NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

TO NEWSLETTER OR NOT




Authors like to write. So, why is it that writing a newsletter often fills us with a sense of dread and panic? Perhaps it’s because we know we should be writing on our next book, but instead we’re writing a newsletter. Or maybe it’s because it’s just one more freaking thing we have to do for promotion and we are totally, utterly promotioned-out. Whatever the reason, do authors really need to have a newsletter?

I wasn’t sure, but my publisher finally convinced me it was a good idea. My talented sister set it up for me, so it was a done deal. Mail Chimp was our vehicle of choice to both collect email addresses and create a newsletter template. Thankfully, Mail Chimp wasn’t nearly as scary or daunting as we feared. There was a bit of a learning curve, but luckily not that bad. Luckily it looks like subsequent newsletters will be fairly simple to create and send out. So, after the initial newsletter, it looks like all downhill from here. Whew. So, why do it?

I thought about it and decided to write it to reward my inner core of awesome readers—those people who are excited enough to sign up for my newsletter and buy my books as soon as they come out. I will use my newsletters for special cover reveals, swag giveaways, exclusive excerpts, free books, and so on. It also helps me stay in touch with those readers who are not on social media, but who want to know what I’m writing. It’s a fun and fabulous way to keep your readers engaged and interested. Once I determined for whom the newsletter was intended, I actually had a blast writing it. After I sent it out, I was excited to hear if they enjoyed reading it. Apparently they did! Yay! Right now I have plans for a whopping two newsletters a year, possibly three if I'm ambitious. I'd prefer to start slow and gauge interest.

For those of you who may be interested, here is a little peek at my newsletter which just came out last Sunday.



The bottom line—if you are an author and you decide to write a newsletter, do it to engage your readers and inform your fans. Make it fun. And, by all means, have fun writing it.

By the way, if you want to see my most recent newsletter in all its glory, hop over to my website at www.juliemoffett.com and sign up.

11 comments:

B.E. Sanderson said...

There seems to be a battle with the 'do a newsletter' people on one side and the 'don't do a newsletter' people on the other. :shrug: I tried setting one up in Mailchimp, got thoroughly frustrated and gave up. (It was probably me, not them.) Now I'm trying Mailigen, which seems to fit my brain better. Still not quite sure what I'll put in it - since I'm pretty open about cover reveals and updates and info on my other social media outlets. And I'm horrible about keeping things secret until a newsletter comes out.

Good luck with yours, Julie!

Ana Barrons said...

I'm in awe of authors who write great books AND are good at promotion. The newsletter idea is very cool -- good luck with it!

Rita said...

I do enjoy newsletters. I even enjoy writing them. Mine are about new releases, news and fun with my characters. Off to sign up for yours.:-)

Julie Moffett said...

B.E.: I think if it hadn't been for the expert advice of my sister, I might have given up on Mail Chimp, too. But I discovered it's pretty fun and I enjoyed it. Let me know if you ever put one up and I'll sign up! :)

Ana: I'll keep you posted on the newsletter front!

Rita: Can I sign up for your newsletter on your website?

Sandy Parks said...

Mailchimp has a learning curve, but there is a little video on the site that is good to watch so you know what can and can't be done. Julie and I also chose one of the basic templates that was pretty easy to mold into what she needed. We both need to put out newsletters and decided why not try it together so we'd both learn how. Two heads helped reduce the learning curve frustrations. It also helped that each of us could review/edit the layout and content and offer suggestions. Not a bad idea to have your newsletter edited by a fresh set of eyes since it is something a lot of people are going to read.

Anne Marie Becker said...

I love MailChimp! They make it so easy. Just sent out my quarterly newsletter today, actually. Love the idea of giving away a dog tag. How fun!

Julie Moffett said...

Anne Marie: Sandy had that idea and got them made at an air show. I'm keeping one and giving one away. Isn't a great idea?!!? :)

Julie

Marcelle Dubé said...

Very cool, Julie! Congratulations.

jean harrington said...

I'm definitely in total admiration mode, Julie. Good for you!

Cathy Perkins said...

I'm so impressed!
Putting out a newsletter never seems to reach the top of my personal To Do List.

Unknown said...

Your newsletter looks amazing. I love reading them - not so keen on writing them, lol. I've just signed up for yours.

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