Author Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Website: Jeanne Bannon
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Twitter: @JeanneBannon
E-Mail: jdn02@rogers.com
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Author Description:
I've worked in the publishing industry for over twenty years, first as a freelance journalist, then as an in-house editor for LexisNexis Canada. I currently work as a freelance editor and writer and am represented by the Serendipity Literary Agency. My debut novel, Invisible, is a young adult paranormal romance, published by Solstice Publishing and has been optioned for film. Invisible is an Amazon bestseller both domestically and internationally and continues to receive wonderful reviews.
Currently, I'm finishing up work on a paranormal thriller titled, Dark Angel.
SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author
What do you have on the drawing board next? Rumor has it that you have another book on the horizon called Dark Angel. Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?
Actually, I’ve got a couple projects on the go. I have put Dark Angel on the back burner for the time being. Presently, I’m working on a contemporary romance called Last Chances as well as a joint collaboration with my author friend, Fred Crook, called The Basement Dweller Chronicals.
Last Chances is a sweet romance along the lines of my other two, Lost and Found, and Love Bites.
The Basement Dwellers is an X-file type paranormal novella series featuring a female former member of the CIA’s remote viewing project who’s teamed up with a no-nonsense American FBI agent. Together, they tackle the “black” projects other agents want nothing to do with.
You have a good following on twitter. How important have your social media relationships been? How did you build your following in your niche? Do you see a carry over to your writing success?
I’ve had to cultivate my social media presence over several years. It took approximately 7 years to gain a large following on all social media platforms. It’s crucial in order to get the word out about new releases and/or promotions. I love interacting with my readers. After all, getting something out there to entertain my lovely readership is why I do what I do.
Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?
I do very few personal appearances. I have done a few within my community when asked but I don’t enjoy them. I’d rather be writing ?
You have a great book trailer. (See link below.) It looks very professional. Do you know how much impact it has had on your book’s success? Tell us about the process that you used to create your trailer? Do you use the trailer in your character development? Are the pictures and background the way you see your characters and scenes?
That’s hard to measure. I couldn’t tell you if it’s had an impact. However, it can’t hurt.
You have converted Invisible into an audio book. What has been the impact on your regular sales? Has the audio books gained a new audience for you?
Since it was the publisher that converted the novel into an audio book (and the right to the book have reverted to me), I don’t know how well it’s doing. I’m not getting any royalties from it. I would hope the publisher would pay me if it is being downloaded but I have no way to tell
You have written several short stories and novellas. Can you tell us if they had an impact on the sales of your novels? Are shorty’s one of your styles of writing or are they created to give readers a sample of your work?
I have a few short stories out there, yes. I love to write them while taking a break between novels. As for the novellas, they run between 20,000 to 30,000 words and so they still take quite a bit of time to pump out. I’m a slow writer and a careful writer. I send all my work to an editor before publishing. I care more about quality over quantity. As a perfectionist and a professional editor, it’s sometimes hard to take off my editor’s hat while I write. I suspect that slows me down some.
I like the idea of Author bundles. You are a part of a two novel bundles called Valentine Pets & Kisses and 2. What was the impact on your other sales? What was the main objective of bundling your works with other romance authors? How did you put something like that together? (What a great group of authors. Valentine Pets & Kisses Featured on HBS Author’s Spotlight)
Valentine Pets & Kisses 2 Featured on HBS Author’s Spotlight)
Valentines, Pets & Kisses was a fun way to collaborate with other authors. We each contributed a Valentine Day themed novella to the set – but the catch was that we had to include a furry friend in the mix. It was a challenge but a lot of fun! I wouldn’t have the time or courage to take on the huge task of running a boxset. I’m a foot soldier and do the duties assigned to me such as keeping readers up-to-date on social media, posting promotions, boosting ads, that sort of thing.
Currently, I’m thrilled to be a part of another boxed set called Marked by Fate. This set is super special. There are 26 authors involved. Here’s the blurb in case anyone is interested.
25 COMPLETE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY NOVELS BY 26 BESTSELLING AUTHORS. PLUS, A SPECIAL BONUS NOVELLA.
Embark on fantastic journeys through magical realms, dystopian lands, and faraway galaxies in this exciting collection of fantasy & science fiction novels brought to you by some of today’s hottest authors. Encounter werewolves, robots, angels, time travelers, shifters, and more in this action-packed box set that will leave you breathless.
All that for just 99 cents! I can’t say enough about this set. The novels are full length and all written by bestselling authors. Here’s the link: myBook.to/MarkedByFate500Challenge
What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?
I think it’s necessary to give something to readers for free. It’s like going into a grocery store and getting to sample something before buying it. Once readers know you can indeed write, they’re more likely to come back and buy your other books. It’s especially effective if you give away the first book in a series.
As for other types of giveaways, I run contests all the time through my newsletter. If readers are interested, they can subscriber here: http://www.subscribepage.com/g8i7q1
Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?
As I mentioned in the previous question, I have a newsletter. I’ve got approximately 15K subscribers at present. I sent out a newsletter every Friday. I get a great response almost every time. My readers are fabulous. They are my cheerleaders and keep me motivated and as a result, I love to hold contests/giveaways in appreciation for their unwavering support. I also have a lot of engagement on my FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeanne-Bannon/182120961844916
And Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanneBannon
It’s very important to keep in touch with your fanbase. If you do, it will grow and grow and grow.
