To Market, To Market
"It's all so overwhelming," she confessed to me
in an email. The "she" being a newly published author from my
writer's group. And I have to agree with her evaluation of the situation.
Having a new novel published, even if it's not your first, is overwhelming.
Instead of thinking of how to create memorable characters, unforgettable
dialog, and treacherous plots for future novels, all I think about now is how
I'm going to market my current novel, Masterpiece of Murder.
Authors are not merely writers anymore, they have to be
website masters, public relations specialists, speakers, press release gurus,
blog writers, and promoters, all of which I knew nothing about when I put down
the first word of my first manuscript so many years ago.
Once my novel was published, it amazed me how much I had
to learn in a short period of time in order to survive in this daunting world
of book promotion and marketing, both online and off. All that information
often forced my mind into "brain overload" causing it to shut down
altogether. But from time to time, I would come across an author who was kind
enough, and generous enough, to help a neophyte like me to "get my name
out there." What a relief. Marketing and promotion are ongoing processes
that I am just beginning to learn, and with every day comes new information
that seems to make it even more complex
I often feel guilty when I take time for myself. After
all, I should be doing something to market my novel, it took a year to write,
and even more time for a publisher to offer me a contract. Lately, I'm getting
a little frantic, almost to the point of doing blatant self-promotion anywhere
at any time. Last week I found myself handing out bookmarks at the corner drug
store when I went in to pick up a prescription. If you've found any way to
promote your novel that's different or unusual, besides the obvious online
"stuff," I'd appreciate some suggestions.
Please leave a
comment and you'll automatically be entered in my giveaway contest. You could
win a signed print copy of Masterpiece of Murder. The lucky winner will be
selected at random at the end of this blog tour, and announced on my blog, http://evelyncullet.com/blog/ on December 12th. Don't forget to leave
your email address so I'll know how to contact you.
Masterpiece of Murder is a fast-paced romantic suspense
novel about a broken-hearted art student, Charlotte Ross, who is so intent on
locating her errant fiancé that she submits someone else’s painting as her own
in order to gain access to a Master art class being held in Bariloche,
Argentina—the place her lost love was last seen. When the painting gets her
accepted into the class given by a world-famous artist and womanizer, being a
novice makes keeping up with the others nearly impossible as she struggles to
fake her way though, while trying to win back the man she loves. But her fiancé
has his own reasons for being in Bariloche that complicate Charlotte’s life and
threaten her very existence as she stumbles into a downward spiral of
deception, art forgery, and murder. After finding the murder victim,
circumstantial evidence begins to mount up against her and the local police
suspect she is the killer. Now she must use the skills she learned from her
mystery writer friend, along with the help of her fellow art students, to
discover who is really behind the murder. Not an easy task with a military
police officer dogging her every step.
Evelyn Cullet has been an aspiring author since high
school when she wrote short stories, but didn't begin her first novel until
college, later in life. Afterward, she continued to take writing classes while
working in the offices of a major soft drink company. Now, after early
retirement, she finally has the chance to do what she loves best; write
full-time. Evelyn enjoys playing the piano, being an organic gardener, and an
amateur Lapidary. She's a former long-time member of the Agatha Christie
Society, and is currently a member of Sisters in Crime. Evelyn and her husband
live in a suburb of Chicago along with their Black Lab/Pit Bull, Bailey.
Thank you for visiting me today, Evelyn. Your book sounds fascinating and I was glad to learn about your.
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