Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Last Chance to Win 5-Page Critique

Hi everyone :)

I thought I'd let y'all know that I'll be doing the drawing tomorrow to choose a winner for my contest.

Here's the details:

This one is running through my newsletter--but membership is free to anyone who would like to participate:

Summer Treasure Hunt with My Biker Bodyguard

I'm thrilled to share the My Biker Bodyguard is getting a
great reception from readers everywhere! To celebrate
this wonderful news, I'm hosting a very unique contest.

There are three pages on my website that showcase My
Biker Bodyguard. My main page, the excerpt page, and
the review page. On one of those pages, you'll find a
secret phrase that you can only find by highlighting the
text. Discover what that phrase is, send it to me at:
secret@jennifer-turner.com and you'll be entered to win
a free five-page critique of your writing!

(If you're not a writer, but know a writer, or would rather
not get the critique, you can offer the award to a friend,
even if they aren't subscribers to my newsletter. If you
don't know a writer and would prefer to receive two free
book thongs--one for you, and one for a friend--indicate
this in your email.)

Spread the word about this contest. It's open to anyone
who joins my newsletter by July 25th--the contest deadline.

(Need a hint? There's a little sparkle visible where the
secret phrase is located! )

Enjoy the treasure hunt!

Warmly,
Jenny:)
P.S.
Keep an eye on my blog--it's about to explode with all the great stuff I've been doing behind the scenes! :)

Saturday, July 14, 2007

New Review for My Biker Bodyguard!

Hey all, this just in!! ;)

My Biker Bodyguard
J. R. TURNER

Jess works with her father in a tattoo parlor/motorcycle shop. Tattooing people since the age of sixteen, she is now the best in the shop. However, she has virtually no social life. When Jess was six years old her mother abandoned her. Since then her father has been very protective of her, going so far now as to discourage possible suitors.

Mitch, a body guard from LA and also a suspect in the eyes of the FBI, has been sent to protect Jess. Unbeknownst to her, she is in line to inherit a lot of money. Jess' mother, Beth, has been shot and is in a coma. Just prior to going into a coma, she sent Mitch to protect her daughter, who is also in danger.

After shots are fired at Jess, she starts taking the situation more seriously. Feeling that her family would be safer without being around her, she agrees to go to LA with Mitch. In LA, she stays at her mother's home with her stepfather as well as Mitch and two FBI men, who trail her everywhere. Complicating matters are the feelings developing between Jess and Mitch. Who is behind the shooting? Why would anyone want her dead? Will her mother recover from the coma and give Jess a chance to find out why she abandoned her? Could she have a relationship with Mitch?

Suspense kept me reading J.R. Turner's intrigue-filled novel. I enjoyed reading MY BIKER BODYGUARD. The colorful secondary characters and clever dialogue add to the story. I look forward to future novels by this author. I recommend MY BIKER BODYGUARD for anyone who enjoys a sensual, suspense-filled story.

Dorothy Jones, reviewer for Eromance Writers

Let me know what you think! ;)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Friday, July 13, 2007

Come See Me in Stevens Point!

You are Cordially Invited to a Fun Book Signing Event!

Who: Me! Jenny (J.R.) Turner :)

What: I'll be signing copies of my books; Stark Knight, Silent Knight and the award-winning My Biker Bodyguard.

When: July 14th, from 2-4pm

Where: Mission Coffee House, 1319 Strongs Ave. downtown Stevens Point

Why: This is a "Do a Good Deed, Get a Great Read" event. For every book I sign, I'll be donating a dollar to the Armed Forces Emergency Fund. This is a great charity that supports the families of our men and women in uniform when there's a crisis. It also helps them find lost loved ones who are deployed far from home. This is an American Red Cross organization and I'm proud to be a supporter.

Adding to the fun, everyone who buys a copy of my book will get a free, hand crafted, beaded book thong. (Specifically designed for your book crack :) )

What they're saying about my books:

My Biker Bodyguard:
“Turner's slam-bam writing style perfectly suits this action filled romance. She nails the outlaw biker lifestyle and shows the subcultures softer side by allowing us to understand that, no matter how roughhewn, it's a rare biker who doesn't possess a fierce love for their family.” Pat Fitzgerald, reviewer for The Creativity Connection

Stark Knight:
“I am an inveterate reader of action thrillers--Clancy, Bond (Larry, that is), Coonts, and more. Your story and writing are right up there with them in my view. Count on me to purchase the sequels.” Boyd Sutton, Retired CIA.

Silent Knight:
“Silent Knight is a non-stop, action packed roller coaster ride you cannot help but get caught up in. The reader is taken on a breathless trip from the first page to the last and left ready for more with the twist at the end. Secrets and lies, danger and desire, this novel has it all, vividly crafted. Put this on your must read list. This sequel to Stark Knight will not disappoint.” Charissa reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

Friday, July 06, 2007

I Want to Interview You!

As an author, I have a ton of fun doing interviews. Today, I'm on a mission. I want to interview as many teens as I can. After all, if I'm writing a new series for y'all, I should get to know you, right?

So here's the deal. If you choose to answer the interview questions, I'll use your name in the series! Sound like fun? I think so ;)

Okay, let's get started!

1) Name:

2) Age:

3) What is your favorite video game? Name your favorite trick, trick, attack, weapon, or action you love in the game. (Example: Halo2; Drive cool cars.)

