Today I’m pleased to feature a guest post by author Barbara Conelli, as a part of the virtual book tour for her latest endeavor Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore. There’s also a free online gift bag, full of chique gifts courtesy of Barbara, so check out the end…

This one is especially near and dear to my heart, since it covers one of the areas of book publishing/writing that is the least attractive to me: marketing. Don’t get me wrong - I am a huge fan of shameless self-promotion every now and again, as evidenced by posts whenever I am named for a blogging award or featured somewhere. I even have an awards page. (teehee) But that kind of promotion I’m okay with. It’s the *real* kind that sets me to rocking in the corner…

I have never enjoyed marketing or advertising or public relations or promotions. I worked in Big Pharma for a number of years, and it was one of the pieces of that world that made me the most uncomfortable. I don’t care for the game that you have to play to sell things. Never have, and most likely never will. But it’s an inexplicable part of the writing/publishing process (as it is of most other processes in the modern world), and like it or not, I am going to have to do it. Barbara’s advice made me feel a teensy bit better about it. I’m still not looking forward, mind you, but do think that she has her finger exactly on what makes people like me so uncomfortable - and maybe, just maybe, that finger-tip has also managed to highlight a way to help us deal better with the discomfort… Here’s hoping you agree!
Continue reading Guest Post and Free Online Gift Bag: “Does the Word ‘Marketing’ Make Your Stomach Churn?” by Barbara Conelli