I’m making this a sticky post since I know weekends are busy for people.
After speaking with C.S. Boyack about blog tours, he pointed out that I really need to give Legends of Windemere a big sendoff. I know there’s still Path of the Traitors to release first and I’m aiming for September. Yet, I should start preparing for Warlord of the Forgotten Age in December. It’s a long ways off, but not that long since we’ve already passed the halfway mark of 2017. A ‘Book is Live’ post that everyone posts might not do this justice. It’ll work for the next release, but not the finale.
This is going to be tough. I’m not a member of the RRBC because I don’t think I can meet the reading requirements. I’m not part of an author group that shares a blog and promotes each other. Yet, I know I’m not alone. I have people who follow my blog and have been watching Windemere roll toward the finish line. So, what can I do here?
Unique Guest Posts
Every person who offers to help will get a post on a special topic. Of course, I’d like to talk with the blogger about what they think would work best. Some things would require a back-and-forth. I’m always happy to be handed a topic because it’s fun to think about something I hadn’t considered before. Ideally, I’d love to get over 20 special posts ready for when the book is live. Craig did come up with a few ideas and I had some too, so I’ll share those below. A lot of these are going to be ‘first come, first serve’:
- Author interview (Want to keep this to 1 or 2)
- Character interviews (First come, first serve for characters and the host would have to give the questions)
- Character evolution posts (First come, first serve again. Can’t have 5 Nyx posts)
- Feelings on finishing a series.
- The infamous Luke/Kira/Sari romance (I still get hate for this one)
- Writing a main villain who spends most of the series sealed away
- What I’ve learned about *insert subject* (This would be a tip post)
- Tips on bundling large novels
- Anything world building related like Windemere races, monsters, magic, cities, cultures, etc.
- A post on any supporting or villain character that you personally liked
- Tips to planning and writing a long series
- What’s next for Windemere
That’s all I can think of, but I’m happy to work on something that comes to a host’s mind. This is for December too, so I’ll probably make a volunteer request every other Sunday in the hopes of gathering a big push. For any authors out there, I’d be happy to trade promos and host you if you’re willing to do the same. If you know anybody who does guest posts then I’d be really appreciative of a hookup. Needless to say, I’m nervous and might have been downplaying the push because of my ‘coming to the end’ anxiety. Time to shed that and get things ready for the finale.
Feel free to volunteer for the basic ‘Book is Live’ post for Path of the Traitors too.
Finally, doing all of this does make me wonder what I’ll be posting on my own blog. Maybe I’ll take the topics that nobody else does? I know it’s dangerous asking other questions here because they can distract from the main post. Still, I should probably figure that out.
Legends of Windemere 
I’ll be happy to host you. I’d especially love to have you do something with Fizzle on my blog, given how similar he is to my Zeena.
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Sure. What were you thinking with Fizzle?
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I haven’t thought too much about details, but I was thinking either some kind of guest post where he gives his view on something, or some kind of interview similar to the one we did with Luke and Kishi between him and Zeena; it could be fun to have the two different types of dragon kin creatures meet.
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We can try the character interview since having Fizzle talk for long can be tough. His speech pattern makes lengthy posts confusing and difficult.
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OK. Send me an eMail closer to the time so we can work out the details properly. 🙂
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Okay. I’ll contact you in November. Once December hits, I’ll be scrambling to publish and get things ready before the holidays.
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Hi Charles, I was delighted to host Craig on my blog and I would love to do the same for you. The last two topics on your list are of particular interest to me.
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Thanks. Maybe the Tips for a Long Series would work out best?
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I have always been interested in the Luke/Kara/Seri romance. I can do any subject though.
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Cool. Do you think that topic would do well on your blog? You know your audience better than me. I’ll admit, I’m wondering about that one now because it’s really specific.
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Your choice. My audience is puts up with a lot of different stuff so I think they would be okay. If too specific for someone who is not familiar with the series then maybe another subject. I’m open to your needs. You can even assign me one if you wish.
