Tag Archives: #booktok

Lesson learned…more to come.

So.

I’ve been writing full-time and professionally now for 8 years. I’ve had to learn stuff I never in a million years thought I’d need to learn back when I got my first publishing contract in 2014.

Book formatting. Branding. Marketing. On-spec writing. Copyright law. Book design.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg.

I joined Twitter ( back when it was called that and not whatever the hell it’s called now) Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook ( and multiple FB groups), Goodreads, Bookbub, LinkedIn – again, just to name a few.

I’ve done more marketing than I ever in my entire life thought I’d ever want to do. Which is a lot considering I never wanted to do any.

And now I’m on TikTok, hawking my books to booktokers.

Here’s the lesson I just this week learned: none of the people on these platforms is my target audience.

None.

Tiktok? 18-24 year olds. I write 35+ age characters.

Instagram – same demographic

TwtX – I don’t even know what the demographic is there, other than the people on it are mean and grumpy and feel they can bully you anonymously

Bookbub – okay, here I may have some traction, same as GoodReads, because…readers! Of all ages.

Facebook – my professional page barely gets any traction/views other than my near and dear friends ( who also see the same content on my personal page because I’m a redundancy idiot). I don’t garner new readers to the professional page at all.

Now, I could PAY for ads for all these places to try and get new readers, but 2 things: I have no money, and the ROI is never comparable.

So my target audience is females, romance readers who like 35+ age romances, everything from sweet with heat to steamy, smalltown, romcoms and romantic suspense lite.

Now, I have my target audience. Does anyone know where I can find them so I can tell them about my books?? Because I need to sell some books.

My online holiday webstore has been open for 19 days and I’ve publicized the heck out of it.

1 sale.

KDP tells me I have no sales and no KU reads at all for the past 10 days.

Forget KOBO, Nook, and all the other sites where some of my books are widely distributed. If I get .25 cents a month in total sale royalties combined from these sites that’s saying something.

So, where can I find new readers? Where can I find readers who enjoy non-smutty, non-dark, non-erotic books, but love stories about regular people?

Recently, I wrote and posted this for a TikTok to try and find my demographic there:

If you’re looking for spicy, dark, romantasy…I’m not your writer.

If you’re looking for gritty, brought and tumble love them and leave them alphamales…I’m not your writer.

If you’re looking for historical, time travel fantasy or paranormal…I’m not your writer.

But…

If you’re looking for rom coms, small towns, and familycentric stories…I may be your writer.

If you like female billionaires who had it all, lost it, then got it back again all on their own, finding love along the way…I may be your writer.

If you like romance books about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them…I’m definitely your writer.

And if you like to cry on one page and come out of it with laughter on the next…I am your writer.

So…if you like what you see here, and haven’t read anything by me, then please consider doing so.

And if anyone knows where I can find readers who do like the kinds of stories I write…please let me know.

Thanks, Peg

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Episode 15 in #KindleVella MAGIC’S CHARM releases today #fantasy #magic #romance

If it’s Thursday, that means a new episode of MAGIC’S CHARM is released.

Here’s a little snippet from episode 15 which just dropped:

They sped along the Vegas desert as the sun finally jumped the horizon. He understood her desire to wear the huge sunglasses now since he had to squint against the sun’s glare as they headed straight into the light of day.

A half-hour after leaving the compound the limo turned into the terminal. Rhys counted the number of commercial flights all ready to leave the bustling city, an equal number ready to land from the skies above them.

“The average number of flights into the city each day is estimated between five and six hundred,” Siobhan said as the limo taxied to the private airstrip abutting  McClarren airport.

“Everybody loves Vegas,” Rhys said.

“And thank God they do or I’d be on perpetual tour. Or out of a job.”

“We’re here, Ms. d’Arc,” the driver announced.

Siobhan nodded as the car stopped. The driver opened her door while Rhys exited the opposite one. They were standing in a private indoor hangar. Rhys had been impressed by the amount of priceless art in the d’Arc home, but his awe grew ten times when he spotted the Bombardier Challenger 300 jet standing in front of them with a magic wand stenciled on the nose.

“Never seen a private jet before, McDowell?” Siobhan asked as she sauntered past him to walk up the steps to the plane.

“Seen one. Never flew in one, though.” He followed her up the steps.

“Well, you’ll have something fun to write about in your diary tonight, then, won’t you?”

The luxurious interior boasted 8 oversized captain chairs in the main cabin.

“Welcome, sir,” the flight attendant said. “My name is Rachel. I’ll be flying with you today.”

Rhys nodded as she snuck a peak at the cockpit instrument board.

Siobhan took a seat next to a window and strapped in. Rhys plopped down opposite her and did the same.

“There are seven other chairs in this plane,” she said, peering over the top of her sunglasses, “and you have to sit right there?”

“It’ll be easier to talk this way. You did promise to let me interview you.”

She slid her glasses back up her nose and made a play for looking out the window as the engines revved.

“We should arrive in about sixty minutes,” Rachel told them. She carried a carafe of coffee on a try, two mugs next to it along with cream and sweetener cups.

“Black for me, please,” Rhys said, accepting the mug once she’d filled it. She never asked Siobhan how she took it, just made it and handed it to her.

“Would you like a fruit plate for breakfast, Mr. McDowell, or eggs, bacon, and toast?”

“The latter,” he told her.

“Very good. Once we’re at cruising altitude I’ll bring everything out.”

Siobhan thanked her before the woman went to the back of the plane and seated herself.

“So,” Rhys said, after taking a sip of the most delicious coffee he’d ever had. “Your own plane. Nice perk.”

Slowly, she turned from looking out the window to face him, her sunglasses still in place. He’d give anything to see her eyes.

“We do quite a bit of traveling all around the country and this way is easier all around.”

“But I have to imagine it’s costly.”

She shrugged. “What good is having money if you don’t spend it?”

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A #bookthrone #Booktok #tiktok builder #entertowin #rafflecopter

I’m part of this fabulous giveaway since I recently took the plunge and joined #tiktok

Are you a tik-toker? Want to win a $100 Amazon GC ( who doesn’t??) well, just go to the landing page, follow the authors listed on their platform and you’ll have a good chance of winning!

Here’s the link: https://www.bookthrone.com/december-tiktok-giveaway Click on then scroll all the way to the bottom for instructions. You can also just click on the books shown to follow the authors – that’s the easy way!!

My #holidayromcom FIXING CHRISTMAS is one of the event sponsor books! Have you read it? It’s a goodie. Maybe you should get it for the romance reader on your holiday shopping list? Or just, gift it to yourself for a feel-good read!

Good luck and happy Tiktoking and reading over the holiday season ~ peg

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