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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Tom Petty was right...

The waiting is the hardest part!

At this point, there are literally hundreds of people who downloaded 'Barricade Diary' on Amazon last weekend. Of course, that means nothing, and nothing more is going to happen for one simple reason - no reviews.

The typically twitchy personality wonders if they have fallen prey to some dark and sinister force lurking in a Seattle low rise who arbitrarily decided to prevent people from posting on your book. The logical self interjects by reminding that people have lives, jobs, kids, etc. and the fact that people usually will not finish a 368 page book in less than 5 days, let alone give a forthright answer.

Of course, it does not help when one's e-mail inbox is filled daily with messages about "Powering your Manuscript to the Next Level by taking our $89.00 Webinar" or insights of literary agents that sound like you must perform like a circus animal in order to get a treat.

If this whole writing thing is going to work, I need to get two things straight in my head:

1. Give people time to read, absorb and consider (i.e. Don't pester); and,
2. Agents are about good literature, and not looking for ego massaging. You're just on nerve and interpreting it that way.

Oh, yeah, and a third one. Do your best - it's all you can do - no more, and definitely no less.

And yes, after all is said and done, waiting will still be the hardest part.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

The 'End of Labour' Day?

So, the book is done - warts and all.

Up on Kindle, and now what?

Well, just when you think the work is done, you realize that you have to actually get people to read this thing you've contrived. Amazing, isn't it. People aren't beating a path to your door (or their Amazon account) to grab it while it's hot.

Oh, how I wish it were the case. I wish I could just fire it out the door and have all of these messages clogging up my inbox. Can we interview you? Can you do a 10 city North American tour?

Okay, so I'm taking it in stride. Ironically, on a holiday styled as 'Labour Day', I face the fact that my work has not ended, but just begun - albeit in a different way. Goodbye, writer (for now), and Hello, Master Marketer!

Anyway, I've done a bit - including listing wherever I can, bending ears and imposing on every interpersonal relationship I have, and doing my 5 free days on KDP Select.

Four days in, and Amazon has 'The Barricade Diary' ranked #9 among free downloads for 'Political Thrillers and Suspense'.

Is there a Booker Prize, or a Giller on the horizon? Seriously doubt it, but it does do one thing - it gives me a small bit of positive reinforcement and encouragement.

Enough to tell me that if my labours have just begun, it will be well worth the effort.