Ruth Kaufman - Award-Winning Author and Romance Writer

Ruth Kaufman is the author of My Life as a Star, My Life as an Extra, My Once & Future Love, The Bride Tournament, Follow Your Heart, At His Command and other books.

What sells books: social media, ads, blogs, reviews?

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I’ve done quite a bit of reading about what helps to sells books beyond writing great books.Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all. No panacea. What works for you as an author, or what inspires you to buy a book as a reader?

For me, so far:
Fortunately, both versions of AT HIS COMMAND have received great 5 star reviews. “If a book lingers in my mind for more than 2 weeks, I say it’s a keeper!” for the Historical Romance Version, and “All the good stuff with none of the bedroom stuff,” for the Inspirational Version. I have a great review opportunity lined up for my April 14 release, FOLLOW YOUR HEART (currently on preorder for only $1.99, if you’re so inclined). Fingers crossed it and the AHC review I’m awaiting from Publishers Weekly will be good!

Goodreads giveaways have been great. They seem to take on a life of their own as more people enter to win and add my book(s) to their shelves. I hope some convert to sales. My current giveaway is below, and is garnering more interest than the first one I did for ACH. More interesting blurb? Cover? Same readers who entered for AHC?

I tried a few Facebook author page post boosts, which according to FB reached thousands of people (though not always as many as they said before I clicked the buy link). I didn’t get as many new likes to my page as one boost estimated. I did get some clicks/interactions with another, but I can’t tell if those converted to sales. I’m grateful to every friend who has shared my covers and helped get the word out. I still feel a bit lost in the Twittersphere, though I tweet once a day or so and am increasing my number of followers.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Follow Your Heart by Ruth Kaufman


Giveaway ends April 12, 2015. See the giveaway  details at Goodreads. 

I’m also guest posting on blogs. Other things I’m doing:
This ad on page 4 of the March/April issue of BTS Book Reviews magazine:

And, I’m participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary Party with FYH. I’ll reserve judgment until the party is over, but there are so many ads I wonder how many visitors will notice mine or answer the question for my giveaway.

It’d be great if each ad I ran or post I wrote resulted in a big sales boost. So far, I haven’t seen that. But it takes time to build readership. The concepts of reach and frequency from my media research days still apply for building awareness and interest. 

FOLLOW YOUR HEART preorder: $1.99 through March

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I’m excited to announce that FOLLOW YOUR HEART, the next standalone book in my Wars of the Roses Brides series, is on Amazon preorder for $1.99 for March to thank my readers.

She’s a glass-painter making her way in a man’s world. He’s on a quest to redeem his family name and estates. When unexpected passion makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his secrets tear them apart?

The first scene popped into my head one day. As I began sharing Adrian’s struggle with what he had to do to attain his goal, Joanna arrived. I hope readers love their story as much as I enyoyed writing it.

I also loved delving into research about how stained glass was made and sold in 1460 England. The techniques used to create the rich colors and and intricate designs of the windows, some of which survive, fascinated me. 

I’m considering a novella or another book about the heroine’s half-sister…let me know what you think!




This plate-spinning feelancer’s many hats

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

At His Command by Ruth Kaufman

At His Command by Ruth Kaufman

Giveaway ends February 28, 2015.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

If you’re new to Gainfully Unemployed, that’s not a typo. I call myself a feelancer instead of a freelancer, because I rarely work for free.

Keeping all the plates spinning means wearing a lot of hats (cliches, but true). This week I’ve worn these hats in addition to bopping in and out of social media, promoting my Goodreads giveaway (link to enter is above), and following various online indie author groups (I’ve learned a lot, but there’s always more to learn and things change so rapidly):

Monday:
Speaker: A romance writing group asked me to do an online workshop, so I sent some pitches. Submitted to an improv show that starts with a guest speaker.
VO talent: Commercial booking at a recording studio. Found out I’d be doing two commercials when they gave me the scripts.
Author: finished reviewing my next book and sent it to my editor.
On-camera talent: submitted for an indie feature and student film. Got an audition for the student film on Saturday (need to review my monologue).
Theatre: had the lead role in a reading of a new play.

Tuesday:
VO: submitted audition I’d recorded at home
Author: wrote back cover blurb and tag for new book. Submitted 1st book for a review.
Colleague: searched possible audio books for a friend to narrate.
Designer: Worked on website redesign…reviewed other author sites, searched for images.
PR: decided to do my first Facebook post boost.
On-camera: went to casting agency for a national commercial audition.

