Here are several approaches to promoting sales that I have found helpful:

• Distributing postcards-I include a small postcard displaying the cover of my latest release with a description in every bill or letter that I mail out. I also hand them out in doctor’s waiting rooms, repair shops, and to service providers such as UPS. Authors have no pride.
• Handing out a free copy of my book at the local hairdresser-Patrons of hair dressers often talk about what they are reading. If I think they would be interested in my work, I will offer a free copy and ask them to write a review if they liked it and to pass it on to another reader.
• Book signings at boutique shops and book stores -Local book signings are fun. They require advanced preparation: creating flyers or posters, distributing them, and urging groups you know to attend. My novel, Jamie’s Christmas Magi, was a perfect choice for a local treasure chest of a store’s Christmas wine tasting.
• Contacting the “props” (wine companies, special soaps, pistachio nuts, clothing stores, and special interest groups such as violence against women) that I have included in my novel-Businesses such as nut companies, (I mentioned in my novel, Abbey’s Search for Sanctuary, that pistachios have long been known as aphrodisiacs.) specialty soap companies, and national wine companies have mailing lists and, if you ask, they will often include a note about your work in which you have mentioned them in their newsletter. Organizations also have mailing lists and newsletters. My novel, No Greater Love, described the plight of refugee children, and Abbey’s Search for Sanctuary, included material—refugees and abuse of females– that reflected the interests of two organizations. They listed my books in their reading lists.
• Asking for support from professional organizations and alumni groups that I belong to- As a psychiatric nurse, I tend to create heroines who are psychiatric nurses and to include mental health problems. For example, in my novel, The Gift of Love, one of the characters was a compulsive hoarder, and in Lattices of Love a character with severe depression committed suicide.
• Contacting cultural/international groups that are included in my writings-My novels tend to be international and reflect different cultures. They have included the Netherlands, Turkey, and Kurdistan. There are organizations supportive of each of these interests and they have been helpful in distributing news about my books.

Promotion is essential for most authors. Although there are many approaches, I find that the methods I have described seem to fit my personality and writing style.