The Bridge Club by Patricia Sands - Guest Post & Kindle Fire Giveaway

The Bridge Club
by Patricia Sands

For more than forty years, the mantra of the eight women in the Bridge Club has been one for all and all for one. Beginning their monthly soiree in the psychedelic Sixties, unpredicted twists of fate weave through the good times and strong friendship they share as the years pass. The constant from one decade to the next is loyal and nonjudgmental support, even when agreeing to disagree is the final solution. From the exhilarating cultural changes of their early times together through the zoomer years, their connection never falters.

As they celebrate turning sixty (give or take a year) at a group birthday weekend, each woman recalls a challenging time in her life when the Bridge Club came to the rescue.After tossing around ideas mixed with a generous helping of common sense and a large dose of laughter they decide to refer to that time as their SOS. Eight chapters document each one's story.

Everything is put into perspective and the strength of their friendship is truly tested when one of these women faces a life-altering decision. Her choice profoundly affects all members of the group, pushing the limits of their beliefs and values. The unique alliance they share is confronted with a crisis none of them might have imagined.

Add on Goodreads, and buy on Amazon. 

Many Authors See Marketing as a Bind. What Are Your Thoughts?
Guest Post by Patricia Sands

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig!

For some bizarre reason, often when I get into a discussion about book marketing with someone, that childhood rhyme runs through my mind. I really don’t think it has anything to do with the subject and I’m not even sure why I shared that with you now. Never mind!

I think becoming aware of book marketing demands is one of the biggest shocks to a newly published author. We tend to think that once our book is written and out there, our work is over. Not so! In fact, the hard labour has only just begun.

This particularly rings true for independently published (indie) authors although many writers published through traditional avenues also are finding they are responsible for assisting in marketing more than ever. This is one reason why some traditionally published authors are now taking matters into their own hands and “going indie”. If they have to do all the other promotional work, they might as well reap the benefits of higher royalties and be in complete command of all decisions, without a publisher.

My experience with marketing The Bridge Club has involved an enormous learning curve. As a newcomer to the publishing world there was, and still is, much for me to learn. The biggest bonus for me has been meeting a group of amazing writers through an online blogging course. We bonded in a remarkable way and have continued through the past year to share experiences and strategies. Thirty heads working together are far better than one!

The best advice I can offer is to look at the online writing community and find a group that sounds like a good fit for you. I cannot stress enough how supportive, talented and helpful you will find most of the people involved in the world of writing.

The basic starting point is to join Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter and also establish a blog and website. Most writers today offer their work as an e-book as well as in print and there are many excellent sites on which to promote your work. Listing your e-book on Amazon Kindle Direct is a must.

Shameless self-promotion seems to be a necessary part of a writer’s personality with business cards and promotional postcards or bookmarks showing your published information an absolute must in your purse, pocket or computer bag. Hand them out at every opportunity and don’t be shy!

Blog tours and promotional programs such as this fabulous Orangeberry Summer Splash are wonderful ways to spread the word about your work. They also offer great opportunities to meet and connect with other writers and that brings us full circle to my suggestion that this kind of networking is of immense value. 

I would be happy to share other websites and links that I have found to be helpful in developing marketing opportunities. Please feel free to contact me through any of my links shared through the Summer Splash. Writers helping writers is what it’s all about!

About the author:
Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada and has degrees from the University of Waterloo and York University. With a happily blended family of seven adult children and, at last count, six grandchildren, life is full and time is short. Beginning with her first Kodak Brownie camera at the age of six, she has told stories all of her life through photography. Much to her surprise a few years ago, she began to write and her debut novel The Bridge Club has just been published through iUniverse. Currently at work on her second novel, Patricia admits the writing muse has possessed her and looks forward to a long and satisfying career as an author. She is particularly drawn to the rewarding friendships of women and the challenges many embrace once their families are grown. "It's never too late to begin something new," she enthuses. "As the saying goes, just do it!" 
  
Find out more at PatriciaSandsAuthor.com. 

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