am writing

June 2025 Book Marketing Challenge

| C.E. Flores

Engage with Reviews — Building Credibility, One Word at a Time

This month, the focus is all about engaging with reviews and using them to build your credibility as an author.

Here’s the truth: Reviews are more than just validation. They are social proof. They help readers decide whether to invest their time and money in your story. They boost your book’s visibility on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads. And perhaps most importantly—they foster trust.

Why Reviews Matter

Imagine you’re browsing online for a book. You see two titles in your favorite genre—one has three reviews, the other has 203. Which one do you click on? Reviews are the modern-day word-of-mouth. They create buzz, spark curiosity, and instill confidence in readers, bookstores, and even the media.

So, how do you get those precious reviews? Let’s dive into the action steps for this month’s marketing challenge: 

✅ 1. Request Reviews from Bloggers and Influencers in Your Genre

Start building relationships with book bloggers and influencers who already speak to your target readers. Craft a compelling pitch and personalize it. In it, mention why your book might resonate with their audience. Many reviewers have submission guidelines, so take the time to read and follow them.

Pro Tip: Focus on micro-influencers too, those with smaller but highly engaged audiences. Their readers trust them deeply.

✅ 2. Use Platforms for ARC Distribution

NetGalley is the gold standard for distributing Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) to librarians, booksellers, and passionate readers who love reviewing. If the cost is a barrier, look for co-op programs through small publishers or author collectives.

Other ARC services include BookBub, BookSirens, Hidden Gems, Muted Muse and StoryOrigin. These platforms connect you directly with readers who are actively seeking new books to review.

✅ 3. Launch a Social Media Campaign Encouraging Reviews

Get creative. Share fun graphics or quotes from your book with a simple call to action: “Have you read [Your Book Title]? Leave a review! It makes a world of difference!”

Consider doing a giveaway. Enter readers who post reviews into a drawing for a signed copy, swag, or a 15-minute Zoom chat. Incentivize without buying reviews (which violates most platform guidelines).

Use hashtags like #bookreview, #bookstagram, or #readersofinstagram to widen your reach.

✅ 4. Share Positive Reviews Across Platforms

Every great review is a chance to celebrate—and to share social proof. Feature reviews in your newsletter, on your website, and across your social media channels. Turn them into Instagram Stories or quote graphics. Tag the reviewer when appropriate (with their permission), and always say thank you.

By highlighting the voices of your readers, you show new audiences that your book is making an impact, and that builds momentum.

Final Thought

It’s not just about getting reviews, the key is engaging with them. Your readers are taking the time to respond to your words. Meet them there. Celebrate them. Show them their voice matters.

Because when a reader says, “I couldn’t put it down,” or “This book changed me,” that’s not just a review, it’s a legacy in the making.

What creative ways have you encouraged or shared reader reviews?

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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!

April 2025 WIP Challenge Update

| C.E. Flores

Chapters in La Yacata saga have been coming slowly and steadily as we work through our advancement towards independence. Some chapters won’t be published on my blog due to the sensitive nature of the events, but the drafts are to be included in the book. 

I finally fixed the formatting for the Special Edition herb book and republished it along with the paperback and Kindle versions. That’s a load off my mind. 

I also did some editing on the Healthcare book. Overall, I feel like April wasn’t a total waste of writing time.

What did you accomplish this month?

April 2025 Book Marketing Challenge Update

| C.E. Flores

One of the most powerful tools in your book marketing toolkit is collaboration, especially when you’re looking to grow your audience organically. This past month, I focused on Leveraging Collaborations, and here’s how it went:

🤝 Author Cross-Promotions

I leaned into the #writerslift community on social media, a fantastic way to discover and support fellow writers. My goal was simple: Participate in at least one #writerslift per day. I followed writers in my niche, shared their original posts, and built up mutual support through likes, comments, and shares. It was a great way to connect and shine a spotlight on each other’s work without the pressure of constant self-promotion.

Follow me: 

Instagram

Bluesky

X (Twitter)

Pinterest

Facebook

✍️ Guest Features

Next, I took a more targeted approach by engaging with individuals and creators within my niche. For me, that includes children’s authors, herbalists, and preppers. My goal was to follow someone new every day, which helped me discover fresh voices and content while building potential for future collaborations. Whether it’s a guest blog swap, podcast invite, or social media feature, these little steps lay the groundwork.

📘 Facebook Author Groups

I also spent time in author groups on Facebook, spaces full of writers, readers, and inspiration. I didn’t pitch or promote aggressively but simply showed up and connected naturally. These groups offer more than just promo opportunities. They’re little ecosystems of support, learning, and encouragement.

🌟 Getting Book Reviews Through New Platforms

I added a few of my books to BookBub and Muted Muses. The response was encouraging. I received several new reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, thanks to these listings. It was a small action that created meaningful momentum.

🎤 Seeking Speaking Opportunities (Still on the Horizon)

While I didn’t find any virtual events to contribute to as a speaker or guest this month, I remain open to it. Sometimes, the right opportunity takes a little patience and serendipity. I’ll keep my eyes open, especially for events that align with my niche audiences.

🔚 Final Thoughts

Collaboration doesn’t have to be complicated or flashy. Sometimes, it’s as simple as showing up consistently, supporting others, and being open to new connections. Tapping into other people’s audiences—while genuinely cheering them on in return—creates real momentum over time.

