And now it begins

Learning to take my own advice about book marketing & an author career

The book launched on September 26th. My first novel, the heart and soul of my creative work for the past two years. Out, in the world, available for all to buy, read, love and share.

Six months I worked to birth this baby, and then the day came, and then the virtual launch (watch it below) and then the in-person backyard book party on Sunday, October 1st with the best cake ever bringing a dish in the book to real life, and…

I obsessively checked sales on Amazon and Ingram, calculated how many I’ve sold in person. Counted my dollars and cents.

And sighed a long and breathy sigh.

That’s it? Why am I not an overnight sensation? Why isn’t everyone talking about me and my book? Didn’t they see me on TV, in the paper, listen to a podcast that featured me, read all my social posts about this very book, this Important Endeavor.

Important to me, that is.

Forever, I’ve been teaching other authors that marketing is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s something you must embrace if you are to be a career author. Embrace. As in, ongoing, part of your life, never leaving. I teach this all the time. You’d think I’d know it.

But now I have to live it. Walk the walk.

The Saturday after the book launch, I was down. Blue. Deep in doldrums. Feeling rejected even though so many people came out to the virtual launch (watch it below) and to the book party (I felt so loved).

I fixated on the few people who never said “congratulations,” or showed no interest in celebrating my launch, or who said thanks but no thanks in their very diplomatic but direct way.

I teach all the time to aspiring career authors that not everyone is going to love your writing. People are going to downright not like your writing but that’s ok, you’re not writing to please them.

You are writing for a very niche and narrow audience who love the way you weave words together, who love the stories you tell, who love the way you tell them. And really, you’re writing because you love to write, because you can’t not write, because this story in you needs to be told.

But the shoemaker’s children have no shoes. The marketing expert thinks magically her book will soar to the top of the bestseller list without her ever having to lift a finger.

Well it was #49 in Jewish fiction a day after release, so I broke the top 100 and that’s something. And then someone quoted sales stats for books, explained what is considered “doing well,” and you know, I’ve actually done quite well. Context helps.

So I pouted for a day and felt sorry for myself and let my husband be all cheerleader-loving (he’s so great) and then the sun came out and I remembered how many people have texted or called or emailed to say how much they love the book and me.

This author career, it’s not for the weak. And it IS a marathon. You have to be hydrated, slow your pace, keep going even when your legs are like jelly. (My protagonist, Sally, is a runner, so I’m trying for the metaphor, even if I am not in any way a person who runs.)

I laced up my metaphorical marathon sneakers. Sat back down at my keyboard. Filled out a form to be an invited author at that book festival and then the next one. Called up a potential speaking outlet and said, Hello, I think you want to invite me to your community!

Virtual Book Launch, WOMAN OF VALOR

Thanks to all who celebrated, bought the book, reached out to share their feedback. This writing thing, it takes a village. I am grateful for you, dear readers!!

Share the Love

And because we must promote one another, please read this gorgeous essay by my writing student and friend, Navneet Bhullar. So proud of her for getting published!

October on the ‘Stack

Our next Subscriber zoom will be October 30th at 4 p.m. ET. If you’re not a paid subscriber, please consider becoming one!

I am also behind on book giveaways to paid subscribers, so that will be coming in the next week or two. Subscribers are entered to win a monthly book giveaway and invited to bimonthly Writing Coaching Zooms.

Soon, I’ll be opening my 2024 retreats for application. If you’ve never gone on retreat to write in community, it’s time!

Thanks, as always, for reading. See you next Monday, same time, same place.

xoxo Lynne