What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?
For reviews, I usually put out requests in my newsletter and then send ARCs to whoever is interested.
Author's Book List
Beautiful Monster: The Hunt
- Book 2It takes one Beautiful Monster to hunt down another. Alina, the best of the trained assassins is called to duty to find and kill the rampaging Boris.
Order the Book From:
Amazon
Invisible
Lola’s not pretty. Lola’s not popular. Lola wishes she could disappear … and then one day she does just that...
For seventeen-year-old Lola Savullo, life is a struggle. Born to funky parents who are more in than she could ever be, Lola’s dream of becoming a writer makes her an outsider even in her own home. Bullied and despised, Lola still has the support of her best pal Charlie and Grandma Rose.
Not only is she freakishly tall, Lola’s a big girl and when forced to wear a bathing suit at her summer job as a camp counselor, Lola’s only escape from deep embarrassment seems to be to literally vanish. Soon after, she discovers the roots of her new “ability”.
Slowly, with Charlie’s help, Lola learns to control the new super power. The possibilities are endless. Yet power can be abused, too…
When tragedy strikes, Lola must summon her inner strength, both at home and at school. She has to stand up for herself, despite the temptations and possibilities of her newfound super power.
A coming-of-age story that will warm the heart.
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Amazon
Audible
Lost and Found
Can what was once lost be found again?
Lexi is so distraught after long-time boyfriend, Josh, dumps her she has to take a leave of absence from her job as an English teacher. Josh leaves behind the French bulldog he bought for her just before things fell apart. Lexi is not a dog person and contemplates giving the pup away. However, it’s all she has left of Josh and so she gives the little mischief-maker a little more time. While at puppy obedience school, Lexi meets Tommy, a handsome, happy-go-lucky type she could easily give her heart to if only she was ready. Can what was once lost be found again?
Lexi is so distraught after long-time boyfriend, Josh, dumps her she has to take a leave of absence from her job as an English teacher. Josh leaves behind the French bulldog he bought for her just before things fell apart. Lexi is not a dog person and contemplates giving the pup away. However, it’s all she has left of Josh and so she gives the little mischief-maker a little more time.
While at puppy obedience school, Lexi meets Tommy, a handsome, happy-go-lucky type she could easily give her heart to if only she was ready. Still pining over Josh, Lexi gives Tommy the brush off and they lose touch. As much as she doesn’t want to admit it, Lexi comes to realize that in the short time she and Tommy spent together, he’d left more of an impression on her heart than she cared to admit.
A winding road of unfortunate events brings Lexi and Tommy together again, but are they meant to be, or does fate have another plan
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Amazon
Love Bites
From international best-selling author, Jeanne Bannon, comes the story of Jack O’Hurley, a man who's protected his broken heart by running away and refusing to open himself to love. After years of hiding behind any excuse not to let his walls down, he can’t help but be intrigued when he meets the most unusual woman he’s ever set eyes on. Star is certainly not what he’s been looking for but she just might be what he needs.
As Jack begins to fall in love with the eccentric Star, another woman vies for his attention. Torn between the two very different but equalling alluring ladies, he puts into play his tried and true system for determining whether he will continue to date a woman — introducing each to his dog, Phil.
Crazy as it may seem, Jack trusts Phil’s instincts more than he does his own. The only problem is that none have yet to pass the Phil Test.
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Amazon
Beautiful Monster: The Exchange
- Book 1Beautiful Monster - The Exchange (book one) is the story of Lev Baronovsky, a soulless creature of the night and his predicament. The love of his life, a mortal, has just died and in three days will pass to the other side. Without a soul, Lev cannot cross over with her and the thought of spending eternity without his beloved is unbearable. Is seventy-two hours enough time to find a way?
With the help of his brother, they must find the only one who can help - the vilest creature of all, Boris. But Boris has selfish plans of his own.
Book Trailer: Beautiful Monster: The Exchange
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Amazon
Nowhere to Run
What's a girl to do when she falls in love with the man whose mission it is to bring her down?
With the murder of her only sister, Sara, just a few months past, Lily Valier—a woman of beauty and substance—tops the sheriff's list of suspects in small town Maine, and for a very good reason. Dear old Dad had willed his fortune to Sara and only Sara, leaving Lily to fend for herself. However, with no murder weapon or witnesses, the evidence against Lily is only circumstantial.
Enter P.I. Aiden O'Rourke, black-haired and blue-eyed, charged with gaining Lily's trust and learning her secrets, all to finally get the goods on her. Things move fast and feelings run deep, yet when Lily discovers the truth about Aiden, everything begins to come apart.
Aiden's torn. Despite his feelings for her, Lily is the most logical suspect, with a great big fat motive. Except something's not quite right. Aiden trusts his instincts and they're screaming at him to have a look at a former suspect with far more to hide than first appeared. With little left to lose, Lily decides to stand her ground, and staying put has its consequences when the murder weapon finally turns up—and it’s Lily's gun.
What happens to love, when trust is betrayed?
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Amazon
Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
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Thanks very much for spotlighting me, James.
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