Wednesday:
Business: signed NDA for upcoming VO role in a military video game. Learned I’d have many more lines I’d thought.
VO & on-camera: sent a couple of VO auditions, submitted for an on-camera project
Designer: more image searching. Having difficulty finding what I see in my head despite searching a bunch of stock photo sites (which could use better search engines, IMO…too many things come up that aren’t related to my search terms).
Author: asked two best-selling authors if they’d give a cover quote for #2. Both said yes. 🙂
Singer: chorus rehearsal for 2 concerts of Rodgers & Hammerstein songs.

Plan for today:
Designer: Review and respond to the long email my cover designer sent with different options for my next book. Continue site redesign and review all pages of current site for updating.
Colleague: work with a friend so we both stay on track and get more done. It can be easy to get distracted/spend too much time online. And when there are so many tasks in different areas, prioritizing can be a challenge.
PR: review FB boost results.
VO: review video game scripts and estimate delivery time.
Stay warm: current temp is -6, windchill -22

Book Hooks #MFRWHooks + Brief At His Command excerpt

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Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly blog hop where authors post short excerpts, hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog. It’s a great opportunity to check out more authors via the link below.                        

Here’s my excerpt from AT HIS COMMAND: 
A wonderful debut sure to please lovers of romance!

— NYT & USAToday bestselling author Madeline Hunter

     Having him so near was torture. A teasing, wonderful glimpse of what could never be.

    “This will get us nowhere. I am not for you.” It took all of her willpower to push free of his embrace. She ran from the hall and back to her chamber, where tears burst forth with all the force of the storm.
    She’d experienced the freedom of the hall only to return to her cage. Just as she had barely begun to enjoy Nicholas, only to be returned to the prospect of an unknown groom.           

Could she defy her king for love?

England 1453: King Henry VI sends Sir Nicholas Gray to protect the recently widowed Lady Amice Winfield from undesirable suitors. Though Nicholas intrigues her, she yearns to run Castle Rising without a man’s control.

Nicholas has no interest in marriage, but can’t deny he’s attracted to Amice. He’s surprised to finally find in Castle Rising a place he feels at home. A kiss sparks desire neither can ignore, yet serving opposing factions seeking to govern England threatens to pull them apart. 

At court, the king and queen reject Amice’s pleas and choose a new husband for her, a highly-ranked lord who’ll provide connections and coin for the king’s depleted coffers that Nicholas cannot. How can she follow the king’s command when she’s a scribe for his rival? How can she marry another man when she’s falling in love with Nicholas? 

 Available at Amazon.com: http://amzn.com/B00QPG52A6

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Goodreads Giveaway & Romance Bandits-enter now!

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I’m at Romance Bandits today talking about the Wars of the Roses and offering a bit of advice to aspiring authors. Commenters have a chance to win one of two AT HIS COMMAND e-books.

I’d heard of Goodreads of course, but hadn’t joined it as a reader or spent much time there. As my release date approached, I explored it as one way to communicate with and perhaps interest more readers. Now I enjoy it as a reader, posting what I’m reading and have read and keeping up with what friends are reading. As an author, I set up my author page and answered a couple of author questions so readers can learn more about me.

I’m also doing my first Goodreads Giveaway, where readers can enter to win one of five copies of my book. It’s exciting to see how many readers (it’s exciting to have readers) add AHC to their reading lists and are signing up for the giveaway.  If you’re on Goodreads, what’s your favorite aspect?

Goodreads Book Giveaway

At His Command by Ruth Kaufman

  At His Command by Ruth Kaufman

  Giveaway ends February 28, 2015.

 See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Next steps after week 2 of At HIS COMMAND release

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My books have been available for two weeks. Tracking sales and Amazon rankings is interesting (though I try not to check too many times a day). Sometimes the numbers go up for no reason I can see. I didn’t take out an ad in the New York Times, nor was I aware of any significant publicity, yet one day I sold more than twice as many books as I did on my release day, when I assume relatives and friends were kindly supporting me by buying. And what makes numbers drop, or not increase on a day when I do have publicity, such as a post on what blogranks.com considers one of the most popular romance blogs, Love Romance Passion?

I paid my formatter to add both versions to iBooks because I’ve been reading so much about its increasing popularity, yet have sold the fewest there so far. I have difficulty navigating iTunes to view and learn about iBooks, so maybe others do, too.