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Good point on familiarity. Maybe a ‘what I learned’ post? Not sure what though. Need a juicy topic.
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🙂
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What about ‘What I’ve Learned About Romantic Subplots’?
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Super.
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Don’t forget to send me whatever you like, Charles – except an Author Interview – because you’ve already done one on my blog 🦍😎
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Good point. What about the ‘finishing a series’ post? Actually, I think we discussed that near the beginning of the year.
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Works for me, Charles – give me your preferred date of posting and I’ll reserve it for you 😎
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Sure. Won’t be for a while though. Need to publish 14 first. This is to help me get guest posts ready with plenty of time and give me several chances to get help.
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I’ll reblog your post, to help spread the net 😄
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Thanks. Hopefully I get a few new faces.
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I didn’t realize I would get a mention here. Thanks for that. As we discussed, I’m up for anything. Tweeting this out too.
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Thanks. Gotta give credit where it’s due.
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Get yourself over to Charles’ blog FAST and let him know if you’re interested in getting a great guest post from this popular (and prolific) author, for your blog in December 😃
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Thanks. Always open to ideas that other people come up with too. I just did a quick list that isn’t nearly as comprehensive as I’d like to believe.
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Hi Charles, would love to help out. I also have a book coming out later (date not fixed yet, but somewhere in Sept/Oct) if you would like to reciprocate. For my blog I would love a post from you about “What I’ve learned about characters in a series: what you love about them, hate about them, keeping them fresh and alive….” something along those lines. I have some rules on my blog for guest posts, so let me know and I will send you the link where the rules can be found.
All the best, Linzé
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I’d be happy to post about your book when the time comes. Just send me the stuff when it’s time and I’ll put it up when you want. (lukecallindor@gmail.com)
That sounds like a fun topic. I usually do those kinds of posts as a 1-7 list to hit on a few big points instead of roaming the subject matter. I’ll make sure to set it up according to your rules. Thanks for the help.
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Thank you and your post idea sounds perfect 🙂 My blog rules are at https://linzebrandon.blogspot.com/p/fly-broomstick.html – and they are simply to have some common feel to posts from other authors/bloggers. All the best!
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Thanks. Does the author bio count toward the 400-500 word limit?
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Nope, the word count is only for the post. Your bio can be as long as you need it to be 😉
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Thanks. I tend to use the Amazon one since that took awhile. For some reason, writing about myself is always a challenge.
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Count me in, Charles. Suggested topic: How Novel Writing Teaches Us about Ourselves. If that doesn’t work for you, any of the above topics would be fine. I’d need all info at least a week in advance of post date. Kudos for all of your hard work! BTW, focusing on this will help keep anxiety at bay 🙂 xx
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I’ll do my best with that. It’s an interesting topic. As far as timing, I’ll get it to you as soon as I can. It’ll probably be after the book is out, but a week later is fine. Be a nice second week push. Thanks.
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Whatever works for you, Charles. I’m also open to doing a pre-launch post if you’d prefer.
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Tough call. I want a good amount of posts after the debut, so people can buy it. Yet, there is something to be said for pre-release hype. I wouldn’t have the cover art ready for it though.
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I’d be happy to do it.
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Thanks. Any topic that would work best for your audience?
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Whatever topic you like. I do a lot of folklore and mythology as well as history of my fictional world. Feel free to send me whatever you’d like.
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I use a lot of mythology, so I can write a post on that. Especially with monsters.
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Sounds good.
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I’d be up for this. Maybe another character interview? I’m thinking something like last time, but on a somewhat larger scale…possibly as many major characters as you’re comfortable with. Still need to get caught up on the reading, but that’d just help with figuring out the questions.
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That could be huge since the champions alone makes 6. How would it work with so many characters?
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I imagine it’d involve alternating between characters, in terms of questions. Would still need to figure out a few things for this, of course.
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Yeah. It sounds pretty huge. Probably would be best to stick to the 6 champions.
