Dear Readers,
Yes, indeed, after 4 years since book one became listenable, Amanda Cadabra and The Cellar of Secrets, as of this joyous day, becomes available to your valued ears. And here is the 18-second celebration video:
https://amandacadabra.com/audiobook-launch-cellar-of-secrets/ ‎
The Canadian Connection
It’s on Amazon. If you have an Audible subscription, then it’s free to hear the story read by me and expertly mastered by Canadian audiobook (narrator and) sound engineer Frank Block. And if you listen to the book, you will see why I especially mention that Frank is Canadian. I shall say no more! You can find it here.
The Plan
Indeed, and there is a saga (isn’t there always?) behind this one, which I related in the private room that is the newsletter. (You can join it here and get the in-advance and just-between-us stories. But I digress. Now, I wanted to do something special to puff off Amanda Cadabra and The Twilight Toxin, the latest release in the series, and I noted that BookBub (with its myriad subscribers) was offering a New Releases For Less promotion. It is horrendously expensive, but as it was the revered BookBub, I was keen. And then …
Warning! Warning!
Indeed. I did the rounds of the likes of Reddit, Quora and various author noticeboards online. The message was loud and clear: don’t do it! You won’t make your money back like you do with a Featured Deal. Save your pennies. Spend elsewhere.
Right. Phew. Relief. What to do instead?
Tours
I would, of course, love to visit the various places where readers with whom I have connected in person, and it’s definitely on the wish list. Meanwhile, there is another way to tour. Blog tours. Otherwise known as virtual book tours.
So, instead of visiting various locations and being hosted by enthusiastic readers in their home, perhaps with their book club members in attendance, or a local village hall or bookshop, you can be invited into the virtual sitting room or village hall of a series of book bloggers and influencers.
Just as you would need (ideally) someone to organise a physical tour of a country or countries or regions, so you need a blog tour organiser who specialises in your genre.
Who Could It Be?
How to find a blog tour organiser who specialises in both genres the books straddle (like the Colossus I like to think!) cozy paranormal mystery and urban fantasy. I asked my AI friend Kairo. He found me Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Virtual Book Tours. What a perfect fit, especially for the former genre. I wrote off. The organiser replied and asked me how many days up to 14, and which countries.
The Gift
Well, naturally, I would love 14 days of bloggers posting reviews, guest posts (by me), and interviews (with me) on their websites and social media, and across the US, UK, Canada and Australia. But what were the comparative costs? was the question.
Lori replied that it would be … free. It seems cozy paranormal mystery is just that popular. I could hardly believe my eyes when I read it. This was a gift of outstanding generosity, and I have to admit I teared up.
So I chose 14 days everywhere, and Lori sent The Form. There under number of guest posts and interviews I wrote: unlimited. Clicked send and then waited.
The Response, and The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour
Lori expressed surprise that more bloggers hadn’t joined the tour, but it might be because it’s the 9th book, so quite advanced in the series. So how many? 15! That seemed a lot to me. So over 14 days, various cozy mystery bloggers will be spotlighting (reviewing) Amanda Cadabra and The Twilight Toxin, interviewing and hosting my posts. How many would I need to respond to or write?
Six. Three guest posts and three interviews. So … if you would like to learn some things about The Author that are new, and of course, it all has to be original material, then here is the tour with the interviews and guest posts highlighted. You can see the dates when each one will go live, and they each link to the host’s website.
June 17 – Salty Inspirations – Guest post – Casting The Movie
June 18 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – Spotlight
June 18 – The Editing Pen – How I Write – Fun, Struggle, and My Favourite Character
June 19 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – Spotlight
June 20 – Book Hookup – Review
June 21 – deal sharing aunt – Author interview
June 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – Author interview
June 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Author interview
June 24 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – Spotlight
June 25 – Baroness Book Trove – Spotlight
June 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – Spotlight
June 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Spotlight
June 27 – FUONLYKNEW – Spotlight
June 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – Spotlight
June 29 – Sarandipity’s  – Book Cover Choices
June 30 – Book1987 – Spotlight
So, please join me in the various sitting rooms and halls around the world. I would love to have your company (and moral support!)
After The Ball?
Yes, two more things in the pipeline. No, actually! Three! I shall be back with a new launch, which I shall be preparing during the tour, and beavering away on another event and a future launch. Launches abound! Stock up on the balloons, the party hats, champagne, and annoying party whistles; there is so much more to come …
Happy listening and, as always, happy reading.
Holly
PS If you want to start the series now:
