Planning a pre-Memorial Day eBook event with our WG2E Street Team reminds me of how the family I grew up in used to organize a picnic. Everybody jumping in on a conversation, my mom shooing the cat off the table, Dad and I making sandwiches, while one sister packed up the car and another tossed crackers in the air for the dog. Each person chipping in as they saw fit. Sort of a democratic chaos that, like a good story, organically evolves into a fun and satisfying adventure.
In this case it began when our WG2E Goodreads guru Tamara Ward asked if any other Street Team members wanted to cross promote with KDP Select Free days. Meredith Bond and I stepped up to the plate. I remembered PJ Sharon’s recent involvement in a successful YA event for free books and thought maybe we could do our own version of that.
As team members chimed in, sharing their thoughts, experiences and suggestions—including Gregory Carrico’s suggestion that we include 99cent eBooks—we tested out ideas, settled on a theme and a look for the event site and Facebook page, and chose a name.
It’s almost Memorial Day, right? And that’s when the summer season begins, a season when folks grab a bit of chill time and indulge in some reading. So, in three days we’ll be having a Beach Book Blast!
From Wednesday May 23 – Friday May 25 fifteen authors will offer Free and 99cent books.
Dale Amidei
Meredith Bond
Greg Carrico
Kristine Cayne
Cate Dean
Keta Diablo
L.C. Giroux
Stacey Joy Netzel
D.D. Scott
P.J. Sharon
Alicia Street
Roy Street
Tracy Sumner
Kiru Taye
Tamara Ward
Fourteen authors working together to create a fun way to reach readers. Including our beloved and irrepressible D.D. Scott, who’s donating a Kindle Fire for our giveaway! You can enter to win on the Rafflecopter at the main Beach Book Blast site.
And please show us your WG2E Luuuvvv by stopping by our Beach Book Blast Facebook page and LIKE-ing us!
You can also Follow our Pinterest page.
And please join all the authors for a Twitter party on Thursday May 24 at 8p.m. (Eastern Time) at this hashtag stream — #BeachBookBlast — to chat about favorite books and characters and vacations spots and anything else that comes up!
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: So, tell me— as authors, have you experimented with different ways to promote Free days or sale days? As readers, what kinds of activities draw you to book events?
The Best of WG2E Beach Book Blast Wishes — Alicia Street
Alicia Street is the author of Kiss Me, Dancer, Snow Dance and Aphrodisiac. Alicia is proud to be a part of the WG2E family.
Good luck with your Beach Blast!
Thanks, Liz! As a team member I hope you’ll be joining us in one of our next WG2E Authors events. And don’t forget to come on by in a few days and choose some free books!
Thanks Alicia – I will do that – to both of those!
I’m thrilled to be partnering with all of you superfab WG2E Peeps in our first Beach Book Blast!!! And I’m tickled beyond peek to be giving away another Kindle Fire!!!
What’s gonna be waaay cool is to see how this event evolves into a several times per year “Signature Event” for WG2E Authors!!! (Meaning, if you missed this one…join our Street Team, and you’ll be ready for our next event!)
Well done, WG2E Street Team!
And of course we’ll be sharin’ the luuuvvv later this week on The RG2E too!!!
And, D.D., you have a way of giving any event your supercharged, high octane energy!
Will be looking out for this and joining in. A sure good way to pay it forward for readers.
Thanks, Julie! And, yes, readers can enjoy some great books for a penny or for free. Not to mention a chance to win a kindle fire! What’s not to like?
A great experience all around, and one I feel very blessed to be part of. Thanks to everyone involved for the cross-promotion, Tamara for her seemingly inexhaustible patience with web tweaks, and of course to D.D. for the Kindle Fire giveaway. I can’t wait to see how this all turns out in the final tallies.
I agree, Dale, we’ve got a superfab group of author friends working together, each doing what they can. And Tamara is beyond great handling the constant tweaks to our landing site with the patience of a saint!
Aw, shucks! Thanks. But that website needed some tweaking, and I’m grateful to the eyes of my colleagues (that’s you, Dale and Alicia, and others). You saw what needed to be tweaked and let me know. Now the site (and background image) look decent.
It’s been amazing how so many different writers have come together, each in their own way, making this event come together. From Pinterest and PhotoBucket creations to Twitter Parties and D.D.’s fabulous giveaway… and so much more. Some of us with skills in one area are handling that aspect of the promotion while others with skills in another area are handling their specialty. Go, WG2E Street Team!
I can’t wait for Wednesday! I’ve been so excited for weeks. What a great group of writer friends to be a part of!
Right back at ya, sweetie!
This is gonna be so much fun! What a cool way for readers to find new favorite authors! And the Twitter party will be a Blast, too. The countdown is on!
Hi, Greg! Yeah, we’re gonna stir up some cyber fun this week. And with this eclectic team of oddballs— oops, I mean authors— the Twitter party should be a hoot!
Great post, Alicia! I am thrilled to be part of the promo, and expect a fab turnout – especially with the choice of books on offer, and the chance to win a Kindle Fire! Thanks for that, D.D., and to everyone who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this work.
~Cate
Thanks, Cate! We do indeed have a great choice of books. I intend on loading up my own kindle this week!
Right there with you, Alicia.
As if I need more books in my TBR pile – but, man, I can’t resist, especially when it’s a fellow Street Teamer!
~Cate
Alicia – thank you so much for letting me know about the Beach Book Blast so I could join in too! The WG2E street team is such a great bunch of people to work with. Everyone is so kind and helpful, and I’m proud to be a part of it! Looking forward to a fantastic week with my fellow Beach Book Blast peeps!
Happy to have you with us on Beach Book Blast, Kristine — because you’re one of the dynamic peeps who makes the WG2E Street Team such a great bunch!
This is a very creative, fun idea! WG2E is such a cool team! And very generous!
Love those colorful beach umbrellas! Summer is just around the corner. You know I am partial to the beach Alicia. And this event is very beachy! Cowabunga WG2E!
Hi, Karen! And I do know you’re a California beach babe. In fact, Roy thinks he saw you on Baywatch! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Great idea and way to go!!
I’m late to the post, but looking forward to the party starting tomorrow!
Just got back from a long weekend break but I’m excited about this and looking forward to the next few days. Should be great fun.