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May 2025 Book Marketing Challenge

| C.E. Flores

📚 Book Marketing Challenge: Expand Your Network 🌟

One of the most powerful ways to elevate your book’s visibility is to expand your network—building meaningful relationships with industry professionals who can support and amplify your work.

Start by reaching out to local bookstores. Many are eager to feature local authors through book signings, author readings, or even prominent in-store displays. A personal connection with a bookstore manager can go a long way. Be professional, but don’t be afraid to share your passion for your book!

Don’t overlook your local libraries! Libraries are community hubs and often love to support local authors. Reach out to the acquisitions librarian to see if they can carry your book, or offer to host a free author talk, book club Q&A, or writing workshop. Libraries may also have local author displays, writing events, or newsletters where your work could be featured. It’s a great way to connect with engaged readers and build grassroots support.

Next, submit your book for awards and reviews. These accolades offer more than prestige. They add credibility and open doors. Whether it’s a niche literary award or a significant review publication, every recognition helps establish your reputation.

Joining writers’ associations or professional networking groups is another excellent way to stay connected and informed. These communities are full of shared resources, advice, and opportunities for collaboration. They can also introduce you to agents, editors, and media contacts you wouldn’t meet otherwise.

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of attending virtual and in-person conferences. These events are gold mines for connection and inspiration. You’ll meet other authors, publishing pros, and potential readers while sharpening your skills.

Building your network isn’t about immediate results but planting seeds that grow over time. The more relationships you form, the more support your book will have as it reaches new audiences. So introduce yourself, and let the literary world know you’re here!

Local Bookstore Outreach

  • Task: Research 3–5 local independent bookstores.
  • Action Steps:
    • Create a professional pitch email (include your book summary, cover, and why it fits their store).
    • Call or email store managers to ask about consignment, book signings, or displays.
    • Prepare a media kit or one-sheet to attach to your email.

Library Engagement

  • Task: Connect with your local public libraries.
  • Action Steps:
    • Contact the acquisitions librarian to request they carry your book.
    • Offer to host a free author talk, book club Q&A, or workshop.
    • Provide a review copy or direct them to your book’s listing on IngramSpark or other distributors.
    • Ask if they feature local author displays or events.

Submit for Awards & Reviews

  • Task: Identify 3 awards or review platforms that align with your genre.
  • Action Steps:
    • Visit sites like Readers’ Favorite, IndieReader, or local/state literary awards.
    • Note submission guidelines, deadlines, and fees.
    • Submit your book to at least one by the end of the week.

Join Writing Groups & Associations

  • Task: Join 2 writing or author-focused groups.
  • Action Steps:
    • Research national groups like SCBWI, IBPA, or local writing guilds.
    • Join Facebook groups or forums (e.g., Women Writers Group, Author’s Circle).
    • Introduce yourself and your book in each group.

Attend Networking Events or Conferences

  • Task: Attend at least 1 virtual or in-person event.
  • Action Steps:
    • Look up upcoming writer conferences or webinars.
    • Register and prepare a short elevator pitch about your book.
    • Engage with attendees—connect on LinkedIn or social platforms afterward.

Well, these seem a bit daunting to an introvert like me, but I’ll give it a shot!

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Book Hawking: A Beginner’s Guide to Marketing Your Self-Published Book is your roadmap to turning your hidden gem into a must-read!

February 2025 Book Marketing Challenge Update

| C.E. Flores

Focus: Establish platforms to connect with your audience and grow your reach.

Actions Breakdown

1. Create or Update Your Social Media Profiles

  • Focus Platforms: Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest
  • Threads: Build your profile with a compelling bio, including keywords about your book (e.g., herbalism, Mexican culture). Start engaging in conversations related to natural healing or traditional remedies.
  • Follow me on Threads: @survivingmexico
  • Bluesky: Follow accounts and communities that align with your niche. Share insights from your book, such as interesting facts about herbalism, and participate in discussions to establish credibility.
  • Follow me on Bluesky: @ceflores
  • Pinterest: Create boards around topics like “Mexican Herbal Remedies,” “Traditional Healing,” and “DIY Herbal Tips.” Pin visually appealing content that links back to your book’s landing page.
  • Follow me on Pinterest: @CEFloresWriter

2. Join Relevant Online Communities

3. Start a Newsletter and Offer a Freebie

Note: I’m not going to start a Newsletter or offer a Freebie just now.

  • Use tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to create a newsletter signup form.
  • Freebie Ideas: Offer a free chapter from your book or a printable guide like “Top 5 Mexican Herbs for Everyday Healing.”
  • Share your newsletter on Threads, Bluesky, and Pinterest to encourage sign-ups.

4. Simplify Access to Your Platforms with Linktree

My Linktree: SurvivingMexico

  • Set up a Linktree or similar tool to create a single hub for all your links (e.g., book landing page, newsletter signup, Pinterest boards).
  • Share your Linktree link across all your profiles on Threads, Bluesky, and Pinterest.

I got some stats for January, which I’ll share so I can compare them at the end of the year.

