And now, about my book . . .

“Try everything,” she said, this fellow author. We were comparing notes the other day and agreeing how difficult it is to promote our books. I told her that, after the mystery writer’s convention I’d just attended, I was tempted to give up and simply be a fan. I wouldn't stop writing; I’d still compose essays, poems, and short stories. But books? Here are some of the thoughts that go through a writer’s mind when deciding whether or not to keep it up.

1.      There are approximately 15 gazillion books out there. How in the world will anyone find mine?

2.      Even with a royalty contract most authors don’t make much money on their books. Why? Marketing, among other things. Most of us spend more on promotion and getting our names out there than we make, at least in the beginning. I know. It’s part of the game.

3.      Glory. Fleeting – like a chipmunk darting back into her little hole in the ground fleeting.

4.      Where writers live. The really successful ones live in their heads. All. The. Time.

Some have found my book and loved, or at least, liked it. I’m humbled and happy about that. It tells me I can put a story together that others enjoy reading. My mother was a great story teller and it helped make her more dear to me. A wonderful thing.

It’s true, I've made more money with other writing than my mystery, but how much does that matter? It’s the constant “buy my book, buy my book” mentality I have a horrible time with. I don’t talk about it to friends and family much anymore. Kind of counter productive, but at least they don’t run the other way when they see me.

Glory makes me a little nervous. I mean, what does that require of one? It might mean my hair would have to look good every day, that someone may snap my picture while I’m chowing a burger, and that four extra pounds I just gained? It would look like twenty on camera. Nah, not for me, even the fleeting kind. 

I do live in my head a lot and have a vivid imagination. But I want to be out there with my family, shop with my girlfriends, help at the church tag sale, sing in the choir and all that good stuff, too. And I’m not always gathering fodder; about half the time I’m just enjoying life.

So, that leaves “trying everything” as a challenge. But today I’m reminding you, right here on my blog, that I've written a book, The Red Shoelace Killer – A Minnie Markwood Mystery. A story from my head with characters you may like or even love. It’s a comic-cozy. A light read with some really good reviews on Amazon. That’s where you can buy it as well as at Barnes & Noble, Untreed Reads, at Good Buy Books on Route 9 & 20 in Rensselaer, at the Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany, at Chatham Flowers in Chatham, from the publisher Mainly Murder Press, or from me. And how about that awesome cover up there on the right?

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat why not put my mystery in your best friend’s  hat?

Okay, it’s beyond lame, but it’s also the end of the commercial. Whew!

PS: Book two is in revision and nearly done!

Image: Free Digital Photos