#NaNoProMo - A Different Kind of Writing Challenge

Rachel Thompson - Bad Redhead Media

Rachel Thompson, originator of #MondayBlogs (which you must participate in if you have a blog and you tweet), has noticed a glaring omission in the various Nanos. There is #NaNoWriMo, held every November as an incentive to get writers to either compose that novel they've always said they wanted to write, or finish that novel they always wanted to finish. After that there is #NaNoEdMo in March, which means if you were foolish enough to take the #NaNoWriMo challenge, you now have to edit your book. But there was no month for promotion.

Rachel has corrected that omission with #NaNoProMo, a whole month of resources for writers in May. The best part is that we don't have to actually do anything. We just need to pay attention. There will be posts every day from book marketing experts, chats daily prizes, and a chance to win a 30-minute Skype call with Hugh Howey.

Take a look at Rachel's article on Medium. (Now I know what I will be doing in May, aside from aging.)

NaNoProMo - Rock Your Book Marketing

By Rachel Thompson

Many of you are familiar with #NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) held every November) to inspire writers to write books. There’s even #NaNoEdMo (National Novel Editing Month) every March to help writers edit the book they wrote in November). I researched and realized there was no book marketing specific month, and because ya know, I have nothing else going on *cough*, I created #NaNoProMo — National Novel Promotion Month, to take place in May. Ta-da!

To keep to the non-profit tradition, this is all about writers: helping writers, providing resources for writers, being there for writers. So here are the ‘rules:’

There Are No Rules

No daily hours to log. No website to report in to. No badge to win or display (though I may rethink that because I know people really like that shiz).

What there will be:

[Cliffhanger]

Read on for the details HERE.

Book Fairs: Are They Worth It for Self-Published Authors?

Frankfurt Book Fair

Updated 619/25

Large international book fairs, such as Frankfurt and Bologna, are where industry professionals meet to buy and sell rights, arrange for subsidiary rights, such as film and games, and scope out what's hot in the literary market.

Can self-published authors set up a table at international book fairs? Technically, no. But in 2013, Tina Seskis formed a shell publishing company (hers was the only published book on the list), and exhibited at Frankfurt. She ended up nabbing a $500,000 deal with HarperCollins.

In general, setting up a shell company is frowned upon, and venues are tightening up their restrictions. But you can still exhibit if you have self-published. Combined Book Exhibit offers self-publishers the opportunity to showcase their books (print or ebook) and/or advertise it for a few hundred, rather than a few thousand dollars. There is an annual membership fee of $150.

The question is: Should self-publishers invest a few hundred dollars? Showing your book at a book fair can be an advantage, provided you (the author) intend to make an appearance and know how to make a sale. Tina Seskis actually attended the Frankfurt Book Fair and set up a booth, so she was able to negotiate a deal. If you aren't there to represent yourself, and your book is merely displayed, it won't attract anyone's attention.

The other thing to consider is whether your book already has a track record. Most publishers are reluctant to make a deal with an author who has no fans, and whose books have not garnered significant sales. (Selling over 10,000 books in the first year is considered significant.)

The bottom line for first-time self-publishers is not to waste your money on an international book fair. However, if you happen to live near one of these events, it is worth attending as a member of the public, if only to get a taste of what is available to publishers.

While international book fairs may not be the best option for self-published authors, local and regional book fairs are another matter entirely. These present many opportunities for local authors to read, sell and sign books, and lead workshops. Local fairs are an excellent means of building a fan base, as well as making contact with other authors. If you would like to exhibit, costs are much lower than for international fairs, and the logistics are easier to manage. You can find out if there is a fair in your region by contacting your local chamber of commerce, or by googling "book fair" and your city.

Recommended reading

Read Jane Friedman's article on BEA before investing your time and money: Authors: Think Twice Before Paying to Exhibit at Book Expo (BEA)

Indie Author Fringe advises against international book fairs: Authors, Don’t Waste your Money: Book Fair Bewares: David Gaughran

Debbie Young points out that even if you don't exhibit your book, fairs are a good opportunity for meeting people in the industry, attending talks, and learning about publishing: Publishing Conferences & Book Fairs – What’s In Them for Self-published Authors?

For a complete list of all international fairs (there are over a hundred) see: 2 Seas International Book Fair Calendar

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International Book Fairs

New Delhi World Book Fair

New Delhi, India

The New Delhi World Book Fair is India's second oldest book fair after the Kolkata Book Fair. India is the third biggest market for English publications with almost 12,000 publishers that publish around 90,000 titles a year in more than 18 languages. Visitors come from India as well as the USA, Bangladesh, France, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Germany.

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Bologna, Italy

The Bologna Children's Book Fair is the world's leading event for children's book authors and publishers. This is where all industry professionals involved with creating and publishing children's books buy and sell rights for books, translations, and for derived products like movies or animated series. Major awards are also given at the fair, the Bologna Ragazzi Awards, in four categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, New Horizons (for the non-Western world) and Opera Prima (for first works).

London Book Fair

Olympia, London, UK

The London Book Fair is the second largest international book fair, after Frankfurt. Over 1700 exhibitors participate in The London Book Fair, representing a wide range of interests and markets within the publishing industry.

American Library Association Annual Conference
New Orleans, LA

The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world with more than 62,000 members. The ALA annual conference is one of the largest professional conferences in existence, typically drawing over 25,000 attendees.

Beijing International Book Fair

Beijing, China

The Chinese market is one of the largest and fastest growing in the world. With over 2 billion people, education is a high priority for the government. Every Chinese child is required to learn English when they enter school which puts English language content in high demand. The Beijing Book Fair is attended by over 30,000 people each year. In attendance are publishers, distributors, literary agents, consumers, digital media companies, film and production companies and bookstores.

Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest trade fair for books. With 7,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries representing book publishing, multimedia and technology companies, it is considered the most important book fair for international deals and trading.  Publishers, agents, booksellers, librarians, academics, illustrators, service providers, film producers, translators, professional and trade associations, institutions, artists, authors, antiquarians, software and multimedia suppliers all participate in the events.

Tickets for individuals range from 19 Euros for one day to 30 euros for two days. Exhibition space costs 372 - 450 euros per square meter. Custom-designed stands can be over 40 square meters. There are additional charges to set up early. In addition there are lighting fees, furniture rentals, surcharges, which bring costs up to the thousands.

Major Book Fairs in the US

Brooklyn Book Festival

The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary event in New York City, presenting an array of national and international literary stars and emerging authors. One of America’s premier book festivals, this diverse gathering attracts thousands of book lovers of all ages to enjoy authors and the festival’s lively literary marketplace. If you live in New York, the publishing hub of the US, plan on attending this event.

National Book Festival

This yearly festival is held in Washington, DC and is sponsored by the Library of Congress. Tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country attend. The Library live-streamed the entire Main Stage event on its Facebook page, where it was watched by thousands of viewers. The Festival is free and open to the public.

