Sharing the Love, Paying it Forward, or Just Plain Being a Good Guy, by Aaron Lazar

Hello, MB4 friends and fans!

I hope this finds you all well. It's been a very cold and snowy winter up here in The Finger Lakes region of western NY (brrr...) But it's also a wonderful time to burrow deep down in a good book, whether your creating or reading it. 

I'm working on my 22nd book now, and am having a blast. It helps that Bittersweet Hollow is set in the nice, hot summer in Vermont, on a Morgan Horse Farm, no less!

Today I want to talk about cross promotion. 

I love my writer friends. They have carried me through terrific doldrums and stood by my side when I've received awards. They've helped me through writer's block, taken my hand to lead the way in how to promote, and given me amazing links to new propositions, like audio books. 

My writer pals are the best. 

Sure, I may not have met most of them "in person," but I feel as if I know them almost intimately. 

You can't help but share your life's troubles and vent a little when you're writing to each other every day to swap chapters of your current WIP. And when your personalities "click" that can lead to a life-long friendship. So, when I say I care about these folks, I mean it. And I love to share links to their books.

Many of these friends end up in my acknowledgments. With eBooks, I can now put their website links right up front to help spread the word. That feels good!

Sometimes my characters are just setting down a book they've been reading when dialog is about to unfold. Imagine that! Occasionally I'm lazy, and I just pop in the current book I've been reading, or one of my all time favorite authors, like John D. MacDonald. Sometimes I'm just inspired to feature one of my friends' books, too. 

For fun, I went through my twenty-one books (some published and some still in the queue) and searched on "reading" and "books" to see what titles I've had my charactersenjoying over the years. Now, I realize I need to get some of my other pals' books out there, too. If you're not on the list, don't feel bad. You'll likely make your way into a Gus LeGarde or Sam Moore Mystery soon! (I know I used one of Kim Smith's books in one of my novels, but I couldn't find it. Maybe she can remind us!)

Here's the list:

Upstaged (book 2 in Gus LeGarde series): Dress Her in Indigo, by John D. MacDonald.

FireSong (book 5 in Gus LeGarde series): TheEmpty Copper Sea by John D. MacDonald.

and The Devil CanWait by Marta Stephens

Counterpoint (book 8 in Gus LeGarde series) (not yet available): Ham Loaf Hawaiian, by Pete Pellissier,  Crab Cake & Pepper by Frank Weaver, Jr.

Lady Blues (book 10 in Gus LeGarde series): The Moor, by Laurie R. King, HUNTED by SW Vaughn, Laurie R. King, The Art of Detection.

For the Birds (book 1 in Tall Pines Mysteries): Master of None, S.W. Vaughn

 

Healey’s Cave: The Scent ofGod, by Beryl Singleton Bissell, Tread Not on Me, by R.C. Burdick

Terror ComesKnocking (book 2 in Moore Mysteries): Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven, Tailwind: Daysof Cottonmouths and Cotton Candy, by Lad Moore, SW Vaughn’s Broken Angel

For Keeps (book 3 in Moore Mysteries): The Lonely Silver Rain, by John D. MacDonald, Hunted, by S.W. Vaughn

The Seacrest: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.

I realize that not all my books included subtle hints on other books to go check out - now I'm going to make it a point to feature several of my author friends books in EVERY title I release! Maybe you can try it, too, and help give your writer pals a leg up.

Stay warm if your up north like me. And remember - spring's coming soon!

Aaron Lazar

www.lazarbooks.com

Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, writing books, and a new love story, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming Twilight Times Books releases, SANCTUARY (2014), and VIRTUOSO (2014).