Kindle Alert: Don't Miss This Bargain Offer

Attention Kindle readers: The e-book version of my debut novel, Lies Agreed Upon, a spicy gumbo of mystery, romance and murder set in New Orleans, is being promoted by Kindle Nation Daily next week at a special $2.99 price. Take advantage! The Kindle price is going back up after the promo period. If you like Kindle bargains and discovering new authors, and you haven't already joined, check out the Kindle Nation Daily site at http://kindlenationdaily.com/ and the related http://www.bookgorilla.com/

Have You Joined the E-Book Crowd?

Are you an e-reader? I've noticed the evidence of e-book popularity in my own book promotion for Lies Agreed Upon. I may prefer reading an old-fashioned paper book, but I also purchase e-books for my Kindle, especially because it is so convenient when traveling. So I was curious about e-reading trends. According to research in 2012, 21% of American adults reported reading an e-book in the previous 12 months, up from 17% in 2011. Doubtless the percentage of e-book readers has increased even more in 2013. And the e-readers are different from traditional readers -- in ways that make authors eager to seek them out. Compared with other readers, e-book readers read more books. E-book readers consume an average of 24 books a year compared to an average 15 for non-readers of e-b0oks. E-book readers also are more likely to purchase rather than borrow a book. E-book reading is happening across an array of devices now, including dedicated e-readers, tablets and smartphones. For more about e-reading trends, go to the report from Pew Research at http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/04/04/the-rise-of-e-reading/

Solving the Mystery of the Mystery Reader

As an avid mystery fan, and now the author of a mystery novel, I'm naturally curious about the profile of the average mystery reader. In 2011, Sisters in Crime, an organization for advancement of women crime writers, released its first survey of buyers of mystery books, based on data gathered by Bowker's PubTrack sales analysis division. It turns out that my fellow mystery readers look a lot like me in some ways: female (68%) and over age 55 (48%). They are also more likely to be Southerners (35%), to live in suburban areas (48%), and to have no children at home (77%). However, I depart from the norm when it comes to purchase behavior by embracing the digital age, making both print and e-book buys while shopping in book stores and online. In contrast, most mystery readers prefer retail stores (39%) over online (17%). And while 90% reported knowing about e-books, only 13% had read one (mostly those who were under age 30).  So how do I attract more mystery buyers to my online-only book distribution? Leading purchase drivers such as "well-known author" and "book series" aren't helpful, but one top-ranked purchase influencer is within reach: recommendations from friends and relatives, as well as other readers. So keep posting Amazon, Kindle and Goodreads reviews -- and talk it up, guys! For the full report, go to http://www.sistersincrime.org/associations/10614/files/ConsumerBuyingBookReport.pdf