Giovanni, thanks for having me back! I’m sitting here reflecting on the really terrific week my publisher, Comfort Publishing put together for me last week. The long-awaited second book in my Empyrical Tales series was released in style. The Lost Queen is available now! Comfort, together with Great Wolf Lodge, hosted a Homeschool Week. In the past, Great Wolf simply offered a discount to homeschoolers during this week, right after their public school spring break season is over. When Comfort stepped in, they helped take things to the next level by bringing in their authors (like me). The Billy Graham Library and Discovery Place, to name a few, also had presentations and displays.

Now, I work at a public school. My kids go to public schools. I’ve never really known the homeschool experience. I have to say that I was impressed with the families I’ve met. Plenty of smart kids and dedicated parents. Oh, and no behavior issues. These families I met last week had polite, happy children. I had the opportunity to read my books to some great kids!

How can I segue from that into another thought? Despite meeting some wonderful people and knowing that I generated some great exposure, how do I take it to the next level? Everyone that reads my books love them (I do mean love, and not just my mom says this). I have only ever gotten 5-star reviews, but how do I get more reviews? How do I get more exposure? How do I get more sales?

I’m asking a lot of questions, but offering very few answers. Well, what can I say? There are a lot of us (authors) out there. Many of us know we have written a NY Times Bestseller, problem is NY Book Review doesn’t know it. Don’t let that get you down. Every successful author will tell you, no matter what, you have to keep writing.

Then get out there.

If you’re going to be a successful author, living on royalty checks instead of a 9 to 5 time clock, then the job does not end when you hit the print button. You have to make the connections. You have to make the appearances. I know I just finished raving about homeschoolers, but good old brick school houses are a good place to start for YA/Children’s authors. Find your target audience and go to them.  Teachers (at certain times of the year) love guests and love to get kids involved, especially in reading.

Do book signings. With our economy still doing whatever it’s doing, some of the major book chains are being picky about who takes up their floor space. So think of unconventional places to set up your table. I’m doing a signing this Saturday in a frozen yogurt shop! The buzz has been huge (by my scale) for that.

Lastly, be gracious. Thank the people that allow you to clutter their blogs (Thanks, G). Thank the people that give you reviews, even if they are not syndicated. Nice guys don’t always finish last.

Then sneak in that last plug:

Mark Miller is the author of The Empyrical Tales fantasy-adventure series. Book II: The Lost Queen is available now from Comfort Publishing. Find him on Goodreads and Facebook. Read his blog at empyricaltales.blogspot.com and visit the official site at www.MillerWords.com.--

The Empyrical Tales by Mark Miller. The critically praised fantasy adventure series is available now at www.MillerWords.com. Book III: The Secret Queen coming Spring 2012!

Be sure to check out my blog at http://empyricaltales.blogspot.com/

Things have changed around here. I am now the published author of “Down Low- Dead” with Vincent Zandri, “The Jersey Shore Has Eyes” with Big Daddy Abel”, “G.S.I Gelati’s Scoop Investigations Psychotic Detectives” with Thomas White, and the soon to be released “Who Whacked The Blogger” with Benjamin Sobieck, “Thad and The G-Man’s Most Awesome Adventure” with Thad Brown and “Hotel Beamont” with B.R. Stateham. All the stories are available @ Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Smashwords. I am also the host of the wildly popular The G-ZONE blogtalk radio show. Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.   http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com