I’m still seeking reviews and guest blogging opportunities. Blogging scheduled so far includes SlingWords on 2/4 and Romance Bandits on 2/5. I also have my first event as a published author on 2/4. I’m awaiting the Publishers Weekly review, and I hope a couple of others.

It’s time to focus on next steps. I’m tweaking manuscript #2, set in 1455. And I need to get it to my editor soon and start in on the cover….should I feature the hero, heroine, the couple, or not have people on it? Keep the castle theme, or include something else medieval?  Will I do two versions going forward? Reupload already released books after add some great reviews, and/or  an excerpt of my next book? These are just a few of the decisions on this indie published author’s mind. The jury is still out.

I need to make more time to pursue acting again, though I had a VO job this week, a print casting and submitted for a few projects. New plan: I’m going to divide my day in two or even three parts so I’m not deep into revising, then abruptly changing focus to submit to an audition, then switching again to follow up on a promotion opportunity. Because so many hours a day can be spent on my computer, I’ll also fit in some movement breaks.

The Week After Release Day

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My release day January 21 was so much fun, including a celebration later in the evening.  

Highlights of the first week include:

  • Getting an email saying that Publisher’s Weekly has selected the Historical Romance Version for review (out of thousands of submissions). They also said there’s a small chance the review won’t be published. Assuming it is, I think it’ll be in PW and on BookLife, their indie publishing site. Of course I’m hoping they say good things….
  • Romance Writers of America asked me to write a new monthly column for their eNotes e-newsletter called Author Experiment Case Studies. I featured mine, publishing two versions of the same book, this week. I look forward to seeing what other author experiments I come across and how well they worked.
  • The USAToday HEA Romance Unlaced blog by Madeline Hunter for which I was interviewed to feature both versions was shared on Facebook 127 times, tweeted 60 times (including a tweet to HEA’s 14.6K followers), and posted 9 times on LinkedIn.
  • Making Amazon’s Hot New Releases lists with both versions in their respective categories.
  • I guest posted on the topic “When are you done,” at Seekerville, one of Writers Digest’s top 100 sites for authors, and enjoyed chatting with the commenters. And I was asked to guest on another romance blog…awaiting details. 
  • Receiving my print copies in the mail. Holding the book you wrote, with your name on it in huge letters is wonderful.
  • Amazon suggested I might like my own book.
Lowlights include:
  • Frustration trying to figure out how to upload the print versions to B&N and iBooks (which sends you to iTunes and is generally un-user friendly).
  • Not being able to instantly satisfy those who wanted to buy my book in a store. I haven’t worked on that because of the time it takes that may not yield the desired result. If I’m fortunate to get good reviews from valued sources, they might pave the way on a difficult path.
  • Time management. I enjoy guest posting on blogs, but writing different posts for each and requesting spots can be time consuming. Chatting with commenters is a lot of fun, but the guest should check in often throughout the day, which can be distracting.
What’s to come? Stay tuned…

AT HIS COMMAND now available in paperback & print!

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There’s only one first release day for every author. Back in the day, you might go to a bookstore to view your book on an actual shelf, and maybe you’d sign the stock. In these digital days of indie publishing, my release day yesterday was online.

An exciting development was my interview in USAToday’s HEA Romance Unlaced blog written by bestseller Madeline Hunter, Seeking shelter from the heat? So far that’s been posted to Facebook over 100 times, tweeted 56 times and posted on LinkedIn 9 times.

Supportive friends and colleagues tweeted, shared, posted and commented on Facebook, and informed me of their purchases.

I spent a lot of time on social media and email, and participated in Marketing for Romance Writers’ #MFRWHooks and meet the #MFRWauthor promotion.

I refreshed my sales reports and Amazon Hot New Releases every so often, and was thrilled to watch both ebook versions climb in their respective categories throughout the day, and though they went online later in the day, the print versions showed up on the lists, too. As of this writing, AT HIS COMMAND-Historical Romance Version is #21 in Medieval Historical Romance…so close to making it to the first page. And the Inspirational Version is #39 in Historical Inspirational Romance. Will they climb higher? Stay tuned.

AT HIS COMMAND Release Day! + #MFRWHooks + USAToday HEA

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I’m thrilled to announce that both versions (one inspirational, one not) of my medieval romance novel At His Command release today! And I’m excited to join my first Marketing for Romance Writers Book Hooks blog hop. Finally, I’m honored that Madeline Hunter interviewed me for today’s USAToday’s HEA Romance Unlaced blog about hot or not historicals.