The Miami Book Fair International

The Miami Book Fair International describes itself as an "eight-day literary party." The highlight of the event is the Festival of Authors, with more than 450 authors reading and discussing their work, including the Latin American and Spanish authors who participate in the IberoAmerican Authors Program. More than 250 publishers and booksellers exhibit and sell books, with special features like the antiquarians, who showcase signed first editions, original manuscripts and other collectibles. There are programs for children, workshops, presentations, and every kind of literary event you can think of.

Baltimore Book Festival

The Baltimore Book Festival is sponsored by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) is a non-profit organization that serves as Baltimore City’s official arts council, events agency and film office. 

Virginia Festival of the Book

The Virginia Festival of the Book is the largest community-based book event in the Mid-Atlantic region and has attracted audiences of more than 20,000 for each of the past thirteen years. Authors have ranged from international bestsellers to debut authors. Past participants include Rick Atkinson, Edward Ayers, David Baldacci, Maureen Corrigan, Edwidge Danticat, Kate DiCamillo, Rita Dove, Alan Furst, John Grisham, Jan Karon, Jim Lehrer, Frances Mayes, Colum McCann, David McCullough, Alice McDermott, Yewande Omotoso, Katherine Paterson, Jon Scieszka, Lisa Scottoline, Pete Seeger, Karin Slaughter, Alexander McCall Smith, Lee Smith, Bryan Stevenson, Joseph Stiglitz, Elizabeth Strout, Judith Viorst, and Charles Wright. The headliner for the 2018 Festival is Khizr Khan, author of An American Family and This Is Our Constitution.

Texas Book Festival

The Texas Book Festival features 250 nationally and critically recognized authors, more than 20 venues including the State Capitol, 80 exhibitors, live music, local food trucks, family activities, and  opportunities to meet authors. Founded in 1995 by First Lady Laura Bush, the Festival has hosted thousands of notable and award-winning authors over the years, including Margaret Atwood, Robert Caro, Sandra Cisneros, Salman Rushdie, Cheryl Strayed, Walter Mosley, Molly Shannon, Frank McCourt, Ziggy Marley, Liz Carpenter, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and many others.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

The LA Times Festival is held every year on the University of Southern California campus. Over 150,000 people typically attend the Festival, which features writers, poets, artists, filmmakers and musicians. Past participants have included Margaret Atwood, T.C. Boyle, Bryan Cranston, Cory Doctorow, and more writers and performers than I can count. Don't miss this event if you live in LA.

Louisiana Book Festival

This one-day annual festival held in Baton Rouge attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The event is sponsored by the State Library of Louisiana, the Louisiana Center for the Book, the Louisiana Library Foundation and local businesses.The festival features author signings and readings, workshops, exhibits, food, activities for children, and (of course) live music.

Chicago Tribune Printer's Row Lit Fest

The Printers Row Lit Fest was founded in 1985 by the Near South Planning Board to attract visitors to the Printers Row neighborhood (once the city's bookmaking hub). By 2002, it had grown to five city blocks (South Dearborn Street from Harrison to Polk, Harold Washington Library Center and Jones College Prep High School), attracting more than 100 booksellers from across the country displaying new, used and antiquarian books and featuring more than 200 authors participating in panels, discussions and a variety of other programs. It is now the largest literary festival in the Mid-West.

Jewish Book Festivals

There are more Jewish book festivals than I can name. You can find a list of them HERE. (If you type "Jewish Book Festivals" into a Google search, you will find dozens more.) Jewish culture places a high value on literacy and on literature. If you are a Jewish author, these are great events to participate in. 

10 Scifi and Fantasy Review Sites for Self-Published Authors

Endless Dream by Santijar - Deviant Art

Updated 5/8/25

If you write science fiction or fantasy, there are many ways you can promote your books. There are hundreds of individual bloggers who are more than happy to review self-published books. (See "Additional Resources" below.) There are also many platforms that specialize in advertising and promoting those genres.

This list includes sites that publish reviews of self-published books. (There are more sites for traditionally published books.) They all offer reviews for free. Some accept books for review, while others accept freelance reviews, in which case someone - not the author - would have to submit a review.

The advantage of a book review site, as opposed to a blog, is traffic. Most blogs can't compete with well trafficked review sites for the simple reason that most review sites rely on more than one reviewer. (Even blogs with two or three reviewers can't compete.) This allows review sites to cover more books, which, in turn, attracts more traffic.

Additional Resources:

Fantasy and Sci-fi Reviewers Accepting Self-Published Authors
A list of 269 online book reviewers who accept self-published work in speculative fiction (scifi, fantasy, horror, paranormal).

Top 5 Sites for Science Fiction Writers

If you write scifi, these are your go-to sites.

Top 20 Sites for Finding Reviewers

These are the best sites for finding reviewers in any genre.

____________________

Strange Horizons

Strange Horizons publishes in-depth reviews of speculative art and entertainment, especially books, films, and television, three times a week. Reviews normally cover new works, they will not reject a review because its subject has been available for a while. "We're especially interested in reviews of worthy material that might not otherwise get the exposure it deserves; similarly, we are interested in reviews of works that push traditional genre boundaries." They pay $40 for a review.

SF Reader

SFReader offers reviews on any book, anthology or magazine that has a speculative element (all flavors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror). They prefer traditionally published print books, but will accept Kindle format.

Fantasy Book Review

This popular site reviews fantasy books only. They get a large amount of submissions per month, so a review is not guaranteed. (They review 1 in 50 submissions.) All books are read, reviewed, categorized and awarded a rating between 0 and 10. These ratings then determine who and what appears in the list of the Top 100 Fantasy Books. At time of writing the number of books that have been read and reviewed stands at well over 1,000.

Fantasy Book Critic

Fantasy Book Critic is a group of individuals devoted to covering Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, YA/Children’s Books and other Speculative Fiction. They accept review queries from publishers large, small and independent as well as self-published authors. Both print and electronic formats are accepted.

Lightspeed Magazine

Lightspeed is a well known science fiction and fantasy magazine. If you have a book you’d like them to consider for review, or you’d like to send a press release, use this address: reviewbooks@lightspeedmagazine.com All of their reviews are in-house.

Science Fiction and Fantasy World

Authors and publishers can fill out a request for a review on their contact form. Authors can also promote their books on the Promotion Zone. This site gets quite a bit of traffic. Their list of interviews, reviews, articles, and guest posts is extensive. They also publish anthologies.

SFcrowsnest

Everything on this site is contributed by readers. The areas they cover are scifi, fantasy, horror, steampunk, computers, anime, manga, games, RPGs, toys, models, science, futurism, films, TV. Electronic format press releases and articles/reviews can be sent to the editor, Geoff, via gfwillmetts-2 (at) hotmail.co.uk.

Fantasy Faction

This site has something for everyone: forums, author interviews, news, reviews. There are numerous helpful writing articles on the site, including quite a few on self-publishing. They also have a monthly short story prize, events, a convention, yearly fantasy awards, and they have even published a short story collection, The Fantasy-Faction Anthology (US, UK). The forum topics cover everything from upcoming events, to writing discussions, to read alongs. Authors who have a self-published fantasy novel can promote their book in the forum, as well as request reviews.

Tor.com

Tor accepts pitches for essays, think pieces, list posts, reaction pieces, and reviews in the 1000-2000 word range. If possible, please include 2-3 writing samples and links to your published work on other sites.

Mega-List of Free Promotional Sites for Self-Published Books

Updated 5/8/25

The hardest task faced by self-published authors is promotion. Self-published authors don't have the resources of large, or even small, publishers. Nor do they have the marketing networks that every publisher relies on to create "buzz" for upcoming books. If you are self-publishing, you are going to have to do all that work yourself.

Fortunately, there are plenty of places for you to promote your book for free. Hundreds of online reviewers are happy to receive a book in exchange for an honest review, and many post their reviews on multiple platforms. There are also numerous sites that publish interviews with authors, as well as places to post your cover reveal and excerpts.

The resources below will help you on your way to effective marketing and promotion. I suggest that before you begin promoting your book, you look at these lists and sites and make a list of your own of the various types of promotion you'd like to do, and then find the sites that provide what you are looking for. Keep careful track of where you have promoted your book, and don't forget to evaluate the results!

Note: For all of my articles on self-publishing, including resources for promoting your book, marketing, getting reviews, setting up your author website and more see: Self-Publishing

___________________


List of lists

Indies Unlimited has the longest, most comprehensive list of places to promote your book that I have ever seen.

Digital Pubbing's list of 110 tools to find readers and reviewers is conveniently broken down into categories (reviews, advertising, interviews, etc.) to help writers hone in to the type of promotion they are looking for.

Kindlepreneur lists 127 places to promote your book, free and paid.

Build Book Buzz's handout is a substantial collection of resources that will help you find media outlets, reader review sites, and online review sites for your book.

Angie's Diary lists the top ten free promotion sites for self-published books.

Savvy Writers has a list of 46 free promotional sites for self-published books.

Individual promotional sites

Authors Den allows self-publishers to download sample chapters which readers can review. You must have a book cover before you can upload a chapter. Detailed instructions are on the site.

YA Books Central offers book reviews, cover reveals, author profiles and interviews, sponsors giveaways and contests, and accepts advertising for YA books.

Book Buzzr  offers paid promotion, but you can try it for free for 14 days

Books on the Knob offers free reviews, will post your giveaway, discounted books,

Indie Books Blog is a blog that promotes self-published books. Fill out the form to have your book posted, and tweeted.

Book Life, run by Publishers Weekly, lets you submit your book for review, register your book, and post an author profile,  Don't forget to connect your social media accounts to your profile! 

• Get your book featured in BookLife's monthly Indie Spotlight. Each month they focus on a different topic.
• Submit your book for Publishers Weekly review consideration. It's free, and every year hundreds of BookLife submissions are selected for review. 
• Read the digital edition of the BookLife section of Publishers Weekly. Twice a month, BookLife samples the best books and ideas from indie authors all over the world. If you don't yet receive email notifications about each new issue, you can sign up here

Indies Unlimited offers an array of free features includes Thrifty Thursdays, Print Book Paradise, Kindle Unlimited Hump Days, and a weekly flash fiction challenge. The submissions guidelines are explained in detail on the features’ respective pages.

Kidswrd is a promotional site just for children's books (younger age groups). Authors can post their book by creating a KIDSWRD account. Your books are recommended to parents and kids through their email subscribers list. Your books are also promoted through related social media pages.

Snick's List will promote your book for one week for free. 

Robin Reads is a community of over 194,000 members looking for free and deeply discounted ebooks that align with their literary tastes. To submit your book for review fill our their online submission form outlining the details of the price promotion for your book. Use their booking calendar to select the day of your promo- each order is for one day of promotion. Books must either be free or cost 99 cents.

Book Goodies advertises free and bargain books. They also interview authors.

Best Book Monkey offers free and paid promotion. Best Book Monkey Package promotions are designed for books that are FREE, discounted to $4.99 or less, or have a regular price of $4.99 or less.

Book Basset offers two promotions: 1) They feature one author’s works. Featured authors will will get a dedicated post in the morning (usually between 9:30am – 10:30am Pacific Time) containing up to five of their books. Their post will be Tweeted and posted to our Facebook Wall and will also be featured in our daily “Today’s Deals From Book Basset” email. 2) Each day, Book Basset features a hand-selected batch of freebies.

Book Cave has 130,870 daily email subscribers, divided by genre and content rating. In addition, their website gets thousands a views, and they keep your book on the site during your entire sale, so you receive more views even after the day of your promotion.

Forums

Book Talk hosts free forums where authors and publishers can post their books. Book Talk also offers paid promotion.

Online Book Club is a forum for readers and authors. Reviews are also offered - both free and paid.

Kindle Boards

Mobile Read

Additional resources

For more free publicity sites see: Free Publicity for Your KDP Select Free Days

5 Tips for Promoting Your Author Event on Social Media

Me, signing books at my local library

If you are self-publishing, or even if you are being published traditionally, public events such as talks, book signings, and readings are a must. Nothing creates more fans than your physical presence. People want to sit in an audience and hear you speak. They want to crowd around you afterwards, asking you to sign copies of your book. They want to shake your hand, ask you questions, give you their first born child. (Okay, maybe that's taking it a bit too far. But you get the picture.)

Simply scheduling a talk or a signing is not enough. Like everything else you do to promote your book, your author event will have to be advertised. You will, of course, send out a press release to the local papers.

But what about all the people who only know you virtually? That group is important as well.

1) Twitter. (Yes, I'm still calling it Twitter.) Before you do anything else, create a hashtag and use it on every tweet that concerns your book - including author events. Keep your hashtag short and memorable. Make sure you look up your hashtag to make sure it hasn’t already been used.

2) Facebook event page. Event pages are easy to set up on Facebook. (Read how to do it HERE.) Your event page should include information about the event (when and where). You can post photos, invite guests, and (best of all) keep track of who is interested. Make sure people can leave comments and post on your page. Remember to put links to your home page on Facebook, as well as sales links, in the details section.

Here is a helpful article: 13 Ways to Use Facebook Events for Your Brand

3) Live coverage. Live coverage of events is exciting! If your friends are attending the event, ask them tweet during the event using your event hashtag. Enlist a friend to photograph the event and post images. Let Facebook friends and twitter followers know in advance when live coverage is taking place.

4) Join groups. There are all kinds of groups for writers: Facebook groups, Google Plus communities, even LinkedIn. Promotions are allowed in many of these groups, not just for book releases but for events. The advantage to promoting your events on groups is reach (especially Facebook).

Helpful article: 47 Facebook Groups for Authors

5) Make a video. If you have a smartphone you can make a short clip (a teaser) to promote your event. For example, you can do some "man on the street" interviews with people who are going (friends, family). Have them answer the question, "Why are you going to ___?" Make it fun, or better yet, funny. (You can even use a free animation maker like PowToon to make a cartoon!) Post these videos on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else you have an account.

