Cover Reveal!!!

Isn't this design GORGEOUS? Cave of Secrets is coming August 27th...

***Drum roll, please***

I absolutely love this gorgeous book cover for my forthcoming novel, CAVE OF SECRETS, which launches August 27th. Thank you to the illustrious, talented husband-wife graphic design team of Patrick McEntaggart and Susan Jones, who designed the WOMAN OF VALOR cover and now this.

It is so FUN to work with Paddy & Su, from vision boards to finished product. I am grateful to have them on my team!!

Now that the design for my second novel is done, all the launch steps are in process. Pre-orders will soon be available everywhere you buy books. And you can buy an early paperback copy at a soft pre-launch event August 2-3 at the Michigan Highland Games.

CAVE OF SECRETS book launch events include an 11 a.m. ET virtual launch on August 27th (register here), where I will be in conversation with my friend and fellow author, Merle Saferstein. That same night, join me for a 7 p.m. in-person launch party at the JCC in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where I’ll be in conversation with my friend and director of the Detroit Jewish Book Fair, Lauren Johnson. The launch party is hosted by the Detroit Jewish Book Fair and sponsored by the Detroit Writing Room. Reserve your spot here. Both are going to be packed events!!

April Book Giveaway Winner

Thank you to my paid subscribers for supporting this weekly missive of writing and publishing news and information! The April book giveaway winner is April Krassner, a wonderful poet and writing instructor. She’ll be receiving MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan, a book I absolutely could not put down. Thank you, April, for supporting the Rebel Author Newsletter!

The May book giveaway for paid subscribers will be NO COUNTRY FOR EIGHT-SPOT BUTTERFLIES by Julian Aguon. If you aren’t already a paid subscriber, please consider becoming one to qualify for this and other giveaways—and to participate in bimonthly writing coaching calls!

Summer Special on Author Marketing Coaching Packages

Many authors come to me after learning about book marketing, some with a plan sort of hatched, and say, “Where do I start? There’s just too much to do! AAARGH!”

I get it. You just want to write. I feel the same way. Even with my marketing expertise, I still confer with my author friends about marketing. We all need a team!

Which is why I love coaching writers in the art and constant of marketing. You can’t not market, no matter how you publish. And, it is a slow burn, something that will demand your attention always—so it’s easier to accept the reality of being a career author and embrace marketing, fine-tune your skills, and find a way to enjoy it, than it is to avoid it at all costs (as tempting as that might be).

I don’t advise outsourcing marketing, primarily because no one is going to love your book more than you. You’re the ideal person to do it and do it well. Outsource one or two things, sure, but find a way to make it fun for you! And actually, it can be EASY.

Which is why I hand-hold and work with authors to strengthen their marketing muscle. Right now, I’m offering a summer special: a two-month Marketing Coaching package designed to help authors gain clarity and get moving on their marketing. If you need this kind of help, give me a shout.

I have one spot open for a June start, and another for August. Paid subscribers and anyone who has taken a class with me before receives a 10% discount. If you’re struggling with marketing, have a book coming out soon-ish, or just want to get a head start, this could be perfect for you! You’ll come away confident and content with the ideas and tactics of marketing your books—and building your author career.

Book Success Depends on Your Perspective

Recently, Jane Friedman’s Hot Sheet debunked the popular hysteria about how no one buys books anymore and authors just can’t make it plying their craft. This article has gone viral as everyone plays into the fear.

Look, it’s hard to live off your art. Any genre, any medium. But not impossible.

I know plenty of writers who make a living at their writing—though most didn’t start out that way. And many don’t let everything ride on their writing. Authors often do other things, too, like teaching (me), coaching (me), or a side job (I still take on occasional marketing clients).

It takes a volume of work before you can rely on your writing for a sustainable income. Do it because you love it, because you might actually make a difference or help someone through your writing, and eventually, you’ll see your sales increase and your income be more reliable.

Some points from book publishing guru Jane Friedman’s April 24th Hot Sheet:

1. Most books don’t sell in significant numbers.

2. The majority of authors, at least early in their careers, can’t survive on book advances or book sales alone.

3. Big publishers pay high advances to celebrities, politicians, etc. Not usually to the average Josephine.

4. Publishers do not adequately support the titles they publish with marketing & promotion. You’ve got to do your own marketing. Period.

5. Authors and smaller publishers have been gaining in market share since at least 2010.

Jane also noted that book sales are healthier now than five years ago.

So my question to you is, how do you define success?

Forget others’ numbers or industry standards. Most books don’t sell 500 copies over their lifetime anyway.

An author who wants to “make it” can’t ignore the hard truth that book marketing is a slow burn and it never ends.

So what would be fun for you?

Yes, you read that right. Marketing can (and should) be fun. You can (and should) make it yours. You can (and should) create a marketing strategy that works for you and helps you achieve your author goals.

And your goals may not be what other people are striving for.

So, what do you really really want?

The more books you write, the more likely you are to achieve a sustainable income from writing. CAVE OF SECRETS is my second novel, and I’m 50K words into writing the first draft of my third novel.

You read that right: still marketing and speaking about my first novel, WOMAN OF VALOR; preparing to launch my second novel, CAVE OF SECRETS; already drafting my third novel, THE SABBATH BRIDE.

Most writers don’t make a sustainable income from their books until they have at least FIVE titles in the world. CAVE OF SECRETS will be my TENTH book published, but it’s only my SECOND NOVEL.

I am in it for the long-haul. I will make it as an author—be known for my books, earn a living from my writing, fill my time with all things literary.

Because I am determined to make it so.

And that means carving out time (not too much) for consistent and smart marketing and writing most days.

I love my life. Can you say the same? (If not, let’s make changes to get there!)

Sending you all the literary love in the world,

Lynne

Thanks for reading the Rebel Author Newsletter! I offer this weekly missive free-of-charge—but if you’d like to support this effort, I’d sure appreciate it. Consider becoming a paid subscriber and qualify for monthly book giveaways and bimonthly writing coaching calls. Share this with others who might find it valuable. Comment, message and all the things. I’m grateful for you!