This month was proof that small, consistent efforts in the right direction can yield surprising growth. And the best part? It’s just the beginning.

Did you use collaboration successfully this month? Let me know what’s working for you! ✨

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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!

April 2025 Book Marketing Challenge

| C.E. Flores

This month, my book marketing focus is on Leveraging Collaborations: tapping into new audiences through partnerships. While I don’t have any current opportunities lined up, I’ve successfully done this in the past, and I’m revisiting those strategies to inspire my April efforts.

Why Collaborations Matter

Working with other authors, bloggers, podcasters, and influencers can exponentially expand your reach. Instead of relying solely on your audience, collaborations introduce your book to fresh readers who might not have discovered it otherwise.

Past Collaborative Wins

Here are a few ways I’ve leveraged partnerships before:

  • Author Cross-Promotions – I’ve teamed up with fellow authors to share each other’s books through newsletters and social media.
  • Guest Features – Writing guest blog posts and appearing on podcasts allowed me to connect with niche audiences interested in my book’s themes.

Action Plan:

✅ Reach out to authors for potential cross-promotions.

✅ Research blogs and podcasts aligned with my book’s theme.

✅ Identify influencers who might be interested in reviewing my book.

✅ Look for virtual events where I can contribute as a speaker or guest.

Have you used collaborations to market your book?

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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!

March 2025 WIP Challenge Update

| C.E. Flores

How is it April already? So, in March, I edited and republished the paperback and ebook version of Surviving Voluntary Exile: How to Overcome Common Obstacles to Making a Successful Life Transition. I also added a hardcover and audio version. I hadn’t planned on making those last two versions of that book in March, but with the current situation in the US, I thought it could be a useful book to anyone thinking of making the switch to a new location, and I wanted to make it as easily accessible as possible. 

Spring has come and I’ve been itching to work on some herb studies, so that’s what I’m going to do in April. I’d also like to keep editing the Healthcare book and adding anecdotes to the Insurrection book. 

What are you writing?

February 2025 WIP Challenge Update

| C.E. Flores

February was busy, but I made some progress on La Yacata Insurrection. Finding time to write between my actual responsibilities in La Yacata was a challenge, but I got some words down, which is a win.

I also made headway on editing the healthcare book. There’s still more to do, and I need to carve out dedicated time to finish it.

Looking ahead to March, my goal is to update the Exile book. It shouldn’t be a massive undertaking, but, as always, setting aside focused time will be key.

How was your writing progress in February?

January 2025 WIP Challenge Update

| C.E. Flores

January always feels like a fresh start—a time to set goals, make plans, and dive into creative projects. I can’t say I finished anything last month, but I did manage to carve out time for writing and even some editing, which feels like a victory in itself.

One of my main focuses has been La Yacata Insurrection. It’s a project that continues to evolve, and while I haven’t completed it, I’ve made meaningful progress. The obligations that I have to the community have become all-encompassing, and although that makes for a good story, it leaves precious little time to get anything written. I mean here it is mid-February and I’m just getting to the January update!

In addition to that, I did a first edit on Lupita’s Tamalada in English. I’m very excited about this book and want it to be just right before sending it to the translator for revision and the illustrator for pictures. 

While January wasn’t about finishing, it was about moving forward. And that, in itself, is something to celebrate. Here’s to more words, more edits, and steady progress in the months ahead!

How did your writing go?

February 2025 Book Marketing Challenge

| C.E. Flores

February’s focus is on being online, which is especially relevant to me since my physical location (rural Mexico) means in-person marketing doesn’t really happen. With Meta’s policy changes, I’ve taken a step back from Facebook and Instagram this year, similar to what I did when X (formerly Twitter) became too toxic. That doesn’t mean I don’t use those platforms; rather, I limit my engagement. I pop in, post, respond to anything that needs a response, and pop out. Whether or not this practice helps my book marketing remains to be seen, but it’s what I need to do for my own well-being. 

Month 2: Build an Online Presence

  • Focus: Establish platforms to connect with your audience.
  • Actions:
    • Create or update your social media profiles (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc.).
    • Join relevant online communities (e.g., Goodreads, Reddit).
    • Start a newsletter and offer a freebie (e.g., a chapter or guide).
    • Use tools like Linktree to simplify access to your platforms.

What are your social media strategies?

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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!

2025 WIP Challenge

| C.E. Flores

Well, here we are in 2025, and I still have a buttload of WIPs to crank out. Here’s my wish list of finished drafts by the end of the year:

La Yacata Insurrection (ongoing). This will have regular updates as our community projects develop. I don’t expect this to be finished this year, but I will be working on it.

Lupita’s tamalada in English and Spanish. The first drafts of these books are finished. They still need some polishing, and then I need to send the drafts to my illustrator, who could take up to a year to create the illustrations. SOOOOO, I don’t expect this book to be published this year either. 

I’d also like to work on the Apothecary series, but whether I focus on the wellness garden, wellness drinks, or women’s remedies remains to be seen. 

I’d like to do the employment book for the La Yacata series and/or the first book of the Woman’s Survival Guide series. I think I could finish one, but not both this year. 

I also have a book in the Women in the Bible series centered on Jacob’s family, but there’s quite a bit of work that needs to be done with that one. 

My goals seem rather vague this year, and I expect I’ll need to refine them as I go along, but here’s where I’m going to start.

What are your writing goals for the year?