If you are a writer, musician or artist, you are facing huge challenges in today’s marketing environment. Even if you are signed by a marketing partner such as a publisher or recording label, this is no time to rest on your laurels. But the good news is that social media is increasingly becoming an effective marketing tool that is accessible to everyone.

A little over a year ago, we announced the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program. The purpose of the program was to provide free books to bloggers in exchange for a 200-word review of the book. We don’t require positive reviews. We want bloggers to be honest in their assessment of the books they read.

In How the Mighty Fall, author Jim Collins answers the question, “How can large successful companies fail after decades of growth and stability?” Tim Irwin asks a similar question about leaders in his new book, Derailed: Five Lessons Learned from Catastrophic Failures of Leadership (Thomas Nelson, 2009). In a moment, I will tell you how to get a free copy.

A few weeks ago, we published the novel Green by Ted Dekker. It is the newest book in the Circle Series, which also includes Black, Red, and White. In a minute, I will tell you how to get a free copy of the boxed set, which includes all four hardcover books, or a review copy of Green for your blog.

The Circle Series has become the fan favorite among Ted’s readers. And unlike typical series which reach a peak and taper off, the momentum for this series has only grown in the five years since the first three books were released. This is a testament to the power of a truly great story that works on multiple levels.