Book Launch Q&A: Jennifer Chase, Author of 'Little Girls Sleeping' @JChaseNovelist @pumpupyourbook

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

Her latest book is the thriller, Little Girls Sleeping: An Absolutely Gripping Crime Thriller (Detective Katie Scott Book 1).

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 Author Blog: https://authorjenniferchase.com/

Book & Crime Talk:  http://blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase

Books: Compulsion   Dead Game   Dark Mind   Dead Burn   Dark Pursuit

Dead Cold  Scene of the Crime

Silent Partner   Body of the Crime   Screenwriting

 

After your book was released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch?

I prep much of the promotion before the actual book launch. I figure out budget, dates, reviews, and where I want to have the book featured. After the book launch, I make sure everything is going as it’s supposed to and add anything that I think would be useful.

After that, what was your next step?

Share. Share. Share. I use all types of social media including my blog site to announce the new book, but making sure to create interesting posts and not just spam. I also create specific blog posts that will post over the next couple of months that have to do with the book—for example, why and how I wrote the book, inspirations, interesting aspects of the characters, and anything else that would pertain to my book.

Did you do anything different to spice up your website in lieu of your upcoming book release?

Graphics and headers change to promote the book. I use snippets of early reviews to spice up the interest.

Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route?

I have a publisher for this particular three book series; they have a PR person and their own marketing division. Everything I do is supplemental and I’m very hands on sharing anything they do.

Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that?

Absolutely. I never realized fully how important reviews are before the actual launch. You have to realize that there are loads of books out there and you want to do everything possible to make your book stand out. You can form your own ARC circles with readers, for author groups with the same genre, and use NetGalley.

What are your views on social media for marketing your book?

There’s definitely a place for social media, but don’t let that be the only thing you do to market your book. There is also a very delicate balance of sharing your book on social media and turning it to the dreaded spamming. Stay mindful about social media and keep it fresh and interesting.

What social media has worked best for you?

I use Facebook, Twitter, and I’ve begun using Instagram. Once again, budget your time, amount of use, and schedule your posts. Use anything you can to automate your social media.

Did you revamp your author’s page at Amazon in any way to prepare for the launch (https://authorcentral.amazon.com/)?

This is very important to make sure your Amazon author’s page is kept up to date. I do this periodically and not just before every book launch.

What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch?

This is an interesting concept. I’ve found that some of the marketing and twitter sites that are the most inexpensive ($10 - $25) have been worth their weight in gold. Don’t assume that if something costs $500 it must be good. The second best money I’ve spent has been a comprehensive blog tour—the possibilities are endless and you meet new people to network with.

*Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch?

The best advice is to set a budget for both money and your time. Do your homework and be sure that you are promoting your type of book on the appropriate sites. A little bit of homework goes a long ways.

 

He looked down at the little girl, sleeping peacefully, her arms wrapped around a teddy bear. He knew he was the only one who could save her. He could let her sleep forever.

An eight-year-old girl, Chelsea Compton, is missing in Pine Valley, California and for Detective Katie Scott it’s a cruel reminder of the friend who disappeared from summer camp twenty years ago. Unable to shake the memories, Katie vows she won’t rest until she discovers what happened to Chelsea.

But as Katie starts to investigate, the case reveals itself to be much bigger and more shocking than she feared. Hidden deep in the forest she unearths a makeshift cemetery: a row of graves, each with a brightly coloured teddy bear.

Katie links the graves to a stack of missing-persons cases involving young girls—finding a pattern no one else has managed to see. Someone in Pine Valley has been taking the town’s daughters for years, and Katie is the only one who can stop them.

And then another little girl goes missing, snatched from the park near her home.

Katie’s still haunted by the friend she failed to protect, and she’ll do anything to stop the killer striking again—but can she find the little girl before it’s too late?

Compulsive and gripping crime fiction for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh. Katie Scott’s first case will have you on the edge of your seat and gasping with shock.

 

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