gifted", a resource for gifted and/or special needs, as well as a biography. Natalie is a contributing author to additional titles published by small press and major publishers. She has written articles for gifted and talented organizations.

Natalie's oil paintings have been in juried exhibits. Her current paintings are displayed on Pinterest. To learn more about Natalie Buske Thomas, please visit her website: http://www.nataliebuskethomas.com