Welcome to Behind the Pen, our new author spotlight series where we get up close and personal with the amazing writers in our community—and dig into what’s actually working for them when it comes to book marketing.
From clever promo strategies to lessons learned the hard way, we’re shining a light on the real-world tactics authors are using to reach readers, grow their platforms, and get results. You’ll also learn how they’re leveraging Written Word Media products like Freebooksy and Amazon Ads to maximize visibility and build sustainable momentum.
Marketing indie books is rarely a straight line—but with the right mix of experimentation, persistence, and promo tools, you can build momentum over time.
In this edition, we’re featuring Tamara Rose Blodgett, a prolific indie author of dark and genre-blending novels whose journey from Twilight-sparked inspiration to data-driven marketer proves that creative fire and strategic thinking can go hand in hand.
Let’s dive in. 👇
Tamara Rose Blodgett writes Dark Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thrillers, PNR, and Dark Romance and with 80 novels published so far, there’s no slowing down for her. She was first influenced by a haunting line from Twilight and has been building supernatural worlds ever since.
“I was inspired by a single line in Twilight, where a villainous Italian vampire tells Edward that Bella’s blood ‘sings to him.’ That one line inspired my first book, Blood Singers, though I published Death Whispers first.”
She generally writes in the morning before noon, Monday through Friday, fueled by the right music—never silence.
“Definitely a certain type of music inspires my writing so much more than a ‘deafening’ silence.”
Tamara’s relationship with book marketing has evolved over the years. What once felt intimidating now sparks creativity.
“It used to be dread, but I’ve recently dove deep and gotten a very good grasp on all-things-marketing. I’m actually enjoying this side of my career—finally!”
She’s a fan of Freebooksy and promo stacks, especially when paired with Amazon Ads.
“I have been a long-time WWM user with Freebooksy and now that ‘stacks’ are available I’m in absolute love! I also use Amazon Ads very religiously. The combo cannot be beat.”
💡 Key Tactics in Play
Here’s what’s working for Tamara right now:
“I haven’t bothered with BookBub in a long time because the last promo was expensive and the downloads were around 6K… and I’m not in control of my ad copy—so, no thanks.”
Tamara doesn’t just rely on gut instinct—she tracks results closely, and the numbers speak volumes.
“My last promo went spectacularly well. I am still making $10–$20 per day nine months after the initial run.”
Her last promo’s results:
📈 Downloads: 4,400 in a 2-day promo window
💰 ROI: 3.6 cents per download
📚 Page Reads: 20% increase within 3 days of the promo
📦 Box Set Wins: Savage 1–3 continues to earn 2–5K page reads per day—months later
“The readers who downloaded it last June are still reading it. It’s been a marvelous return.”
And her March promo for Road Kill MC 1–3 is already showing promise:
“Page reads jumped to 3K per day, up from 1K the prior month.”
When marketing stops feeling like a mystery and starts feeling like a creative asset? That’s the moment.
“After 3 months of really hard work to learn ads, leveraging AI for both covers, synopses, and ad copy—and whatever innovation I can grab—have inspired me to be even more creative because now I’m more relaxed in the craft.”
Tamara is candid about her learning curve—especially when it came to Amazon Ads.
“Learning Amazon Ads has been the most challenging part of my [almost 15-year] career.”
And she’s seen the downsides of other promo platforms:
“I have tried everyone. I found their responsiveness to be too slow, too costly, and the ROI wasn’t there. I like Fussy Librarian a lot, but now they collaborate with WWM and that’s been a win.”
She’s staying consistent—and playing the long game.
“I’m just writing my final book in the Through Darkness Trilogy, a dark post-apocalyptic thriller with an undertone of romance. I will then write my next preteen novella and my 12th book in the Blood Series for the 2025 line-up.”
If she could do it again…
“I would have started MUCH earlier and not let being intimidated stymie my progress. Marketing isn’t impossible—it just takes time to build knowledge and skill sets. If I can do it—anyone can.”
To authors trying to build readership…
“Write every day. That must be the focus. Nothing compels a reader more than an author who consistently produces engaging work. You can market all you want, you can even have great covers—but diligently writing and producing is what will build readership.”
We asked Tamara if she’d recommend Written Word Media to fellow authors:
“100% yes. The very best value out there. Especially now.”
Tamara Rose is a true indie powerhouse—balancing deep creativity with sharp strategy, staying curious, and never losing sight of the reader. From stacks to multi-book sequencing, her approach proves that success comes not just from great ideas, but from persistent execution.
Whether you’re launching your debut or promoting the fifth book in your series, Written Word Media can help you reach the right readers—through targeted email promos, Facebook ads, and more. Schedule your next promotion today.