Let's Talk with Debra H. Goldstein
Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein
September 26, 2019
Gearing up
by Debra H. Goldstein
It’s coming!
Will I survive?
The mass market paperback and e-book versions of Two Bites Too Many, the second book in Kensington’s Sarah Blair cozy mystery series, have been available for preorder for several weeks, but today the book is in the store, the e-books will download, and preorder copies should be being received. I’m excited and scared. I thought the hard work was over – after all, I wrote the book, but now I need to publicize it, and also remember to mention that until October 1, the e-book version of the first book in the series, One Taste Too Many, is on sale for $1.99.
For a shy person who spent a lifetime as a judge deliberately flying under the radar, this is a daunting proposition. Consequently, I’ve been observing others to see if there is a persona I can adopt. Here’s what I’ve observed:
a) Master Promoter – so much in my face that I want to puke (not my style)
b) Promoting is Gauche – and that’s why nobody bought your books after your family and friends on release day (enough said)
c) Calm, Kind, and All Over the Place – Where do people like Maggie, Hank, Edith, and others I admire get all their energy from? Surely eating five crackers at a sitting isn’t the source. (Can’t be duplicated except the kindness each one offers other people)
d) Volunteer Persona – leaves no time for writing or personal work (can well understand that one)
e) Networker – relationship builder (good if combined with c and d but problematic with style a)
f) Nurturer – helps others (good when combined with elements of c, d, and e)
g) Stumbler – what will be will be, but I’ll try (a natural fit)
What I finally realized is that it isn’t the persona a writer adopts that is going to make a difference, but whether those of you who read any of our books enjoy them and recommend them to your friends, family, book groups, libraries, social media groups and anyone else you can think of. Most writers toil locked away from other people, putting heart and soul into their written work. We want you to like our words, to value us as we respect and value you, but even when we come out of our writing dungeons, we often are shy. We must force ourselves to overcome our instinctive introverted natures. It’s not an easy thing to do.
In the next few weeks, I hope you will read Two Bites Too Many and find it fun and enjoyable; but, more importantly, I hope you let me hear from you. I may not have the persona for PR, but I relish making new friends. That’s the case with most writers. As the song goes, “Make new friends, but keep the old.” Without you, our journey wouldn’t be worthwhile.
What do you think about interacting with authors? Did you ever e-mail one or attend a signing or panel program to see a favorite author?
Now that October has arrived: Our October contest is going on right now! Be sure to click over to enter. One winner is selected every month, on the 19th of the month, and the winner may select one mystery from the six in the prize vault. Click here.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Debra H. Goldstein • Tags: BLB Discussion, book release, Gearing Up. Debra H Goldstein, Let's Talk, Two Bites Too Many | 6 Comments
Most definitely, reader feedback is what makes our efforts worthwhile. Part of our PR job is to inform readers that they can write reviews, even if only a few lines, and that their opinions really do matter. As for promo, you have to do what you enjoy. I like Facebook because I get the most reader interaction there, so it’s fun for me. It’s also where most of my readers hang out. Social media is like the water coolers of the past. You hang around and chat and get to know each other.
Thanks for the mention, Debra. I think most of us enter the promotion side of things as a stumbler. My journey after that was to get signed up for everything and see which things worked and which I enjoyed doing. I’ve found that if I enjoy something it isn’t work. I enjoy connecting with readers on Facebook. I found I couldn’t reliably do every platform because it is exhausting to do it all. Now I try to be fully present on FB, do some tweets and LinkedIn posts, hit Instagram when I remember, and send out quarterly newsletters. In between that and writing and some volunteer work, I do a lot of reading, which I dearly love. Reading is how I got into writing, after all, and it was my first love, my first way to travel and have new experiences without ever leaving home.
I’m definitely and ‘lick and a promise’ promoter and treat promotion as part of the job. I have a few favorite sites and blogs that I regularly use, but it’s easy to get sucked into a black hole and forget to pay attention to the real job — creating that manuscript. I try to be a Nurturer, but I’m a natural Stumbler! 😉
Wow, Debra, I never knew that you are shy. I suppose all of us writers are shy to some extent and communicate with our readers through our stories. I like Facebook, like interacting with readers and my fellow writers. I enjoy Facebook parties, too. I’ve yet to master Instagram. Don’t know why I find it daunting. Perhaps because we need photos. But I enjoy doing my newsletter, which surprises me since I fought starting one for years. Anyway, I’m wishing you great success with Book Number Two in your series.
If I could I’d lock myself in my writing cave and never come out. Unfortunately, writers need to do so much more than just write nowadays. Having to promote my books has forced me to step out of my comfort zone, and that’s probably a good thing. I think. Maybe. Isn’t it?
You are a new to me author! I look forward to reading your books. I have on occasion emailed authors, but I’ve never attended any conferences. I have hosted local authors in my library and they’ve had book signings. It was very fun and interesting. I love the cover for Two Bites Too Many, always love seeing animals on covers.