The Value of the Reader~Guest Post from Tonya Kappes & Giveaway! (International!)

I’ll never forget the very first email I had received from a reader. She was telling me how much my books helped her through a very difficult time in her life. That is when I sat back and really took notice of how important a reader is.

You see, I started writing for myself. And when I decided to pursue publishing I still had myself in mind. I wanted to see my book on Amazon or on the shelf at the book store. It had become a dream of mine. BUT I never took into consideration who was going to buy my book. . .outside of my family.

And her email really touched me. Her words filled my soul with gratitude and joy. After her email, it was like the flood gates opened. One after the other, more and more reader mail popped up in my email. Each one had something different to say about my stories.

The more I heard from them, the more they fed my muse. I wanted to give them more. It wasn’t about me selling more books, it was about pleasing the readers that I had gained. I wanted to make them feel good and continue to feel good.

Sometimes I think that authors forget about the reader. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not putting any authors down or saying that I’m the right one here, but I see readers different than most writers.

This year I decided to focus on the reader! Last year was a phenomenal year. I sold over 60k e-books and 5k print books. I sure didn’t buy them and I don’t have that many friends, so it was time for me to truly thank my readers.

I started a TONYA KAPPES STREET TEAM. This is a Facebook page where my readers have gathered and we talk about everyday life, what they are reading, or just a quick hello. It’s not a place for my readers to praise me. It’s the place where I PRAISE them!

Here is what it’s all about:

This is a team that I have assembled because you have been so supportive and an instrumental part of my success. I'm creating this group to help spread the word about my books. The best sell for an author is personal recommendation. The best way for me to do that is for you, my friends, to spread the word through email or word of mouth would be a great big help.

There isn't much to it. As a member, you will join my online yahoo group which is a yes to the street team invite. And in return you get a chance to:
* have a character named after you in my books
* win monthly drawing for Street Team Members only-you are automatically entered. (this includes gift cards, books, and other fun stuff)
* In the month of my releases, you have a chance to win a $25 Visa Giftcard
* Fun tips about my characters
* Extra more things!

What do you have to do to be a TONYA KAPPES STREET MEMBER? You only have to do none or all of these:)
* spread the word to family and friends about the books of mine that you really liked
* take promo materials to local writers groups, conventions, etc...
* be my friend
* pick one of my books for your book club
* skype me into your book club or google plus is fine too
* if you have a blog, feature my new book trailer, review my book, interview me
* post reviews for my books on all the reader-centric sites like Goodreads, Shelfari, Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc...

I can't take credit for the street team concept. It was coined in the 70's with music executives working on spreading the word about new artists, and making them bigger names. I'd love for you to spread the word about my books! Will you please join my team? Email me at tonyak11(AT)yahoo(Dot)com and put JOIN in the subject line.

Why am I doing this when I only release four books a year and giving away something every month? Easy! YOU have always showed up for me! You have been the inspiration to keep me going and writing books. It's time I give back to you, my reader! I give back to the writing community with this blog. I want to connect with you!

So I do weekly give away to a lucky STREET TEAM MEMBER and thank them for being them! I’m so honored and flattered that someone who is as busy as I am (trust me I have three teenage boys that play every single sport) takes five minutes out of their day to open one of my books. WOW! That is truly an honor for me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

If you want to join my STREET TEAM, we’d love to have you!!

Street Team Link

Tonyakappes.blogspot.com.

You can also find Tonya at:

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

I want to thank Tonya for stopping by and sharing today!  In addition to her invite to join her Street Team she has also been kind enough to offer two (yep that's right! TWO!) of my lucky readers an e-copy of her newest novel :

A Charming Crime!

Bubble... Bubble...

June Heal has nothing to lose when she relocates her homeopathic cure shop, A Dose of Darla, from the flea market booth in her home town, to a quaint shop in the cozy but unusual little town of Whispering Falls, Kentucky. Or so it seems.

Cures and trouble...

Whispering Falls has a lot of secrets. From talking snow globes to whispering animals not to mention a few sprinkles of fairy dust, June realizes Whispering Falls is more magical than she thought. . .literally.

                                                      

Magic stirs...

June discovers she was born into a family of psychics, and her homeopathic cures truly are magical. Unfortunately, they are not magical enough to save her from being the number one murder suspect when a member of the community that she had just had a disagreement with shows up face down in the lake with June’s lucky charm in the victim’s grasp.

And troubles double...

Add to that an attraction to her high school best friend, Sheriff Oscar Park and  Mr. Prince Charming, her cat, is stealing charms from Belle’s Baubles, June is forced to clear her name in more ways than murder. After all, they don’t have cauldrons in jail.

~Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!! The contest will run from June 12th to June 30th.  Since it's my second time using Rafflecopter I'm going to try throwing in some extra ways to enter! (as well as an easy one two, so let me know what you think) ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway