“NOT GUILTY is a compelling, engrossing, and ultimately uplifting and rewarding read. I couldn’t tear myself away!”
—Cheryl Rainfield, author of Scars, Stained, Hunted and Parallel Visions.
A blood-smeared knife. One young man’s word against another. A lifetime dream crushed.
The evidence points to Devon Carlyle. He was there when it happened. Everyone knows he had it in for Renzo Costa. And Costa says Devon was the one. In the judge’s rap of a gavel, Devon’s found guilty of assault. The star of the Oceanside High’s basketball team loses his shot at the one thing he’s worked so hard for—the championship game where college scouts could see how good he is.
Now he makes his great shots in Juvenile Hall with kids far different from those that have always been in his life.
Angry? Hell, yes.
He’s bent on finding who did the crime. He’s bent on making them pay because he’s Not Guilty.
But can he prove it?
Not Guilty by C. Lee McKenzie New Release & Giveaway YA
C. Lee McKenzie On Marketing Strategy
My Marketing Strategy…Such as it is!
My marketing strategy isn’t really just a strategy for marketing. It’s more the way I try to run my life, and it’s simple. These are the four parts: be honest, be consistent, be realistic, and be supportive.
The people I’ve met and stayed connected with are people I interact with outside of the writing/publishing world. I’ve often followed them from their first published book, through the loss of someone they love, their own health issues, job loss, career change, and so much more. I’ve seen their kids go through high school and enter college. I’ve offered sympathy when their favorite pet died. In other words, their public face was an honest one, and so we built a relationship even if we didn’t have a chance to meet in person. I don’t think that would have been possible if they’d pretended to be one thing in their public life and were actually someone else privately.
I could also depend on these writers. If they said they were going to post once a week, they did. If they needed a break from all of the online interaction, they said so, and let me know when they’d return. I took a page from their book. I used to blog daily, but after a few years, I just couldn’t keep up that pace and spend the time I needed with my family and friends. I let everyone who followed me know that I planned to reduce my time to once a week, and everyone understood. When my husband became ill, I couldn’t even follow the once a week promise, so again, I told everyone that I was only going to post monthly, and I did. I think my following increased.
When I started on this road to publication, I jumped into any shiny new platform social media came up with. Wrong! I soon understood that while I was now a dedicated writer, I was also human. I couldn’t do everything and do it effectively. I stepped back, looked at what I enjoyed participating in, and stopped or reduced my presence in the rest. My main focus these days is my blog and my Email Connect (a monthly email message to people who have signed up on my contact list). Other than that, I focus on Facebook for regular check-ins, some Twitter when I want to boost something like a review or a launch–mine as well as others–and Goodreads where I always post reviews. I’m an infrequent Instagramer, but I love to create articles for LinkedIn.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a writer and you’re very well aware that writing is a solitary occupation. However, I’m sure like me, you quickly learned that you needed help from a community to have any kind of success. When self-publishing gained legitimacy, the gates opened wide, and the competition to be recognized became immense. My network of writers were there for me, and I’ve always tried to be there for them as well. It has been great fun to see writer friends debut, and then go on to win awards and shine on this stage where they and their books are the stars.
I know the marketing mavens talk about technical aspects of this business. Branding, ad targeting, and keyword algorithms are a part of every article you read about promotion, and I’m not saying anyone should ignore them. I’m only saying that I find the four precepts I’ve discussed are fundamental to be successful in telling the world about my books and about myself.
Not Guilty by C. Lee McKenzie New Release & Giveaway YA
AboutThe Author
I’m C. Lee McKenzie, a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places. I returned to my home state where I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains with my family. I write most of the time, garden, hike, and practice yoga. I travel a lot because that’s how I learn new stuff, and it’s my way to jump-start stories.
In my young adult writing, I take on modern issues that today’s teens face. My first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge (2009) deals with cutting and suicide. My second, The Princess of Las Pulgas (2010), is a story about a family that loses everything and has to rebuild their lives. Double Negative (2014) focuses on literacy, and Sudden Secrets (2014) tackles bigotry and intolerance.
When I want to have fun, I write middle-grade books. Alligators Overhead is my first published book for readers age 8-12. Book 2, The Great Timelock Disaster, followed, and now I have Book 3 Some Very Messy Medieval Magic. Writing the adventures of Pete and Weasel has entertained me no end. I enjoyed them so much that I came up with Sign of the Green Dragon—another adventure fantasy.
Not Guilty by C. Lee McKenzie New Release & Giveaway YA
For more information on Lee and her writing, connect with her on
Facebook – Website – Instagram – Twitter
The author’s other young adult books include: Sliding on the Edge – Princess of Las Pulgas – Double Negative – Sudden Secrets
NOT GUILTY is available at:
Amazon – Smashwords – Barnes & Noble –Kobo – Goodreads
Rafflecopter:
GIVEAWAY LINK
With Halloween celebrated this week, Lee’s giving away five digital copies of NOT GUILTY and a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate. This tour-wide giveaway will end at midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 5th.
To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to the widget.
Thanks for stopping by today during Lee’s visit. Do you enjoy stories where the underdog becomes the champion? Don’t forget to enter the giveaway.
Find out what C. Lee McKenzie has to say about: What’s the difference between middle grade and young adult books? Here October 30th!
Did I write all of that? My I’m wordy, but thanks for posting all of it and for letting invade your space during the launch of Not Guilty.
You have a great spot here!
Thank you. I enjoyed it. Juneta
Very informative marketing strategy. Those four principals would work well in many fields, as well as personal life. Thanks for sharing and being a part of Lee’s tour.
Thank you for always giving me a chance to wonderful authors. Juneta