Oh boy, is this hard. I’ll just share with you right now that I am not comfortable writing this post. Okay, here I go, here I go….
I’m almost ready to publish my book, The Right Wrong Man.
The genre? Romantic suspense. But who likes labels? The book is a fun page turner, spell-binding, sexy, with a main character who is flawed (after all, aren’t we all?) and funny at times, clueless at others, and interesting enough that you (the reader) will want to follow her down her own little rabbit hole and see the horrible mess she’s in.
Well, there, that wasn’t so difficult to publicize (also known as hype, tout, flaunt, plug, oh my gosh so many words under “to market”).
I’m a writer, not a promoter. (That’s sort of like saying “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”) I like the idea of taking the high road (you know, I just love the creative process, not the hard-as-nails side of advertising and marketing).
The all-terrain highway of writing.
But writing now is an all-terrain highway. The ups, the downs, the writing, the selling.
So I’m proud to shout out I’VE WRITTEN A GOOD BOOK! I love Meredith, my main character. I’m fascinated by the right wrong men in her life, Gregory and Parker. (Or are they the wrong right men?)
Either way, I’ve written the book and edited it and drafted it 2 or 20 or 33 times. My novel has been read and edited and reviewed and critiqued by men and women who all exclaim, “WHAT A GREAT READ!”
The cover is complete, the formatting from Word to Kindle is just about there, and all I need to do now
Is.
Market It!
Ack, but that’s the HARD part.
Can you believe that? Writing a book is supposed to be the most difficult component of publishing.
Making up a character (but truly, that was easy, because Meredith just popped on the page for me);
Finding and following a plot (well, again, I had no idea where Meredith was going, but before I knew it, she flew away from her comfy home in Boston to visit a stranger in a yacht off of St. Thomas and before she knew it…oh, never mind, you have to read the book to find out);
Getting to ‘The End’ (but you know what? The pages just flew on the tip of my pen from page 1 to 286).
Easy peasy.
Just a gallon of sweat, a bucket of blood.
But now, to market, to market.
If you have any suggestions on how to promote The Right Wrong Man, please pass them on.
Just remember, I’m kind of low on blood right now…
I am so crazy excited for you!!! And the cover is FABULOUS! I love it!!! Well done, teach, wonderfully well done. Can’t wait to dive in ~ ~ ~
By: Katie on January 4, 2013
at 2:39 pm
and you’ll see your name in the acknowledgements, oh student of mine…
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 3:49 pm
No suggestions alas, but I do want to tell you that I am SO very proud of you! You’ve written a book oooooh
Is it a paper or e-book? I’d love to meet Meredith.
By: Marion Driessen on January 4, 2013
at 3:34 pm
Thank you for the encouagement! It’s an e-boook, and hopefully I’ll have a link to it in a week or so… :+0
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 3:48 pm
I hope so too, ’cause I need to read this book of yours! Is it too much to ask to send me an e-mail when the link is ready? To marion@mariondriessen.com. That would be awesome.
By: Marion Driessen on January 4, 2013
at 3:51 pm
I’m thrillled that you asked!!! Absolutely.
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 10:36 pm
Your book is now in the Kindle reader on my phone
Thanks for sending me an e-mail, Pam!
By: Marion Driessen on January 14, 2013
at 8:05 pm
So very excited for you Pam!!! Cannot wait to read it! As for marketing, I’ll ask for some suggestions from my “marketing and communications” son. I’m no expert but I would guess that using all aspects of social media would be a good start…or maybe a huge billboard over San Francisco bay? (:
By: soonie2 on January 4, 2013
at 4:55 pm
Oh, that’s the best suggestion yet! tee hee
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 11:04 pm
Well, I googled ‘right wrong man’ and Mitt Romney came up so… we definitely need the link to your book so that we can all start looking for it and up YOUR google hit ABOVE Mit Romney’s. I’m super excited to read it and will link it to my blog as soon as I can (and I’ll pass it on to the ‘young urban zen’ women in my life so that we can get the kids in on it too- you know, they know all about that twitter and texting stuff…) Yay- we get to read your book!
By: Anonymous on January 4, 2013
at 5:01 pm
Don’t know why I keep showing up as anonymous but it’s me, Shannon, right there above this comment.
