Excellent Author Chat at eBook Love

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to let all of you know that my author chat at eBook Love, the Yahoo group, went really well. The ladies are really nice and friendly. They loved my book excerpts and were fun to chat with. If any of you can, you should definitely decide to join there and set up a chat. Should you do that, here are some things you might want to know:

1. Consider a Saturday date, even if you have to wait. If not Saturday, then later in the evening after dinner time (EST). Yes, I know this sounds silly, but I started after I came home from work... way too early.
   
2. Choose your excerpts before you start the chat. And if you have a second book not published or that you aren't promoting at that time but is contracted, choose a couple from that book too. They will ask about your other books, so be prepared.
   
3. Keep water and food on hand and be sure there is some for the family too.
   
4. Give away at least one copy of your e-book that day. If you give away more than one, I would suggest you hold one for an overnight contest so those unable to attend will read your excerpts and enter too. You don't have to give away just books either. You can give away other things, like spa accessories, etc., that people will like too.
   
5. If you can, give another copy of your book to the eBook Love group moderators to include in their author giveaway a few weeks later. What does this do for you? You can come back and input a promo either about that book the week they give away your book or promote a new one coming out. It's an easy reminder.
   
6. Know what questions you are going to ask for the contests, make sure these questions can be easily found within the excerpts, but don't tell them which excerpt they'll find the answer. They'll be forced to read all of the excerpts that way. Also, be explicit about the directions of how to enter. Example: I had them email the answer to me with the subject line: "First Contest -- eBook Love". The answer had to be in the body of the email. Whoever emailed me first won.
   
7. Enjoy yourself! These are nice people who love romance.
   

I want to thank Nell Dixon for her advice. It was truly helpful.

If anyone else has more advice on this, please feel free to add. I know this sounds simple, but I know a lot of you have ebooks coming out and thought you might be interested in this.