Win Prizes with Tess's Troubadours!

Hi Fierce Friends!
You know, one of the hardest parts of being a writer, for me at least, is managing the business side of things. Contracts and such are handled by my agent, but marketing falls squarely on my shoulders. The questions are always the same – should I advertise in Romantic Times? Online? Send out emails? When you have limited funds for advertising, it’s hard to make a decision. Magazine ad rates are expensive! When HIGHLAND ROGUE was about to come out I went in on an ad with another author in Romantic Times and still paid $580! And that was for a third of a page! But it was in color and Highland Rogue did well. Was it because of the ad? Who knows?

Before the internet, one of the best ways to get the “word” out on your books was “word” of mouth. Small bookstore owners would recommend books to their buyers, friends would pass books to friends, etc. Well, now there are few small independent bookstores, but people still talk to each other (albeit by email and messaging!) and the timeworn tradition of recommending a book to a friend is still alive and well, thank goodness!! And after all, it is YOU, the READER, who makes or breaks an author’s career, who puts them on the Bestsellers List. It is ALL OF YOU WHO WIELD THE POWER!! Now, don't you feel important? Well, you should, because you are!

With this in mind, oh Mighty Ones, I have begun a new kind of advertising for my new book, HIGHLAND REBEL , which will debut in March. A kind of advertising that truly relies on the goodness in all of YOU! A goodness that WILL be rewarded! Here’s how you can reap the benefit of helping me spread the good word ---

Join Tess’s Troubadours by sending an email to me at tessmallory@yahoo.com. Put Tess's Troubadours in the subject heading and you are automatically one of my Troubadours! (To be one of the first ten who win a book, you must post on a message board, more on this below!) This is a fan-based group and their sole purpose in life (well, in the group) is to help me promote my book! Why should you do this? Well, because you love me and my books, I hope, (smile) but also because your kindness will be rewarded! Here’s how it works –

During the month of February, Tess’s Troubadours will visit romance site message boards and talk up my books in general and my new book, HIGHLAND REBEL , in particular. Every time you post on a message board and mention HIGHLAND REBEL , just copy the URL and send it to me at tessmallory@yahoo.com and your name will be put into the Big Drawing I’m going to have on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day! If your name is drawn, you’ll receive an autographed copy of my book, a Celtic tri-spiral necklace, AND a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, AND other goodies!

AND the FIRST TEN people who send me URLs will receive an autographed copy of HIGHLAND REBEL !

As a stalwart member of Tess’s Troubadours , you do only as much as you want to do, but the more posts you make, the more times your name is entered in the contest! (Please note, a post is considered the entire thread of conversation made on the message board, not the individual comments). Help me fight back against outrageous advertising prices! Wield your sword of Readership and conquer in the name of romance!

If Tess’s Troubadours proves to be a success, the group will continue through the months ahead, with a drawing to be held every month!

NOTE: Because I need to make this a real, competitive contest I need to have at least ten entries during the month of February from you, my Readers. Not ten entries apiece, just ten different people entering as a Troubadour! The contest won't happen without Ten "Active" Troubadours!

And remember THE FIRST TEN PEOPLE TO SEND ME POSTINGS GET A FREE, AUTOGRAPHED BOOK!

So join and post and help HIGHLAND REBEL zoom to the top of the Bestseller’s List AND if your name is drawn, you'll get great stuff for yourself! I’m counting on you, dear Readers. Please visit my fan-based myspace site and please add me as a friend at www.myspace.com/tessmalloryfanspace..

Remember -- YOU MUST ACTUALLY POST ON A MESSAGE BOARD AND SEND ME THE URL TO RECEIVE A FREE BOOK (First ten only) AND TO BE ENTERED IN THE CONTEST!

Don’t forget – Love is Timeless! Keep Writing, Keep Reading, Keep Loving!