Born and raised in Philadelphia, Alicia Singleton embraced the written word at an early age. She credits this to her loving, older sister whom, while they were youngsters, made the author eat lotion on a regular basis. Realizing the need to sound-out the ingredients on the lotion label, Alicia stopped the lotion-eating practice, but continued to read the labels of the concoctions her sister brought for her to try. This early necessity to read flowered to a passion; hence, a writer was born.The award winning author resides in Maryland with her wonderful husband and son.  Still an avid reader, label or otherwise, Alicia is hard at work completing her next suspense novel.Her latest book is the suspense novel, Dark Side of Valor.

Visit Alicia’s website at www.aliciasingleton.com.

Welcome to SheWrites, Alicia.  Can we begin by having you tell us a little about your book?

Dark Side of Valor is a suspense novel about Lelia Freeman. The former runaway turned child advocate gets summoned to Washington to serve on a subcommittee that aids the children of a war-torn African nation. She stumbles onto sinister, political secrets that turns her life into a nightmare then has to depend on a tall, dark handsome stranger to save her life. But he has secrets of his own.

What is the first thing you did to promote your book once your publisher accepted your manuscript?

I hired a web designer to build a better website for me then I started to build my social media network.

After that, what happened?

Minoxidil.  I needed something to grow back the hair I’d pulled out.  Learning the ins and outs of social media and how to update and add items to a website takes some technical acumen.  I have none.  Ergo, the three months of hair pulling.

What did your publisher do to promote your book?

Simon and Schuster sent out ARDs to various trade magazines for review, added Dark Side of Valor and my profile to several of their genre specific sites, produced an author video and distributed it throughout the web, provided an author website on Simon and Schuster’s website and organized a book signing.

What’s your opinion on blogging?  Do you see that it is helping sell your book or is it not making much difference in terms of sales?

It’s wonderful.  I’ve had the privilege of being featured on, and Dark Side of Valor reviewed in, many phenomenal blogs. After several of those posts, I’ve experienced a spike in book sales.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool.  Do you find it is or isn’t?

Yes, they are effective.  I’ve met many book lovers on the various social media networks.

Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

Book signings, event appearances, a book trailer with distribution, email blasts, radio interviews and web ads.

If you had to pick just one book marketing tool that you’ve used to promote your book, which would you say has been the most effective?

Blog tours have been the most effective promotion I’ve done. Dorothy Thompson and her company Pump Up Your Book are the greatest.  I’ve spent money with other promotion companies that advertised packages then didn’t deliver the service they advertised, inflated their audience and reach and point blank falsely represented themselves.  Dorothy has been a Godsend, and by far, her services are the best promotional endeavors I’ve invested in thus far.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

Book signings are great!  I love meeting new people and having face to face interaction with readers.

Thank you for this interview, Alicia!  We wish you much success!