Here is the Video for Phillip Pullman's book event 

Remember:

Bring a sign-up sheet to your event. Everyone who shows up is a potential fan!

Bring extra books. Even if the event is hosted by a bookstore, they may run out. If the event is hosted by a restaurant (I've had restaurant venues), a sporting goods store, a library, or anyplace else not likely to have a stack of your books on hand - bring lots!

Have a good time. I love talking to people who've read my books. The best part is that they love talking to me, too!

For more info on book tours see: Arranging Your Own Book Tour

Promoting Your Scifi or Fantasy Novel on Social Media

Updated 2/9/25

If you have published a science fiction or fantasy novel, you'll need to promote it on social media. I know the thought of engaging in yet more social media makes you cringe, but you may, in fact, be pleasantly surprised at how effective it can be.

Here are some social media platforms that can help you promote your book for free. Some are strictly promotional, but many of these platforms also host discussion groups, book clubs, and writing critique groups.

In addition to the ever-present necessity of promoting your work, I would encourage you to take advantage of these non-promotional functions for two reasons: 1) As a writer, it's essential to participate in discussions about your craft and genre, and 2) You may make some valuable contacts with other authors in the course of those discussions.

Facebook Groups

Facebook is a huge social media platform, which means it can produce dramatic results. First, set up a page for your book. (This is a must.) Then join writers' groups. The largest and most active writers' groups are listed here: 43 Facebook Groups for Authors. There are also several active Facebook groups geared specifically to science fiction and fantasy writers. These are:

Fantasy & Science Fiction Writers in America. (Closed group) This is for writers who focus their work mainly on science fiction and fantasy. The site is for writers to post small pieces of their work to get others' opinions on them, to offer or request advice about the art, craft, and business of writing, and to exchange interests concerning science fiction and fantasy writing with like-minded individuals.

Cyberpunk Science Fiction & Culture (Closed group) Group dedicated to all things related to cyberpunk: culture, literature, music, film, technology, games, fashion, lifestyle, etc.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors. This group is open for anyone who loves the genres of science fiction and fantasy. They welcome readers, writers, viewers and all lovers of the genres.

Science Fiction. (Closed group) For all those interested in science fiction and fantasy adventure reading.

Space Opera. Space opera is a sub-genre of science fiction dealing with stories of epic adventure and conflict on a grand scale. If you are a fan of authors like Poul Anderson, Peter F. Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds, E.E. Smith, David Drake, Neal Asher, John C. Wright, Iain M. Banks, Walter Jon Williams, Dan Simmons, Jack Vance, David Weber, Vernor Vinge, Stephen Baxter, Larry Niven, or Louis McMaster Bujold, this group is for you. Authors can promote their books through special promotion threads.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Fans. This is a virtual book club of fans of science fiction and fantasy.

SciFi/Horror/Doomsday/Fantasy. This group is for authors, novelists, screenwriters, and bloggers to share their pages and/or published work.

Goodreads

Goodreads, now owned by Amazon, is the largest reading community in the world. That means they want to read your book. Aside from signing up as an author and posting your book on Goodreads — which you MUST do — you can join groups that will help spread the word. (For tips on how to use Goodreads see: 8 Ways to Use Goodreads to Promote Your Book.)

We PROMOTE Fantasy/Sci-Fi Writers/Authors - "If you need help promoting your work, my Sci-Fi/Fantasy Team can advertise your book in our active Facebook fantasy & sci-fi page with 117,000+ Likes, Twitter page with 20,000 Followers, and feature it in Fantascize.com. We can also help you reach thousands of readers through book reviews, author interviews, book trailers, and any other type of advertisement/promotion you may need. For more details, Email my team at fantasynscifi@gmail.com or me personally at berserkxxo@yahoo.com if you're interested."

SciFi and Fantasy Book Club (15669 members) - This is mainly a discussion group, but there is also a folder for authors to promote their books. Make sure to read the rules before posting.

SciFi and Fantasy eBook Club (3538 members) - Self-promotion is allowed in the Authors' forum for active members.

Dystopia Land (2047 members) provides a folder where authors can post releases, giveaways, free books, and short stories.  

Twitter Hashtags

#SciFi
#SciFiChat
#scifibookclub
#speculativefiction
#fantasy
#sciencefiction
#DarkFantasy
#Fantasy
#Dystopian
#Paranormal
#PNR (Paranormal Romance)
#SteamPunk
#UrbanFantasy

#ScifiRTG or #SFRTG (Sci-fi Retweet Group)
#IFNRTG (Indie Fantasy Re-tweet Group)

General marketing:

#amreading
#indieauthors
#mustread
#kindle
#kindledeals
#BookMarketing
#IARTG (Indie Author Re-tweet Group)

#YA (Young Adult)

#indiebooksbeseen

#Amazon

#BYNR (Be your next read)

#BookGiveaway

#Free

#Freebie

#FreeBook

#FreeDownload

#FreebieFriday

#FreeReads

#KindleBargain

Reddit

Reddit is underutilized for promotional purposes, probably because the site actively discourages self-promotion and ads. Nevertheless, several authors have been "discovered" on Reddit, and have developed sizable fan bases, usually through r/books and its subreddits. (The trick to Reddit is knowing which sub-reddit is appropriate for your topic.)

r/books. This is a very active community dedicated to the world of books. There are no direct promotions allowed on this page, but they do have a “new releases” section where you can promote your book. You are allowed to promote your own writing in "new releases" as long as you follow these two rules:

1. The books being discussed must have been published within the last three months OR are being published this month.
2. No direct sales links.

All the sci-fi related subreddits have been collated into a Big list of SF-Related Subreddits. There are too many subreddits to list here, but if you take a quick look at the Big List you will find many in the "writing" section that will be useful. (Also make sure to check the genres list.) There are two sub-reddits that are particularly active, and which allow some self-promotion. (Please read the rules before promoting your work!)

r/scifi (4.4M readers) Saturdays are “self-promo Saturdays,” so log in on Saturday to promote your book. If you look at the side bar you'll find numerous subreddits, and within those even more sub-subreddits. 

r/sciencefiction (260K readers) This reddit is for fans and creators of science fiction and related media in any form. 

Pinterest

Pinterest is a great tool for sharing information. You can set up a board for your own publications and include photos of your book covers, signing events, and anything else related to your writing. You can also set up a group board devoted to related science fiction or fantasy topics, such as self-published science fiction or your favorite classic science fiction books, and allow others to share their titles. You can join established boards as well. (This is a great way to get followers.) Here are some group science fiction and fantasy boards that welcome new pinners:

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books

Bookaholics Anonymous

Indie Authors and Self Published

! Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books

For more detailed information about how you can make best use of Pinterest see:  How to Use Pinterest to Build an Audience (For Writers)

Slow Shopping: Getting Your Book Into Retail Store Libraries

The more time you spend in a store, the more likely it is you will buy something.

