Jessie: Wondering how to make summer last more than a few more weeks!
One of the best things about attending conferences is getting to meet other authors, especially those about whom you have heard lovely things. I had just such an experience in New York last month when I became acquainted with Alexia Gordon. I am delighted to welcome her to the Wickeds today!
One of my blog-mates over on Missdemeanors posed a question to our group—what do you wish you had known earlier in your writing career? Several of us responded we wished we’d known how much marketing and promotion was involved in being a published author. Book tours, conference panels, newsletters, blogs, social media posts—keeping yourself and your books in the public eye is a full-time job. So much so that some authors hire a publicist to help them.
Luckily, the crime fiction community—that includes authors, agents, bloggers, publishers, editors, and readers—is generous with its time and effort to promote members of the community. Bloggers review books and invite authors to guest post on their blogs. Authors Tweet other authors’ books, share their book news on Facebook and Instagram, and cross promote each other in newsletters. Lone Star Literary, an online literary magazine, hosts book blog tours and features books with a connection to Texas. Many of those books are crime fiction titles. Agents, editors, and publishers help generate buzz. And readers—prime members of the community—read the books, review them, and recommend them to friends. Organizations and groups like Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and Pitch Wars offer advocacy, advice, and support to aspiring, new, and established authors. Lots of cheerleading goes on in the crime fiction community. Funny, considering crime writers spend an inordinate amount of time thinking of interesting ways to kill people. You’d think we’d be a scary bunch, instead of a warm and welcoming community, always ready with a kind word, a shoulder to cry on, or a drink at the bar.
A newer method of book promotion, one that’s growing in popularity, is podcasting. According to a Musicoomph[dot]com infographic, there are nearly one million active podcasts in 2019. Of course, not all of them are devoted to crime fiction. Many don’t focus on books at all. Several podcasts are all about crime fiction, though. Shedunnit features authors and stories from the Golden Age of detective fiction. Unlikeable Female Characters, hosted by “feminist thriller writers,” hosts authors who write female characters to whom the words “nice” and “ladylike” are insults. Game of Books pairs crime novels with wine recommendations. Authors on the Air is a broadcast radio show rather than a podcast, but many crime fiction authors sit down for an interview with host, Pam Stack. Writers on the Beat, Public Display of Imagination, Criminal Mischief, and Authors of Mass Destruction are a few of several other crime fiction-themed podcasts.
And there’s a new kid on the podcasting block—The Cozy Corner with Alexia Gordon. That’s me! A member of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network, The Cozy Corner airs every other Wednesday on podcast listening platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, AnchorFM, and PocketCasts. I interview a different author each episode, concentrating on those who write mysteries that avoid explicit sex and graphic violence. I cover the crime fiction spectrum from cozy to traditional to the edge of cozy. Past guests include Gigi Pandian, V.M. Burns, Olivia Matthews, and Paula Munier. Abby Vandiver, D.A. Bartley, L.A. Chandler, and Susanna Calkins are a few of my future guests. I’m excited to be able to offer another outlet to promote members of this supportive, giving, creative community I belong to.
Alexia’s books can be found at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Indiebound and Henery Press. She loves to connect with readers on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest and on Instagram. You can also get in touch with her at her website and can read her posts on Miss Demeanors and Femmes Fatales.
Readers, do you listen to podcasts? Read newsletters and book blogs? Do you follow authors on social media? How do you support crime fiction authors? What guests would you like to hear on a podcast?
Welcome, Alexia! I have never gotten into podcasts, but The Cozy Corner sounds lovely. I might have to give it a listen sometime.
I have never listened to a podcast before, but The Cozy corner sounds interesting. I will check it out. I follow a lot of authors on FB, Bookbub, and Goodreads. I also follow several blogs and subscribe to several author newsletters. I know it’s a lot of work for the authors, but for the reader, these things make it some much easier to keep up with author appearances and new book releases.
Hi Alexia,
Welcome to The Wickeds! I still find myself amazed that you’re able to function as a doctor (even though I know you’re now in an administrative role) and still find the time to write much less promote and market your books. All the authors I know feel strongly that they have to regard writing like any other full-time job to be successful and keep on top of it. To have another full-time career (and a particularly demanding one at that) fills me with awe at your level of energy and commitment.
I know that I’m eagerly awaiting the next Gethsemene Brown book. Lindsey Davis, the author of the Marcus Didio Falco and Flavia Alba mysteries (set in ancient Rome) regularly gets missives from a fan urging her to “write faster.” (No, it’s not me, although I might occasionally have THOUGHT that.) Now that you’ve added Podcast Host to your roster of activities, I can’t imagine that it makes finding the time to do everything that needs to be accomplished in your life any simpler. (Although I must say that I would personally put having the opportunity to talk with authors about writing and their work right near the top of the list of dream jobs!)
I do listen to a couple of podcasts, but (at least until I heard about Cozy Corner) they’re all political or theatrical. I read a VERY FEW blogs. I have to discipline myself regarding blogs. If I let myself go, I’d spend 24 hours a day reading blogs (because there are so many really interesting ones out there) and I do need to find time for such mundane activities as work and sleep. For me blogs are a drug, and I consider myself an addictive personality where they’re concerned.