From Bing Webmaster Tools:

From Jetpack:

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Book Hawking: A Beginner’s Guide to Marketing Your Self-Published Book is your roadmap to turning your hidden gem into a must-read!

WIP 2024 – September Results

| C.E. Flores

Well, I didn’t get any work done on pending WIPs, but I did publish the entire series of Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico in hardback. That required WAY more work than I expected, and the books cost WAY more than most people would be willing to buy, but it’s done. Perhaps seeing the price difference between paperback and hardback will make potential readers feel like they are getting a steal with the paperback version. Perhaps not.

I also noticed that the covers look skewed on the detail page, but they look fine when you get the book, so I don’t know what’s up with that. 

This month, I may have some free time as I left one of my jobs at the end of September. If I can get myself organized, I might have more time to write. I say might because I’m the cog in the wheel moving our little community towards electricity installation, and it requires WAY more time than I would like. 

As it is, the Mexican dicho “hay más vida que tiempo” (there’s more life than time) is pointedly true in my world right now. There are exciting possibilities on the horizon which will require prioritization to accomplish. 

I would like to work on some of the Lupita series books this month. They sell well, and my illustrator said she has more time to devote to them. I’ve almost made back what I invested in illustrations for them last year.  Then again, I may want to do more herb research in my precious free time. Decisions, decisions!

What are you writing this month?

Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico

My Writing Challenge 2023

| C.E. Flores

I’ve amassed a pile of WIPs that I decided to conquer this year. So instead of a new reading challenge (which I did poorly on last year), I’m going to set myself a writing challenge in 2023. 

Here’s what I have in mind–

Each month, I’d like to tackle one (or more if I’m feeling feisty) title on my humongous WIP list. Most of the books are in draft form, at least, although some are still in the research phase (and those are the ones I tend to focus on, hence the backlog of unfinished manuscripts). 

I’m going to go through Leonie Dawson’s 40 Days to a Finished Book course again (perhaps several times throughout the year) to keep my motivation level high. Her crass weirdness really kickstarts my creativity! 

Since I’m focusing on writing, that means I’m not going to concentrate much on marketing this year. I have automatic Amazon ads running and my regular social media blasts, but other than that, I don’t plan on adding anything new. Hopefully, in 2024 I’ll have a rash of new books to promote, and I’ll be able to devote the entire year to learning new marketing strategies. 

So stay tuned as I post regular progress updates every month. Feel free to set your own 2023 writing or reading goals, and keep me apprised as well!

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Why not pick up a journal and do your own writing challenge this year? Click on the cover for more information!

See what else C.E. Flores has at Amazon!

Amazon Ad Challenge with Bryan Cohen

| C.E. Flores

In January, I signed my author self up for Bryan Cohen’s Amazon Ad Challenge. This was actually the third time around for me. The first time I was too intimidated to participate. The second time I did each and every assignment and attended each and every session. This third time, I tried my hand at creating ads for a different book, and man, has it made a difference in my book sales on Amazon.

I highly recommend the Amazon Ad Challenge for anyone looking to get some more publicity for their book. Bryan does an excellent job explaining how to read the Amazon Ad dashboard, create ad copy, and launch a low-cost ad that gives results. 

This isn’t an instant rocket ride to stardom by any means. In fact, Bryan cautions authors that they must be like the Zen lemur and cultivate patience. However, I have been delighted with my modest results. 

This process works best for series since your royalties will increase exponentially due to the phenomena of “read-through.” This means a reader buys your book or reads it on Kindle Unlimited because it was featured in an ad. Then, they like your book so much, they buy the next book in the series, and so on.

Over 1,500 authors have registered for the Free Amazon Ad Challenge. I’m one of them! Want to join me? Click here to register for next week’s event: https://AuthorsAdvertise.com

I will warn you that these challenges (which are free and offered quarterly) are intensive. You won’t get any other writing done. But the benefits are worth it! 

The next FREE Amazon Ad Challenge is set for April 12. I know I’m blocking off the time on my calendar. If you are serious about earning royalties, I suggest you sign up too!

Staying Healthy Living Longer! 7 Powerful Principles for a Healthier You! by Mary DiCaro

| C.E. Flores

I chose this book because I am interested in living as young as possible, as long as possible. Although I’m what you might classify as middle-aged, I understand that my long-term life satisfaction is dependent on what I do now. Staying Healthy Living Longer! 7 Powerful Principles for a Healthier You! by Mary DiCaro promised me some helpful insight on health, activity, and well-being.

The book was choked full of pertinent information. Since I have read several similar books and taken some healthful living courses, most facts were not mind-boggling but familiar. The author went into detail about our bodies’ systems and how much control we have over our welfare. She emphasized the mind-body connection and the often ignored component of diet as the cause of illness. She talked about what we shouldn’t continue to do and provided examples of what a successful aging lifestyle looks like.

As much as I felt this was a high-value book, I had some issues with the organization. The first section seemed to be an overview of what would be discussed in the book. The second section concentrated on scientific studies proving or disproving the benefits of certain behaviors. The third section finally got around to explaining the seven powerful strategies of aging gracefully. All of this information was informative. However, the presentation made some parts redundant and added to the book’s length (a whopping 385 pages). In theory, restructuring the text would reduce its length by about a third.