Seems like common sense, right? But retailers are just beginning to realize they can sell a lot more by slowing down shoppers, and giving them a "shopping experience."

Last October, the Wall Street Journal ran an article, The Slower You Shop, the More You Spend, in which they explored this new trend in shopping, dubbed (unsurprisingly) "slow shopping." (We can thank God for small favors - at least they didn't call it "slopping.") According to the WSJ, “slow shopping” is part of a “leisurely and enriching experience that’s not overtly focused on buying something.” It's also a great way to get shoppers to come back. People are inclined to repeat pleasant experiences.

Retail stores are employing all kinds of "experiences" designed to make shoppers hang around: Origins offers free mini-facials, Urban Outfitters hosts concerts and art events, and the Austin Whole Foods has been known hire roving mariachi bands. But one of the best ways to slow shoppers down is to get them to sit down and read.

To that end, some stores are adding libraries - comfy nooks where shoppers can sit down and leaf through a good book. New York's Club Monaco on Fifth Avenue features, among other things, a library where shoppers can read about the Flatiron district. 

How to get your book into retail store libraries

If you want to get your book into retail store libraries, the first thing to do is go slow shopping yourself. Scout out which stores might  be amenable to adding a comfy chair or two for shoppers to sit down and read. You may even discover that some stores in your area already have libraries.

If you think your book would be a good fit, and if the store is not national, contact the store's manager. If the store is a chain, contact the Chief Marketing Officer. Some of the CMOs named in the Wall Street Journal article are Michael Moore, the CMO for Lowes, John Nehas at Club Monaco, Oona McCullough at Urban Outfitters, and Pamela Hoffman at Origins.

If the retailer doesn't have a library, you may be able to help them start one. Make a list of some titles (yours included, of course), explain how they relate to the store's theme, and why shoppers would be interested in reading them. Mention the Wall Street Journal article, as well as other stores that are using slow shopping techniques to increase sales.

It works

Years ago, I knew a writer who wrote a humorous little book about back-seat driving. The book wasn't selling well, so he loaded a number of copies into his car, and drove to the regional headquarters of a national restaurant chain that featured an attractive gift shop. The CMO was impressed by the book (and also by the gumption of the writer), so he ordered copies for all the restaurants in the region.

Sometimes, that's all it takes. A little gumption, a good argument - and imagination. Don't let the idea that only bookstores can sell books hold you back. If you've written something outdoorsy, approach a camping store. Children's clothing outlets are great if you've written a children's book. And, of course, gaming and computer stores are perfect for speculative fiction.

At the risk of using an already over-used cliché -  "think outside the box."

Retail details

In general, retailers don't order large quantities. You can expect orders from a few books to a dozen. The amount of discount you offer depends on the size of the order. (Deep discounts should not be offered unless the retailer orders books in large quantities and pays up front.) Sometimes, retailers insist on consignment, which is fine if the store is local and you can pick up the books if they don't sell. In other circumstances, especially if you have to ship the books, the retailer should pay up front. Whether you decide to offer a returns policy is up to you.

Here are some helpful articles that will give you a greater understanding of how non-traditional marketing works:

Success for Your Book – in Non-Traditional Markets

Beyond the Bookstore: Holding Book Events in Non-Traditional Venues

How is Trade Marketing Different from Non-bookstore Marketing?

The Skinny on Virtual Book Tours

Updated 12/7/24

What is a virtual book tour?

A  virtual book tour (aka blog tour) consists of lining up a series of bloggers to review your upcoming book (and/or conduct author interviews) during a time frame that corresponds to the release of your title. It is, as the name suggests, the internet version of an old-fashioned, in-the-flesh book tour.

Purpose of a virtual book tour

The purpose of a blog tour is to generate interest in your book. (This is called buzz.) That interest should pay off in sales, but it won't if you don't capitalize on it with other promotional tools such as giveaways, well-placed author interviews, and, of course, promotion of your blog tour on Twitter, Facebook, and on your own blog and website. Building an audience takes time, energy and planning. A blog tour is just a part of your promotional plan.

How effective is a virtual book tour?

That depends entirely on where reviews, spotlights, and interviews are posted. Highly trafficked sites will be more effective than sites with just a few followers. If you plan it right, a book tour that includes influential sites can create considerable buzz. The difficulty many Indie authors face is that they don't have the time it takes to research well-trafficked sites. And, of course, tours require some planning. Requests need to be sent out two to three months in advance of the release date.

Be aware that you will have to send out hundreds of email requests to get a decent number of reviews. (Unless you have written a steamy romance, the return rate is generally less than 10%.) But even 20 well-placed reviews and interviews can be highly effective. The reviews may not necessarily generate a lot of sales, but your name and the title of your book will have appeared on the net in 20 locations - hopefully with back links to your website - which will increase your exposure on search engines. (Don't forget to check if reviewers cross-post on Amazon and other venues, which will increase the reach of their review exponentially.)

To find bloggers in your genre see:

Top 12 Sites for Finding Reviewers

Top 5 Sites for Science Fiction Writers

Top 5 Sites For Mystery/Thriller Writers

Top 6 Sites for Romance Writers

Top 5 Online Resources for Children's and YA Book Writers

12 Scifi and Fantasy Review Sites for Self-Published Authors

Mega-List of Fantasy and Sci-fi Reviewers Accepting Self-Published Authors

You can also do a google search on "[Your genre] book reviews." This will yield you thousands of hits.

How long should a blog tour last?

In general, the length of the book tour is determined by the number of hosts. Ideally, you want one or two bloggers a day to be talking about your book. That means a 1-week tour may have between 7 and 14 bloggers. A 2-week tour would have 14 - 28. The reason you don't want everyone talking about your book at once is that, just like a conversation, it will be impossible for readers to pay attention. On the net, too much simultaneous talk looks like spam, which people routinely tune out.

Measuring success

Many authors measure the success of a blog tour by how many books they sell. (Be sure to look at your KDP, Nook, or Smashwords dashboard before you embark on a tour so you will have a point of comparison.) But there are other ways to measure success.

Getting your name out there is important, not just for your current book, but for future books. One way to determine if your blog tour is increasing your visibility is to sign up for Google Alerts, and create alerts for your name and for your book title. You can compare how often you are mentioned before and after the tour. Keep tracking to see if the buzz continues, and when it starts falling off. That will give you a time frame for how successful your tour has been, and it will allow you gauge the success of your other promotions. What you want to see is steady conversation about you and your book for several weeks prior to the release, and a couple of weeks after. (Don't forget to arrange for pre-orders. Amazon offers that feature as does Smashwords.)

Increased traffic to your blog and/or website is also a measurement of success. How many people visit your website during the tour, and are they following? (If you don't already have an email sign-up feature for your blog or website, now would be the time,) Followers are your fans! Don't be shy about sending them your news.

Book tour services

In light of the planing involved, some authors turn to book tour services rather than spend the time to organize their own tours. There are a couple of advantages to using a book tour service: 1) You don't have to do all the work, and 2) Tour services have lists of hundreds of reviewers and social media outlets.