By: Shannon on January 4, 2013
at 5:01 pm
There is nothing ‘anonymous’ about you! Thanks for the enthusiasm and I’d love you to pass it on to the ‘young urban zen’ women…whatever that is!! :+) I hope to ‘market’ my link within the week.
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 10:50 pm
A wonderful accomplishment – so thrilled for you Pam. I can’t wait to read it again in its final form!
By: Barbara Schultz Creamer on January 4, 2013
at 5:01 pm
Thank you. It’s part of my “BECOME-ing.” (smile)
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 10:51 pm
LOve it! I’m so glad I was along for the ride through some of work getting The Wrong Right Man to this stage of completion. I’m inviting you to step into the marketing phase as a guest on my blog when you think the time is right. xoxo
By: thestorywoman on January 4, 2013
at 5:29 pm
Thank you for the invitation! I’d love to stop by at your blog. Your editing/proofing/encouraging comments were instrumental in helping me realize I was ready to publish.
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 10:54 pm
Congrats! I think I’ve lived that plot line
By: winsomebella on January 4, 2013
at 5:59 pm
Oh boy, haven’t we all????!!!
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 10:54 pm
This might be a bit “better late that never”, but I’m registered for this class that sounds like just what you need. http://www.authorems.com/ai1ec_event/creating-a-book-launch-plan/?instance_id=
By: Joan Leacott on January 4, 2013
at 9:59 pm
That sounds like a great class – thanks for the link! I’m hoping to do everything they suggest before March, but you can read my blog and see if I do. It just rubs me the wrong way sometimes, you know? I just want people to ‘find’ my book, and then tell all their friends. No promoting necessary! (That’s why my nickname is “Pollyanna.”
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 11:06 pm
How did you read my mind, Polly?
Another reference is Kristen Lamb’s blog at http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/. She’s got awesome advice on managing Twitter.
By: Joan Leacott on January 4, 2013
at 11:20 pm
Congrats! Are you self-publishing? On Kindle? How do you do that?
Would love to read/review it. I am a book reviewer (or I was when I still worked for a newspaper).
By: Darla Welchel on January 4, 2013
at 10:29 pm
Thank you Darla, I’d love for you to read/review THE RIGHT WRONG MAN! Yes, it will be e-published on Amazon, and thus on the Kindle. I’ll send you the link as soon as I complete that process. Once my book was totally ready (edited many times, proofed, critiqued, etc.), I hired a wonderful woman to help me create a professional cover (I gave her the photo and ideas, she excecuted) and she formatted it for me (a tedious process). Soon I’ll get the entire package into Amazon, and the book will be ready for your Kindle.
By: roughwighting on January 4, 2013
at 11:00 pm
that is so exciting. I’m sorry I haven’t replied sooner, I’ve stopped getting notification of all followers and those I follow, not sure what’s up with that. my email is darlawelchel@rocketmail.com. Just let me know when it is ready.
Good luck.
By: Darla Welchel on February 6, 2013
at 4:45 am
Oh, this is so exciting, Pam! Cannot wait to read your book! So proud of you….xxoo, Carla
By: Carla Evans on January 5, 2013
at 12:18 am
I’m beaming. Thanks for your amazing support.
By: roughwighting on January 5, 2013
at 9:06 pm
This is GREAT news!! I can’t wait to hear about how the next step goes! Congratulations, not least on putting yourself out there and (modestly) doing a little self-promotion! You go, girl!
By: Susan Brody on January 5, 2013
at 3:36 am
Modest marketing. I think there’s a ring to that!
By: roughwighting on January 5, 2013
at 9:06 pm
Go Pam!! We modern authors are all learning the difference between marketing and advertising. (Credit Michael Phillips for articulating that so well in his enduring book – Marketing without Advertising – 30 years ago!) Marketing is touching our customers, and for authors, it’s even better. The uncomfortable part transforms as you discover the joy of engaging your own reader base. You have produced a rich, entertaining novel and your readers will look up to you. Those relationships are what marketing is really all about today. Keep your thoughts focused on those wonderful people and you’ll do just fine!
