From Writer to Promoter: Debby Allen Does It All

Is PROMO your four letter word? Well, today is your lucky day!!

Please welcome the wonderful and fabulous Debby Allen! She's here to tell us about her experience as a new author learning the ropes of promotion. We all know promo can be daunting to some and exhilerating to others. Debby has found a niche as both author and promoter.

Want to learn more? Read on, my friend, read on!


I’d like to say I’m just an author of romance for The Wild Rose Press, but I’m not. I’m also a promoter - of other authors and publishers. To say I don’t feel any satisfaction when I receive an email thanking me for an interview or an author/publisher spotlight would be bending the truth a little. I love it!

I first began promoting when I set up The Romance eBooks Myspace profile in February 2008. I had my 1st ebook release from The Wild Rose Press the following month and discovered just how difficult promoting oneself could be. So I thought, why not get together with some other authors and we’ll promote each other. However, I never expected the profile to be so popular! Word got around pretty quick and before I knew it I had befriended a few hundred authors, readers and publishers – well over a thousand up to now!

On November 1st, I released the 1st Romance eBooks Newsletter. Just like the myspace profile, the promotion is just the same, but on a more personal level with interviews and spotlights.

It was fun to create and the response for contributions was fantastic! If I’m honest, it’s more like a mini eMag than a newsletter and I’m very proud and very grateful to its contributors.

The promotional process is very simple - I promote your books, whether it’s a new release, a review or a contest and a direct link to your purchasing details are literally at the end of the potential buyer’s fingertips! Once your book is in the newsletter, all you have to do is sit back and reap the rewards.

If you would like to check out The Romance eBooks Newsletter, here is the link to past and current issues:
http://theromanceebooksnewsletter.blogspot.com/

Romance eBooks on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1551386402&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=87011075778

The Romance eBooks Myspace Profile
http://www.myspace.com/romance_ebooks

For any more details, you can contact me at romanceebooks@yahoo.co.uk

Writing Romance:

When I first began writing novels and novellas, it was mainly to practice my writing skills, but I also wanted to create stories that I would really enjoy reading myself. In those early days, I never expected to be published (but I do hope those books will be published one day when I have polished them off).

I love reading Harlequin Mills & Boon and desperately wanted to create such a romantic fantasy of my own. So after years of educating myself at home and reading lots of romantic novels, I submitted a short story to The Wild Rose Press, a publisher who publishes books in electronic and print format. And that’s where my dream began.

In March 2008, ‘Hibiscus Bay’ was released in electronic format and I received some fabulous reviews. Here’s a quick preview:

‘Hibiscus bay’ available from The Wild Rose Press NOW!

‘If blue skies, hunky foreign guys and glistening seas float your boat, then you’ll love this romp on the beach romance that will leave you searching for your Passport to Paradise!’

BLURB:

Exhilarating sex with an Arabian millionaire is the last thing Ashleigh Brennan expects after an illicit affair with her boss leaves her unemployed and without dignity. She vows never to be misled by first impressions again—until she meets wealthy, handsome Remmao Kamal. He’s full of passion and eastern promise—but for how long?

It’s hard to believe that this wealthy bachelor isn’t married, but his playboy lifestyle aboard his yacht has had its repercussions. After a succession of harbor pickups, his misjudgement of a lover’s intention put his life at risk. Since then, he has been determined to put his womanising days behind him—until Ashleigh walks into his life. Their sexual attraction is immediate and the temptation for Remmao to break his vow of harbor celibacy is as strong as Ashleigh’s desire to protect her heart. But will a one-night stand with no commitments be enough for them?'

REVIEWS

Simply Romance Reviews GRADE: A 'I can honestly say, while reading Hibiscus Bay, I was touched by the beautiful twist of fate for Ashleigh and Remmao. This is the kind of romance we all dream of. Debby Allen captured so many heart-warming emotions of both her characters... wonderful job Debby!!'Cocktail Reviews: 'Like a short version of a M&B/Harlequin title, Hibiscus Bay delivers on all fronts with an exotic locale, wealthy foreign hunk, a good dose of angst, enjoyable love scenes and a HEA. I’d recommend this to any fan of the genre.'

The Long And Short Of It Reviews: “Hibiscus Bay,” set in a lush harbor town, is an emotional roller coaster of a romance between Remmao and Ashleigh… The setting of gorgeous Hibiscus Bay is a perfect place for Remmao and Ashleigh to explore their feelings further, and those descriptive details are nicely presented. (On a side note, this novella’s cover is beautifully designed and paints an idyllic picture of the paradise where these characters fall in love.)


‘Mistletoe and Ouzo Kisses’ was released from The Wild Rose Press in Dec 2008. The storyline is set in Athens, Greece. Here’s a quick preview:

‘Mistletoe and Ouzo Kisses’

‘If a Greek Adonis found his way into your Christmas stocking, wouldn’t you want to unwrap him?’

BLURB:

A man is for life and not just for Christmas – or so the saying goes. When Leah Stamford accepts the offer to spend the festive season in Greece with her co-worker, Marcus Savakis, the last thing she expects to be unwrapping, is him. But after one ouzo too many, and with a voluptuous ex-girlfriend tempting Marcus back into her ample bosom, Leah will stop at nothing to win her colleague’s affections — though seduction isn't one of her talents. Leah's frigidness was the reason she lost her last boyfriend. Now it’s time to prove to herself that she can be daring and sexy. But has she got what it takes to seduce Marcus away from the desires of his ex-girlfriend? And can her timidness compete with this erotic Greek goddess?

For those of you who haven’t noticed, Chris Winters, who was crowned Mr. Romance 2008 at the Romantic Times Convention, is my cover model - and at special request! I feel very honoured and very privileged!

Unfortunately, there are no reviews for ‘Mistletoe and Ouzo Kisses’ to date.

Due for release in 2009 ‘AN OUTLAW'S HONOR’ by Debby Allen.

Look out for the next edition of 'The Romance eBooks Newsletter’! If you have a new release, new review or a competition that you would like to contribute to the newsletter, then contact me, Debby, at romanceebooks@yahoo.co.uk

I hope to hear from you soon.

I'd like to thank Debby for visiting with us here at TLN!! And I'd like to THANK YA'LL for dropping by and sharing your Friday! Now, with summer offically starting this weekend, I'll be easy to find. Look for the lady kickin' it in her kid's blue plastic pool, a frosty beverage in one hand and a romance novel in the other! Stay cool and have a wonderful weekend! Cheers and happy reading!

Let's break in the summer with a little Bananarama LIVE and 1983's Cruel Summer!!