4) What is your favorite book? Name a favorite scene. (Example: Vampirates; One of the twins beats up 2 assassins with a frying pan.)

5) What is your favorite music/band/group? Name one of your favorite songs. (Example: The Academy Is; Slow Down)

6) What is your favorite Movie? Name one scene you loved. (Example: Pirates of the Caribbean 2--Dead Man's Chest; When Jack Sparrow runs from the cannibals.)

7) What do you say when something bad happens? (Example: Bummer!)When something good happens? (Example: Nifty!)

8) What do you jokingly call your friends? (Example: Doorknob!)

9) If you could genentically evolve into a super-human, what would you change? (Example: Breathe under water.)

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me interview you! I'll keep y'all posted on how the series is going. If you want to get a glimpse at a short writing exercise I did years ago that I'm using as a sort of launching pad for brainstorming this new series, you can see it here on my website.

Looking forward to reading your responses!
Warmly,
Jenny:)

Thursday, July 05, 2007

10 Tips for Marketing Your Book Online

10 Tips for Marketing Your Book Online
By J.R. Turner

1) ALWAYS have a link to where your book can be purchased in your signature line. Never send an email without it. You can link to a website, your blog, newsletter, etc. as well. Keep the number of lines between two and four--it's considered good 'netiquette' especially when posting to regulated groups or forums.

2) Request to do a chat in every available online spot you can. Offer to send a freebie as a 'door prize' but DON'T offer your current release. This could slow sales as prospective chatters might wait to find out if they win one for free. Book thongs, markers (very cheap to mail,) older releases, and other related promotional items work well . You can also offer a critique if the chat is writer-related. Get creative.

3) Target websites and blogs that are in the genre you write and offer to do a Q&A or an interview on the site or blog. (See above for possible prizes you might offer.)

4) Get your own website. This is important because no matter how much advertising or promotion you do, it'll be hard to generate internet interest without a web presence. Even if it's a smaller, free site, it's better than not having one at all. Check into some of the more prominent websites that cater to authors and look into their specially discounted hosting/design packages.

5) Create a newsletter. Try to make it fun and interactive for both writers and readers. In my newsletter I include chocolate recipes and a family-friendly joke section. Depending on the genre you write in, you can even gear it toward your target audience. If you write YA, you can make it more teen-friendly.

6) Start blogging. Write as often as you can on your blog, even if it's just a few paragraphs every other day or so. When you blog, try to include links to other places (even if it's just to your own website) so that you'll generate more 'hits' from searches to your blog, and hence to your title(s). Don't forget that you can comment on other people's blogs as well, leaving again, a link back to you.

7) Join groups and use them wisely. If you're on MySpace, send bulletins out when you blog (which can be cross-posted between your MySpace blog and your personal blog.) Visit your 'friends'--try to aim for at least five a week, for just a moment, to drop them a note. Keep it casual and friendly. Join other groups on the net that are for readers (like book club groups) and post occasionally--where your signature line will be seen by everyone. Aim for groups with large memberships.

8) Once you have your website, do "link" or "banner" exchanges with friendly authors or others that you know. Cross-promotion is fabulous for getting your links in front of new internet users.

9) Enter your title into internet contests, usually for free, but you may consider a nominal fee. Whether it's a cover-art contest, or just a contest decided by voters and even if you don't win, your title will be listed on the internet in yet another place.

10) Write press releases, articles, and reviews and post them in the appropriate places. If you set up a "virtual tour", if you have a new release, if you win a contest, you can write a press release. Write articles and submit them to free-to-use article places where content seekers can grab your article (with the source box including your links) and use it on their site or in their newsletter. Every time you finish reading a book, write a review for it and submit it everywhere you can--like online booksellers such as Amazon.com. (If you alter it a bit, you can even send it out as an article.) Of course, with a link back to you.

Make friends everywhere you go. Be helpful to others. Volunteer your time. Offer congrats and commiserations when someone else needs a friend. Most of all, be sincere. This is more valuable than any of the above because it not only makes your internet existence bearable, but you'll get help, inspire others to promote you, and have a host of opportunities already in place when your next release comes out.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Win A 5-Page Critique!

Hi everyone!

The July issue of The Official J.R. Turner Newsletter is now available. I'm running a fun contest this month and thought y'all might be interested in checking it out!

Here's the details:

Summer Treasure Hunt with My Biker Bodyguard

I'm thrilled to share My Biker Bodyguard is getting a great reception from readers everywhere! To celebrate this wonderful news, I'm hosting a very unique contest.

There are three pages on my website that showcase My Biker Bodyguard. My home page, the excerpt page, and the review page. On one of those pages, you'll find a
secret phrase that you can only find by highlighting the text. Discover what that phrase is, send it to me at:
secret@jennifer-turner.com
and you'll be entered to win
a free five-page critique of your writing!

(If you're not a writer, but know a writer, or would rather not get the critique, you can offer the award to a friend, even if they aren't subscribers to my newsletter. If you don't know a writer and would prefer to receive two free book thongs--one for you, and one for a friend--indicate this in your email.)

Spread the word about this contest. It's open to anyone who joins my newsletter by July 25th--the contest deadline.

(Need a hint? There's a little sparkle visible where the secret phrase is located! )

Enjoy the treasure hunt!

Warmly,
Jenny:)