There were also some editing errors. The two most common grammar issues I saw were punctuation outside the quotation marks, commas and periods, and random capitalization of words. While they didn’t directly detract from the information, the English teacher in me cringed each time I came across an instance.

Anyone looking for good advice on successful aging would enjoy Staying Healthy Living Longer! 7 Powerful Principles for a Healthier You! by Mary DiCaro. However, it did have a decided Christian slant, which may be off-putting for some readers.

I received an ARC from Reedsy Discovery. You can read my review here.

The Seven Graces of Ageless Aging: How to Die Young as Late in Life as Possible by Jason Elias

| C.E. Flores

The Seven Graces of Ageless Aging: How to Die Young as Late in Life as Possible by Jason Elias tackles the topic of what it means to grow old gracefully. Contrary to popular belief, this concept does not necessitate that we ride off into the sunset, our usefulness at an end, as we approach the golden years. Instead, the author demonstrates through examples how aging is best done through continued service to the community, ourselves, and the world at large.

These seven graces are:

  • Rewriting the Script–reframing what it means to grow old
  • Finding your Tribe–honoring the importance of healthy relationships
  • Practicing Mindfulness Spiritual Eldering
  • Awakening Joy through Simplicity and Humor
  • Pursuing your Passion–clarifying a long-dreamed vision or unrealized idea and practicing it
  • Moving and Being Moved–moving as essential to the flow of life
  • Nurturing the body, the temple of the divine

The author, a thriving senior himself, highlights the life stories of 12 elders who embody what he describes as successful aging. These “pathfinders,” as he calls them, demonstrate how certain regular practices, both physical and mental, keep their bodies and minds functioning optimally even at extremely advanced ages. Interspersed among the commentary and life stories is information about scientific studies that support these practices. 

Each of us has a unique journey through life, so what resonated with me might not be what you need to hear. Even so, the content of this book is vital for every age group. Personally, I have been making conscious decisions about my lifestyle choices for some time. However, after reading The Seven Graces of Ageless Aging: How to Die Young as Late in Life as Possible by Jason Elias, I see how I can do even more towards setting the foundation for a vibrant second half of my life. I believe you will find the same to be true for you. 

April 2021 Virtual Book Tour — Leigh Ann Thelmadatter

| C.E. Flores

Like so many foreigners, Leigh Ann Thelmadatter came to Mexico to spend a couple of years and never left. Teaching English paid the bills and supported an obsession with traveling throughout Mexico to learn about its culture, particularly its folk art. Her “apprenticeship” came in the form of writing Wikipedia articles, then a blog called Creative Hands of Mexico, which lasted for 5 years (until the pandemic). 

Both projects have brought home the severe lack of documentation of Mexico’s handcrafts, especially the more regional and innovative ones. Fortunately, the blog led to a column of the same name in the Vallarta Tribune. Since 2019, she has been writing regularly about cultural topics in Mexico News Daily, which is now working on a series of Mexican artisan profiles. She published Mexican Cartonería: Paper, Paste, and Fiesta with Schiffer in 2019 and currently works on two more books. One on cloth dolls in Mexico and one about foreign artists who live in the country. The first is to give credit to the housewives whose creative talents and economic contributions are often overlooked. The second is an outgrowth of many years of contact with Mexico’s fine arts community.

The work on Creative Hands led her to learn about Mexico’s highly developed but almost completely unknown paper mache crafts, collectively called cartonería. They are figures made almost exclusively for the many festivals on Mexico’s calendar. The best known of these is the piñata, but also include effigies of Judas Iscariot for Holy Saturday, skeletal figures for Day of the Dead, and more. 

In the past 20 years or so, modern cartonería artists have been looking to push the craft as a true “folk art,” not only creating pieces that will be used for the festival, then destroyed/thrown away but as collectors’ items. 

The book begins with a definition of cartonería and its history in Mexico, themselves somewhat controversial as cartonería fulfills many, but not all, of the country’s definitions of “traditional handcraft.”  The following chapters profile important figures such as Pedro Linares and the Lemus family, traditional items made with the technique (and how they are used), modern masters, and what the present and future hold for the craft.

Connect with Me

Leigh Thelmadatter
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A to Z Blogging Challenge Reflection Post 2020

| C.E. Flores

And another A to Z Blogging Challenge comes to an end! I have to admit, with all the other things going on in April (COVID-19, quarantine, new kitten, gardening) I didn’t get to visit as many other blogs as I would have liked. Fortunately, I had written all my posts in January, otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the challenge either. 

Probably for some of the same reasons, I didn’t get as many visitors as I did previous years. There’s not much to be done about that, I suppose. The value I got out of participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year was that I advanced towards finishing the two self-publishing books I’m working on. I’m not there yet, but I hope soon I will be. 

book weaving course cover   book it book cover

As for next year’s participation….well, if I can come up with a good topic between now and then, perhaps. As it stands right now, I’m not sure. Any ideas?

Regardless, the A to Z Blogging Challenge 2020 was another satisfying experience for me. How did it go for you?