Wanna Be An Avon Addict?

I rarely do straight-up promotional content on Alpha Heroes, but I'm looking at this as a public service announcement. If you love romance, Avon really does have some of the best authors in the business. I think they're especially good at historical, but their contemp and paranormal lines are also strong and getting stronger.

I've worked with the Avon team for more than four years now, and I can say that it's a system unlike any other I've found. The Avon Addict program was a pioneer in putting together a team of "super-readers."  It's kind of a street team, but different in important ways:

1. The Avon PR team will never pressure you to up-vote good reviews or down-vote bad reviews on Amazon. They have NEVER remotely suggested any of the kind of shenanigans you see some street teams being called out for.
2. The Avon PR team will never pressure you to post a review that is anything but 100% honest.
3. You are not supporting an individual author. You get exposure to new authors, review copies from coveted favorites, multiples that you can offer for give-aways or to your book club, or whatever you want to do in order to share the book love.
4. I have had so many opportunities to meet some serious romance ROCK STARS. We're talking Julia Quinn, Lyndsay Sands, Jeaniene Frost, Gordon and Ilona Andrews, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Eloisa James. (note: travel and event expenses are not covered by Avon -- but if you can get yourself to these events, odds are good that you'll have an inside track to meeting the Avon authors!)
5. It's a limited time gig. Maybe you get tired of blogging or reviewing (never reading, I'm guessing!). After your time is up, the physical swag ramps down, but you're still in an inner circle of bloggers & reviewers with occasional lovely perks -- I just got a galley for an all-time classic favorite, the first ever FORBIDDEN full-length romance I ever read: Shanna, and it just makes me so happy. Being an Addict will bring a smile to your face more often that you can imagine.
6. Last, and to be honestly, possibly least in my mind, is a handful of fun physical swag in every box. I would love being a part of this program without any of this stuff, but it's definitely a fun extra that you don't get from many publishers. In our first box, we received the most cuddly fleece blanket that I have STILL managed to keep out of the hands of my children and it's in my favorite reading nook. Over time, my group received tee-shirts, cute stuffed animals, a playing die from Sarah MacLean's "gaming hell," a beach mat, and just tons of fun little extras.  (should I work in the word "fun" a couple more times here? seriously, it's all super-fun!)

So here's the deal: if you want in, you have to apply! There are tons of applicants, and only 25 will be chosen, but if you don't apply, you won't get in!  Here's everything you need to know, straight from the most awesome team of PR pros you'll ever meet:

As Avon Books celebrates its Diamond (75th) anniversary, we are excited to announce that we are seeking 25 new Avon Addicts, dedicated book aficionadas who want to become part of the most coveted super reader team in the romance community!

Avon Addicts take their love for the genre to a whole new level, and love sharing their passion with the world! If this describes you, then you need to apply now for a chance to be one of the 25 accepted into the sixth sisterhood of Avon Addicts. If you became part of Avon’s social media-savvy inner circle of romance lovers, you will help spread the love of favorite Avon authors via blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads posts. You’ll also be given the ability to pass along physical copies to the other bibliophiles in your lives!

Applications should be submitted to us from June 1 through June 30, 2016.

To apply: http://avonromance.com/join-avon-addicts/ Avon Addicts receive special invitations to meet authors behind-the-scenes at book events, and to mix & mingle with all the Avon ladies at our special events at RWA, RT, BEA and other bookish gatherings.

If you think you have what it takes to be an Avon Addict, apply here!

What you’ll receive:
Over the course of a year, Avon Addicts will receive six special packages containing advance copies of forthcoming books to read and share with friends; fun promotional items (swag!), and other goodies. We will send our Addicts early copies of hand-selected Avon, Avon Impulse and William Morrow titles.

Addicts, in return, should share their feelings about these books on their social sites, on the Avon website, Edelweiss, and online retailers!

We hope the Avon Addict program helps us reward our most devoted readers – and we know your enthusiasm is infectious…so we hope you’ll help make everyone as excited about our extraordinary books and talented authors as you are.

Applications should be submitted to us from June 1 through June 30, 2016.

Does being an Avon Addict sound like all that and a box of romance novels to you? Well, don’t take our word for it:

“I have to say, I've been blown away by your generosity with books, packages, good times... I've done something similar with a couple of publishers and NO ONE has come close to the level of generosity Avon has. Totally blew me away, and continues to do so.”
—Ruth Salisbury, Avon Addict

“Thank you so much for selecting me to be an Avon Addict. It has been a joy and has done absolutely nothing to quell an already rampant addiction. ”
—Grace L., Avon Addict

“Being an Avon Addict has been the greatest privilege and experience. I am so proud to say that I am an Avon Addict and always will be.”
—Amy Valentini, Avon Addict

Thank you for participating! We hope to enroll you in the Avon Addict program soon!

Need more tempting? Here's what my first box looked like: 

Good luck, and good reading!