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I belong to several forums that a chock-a-block full of great ideas dealing with promotion. This, of course, supposes you've got that precious tome of yours published and are trying to promote it.
Of all the work that goes into writing and publishing and seeing your book on a store shelf, the hardest part, for me, at least, is the promotion.

Promotion is not a one-size-fits-all proposition anyway. For instance, you wouldn't target Christian fiction on an erotic site, or even send it there for review. Same goes for Science Fiction to a western venue. You get the picture, don't you?

I write in several different genres, and even do the occasional non-fiction piece, so targeted promotion is something I try to think about, so far, not very successfully.

My first historical mystery suspense story, titled ONE FOOT ON THE EDGE, should be released sometime this year or early next from WhooDoo mysteries, an imprint of Treble Heart Books. I know I should be promoting it right now, and want to get started before the book hits the market.

I'm thinking a newsletter. Blogs are good, too. I do blog sometimes, but I'm not very faithful about it. Besides, with a blog you have to depend on people making an actual effort to get to your blogsite. A few will...probably. But the more I think about it, I think a short monthly newsletter might work better. The only problem is getting people to sign up . Once they do, you can send off your stuff and all they have to do is read the durn thing. That shouldn't tax anyone too much, should it? And if they don't like it, there's always that delete key. (Cross your fingers nobody hits it.)

I get several newsletters, and after a great deal of thought, this is the direction I think I'll take to keep any fans I might have up to date. Format is what I need to decide on first. JA Konrath sends one out that I always take time to read, and I always read Chris Grabenstein's newsletter, as well. Craig Johnson has the best in the business. Craig's letters always have at least one amusing anecdote that will entertain you, and therefore making the newsletter worthwhile all by itself. I couldn't produce a newsletter in the same class, but I can try to emulate as best I can, meanwhile hoping my readership will grow.

Like I say, Craig's is the best, but what all newsletters have in common is that they keep your fans up-to-date on appearances and book signings, any new books coming out, perhaps an explanation of what a character you're writing about is doing, answers to any broad-based questions someone might have asked and that might be of general interest, and most of all, keep your name in front of readers.

Well, there. I've talked myself into it. Starting in September, I'll produce my first newsletter. If you'd like to sign up, just drop me an email from my website at www.ckcrigger.com and I'll make sure you get a copy.