Could she defy her king for love?
England 1453: King Henry VI sends Sir Nicholas Gray to protect the recently widowed Lady Amice Winfield from undesirable suitors. Though Nicholas intrigues her, she yearns to run Castle Rising without a man’s control.
Nicholas has no interest in marriage, but can’t deny he’s attracted to Amice. He’s surprised to finally find in Castle Rising a place he feels at home. A kiss sparks desire neither can ignore, yet serving opposing factions seeking to govern England threatens to pull them apart. 

 At court, the king and queen reject Amice’s pleas and choose a new husband for her, a highly-ranked lord who’ll provide connections and coin for the king’s depleted coffers that Nicholas cannot. How can she follow the king’s command when she’s a scribe for his rival? How can she marry another man when she’s falling in love with Nicholas?

If you’re so inclined, purchase the Historical Romance Version (some love scenes, no faith element) here.

Book Hook:

Norfolk, England — April 1453

     Sir Nicholas Grey’s scout leaned forward in his saddle, holding up two fingers to let the others know two horses approached. Nicholas heard only the slight jangling of harnesses blended with wind rattling through the trees, but relied on his scout’s uncanny ability to hear what no one else could.
     He and his eight men sat alert, deep enough in the forest to avoid being seen while maintaining a clear view of the road through leafless branches. Nine armed men could frighten travelers. ‘Twas best to let them pass.
     Each man watched, each horse sinking deeper into chilling mire as a mud-covered, black palfrey plodded over the rise in the road, its long mane whipping in the frigid winds.
     “No rider,” Martin, the scout, murmured.
     “Look again,” Nicholas replied. 
                                      
Can love and faith surmount duty and royal commands?
England 1453: Sir Nicholas Gray planned to go on a pilgrimage after fighting the French, but King Henry VI sends him to protect the recently widowed Lady Amice Winfield from undesirable suitors. Though Nicholas intrigues her, Amice yearns to run Castle Rising without a man’s control. Mutual interest and affection grows, yet serving opposing factions seeking to rule England threatens to pull them apart. 
At court, the king and queen reject Amice’s pleas and choose a new husband, a highly-ranked lord who’ll provide political connections and coin for the king’s depleted coffers that Nicholas cannot. How can she follow the king’s command when she’s a scribe for his rival, who she believes should rule? How can she marry another man when she’s falling in love with Nicholas?
If you’re so inclined, purchase the Inspirational Version (mild/sweet with a faith element) here.

Book Hook:

       At first he too thought the horse was riderless. Now he could see a woman collapsed on the animal’s back. Her black hair draped down its withers, mingling with the horse’s mane. The palfrey placed each step as if trying not to jostle its burden.
     Another horse, a brown rouncey ridden by a thin, balding man, galloped after the palfrey. A look of triumph brightened the man’s face as he spotted the horse ahead of him. He bent forward, extending his hand. Fingers like talons grasped the woman’s tangled hair.
     “Mine!” he cried.


Preparing for Release Day 1/14

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Next Wednesday, January 14, will be a huge day for me. I’ll be crossing over from the land of the unpublished in fiction (I’ve written the non-fiction book Find Your Inner Fabulous and many articles for trade journals and newsletters) to having 2 versions of the same novel published and available for sale. The culmination of a 20 year journey toward publication.
I hope to return to preparing book #2 for publication, but at the moment I’m working on getting the word out about my releases. I guest blogged at Romance University, will be at Seekerville on 1/19 and SlingWords on 2/4. That night I’m really looking forward to participating in my first event and book signing as a published author: Guilty Pleasures – What Romance Publishing is Really All About. I’ll be joining fellow RWA members P.E. Calhoun, Margaret Watson, Allie Pleiter, Robyn Bachar, Shannyn Schroeder, Elizabeth Harmon, Julie Ann Walker, Hanna Martine and Emma Gates.
I enjoy blogging. However, each guest post needs to be original content, and the guest is expected to check in throughout the day to interact with commenters. That’s all a lot of fun, but leaves me less time and brain space for the next book.
I’ve been researching review sites and places to consider for advertising, and spent too much time tweaking my new Facebook page header on a fun graphic design site, canva.com. I’m finishing and double-checking the multi-step process of uploading for Barnes & Noble e-books and CreateSpace print books.
There are still so many things I want to do that I’m trying not to fill my calendar with too many social gatherings and obligations. Even with the -20 windchill, I’m making some time to go out. And additional time away from my computer.
How will next week go?  Stay tuned….