Blatant self-promotion. Signings. Conferences. Panels. Blogs. Twitter. Facebook.

At heart I'm a simple guy and something of a loner who likes to spend time reading a book or watching a movie or, you know, actually writing the next entry in a rapidly growing library of work. I've always thought that the best advertising for your books is the work itself, so I do the promotion thing a bit reluctantly—and who knows, maybe that reluctance shows.

Anyone who has been keeping up knows that e-books are now the big thing. I have friends who are making a lot of money self-publishing on Kindle and Nook, and for those who already have a following, the ebook revolution could well give them a chance to make a living doing what they love.

Then there are guys like John Locke, who came out of nowhere and has become one of self-publishing's biggest hitters, and he tells us exactly how he did it in his recently published book on the subject, HOW I SOLD A MILLION EBOOKS or something along those lines.

When I saw the book on Kindle, I had to buy it. Anyone who has sold a million books of any kind tends to get my attention. I'm somewhat obsessed with James Patterson, whom a lot of writers disparage for his factory-like approach to producing novels. I, on the other hand, think he's a genius who has hit upon a formula that works for him. And I doubt he cares what those writers think as he sits back in his luxurious home and rakes in the cash.

So, I'm one to appreciate Locke's ability to sell books, no matter how he manages to do it. And, of course, I wanted to know how.

My problem, however, was that I got bored with his how-to book about halfway through. The first half seemed to be all tease (just hang on folks and I'll tell you how YOU, TOO can sell a million books. No, not now, just wait a little longer...), and by the time I got to the second half, it turned out to be the usual advice about—guess what?

Blogging. Twitter. Facebook.

As if every writer I've ever known hasn't done all this stuff already. I started a blog six or seven years ago when I was still trying to get a publishing deal, and I was on Murderati for years until I finally ran out of things to blog about.

Now, if you believe Locke, he's found a way to make social networking work for you, but I stopped reading and still don't know his magic formula. I should probably finish the book, because, who knows, maybe there's really something there I'll find useful. Maybe I'd be singing his praises. He was, after all, a millionaire before he even started writing books, so he must know something about something.

God knows I need help. According to the statistics, I've got a problem on my hands. My new book, THE PARADISE PROPHECY, comes out in just a few days and despite a lot of great reviews and the fact that many people have told me, unsolicited, that they couldn't put the book down, I know I have an uphill climb.

Because the book is being released in hardback. Remember those? It has a beautiful cover and a bit a heft to it and inside are some wonderful Gustave Dore illustrations and it's just one of those books you have to buy on paper because it's so gorgeous to look at. The kind of book that looks great on a shelf.

But hardbacks don't sell anymore. Only low-priced e-books do. That's the conventional wisdom. And while the book is available via e-book, of course, there's a part of me that hopes people will go for the hardback this time. If I could personally sign each and every one of them, I would.

I've never been one, however, to care much about conventional wisdom. I think all the social networking in the world will not help you if the book you write is no good.

And while I'm biased, I think THE PARADISE PROPHECY is the best book I've ever written. It's big and bold and both epic and intimate at the same time. It's fantasy and thriller and mystery and suspense all wrapped into one and I think most who read it will come away feeling satisfied.

At least I hope they will.

The trick, of course, is getting people to pick it up and read it. Mr. Locke seems to know that trick, and I should probably be listening to him.

Or maybe I should just stick to writing. It's what I do best.