There are also disadvantages: 1) There is no guarantee that the reviewers the tour services have on their lists will actually review your book, 2) The review sites may not be well-trafficked, and 3) You have to pay, sometimes quite a bit, for the service.

What to look for in a book tour service

First, check out their stats. If their site ranks in the millions on Alexa, it means they get very little traffic. (The lower the number the better. Numbers in the hundreds of thousands are good.)

Next, check to see who is on their list of bloggers. How many bloggers are listed? (Make sure it's a lot.) Go to those sites and check how many followers they have. This may be time consuming, but if the blog sites have few followers, it will do you little good to have them post an interview or review. While you are checking for followers, do a quick check for comments on posts, an "about" page, and other indications that the blogs are not "dummy blogs." (Some virtual book tour services have been known to set up fake blogs.)

Lastly, look for services that provide things you either can't or don't want to do yourself. These may include:

• A banner
• Posting on Net Galley
• Distribution of a promotional package

Remember, tour services need to be for your genre. There is no point hiring a tour service that caters to romance bloggers if you write thrillers. So, examine the host blogs carefully.

Best services

Experiences with tour services vary tremendously, but there are a few that have been consistently recommended by authors. I've listed those which have decent site traffic, good social networking, and a large enough number of participating bloggers to make it worth your while.

Keep in mind that the success of a tour depends largely on how much an author is willing to contribute (e.g. contacting the blog hosts personally, making sure your website is current and mentions the tour, composing interviews and promotional material to send to hosts). Prices vary widely, and they do not always correspond with value.

For more information about paid blog tours see:

7 Top eBook Blog Tour Sites 

Reaching Readers: Lessons Learned From Blog Tours

Everything You Need to Know about Organizing a Blog Tour

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Xpresso Book Tours

Alexa Global rank: 245,353

Genre: Young Adult and New Adult in all genres 

What they offer:

Cover Reveal $40

• No limit on participants (average is 40 - 60)
• One day
• Maximum Social Media Exposure through participating blogs
• Should be planned 3 to 4 weeks in advance
• Only for covers that have not been released anywhere online

Book Blitz $90

• One day or window to post
• No limit on participants (average is 70-90)
• Maximum Social Media Exposure through participating blogs
• Should be planned 3 to 5 weeks in advance
• Must include a giveaway (one per blog or one shared Rafflecopter prize–note that one per blog will get you the most participants = more exposure.)

Review Query $50

• Connect your book with thousands of bloggers, readers, and reviewers from both our host list and 30k/month page views;
• Save hours from querying bloggers individually;
• No wait list for this service! Can be posted within 2 business days.

Packages

All of the following packages include:

• Reviews/Excerpts/Guest Posts
• Custom Tour Banner
• Media kit
• Advertisement on Xpresso Reads (30,000+ views/month)
• Social media promo: Tour kick off post on Xpresso Reads’ Facebook Page (4,000+ Likes) + 
• Daily tour promotion on Twitter @XpressoReads (26,000+ followers)
• A personalized Tour Page at Xpresso Book Tours (example)
• Reviews/Excerpts/Guest Posts

Reviews to the max $170

• 6 days
• Maximum sign ups (up to 40 blogs)
• May include giveaways *Encouraged*

Rock the Block $120

• 1 week
• ~15 tour stops

Rock the Town $170

• 1 to 2 weeks (your choice)
• ~20 tour stops

Rock the World $225

• 1 to 3 weeks (your choice)
• ~30 tour stops

Rock the Stars $280

• 1 to 4 weeks (your choice)
• ~40 tour stops

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Enchanted Book Promotions

The advantage of this blog tour service is that you can view their previous promotions. This will give you a good idea of what they have to offer, as well as a point of comparison for other blog tour services.

Genres: Fiction (all genres) and nonfiction

The Frog Tour Package

• $95
• One week Blog Tour (Monday-Friday) with 5-10 Tour Stops
• Promo Post on Enchanted Book Promotions and custom Tour Banner
• Daily Promotion on Twitter and Tour Promotion on Facebook
• Starter Day Party at I Heart Reading

The Crown Tour Package

• $145
• One week Blog Tour (Monday-Friday) with 10-15 Tour Stops
• Promo Post on Enchanted Book Promotions and custom Tour Banner
• Daily Promotion on Twitter and Tour Promotion on Facebook
• Starter Day Party at I Heart Reading

The Castle Tour Package

• $195
• One week or One Month Blog Tour* (Monday-Friday) with 15-20 Tour Stops
• Promo Post on Enchanted Book Promotions and custom Tour Banner
• Daily Promotion on Twitter and Tour Promotion on Facebook
• Starter Day Party at I Heart Reading
• One month advertising on I Heart Reading

The Princess Book Tour

• $245
• One week or One Month Blog Tour* (Monday-Friday) with 20-25 Tour Stops
• Promo Post on Enchanted Book Promotions and custom Tour Banner
• Daily Promotion on Twitter and Tour Promotion on Facebook
• Starter Day Party at I Heart Reading
• One month advertising on I Heart Reading

The Queen Book Tour

• $345
• One week, One Month or Two Month Blog Tour* (Monday-Friday) with 25+ Tour Stops
• Promo Post on Enchanted Book Promotions and custom Tour Banner
• Daily Promotion on Twitter and Tour Promotion on Facebook
• Starter Day Party at I Heart Reading
• One month advertising on I Heart Reading

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R&R Book Tours

In addition to blog tours, R&R offers cover reveals and review query services. R&R Book Tours accepts most YA and Adult genres.

Book Tour Packages

Mini Book Tours $60 US

• 5 – 7 Stops (reviews or promo posts)
• 5 day tour (Monday to Friday)
• All the perks and benefits of a full-size tour at a fraction of the cost.

Package “A” $160 US

• 15 stops (reviews or promo posts)
• 5 day tour (Monday to Friday)
• Custom tour banner featured on our sidebar
• Book tour kick-off post featured here and on Reads & Reels
• Tour stops will be promoted on social media by R&R and tour hosts
• Custom banner
• Media kits and HTML ready documents will be provided to bloggers and instagrammers (items for kits will be provided to us by author)
• Tour-wide Rafflecopter provided to all tour hosts, providing maximum exposure and entries. Adding book on Goodreads, following your twitter, following you on Goodreads, liking your Facebook page, etc…
• Tour must be booked at least 8 weeks in advance.
• Review copies must be available to hosts 4 weeks in advance (Some exceptions)

Package “B” $180 US

• 20 stops (reviews or promo posts)
• 5 day tour (Monday to Friday)
• Book tour banner featured on our sidebar
• Book tour kick-off post featured here and on Reads & Reels
• Tour stops will be promoted on social media by R&R and tour hosts
• Custom banner
• Media Kits and HTML ready documents will be provided to bloggers and instagrammers (items for kits will be provided to us by author)
• Tour-wide Rafflecopter provided to all tour hosts, providing maximum exposure and entries. Adding book on Goodreads, following your twitter, following you on Goodreads, liking your Facebook page, etc…
• Tour must be booked at least 8 weeks in advanced.
• Review copies must be available to hosts at least 4 weeks in advance.

