Have a blog? Want to help a fellow author?

[Karen Dionne]

Patry Francis is a talented author and lovely person whose debut suspense novel THE LIAR'S DIARY came out last spring in hardcover from Dutton. The trade paper release is January 29th, but a few weeks ago, Patry was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She's had several surgeries, and her prognosis is good, but given that Patry won't have much energy for promoting, a number of bloggers are banding together to do it for her.

'THE LIAR'S DIARY blog day' is going to be held January 29th. Folks who wish to participate are asked to mention the book on their blog that day and link to Patry's website (www.patryfrancis.com) and the book's purchase page on Amazon, do a liars themed blog, review the book, sponsor a contest, or do anything else they think might help Patry get some much-deserved notice. Bloggers are also asked to encourage their readers to buy one/buy one for a friend between January 29th and Feb 1.

Brilliance audio is putting together a special audio clip that bloggers can use, and Circle of Seven productions is making a short "cover story" promo video, which will also be available to bloggers. And Susan Henderson, of LitPark, says if you like, you can come to her blog on the 29th and copy what she writes.

Just to give you a very small idea of what you'll see in the 29th, here are the folks who have already stepped forward to help: Laura Benedict, who came up with the idea. Patry's editor at Dutton, Julie Doughty. Her agent at the Jean Naggar Literary Agency, Alice Tasman. Her publicist, Laurie Connors. Eileen Hutton at Brilliance Audio. Jessica Brilliant Keener. Tish Cohen. Dan Conaway from Writers House. Sheila Clover English, CEO of Circle of Seven Productions. Jeff Kleinman at Folio Literary Management. Robin Slick from In Her Own Write. Ellen Meister. Bella Stander. M.J. Rose. Robin Grantham. Kamela Cody of ModernGirlStyle.com. Kathryn Esplin at Gather.com. Clair Lamb at her Answer Girl blog. Sarah Weinman at Confessions of An Idiosyncratic Mind. Hank Ryan from JungleRedWriters. Sisters In Crime. Raven Bower. CJ Lyons. Jordan Dane. Murderati. Jen Jordan at Crimespree. Richard Lewis. Gail Baker and The Debutante Ball. Eileen Cook. Kelli Stanley. David Thayer. Amy Nathan. Karin Gillespie. Melanie Lynn Hauser. Amy MacKinnon. Anthony S. Policastro. Carolyn Burns Bass. And you, too, right?

A list of bloggers who plan to participate will be sent to Patry’s publisher in the next few days. If you’d like to be included, please send your name, the name of your blog, and how many hits per day/week/month your blog gets (if you have those stats, and if you're comfortable sharing them) to me, Karen Dionne, as soon as possible. [e-mail] Patry's publisher is aware of our efforts, and excited about the prospect of working with us to make this blog day a success.

Patry's own blog is called "Simply Wait," (she used to be a waitress) and it's quite unsentimental and inspiring to read how she's dealing with this setback. Equally inspiring is watching the writing community rally around one of their own. Our cumulative efforts can make a difference! By all means, feel free to copy this post and share it around to help spread the word, and THANKS.

[Kim Smith]

wow. I visited this site and all I can say is wow. She said "I may not be ready to call adversity my ally yet, but it is certainly my teacher." and well, it will be our teacher as well one day so... I am definitely doing this. For her, for me, for all of us who live and love and have to face adversity. thank you for sharing.
kim

[Marta Stephens]

Absolutely! Count me in.

[Naomi Hirahara]

I went to her blog as well. So impressed by Patry and her honesty in relaying her current tribulations. She is indeed a beautiful writer.

Knowing the generosity of the mystery community, I'm sure the blogsphere of January 29 will be filled with news of THE LIAR'S DIARY. I'll let some local mystery booksellers in Southern California know.

[Felicia Donovan]

Karen, I was deeply moved by Patry's words, courage and optimism. Please count me in. E-mail with info coming your way.

Felicia Donovan

[Karen J. Laubenstein]

Count Alaska Sisters in Crime in - we'll do our best.

-Karen

[Karen Dionne]

Thank you all for your support, and especially for taking the time to get to know Patry through her blog. In the first 24 hours, around 50 bloggers have joined the effort - such a gratifying response from a wonderful community! Individually, there's not a whole lot any of us can do to make a difference, but collectively - well! Thanks again.

[Marta Stephens]

Karen,

First, thanks so much for your post. I just wanted you to know that I've posted my review of Patry's book on my blog, http://mstephens-musings.blogspot.com and invite each of you to please read it.

If you have a minute, also please take a minute to visit the links at the bottom of the post to find out a little more about Patry and The Liar's Diary Blog Day.

Best,
Marta

[I. J. Parker]

I don't have a blog, but this effort is stellar in proportion. Bravo! And my best wishes to Patry Francis for her health and for her book.

[J. Shanon Roggenbuck]

I can post her webpage and the amazon purchase page on my one of my blog sites and neverendingriddlecoffeestop, at least it will stay still there so others can rely on finding it in the same spot each time they want to look for it. Sadly, I am not the one in control of the advertising on my side bar at my other blogpage, which means I have to use the blogpages and any advertising I place in these goes down, down, down with each new post.

[Karen Dionne]

Thanks, all! The blog day yesterday was a tremendous success! Over 350 bloggers took part, pushing THE LIAR'S DIARY to #1 in the mystery category on amazon by the end of the day. And because so many bloggers were involved, now, some of the print media is interested in reporting on the story.

The need for promotion doesn't stop with a single day, so if you missed the blog day, please feel free to post about Patry's book on your blogs in the days ahead. Here's a link to some information you can use: LitPark. You can also check out the list of those who blogged for Patry. Kahled Hosseini? Peter Coyote? Wow!

Thanks again!