Hey, everyone, thanks for the responses! I have asked my publisher, and they okayed posting the whole first chapter. My editor said, "You have a knack for breaking chapters at intriguing moments and ch 1 will definitely make people want to read more." Chuffed about that!
Also one of the interior maps by our cover artist, which I think will really add interest to the site.
Now I'm just wondering WHEN to post it...I kinda think it should be after it's available for pre-order from the publisher and from Amazon. I don't want to have people excited but not be able to get the book, lest they go away and forget about it.....
Harold, we were talking here about a book that is already in the process of being published, so it's a slightly different question from yours. I don't think I would put any part of a book online myself if I were still trying to market it, but that might just be me, I don't know what people usually do in this case.