I’m afraid I’m one of those persons who rigorously avoids just about all social media. I especially consider Facebook dangerous (and I felt that way long before the revelations of recent months) and refuse to go near it. I’m on LinkedIn, but strictly for my professional role; I don’t have anything personal on there.
How do I support crime fiction authors? Aside from the work I do for Malice Domestic, I’d say the primary thing I do is buy their books … and READ THEM! I suspect that’s the support that most authors would best appreciate.
Anyway, Alexia, I hope the next book in the series arrives soon, so please write faster. (Did I really say that?)
Ooh, the podcast sounds fabulous, Alexia! Sign me up. ;^)
I do listen to podcasts – I travel a lot for work and they keep me company on the road! I was not aware of Alexia’s until now and will definitely check it out! As far as the other questions, I do read newsletters and blogs, I follow a few authors on social media, but primarily I support authors by buying their books. After I read a book or series of books, if I think a friend or acquaintance would find them interesting, I tell them about the book or give them mine to read (although I’m always worried I won’t get the book back!)
Hi, Alexia! Over the past year, I’ve gotten into podcasts, including yours. I loved your interview with V.M. Burns and how she was talking about being afraid to drive in the mountains in Tennessee when it snows. I believe I found out about the podcast from following you on Twitter. Looking forward to listening to more episodes!
Quite impressed with your writing, juggling of your career, and your ability to manage these podcast interviews. They really are top notch!
Hi Alexia! I listen to podcasts on long drives, and my husband is addicted to them on his daily commute to work. Your author guests are very impressive. My eyes get tired of constant screen time, so a podcast is a good remedy to that. I wish you lots of luck with this venture.
Social media is a necessity for a working author, and that’s all there is to it. Your comment that the crime writing community is good at cheerleading–so true!
I have to remind myself how important social media is in book promotion when I’m tempted to sign off permanently because of some of the negativity. I take a deep breath and power through. Luckily, there are positive sites, like The Wickeds, to turn to when things feel overwhelming elsewhere.
Thanks! We try.
Congratulations on the podcast! That’s a ton of work
I catch Matt Coyle’s podcast because he links it to FB and sends out an event invitation. And I just emailed my office address to figure this thing out so I can listen to them during work.
There’s a ton of wonderful authors with whom we connect on FB etc who I’m sure would love to be on your podcast. I had made a long list which I lost when WordPress refused to recognize me and I had to sign in again. And the upside is that they are engaged and would help promote the episode. Good grief, I just checked. You have over 500 FB friends. Lots of fodder there!
Thanks for all the lovely thoughts. And thanks for all of your lovely support of authors, myself included. Whether listening to podcasts, reading newsletters, connecting on social media, or buying books and telling your friends about them (or any combination of the above), we authors appreciate it so much. It reminds us we’re not all alone in those dark times when our characters won’t cooperate, our plots wander off down the primrose lane, and we doubt we’ll ever be able to write another decent word. THANKS!
And, yes, I’m working on book 5 edits and my title for book 6 was approved!
I recommend anyone who hasn’t tried a podcast, give one a chance. You can listen to most for free. Many are timed to be the length of a commute. And you can find a podcast in almost any area you want–books, politics, religion, music, art, true crime, radio drama (fictional scripted podcasts that harken back to old time radio shows–which you can also listen to. I have Dragnet and The Shadow in my podcast queue. )
Alexia, congratulations on the series – which is terrific – AND the podcast, which is also terrific. I’ve been following your journey. I’ve done a couple of podcasts when people have reached out to me. It’s not an area I know a lot about but I’m certain interested in it. I had one great experience, one okay, one not-so-great. The host went back and forth between being respectful and shock jock. I was uncomfortable. It taught me that I need to do more research and not just say yes because it’s a promo opp. Thanks for listing some great sources and put me on your what I assume is now a very long list!
I try to be respectful of all my guests. Shock jock and gotcha journalism aren’t my style, although plenty of people enjoy that. I’m not hosting a news podcast, I’m unabashedly promoting books so I keep things easygoing and friendly. And I’d love to have you on, Ellen. Message me or email me and we can talk about dates
HI Alexia! Podcasts are something I always mean to try and just never do. I can’t do spoken word while driving – I get distracted. Work is no good and at home I’m either writing or doing…something and just never get around to it. Yours sounds great.
And yes, the crime fiction community is wonderfully friendly for a bunch of people who routinely write about murder and mayhem!
I must admit, I’m just getting into podcasts. I’ll have to check yours out.
Welcome to the blog Alexia! I am a huge podcast fan, and will make sure to add yours to my list!
Alexia is AMAZING!!! I love her Gethsemane Brown series. I had the privilege of meeting her at a Sisters in Crime Chicago chapter meeting. Wonderfully gracious and an interesting panelist. I haven’t listen to all of her podcasts, however, I did find her chat with V.M Burns very informative!
Thanks! Glad you liked Valerie’s interview. She was such fun to have on the show
Alexia, you are Wonder Woman! Congrats on the podcast! It seems we all caught the one with Valerie — which was fab! I’ll have to check out the others!