My Book Launch: Book Launch Q&A: Laura Simmons, Author of Tough Karma: A Race Against Time @laurasimmons37 @pumpupyourbook

Laura Simmons grew up in northern Virginia and spent most of her career working for various Department of Defense contractors in the Washington, DC area. She has a fascination with all things metaphysical. She enjoys writing, jigsaw puzzles, adult coloring books, vacationing at the beach with her husband, and studying tarot cards and other types of divination systems.

Website: http://www.littlebitsofkarma.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LauraSimmons37

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekarmaseries

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

The first thing I did was sponsor a Goodreads Giveaway. At the time the book was released, Goodreads didn’t charge authors for this service and I offered paperback copies of Tough Karma: A

Race Against Time to five lucky winners.

After that, what was your next step?

I did a radio interview with Pat Rullo on Speakup Talk Radio.

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

I’m always updating my website, and several weeks before Tough Karma was available for sale I made a special page for it.

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

I preferred the DIY route at the time because I had a limited budget.

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

Yes, reviews are a priority for me and I contacted several review services to help me find readers willing to leave a review.

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

I think social media is important for an author even though I haven’t seen many sales from Twitter and Facebook. I’ve made most of my sales with paying online book services to promote by book to their subscribers via newsletters. Most of these companies utilize social media in addition to their newsletters, and I’m sure they are better at it than I am.

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

Yes. I uploaded the video trailer for my book and after I received some editorial reviews, I included them as well.

Did you have other books you offered for free in order to help sell your present book?

No. I’m not enrolled in Kindle Select so I wasn’t able to do that.

Did you create a book trailer? Yes. Here is the link to my book trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pHZu5a07pw

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

The best money I spent was for a blog tour a few months after Tough Karma was published. It’s a great way to introduce your book(s) to lots of people. If the blogger likes your book and provides a review on his/her site, that’s icing on the cake.

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

Yes. I think a blog tour is a must and www.PumpUpYourBook.com is a great place to start. Search the internet and read up on what kinds of things other authors incorporated in their book launches and what worked for them.

Astral travel and a deadly secret make for a gripping paranormal romance from start to finish.

Amber Macklin's world is cruelly shattered when she loses her baby girl three months after her husband's sudden death. Her cousin, Bryce, comes to her rescue, moving her into his home for fear she will kill herself from the grief. He provides solace and a shoulder to cry on, and he has loved her as more than a cousin for a long time. Amber and Bryce soon discover they are not blood relatives, which opens the door for romance as he pulls her through her darkest hours. When Mike, a college friend of Bryce's, stops by to visit, Amber senses a deadly secret behind his nice guy persona. She has a frightening dream that Mike is trying to kill her and recurring sleepwalking episodes where she draws detailed pictures of him torturing her. Deeply troubled, Bryce uses his ability to astral travel to investigate Mike and uncover his terrifying past. Mike has had his eye on Amber for some time, and when he learns that Bryce and Amber have become lovers, he is furious. Mike abducts Amber and takes her to his rural Georgia hideaway, and Bryce must rely on his astral abilities to track her down. But will he be too late?