By: suzannabrain on January 5, 2013
at 5:57 pm
Well, you’ve just explained it, in one short paragraph, in a way that makes me WANT to market my book (without advertising!). Thank you Suzanna – your comments make me feel more comfortable in spreading the news about my book – and myself – to friends near and far.
By: roughwighting on January 5, 2013
at 9:04 pm
CONGRATULATIONS!
How about a Blog tour? They seem popular.
Xx
By: Vikki (The View Outside) on January 6, 2013
at 7:16 am
I’ll work on that!
By: roughwighting on January 7, 2013
at 2:56 pm
Congratulations
By: Melanie Marttila on January 7, 2013
at 1:26 am
Thank you!!
By: roughwighting on January 7, 2013
at 2:58 pm
Congrats!!! You should never feel bad plugging something you’ve worked so hard for.
Here’s to Kindle success!
By: Writerlious on January 7, 2013
at 1:30 pm
Thank you! I think I’ll feel successful as soon as it’s actually DONE, you know? Big step, yet such a fun, challenging, and rewarding one.
By: roughwighting on January 7, 2013
at 2:57 pm
Oh, how exciting, Pam! I’m looking forward to putting your book on my Kindle! Congratulations!!!
By: Barbara Rodgers on January 7, 2013
at 1:34 pm
I think it will be official in a few days. Gulp. Will talk about it next blog. (not market, just talk). :+)
By: roughwighting on January 7, 2013
at 2:57 pm
congratulations, dear friend!!! what an accomplishment…the rest will come….
By: hhooverpd@aol.com on January 8, 2013
at 5:22 pm
I think my ‘rest will come’ is here – with wonderful friends like you already cheering me on.
By: roughwighting on January 9, 2013
at 2:59 pm
Congrats on publishing and good luck with the publicity and marketing stuff. I’ve heard a lot of authors say that was the hardest part!
By: Emily McGee on January 8, 2013
at 8:25 pm
Well, if not the hardest part, definitely the least fun. :+0 But I’m trying to see the joy in it, and hearing from people like you is helping me see that this CAN be a great part of the writing/publishing process.
By: roughwighting on January 9, 2013
at 2:56 pm
This is fantastic, Pam. What a great achievement
I’m a writer not a marketer – know exactly how you feel…
By: diannegray on January 8, 2013
at 9:20 pm
Ha Ha. That should be the new mantra of us writers. On the other hand, if we don’t market ourselves, who’s going to know we’re out there? A ‘catch 22′ dilemma.
By: roughwighting on January 9, 2013
at 2:58 pm
Can you see me? I am jumping up and down and shouting Yes! Hooray! Congratulations! Well Done!
By: Anna Marie on January 9, 2013
at 1:24 pm
I can see you, I can see you! And you will see YOUR name in my Acknowledgements page. :+) xo
By: roughwighting on January 9, 2013
at 2:57 pm
Just downloaded the book and looking forward to reading it! Congrats, girl!
By: Easty Lambert-Brown on January 11, 2013
at 3:36 pm
yay yay and yay. Thank you oh college friend, friend-for-life, and publisher of your own write (I mean, right).
By: roughwighting on January 11, 2013
at 4:13 pm
What about an interview? I could come up with some questions for you, if you’d like to talk about your book on my blog. I don’t have a huge following, but I do have a few loyal readers who are always looking for a good book to add to their To Be Read pile and who want to know how an author gets published.
By: mywithershins on January 14, 2013
at 7:23 pm
That is a sweet wonderful offer, and I accept. My book is a ‘fun’ read – nothing earthshattering in a ‘literary’ sense. But it IS a great beach or ‘sitting cozy in the chair’ read. If you think your followers like that kind of book (and it is just an e-book so far) I would love to chat with you on your blog!
By: roughwighting on January 14, 2013
at 11:13 pm
I’ll come up with some questions and be in touch. I still have your email address.
By: mywithershins on January 15, 2013
at 12:59 am
Wonderful.
By: roughwighting on January 15, 2013
at 1:27 am
we are all telling everyone how GREAT it is (- you should hear your mom)
so we know it will be a big hit love ya mom
By: Anonymous on January 25, 2013
at 8:28 pm