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Working with the 6 of them works well for me.
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Okay. We’d need to make space for the book promo info too.
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I have a very small blog but I would be honored if you guest posted on my blog. I have a series I’m working on and would love to here your ideas about writing it or struggles with that process. I think you’ve read my blog before rtranbooks.wordpress.com you can reach me through email at rtranbooks.com@outlook.com if your slots aren’t all filled.
Thanks
Rebecca
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Thanks. Going for as many volunteers as I can since this is the series finale. So, a post with tips to writing a long series?
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Ugh I replied to this earlier this week and the blog fairies didn’t post it. I think something along that line would be good. Maybe how you got all your ideas, or how to keep the continuity. I know for me I can never keep the same characters for more that a book or two I run out of Ideas it would be nice to see how you did it.
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Okay. I’ll focus on character development over a long series then.
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Wonderful just let me know when it’s ready to go. I am thrilled to have you on my blog.
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Okay. This isn’t until my December release. So I probably won’t send it out until then. Have one more book in the series to release in September and then the grand finale. 😁
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I’d love to host you on my blog, Charles. The love triangle or something on world- building would be great. 😉
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Believe someone claimed the love triangle and pointed out the post might not work if people aren’t familiar with the story. I can write about evolve Windemere as I wrote the stories. Kind of how world building is more fluid than stable.
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Sounds great – looking forward to it! 👍
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Looking forward to writing it to. 😀
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That should have been ‘the evolution of Windemere’. Not very coherent at 4:30 in the morning.
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Add me for both, Charles, and I’m open to topics.
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Thanks. Are there any types of posts that seem to do better on your blog than other types? For myself, I’ve seen informative with humor gets a good reaction.
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio.
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Thanks for the reblog. Interested in hosting a post? I know it’s far down the road.
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I might be. I don’t want to impose.
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Be happy to write a guest post up for you. It’s the grand finale of my series, so the more the merrier.
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I’m up for it.
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Cool. Is there any kind of topic you would like me to write about? You do a lot of author advice posts, right? Trying to get an idea of the audience.
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Author advice and interviews seem to get the most response.
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Author advice . . . What about a post on giving closure to characters after a long series?
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Yes. Perfect.
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Great. I’ll put it on the list. 😀 Thanks.
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Cool
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I do a feature called Meet The Author, you can check out what it’s about here on this link. I do an author feature on the 25th of every month. Pick which month would suit you. If you’re interested just get in contact. https://kimknightauthor.com/25th-of-each-month-meet-the-author/
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I’m hoping to release the book in early December. Would the 25th of December work?
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Hi, yeah sure. If you send me a mail via contact Kim page I can send you the author interview. ( It’s quite unique you can view the other author’s interviews to get an idea). I hope you get lots of support with this!
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Thanks. When you need it by for December 25th?
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Any time between now and then be good Charles, it can wait until December if you want to feature then. Or if you want to feature before then, just have details to me in time for the 25th of whatever month takes your liking.
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I won’t be getting the cover art for the final book of my series until December. Honestly, I still have the one before it to put out in September, but I need to gather a lot of guest posts and momentum for the finale. I kind of nervous about the whole thing too.
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Well, you know I like author interviews. But whatever you want to do on the blog is fine with me.
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I’ve had a few interview offers, so I’ll try and think of a topic. It’s getting hard to come up with one though. A lot of the posts about the future of Windemere feels like they should be on my blog while the guest ones focus on the story and what came before it.
Maybe the one on writing a main villain who has very little page time? The Baron really only had the prologues and a few scattered scenes to make an impact.
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Charles, I am late in responding but I would be glad to do what I can to help you. My blog http://www.kareningalls.blogspot.com is geared to writers and avid readers. It is relatively new so I do not have many followers at this point, but I will support you through social media and anyway I can. If I can be of help, let me know. Karen
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Thanks. I really appreciate the help. Is there a certain topic I could write about?
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