Package “C” $220 US

• 25+ stops (reviews or promo posts)
• 5 day tour (Monday to Friday)
• Book tour banner featured on our sidebar
• Book tour kick-off post featured here and on Reads & Reels
• Tour stops will be promoted on social media by R&R and tour hosts
• Custom banner
• Media Kits and HTML ready documents will be provided to bloggers and instagrammers (items for kits will be provided to us by author)
• Tour-wide Rafflecopter provided to all tour hosts, providing maximum exposure and entries. Adding book on Goodreads, following your twitter, following you on Goodreads, liking your Facebook page, etc…
• Tour must be booked at least 8 weeks in advanced.
• Review copies must be available to hosts at least 4 weeks in advance.
• If you desire a custom tour, please contact owner to discuss

Cover Reveals - $95 US ($60 if included with package)

• 15 – 20 Hosts (Bloggers/ bookstagrammers/ or mix of both)
• Author selects date for cover reveal (one day).
• Cover reveal must not be available online elsewhere (There are exceptions)
• Cover reveal post featured here and on Reads & Reels
• Cover reveal will be promoted on social media (Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin, Facebook and Instagram)
• Media kits will be created for bloggers and bookstagrammers (items provided by author)
• HTML ready documents will be created for bloggers, graphics will be available for bookstagrammers
• Cover reveal posts include; cover, summary, Goodreads link, purchase links, author bio and picture, author links, or anything else author wants to include
• Can be done on short notice!

Book Blitzes - $95 US

• One day or 5 day window (Monday to Friday)
• No limit on participants
• Maximum social media exposure through participating blogs, Instagram accounts and Reads & Reels
• Media kits will be created and provided to bloggers (items for kit are provided to us by author)
• HTML “ready to post” documents will be provided to bloggers
• Can be done on short notice!
• No giveaway required but it does increase exposure and is highly recommended

Review Query Service - $50 US

• We query bloggers, reviewers etc… so you don’t have to.
• Price is good for one book. Additional books are $15 ea.
• This is not the same as a tour, bloggers or bookstagrammers will read/review on their own time though you may specify a time frame
• Reviews will be honest and positive reviews are not guaranteed.
• Reviewers will be asked to also post review to Goodreads/ Amazon in addition to their blog/ Instagram page
• Number of reviewers requesting books is not guaranteed. By signing up for this service, you agree that the number of reviewers requesting a copy and writing a review is not guaranteed.
• Can be booked with Book Blitz for $115 package.

10 Free Press Release Sites for Authors

NY Times newsroom, 1942

Updated 12/4/24

Your book is about to be released, but how do you get the news out to the media? The first thing you need to do is to write an engaging press release.

A press release is a news story. It is written in third person, has a catchy title and intro, an engaging discussion of the book's topic, and contains at least one quote. The thing to remember is that a press release is a story. What the book is about, why it is significant, and how it came to be written are all important components of a press release.

There are many templates for press releases online. (Type "press release book release" into a search.) Read the releases that have been distributed by publishing houses as well as the templates. (For example, search "Hachette press release.")

After you have honed your press release, the next step is to send it to media outlets via press release distributors. (Be sure to remember your local paper. Local authors are celebrities!) Don't wait until the last minute. If your local paper, for example, would like to include a photo, or get some quotes, you will need to give them sufficient advance notice - at least a couple of weeks.

Most press release services charge a fee - sometimes a hefty one - for distribution to the thousands of media channels that exist in print, on air, and on the net. But there are a few that are free, and some only charge a nominal fee. Depending on where you want your press release to be distributed, you don't have to spend a fortune.

Below are 10 press release services that don't charge a fee and which include an "arts and entertainment" category. Most of these also include paid services for broader distribution. It is worth the time to compare what each service offers in terms of paid and free distribution. Not only will a comparison give you an idea of how broadly your release can be distributed, it will let you know exactly where the press release will go.

Recommended reading. (This is a great article comparing the effectiveness of different press release services.)

60 Free Press Release Sites Tested – A Detailed Review

* An asterisk means registration is required.

Free Services

1 NPR
2 PR Log   * Free press release distribution service
3 PR.com   *
4 Newswire * Free and paid services.
5 Open PR * German site
6 UK Prwire * UK and global news
7 PR Urgent *

8 1888 press release

9 Newswire Today *

10 PRZoom *

Paid services

PR Underground Offers syndication to 100+ News Sites. 
Newswire * The paid service has a wide reach. Not cheap.
Pressat UK based, quite comprehensive. Plans start at £110

E-releases * Plans range from $399-$699. More pricey plans guarantee distribution to hundreds of news outlets.

PR Fire *UK only. Plans range from £95 to £290

ClickPress Plans range from £100 to £200. Free for charities.

Cision/PR Newswire Popular PR service

High-Impact Paid Promotion for Indie Authors

Updated 11/14/24

If you have the money to spare, and are building a marketing plan modeled after what a large publishing house would do, you will have to include paid review and promotional services. As an Indie author, you'll need to do your research first to discover which venues are worth the money. But if you choose wisely, and coordinate a paid campaign with a virtual book tour, you can see an immediate return for your expenditure.

You can use a couple of different strategies to promote your book, depending on whether you've placed it on multiple platforms or are using KDP Select. If you've gone the first route, and have print copies available, it may be worth it to pay for a Kirkus review. Kirkus is expensive, but it is the fastest way to reach a lot of crucial markets at once.

If you have decided to publish with Amazon's KDP Select, there are several paid options open to you. Almost all of these are more effective than free services, though some are more pricey than others. (For a single book - not part of a series - you should stick to the cheaper options.)

No matter how you advertise, you will have to plan ahead of time to make sure reviewers are lined up before you begin a promotional campaign. It is always a good idea to coordinate your efforts, for example arranging talks at local libraries and bookstores, sending press releases announcing your upcoming release, and hitting every social media outlet and online reviewer so that your release makes a splash.

I've only listed below the services that authors have reported are the most effective for promoting their books. There are many, many more. For a full listing of paid sites see:

7 Strategies and 110 Tools to Help Indie Authors Find Readers and Reviewers

Also see this post for one author's detailed experience with promotional sites: Call to Arms: Year-long survey reveals which book advertiser offers best value for money

Dave Chesson wrote an excellent review of NetGalley with a lot of helpful suggestions: NetGalley Review: Is NetGalley Worth It?

A word of caution: Be selective and research before you spend you money. Not every paid service is worth your hard-earned cash. If you are strapped, you can avoid paying for reviews altogether. There are plenty of reviewers who do not charge. 

Related Posts:

How to Get Reviews for Your Self-Published Book

Free Publicity for Your KDP Select Free Days

More information on paid promotions:

Marketing Your Indie Book – A Rough Nautical Map In A Sea Of Advertising Options

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Kirkus Indie

Cost: $450

Bottom Line: You can get a lot of bang for your buck with a positive review. But a negative review from Kirkus is the kiss of death, so unless the review is glowing keep it private.

What they offer: Kirkus is the most prestigious book review service in the industry, and one of the oldest. All books are read by professional reviewers, who give an unbiased review of 250–350 words. Reviews for Kirkus Indie can be kept private or published. Because their reviews are distributed to Google, Barnes & Noble, Baker & Taylor, and Ingram, they reach librarians and major media reviewers (e.g. New York Times). Your review may also be selected to be featured in the Kirkus email newsletter, which is distributed to more than 50,000 industry professionals and consumers. The Kirkus website gets more than 1.5 million page views monthly

How to submit: You can request a review by clicking the Get Started link on the author services page. Provide as much information as possible about your book, choose whether you want to send Kirkus a printed (mailed) or digital (uploaded) submission, select either standard service (7-9 weeks) or express service (4-6 weeks) and pay for your review (standard service $450, express service $599). 

More information: Read an interview with Karen Schechner, Senior Indie Editor for Kirkus, about how self-publishers can best use their service here.

____________________

NetGalley 

Cost: $450 for a six-month listing. (There are various rates for add ons.)

Bottom Line: If you can afford it, NetGalley is worth the money. But make sure you have reviews lined up elsewhere well in advance. NetGalley does not guarantee reviews.

What they offer: NetGalley offers ebook ARCs to reviewers. They work with publishers in Australia, Canada, the UK and USA. The service is widely used by well-trafficked review sites.

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BookBub

Cost: $104 - $4000, depending on the book's category and price.

Bottom Line: BookBub is recommended if you are giving away books, or selling them at 99 cents, but only in their top four categories: Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, and Thrillers.

What they offer: BookBub sends a daily email alerting its members to free and discounted titles matching their interests as they become available on retailers like Amazon's Kindle store, Barnes & Noble's Nook store, Apple's iBookstore, and others. The service is free for readers. With more than one million members, BookBub is the largest of the ebook promotion services. BookBub posts all of their pricing and sales statistics on a convenient table.

How to submit: BookBub requires error-free manuscripts and professional covers. They will only feature full-length novels (150 pages minimum). Books must be free or discounted by at least 50% for a limited time only. Read their submission tips here.

More information: Lindsay Buroker describes a positive experience with BookBub here.

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E-Reader News Today

Cost: Book of the Day listings cost $60 for a book priced below $2.99 or $150 for a book priced $2.99 and above. All payments are made through Paypal – no exceptions.

Bottom Line: The price is not cheap, but authors have reported good results, depending on the genre. The demographics of ENT show that the highest percentage of readers are women between 35 and 55. Attractive covers are a must.

What they offer: Your book will get sent out to over 475,000 Facebook fans and 150,000 email subscribers who are avid Kindle readers.

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Kindle Nation Daily

Cost: $30 - $140. Accepts Paypal and credit cards.

Bottom Line: KND offers a wide variety of promotional services, which allows authors to customize. Best results are for free books.

What they offer: KND has a list of over 288,000 readers. The site provides tracking tools, which is useful for measuring the success of your promotion. KND also posts monthly stats so you can check to see which genres perform the best.

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The Fussy Librarian

Cost: $10 - $22, depending on the genre.

Bottom Line: The Fussy Librarian is for discerning readers, which is an advantage for those who have their books professionally edited. The price is reasonable, although the chances of getting a significant number of readers from a single email is remote.

What they offer: The Fussy Librarian sends 115,000 subscribers a daily email, which is where your ebook will be featured once. The number of subscribers in each genre varies - you can find the latest stats on the prices page on the right. Your book will be included in their searchable database for 30 days as part of your fee.

In order to be considered, your ebook must have:

• 10 reviews and a 4.0 rating on Amazon OR 10 reviews and a 4.0 rating on Barnes and Noble, 11 to 19 reviews and a 4.0 rating, or 20 reviews and a 3.5 rating. If you have 10 reviews split between Amazon's various stores - like US and UK - your book is eligible.
• A price of $5.99 or less.

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BookSends

Cost: $50 to $120

Bottom Line: Book Sends is a BookBub-style service, but it costs a lot less. (Best prices are for books that are not free.)

Requirements:

*At least 5 reviews, with a high overall average, and an attractive cover.

*A planned sale price of less than $3 and at least 50% off full price.

*Due to limited space, authors are asked to submit just 1 book at a time and are limited to one ad per 30 days. They will not feature the same book more than once every 90 days.

*Novellas and short story collections are unlikely to be accepted at paid prices.

*If a book has been free in the previous 90 days, that's the only price they're willing to feature it at.

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San Francisco Book Review

This service does not specify that it takes (or does not take) Indie authors. But there are ads for self-published books on the site.

Cost: $150 standard, $299 expedited, $450 review plus interview. $300 interview only.

What they offer: An in-depth review with interview (extra). If you don't like the review, you can exchange it for an ad. For an extra $99, they will cross-post your review on the Manhattan Book Review.

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Clarion Review

Clarion is the paid service of Foreword Reviews.

Cost: $549 - More than Kirkus but  without the clout.

What they offer: A 450-word review with an express delivery of 4-6 weeks. The review will be posted on their website and licensed to book wholesalers.

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Publishers Weekly Select

PW provides free reviews on a selective basis. They also offer PW Select reviews to Indie authors, for a fee.

Cost: $167

What they offer: Review is posted in the magazine and on PW's websites, in the newsletter, and on social media channels, as well as a listing in its special announcements database, and to readers who subscribe to its magazines.

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Reedsy Discover

"When you submit your book to Discovery, it will instantly be available to over 1,000 reviewers on our platform. Reviewers select books on a first-come, first-served basis, and if they choose yours, they will have until your launch date to publish a review. On the week of your launch, your book will have the opportunity to feature on Reedsy's newsletter and homepage."

Cost: $50

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ManyBooks

ManyBooks sends out a daily newsletter to over 200,000 subscribers with listings of books which are either deeply discounted or free. With a feature in our newsletter, we can help you reach thousands of active readers eager to discover new authors and books, boost your downloads and sales, and increase your fan base.

Cost: $29

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eReaderIQ

eReaderIQ's newsletter has 47,000 active readers. They are looking for books with at least 5 reviews and a high overall average. Books with fewer reviews may be considered if the author has a history of good ratings.

Cost: $10 - $40, depending on genre and price of book. Free books are also promoted.

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JustKindleBooks

When you run a premium book promotion on JustKindleBooks, your book will also be featured on eReaderNation and BookSliced. Combined, these sites have 50,000 newsletter subscribers, 79,000 Facebook followers, 60,000 monthly page views and 500,000 monthly social media impressions. Each day nets, on average, a combined total of 120 paid purchases, 2,500 free book downloads, and hundreds of borrows. 

Cost: $22 - $45