Natalie Buske Thomas's Blog, page 5

"Dramatic Mom": When Life is a Comic Strip #15

"Dramatic Mom" #15
by Natalie Buske Thomas & Cassandra Thomas 
CASSEROLE CATASTROPHE  Guess where I set my potluck dish while loading the car?

As always, if you enjoy the Dramatic Mom comic stories, please view our work. We are very excited about the Irish Stew project. Watch the project video to get to know us better!  

WHY MY BOOKS ARE DOWNLOADED BY THE THOUSANDS: YOU...

WHY MY BOOKS ARE DOWNLOADED BY THE THOUSANDS: YOU WON'T LIKE THE ANSWER!

My books have been downloaded by thousands of people on free promotional days and by hundreds when the books are listed at full price. Yes, I've been promoting my books through the typical means: Facebook, Twitter, website, etc. So why is what I'm doing starting to work, when so many others are struggling to make a single sale? How can a new author have this kind of success?

Well, you won't like the answer but: You can't. Not unless you are very lucky or very blessed (and some are!). I am not an overnight success. I have been beaten down by this business, so discouraged that I needed to take a detour into something else for a while (the theater scripts on my bio are from that detour). No, I didn't know anyone important. I didn't catch a single change-my-life-instantly break.

I got to this place only after 15+ years of steadily working, researching the business, taking marketing classes, applying what I've learned, listening to advice from those who have gone before me, and cranking out material. And when I mean material, I mean on a PROLIFIC scale!

Here is my bio -- believe it or not, this is the condensed version! And before you think I'm bragging, let me say that the very sight of this ever-growing list, without any real paycheck to validate any of it, was depressing and humiliating; the polar opposite of an ego stroke. I'll get into that after the bio. But first, you really need to get an idea of what I mean by "prolific":

Works by Natalie Buske Thomas (me):
1998: GENE PLAY, Serena Wilcox Mysteries, book 1 (self-published)1999: VIRTUAL MEMORIES, Serena Wilcox Mysteries, book 2 (self-published)
2000: CAMP CONVICTION, Serena Wilcox Mysteries, book 3 (self-published)
2000: THE MAGIC CAMERA (self-published)
2001: Contributing author to "Confessions of Shameless" series, "Self-Promoters" (traditional publisher)
2002: Contributing author to "Confessions of Shameless" series, "Internet Promoters" (traditional publisher)
2003: Contributing author to "A Second Helping of Murder" cookbook written by contemporary mystery authors (traditional publisher)
2004: Contributing author to"The Obvious Expert" marketing book (traditional publisher)
2005: THE MAGIC CAMERA play, adapted from the book and performed in live show, community theater2006: PILGRIM'S PROGRESS: CHRISTIANA'S STORY play, adapted from the book, performed
2007: NARNIA: THE SILVER CHAIR screenplay and play, adapted from the book by C.S. Lewis, performed
2008: WALK THE PLANK original screenplay and play, performed
2009: JONAH'S LUCK, original screenplay, script, & song lyrics, screenplay premiere and on-stage performance
2010: SAVANNAH READING IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN, oil painting on exhibit with EASEL2011: ANGELS MARK, Serena Wilcox Mysteries, book 4 (self-published)2012: LIFE SUSTAINING, oil painting for Women & Water Rights exhibit2012: THE SERENA WILCOX MYSTERIES: BOOKS 1, 2 & 3, first three books in series, revised, plus commentary about the series (self-published and released only in e-book form)2012: COVERT COFFEE, Serena Wilcox Mysteries, book 5 -- in progress, not yet published2012: IRISH STEW ADVENTURES - in progress, not yet published
Smaller publishing credits shouldn't be left out (but I'll spare you the entire list):
Published or quoted in:
* Reader's Digest
* Parents magazine
* Home Education Magazine
* Hoagie's Gifted Education
* Futures magazine
Other:*Columnist for the Cannon Falls Beacon
* Journalist for the Purdue Exponent


Before I continue, I also need to back up this list with credentials, not that I'm feeling defensive or judged, but I need to establish that my work is quality (and yours needs to be too!), otherwise the point I am trying to make is moot. What good is cranking out all this work if it's not readable? 5-star customer reviews on Amazon are not very convincing, nor is fan feedback. Therefore, I'll mention only professional, objective, sources:

Camp Conviction was reviewed by Library Journal. The review was positive, with only a hint of criticism. I was happy with it. Virtual Memories was a book club selection for what-was-then Oprah's online mystery book club. I won two writing contests - small ones - but whenever an author wins a writing contest of any kind you can assume he/she had to beat out a lot of competition. My paintings were judged and selected for exhibit.

I could go on here. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Let's just agree that "I'm good for it". There's a market for what I do. No, not everyone will like me or my work, but yes, I'm good for it. And maybe this is the situation you too find yourself: you have a cult following - a growing fan base. You've had favorable reviews. So, what's the problem? For me, it was this: I was simply lost in the glut of other publications on the market. I was overshadowed by the many others who were dying to be authors. I wasn't seen, I wasn't heard, I wasn't being talked about.
 I also wasn't getting paid anything more than what I'd call Hobby Money. Was I a hapless dreamer? A loser who keeps saying "I'll make it with the next book"? Wasn't I sounding like an addict, a compulsive gambler? At what point will this obsessive dream-chasing fall into in the realm of dysfunctional and irresponsible? Shouldn't I get on with my life, accept that this was never going to happen?

And that's pretty much what I did do. While not giving up completely, I needed to at least take a break for a while. I kept my website (I built my site when the Internet wasn't yet cool. I did it "old school" with a free Netscape Composer download. Had to throw that in for kindred-spirit Geeks). Anyway, I kept up, rather loosely, with my old contacts and did something else with my life, something that complemented by writing career.

I started an arts business. I taught a variety of classes, wrote scripts for live theater and screenplays for indie movies, created sets (movie sets were especially fun to do!), choreographed dance routines, and held large photo shoots. None of this paid very well, but I wasn't in the red. I ended up slightly ahead, even after investing in equipment such as a sound system, curtain backdrop system, portable flooring, etc. Cool time in my life.

Was scrabbling to become a mystery novelist something I tried, and failed, to accomplish, something that wasn't meant to be? That's how I felt, but it's not now how others saw it. Readers asked, "Are you writing a new book?" Apparently when I gave free books (what did I need them for? They were cluttering up the house!) to the eye doctor, dentist office, library, delivery guy, my pastor, etc., the books were eventually actually READ by these people in my community. I couldn't escape someone asking me about my next book. The one I had no intention of ever writing. The career failed, couldn't they see that? I always mumbled something noncommittal. I hated the pressure. Couldn't they see that I obviously wasn't a best-seller? Why keep beating my head against the wall?

I explained to my pastor, "I'm focusing on my kids (they were involved in my arts business) and I feel that God wants me to do this. I think that's why God told me NO (writing career)." I thought his response would be something like, "Yes, raising children is important." But he surprised me by looking dismayed. "I don't think God is saying NO, just 'not right now'."

Hmmm, that gave me pause. I couldn't see a "later" that would go any better than my "now". Yet later did arrive; a few years later we needed to sell our home and move-- thus ending my arts business. I still wasn't so sure about giving the writing career a second try though. Could I really put myself and my family through that nonsense again?

This is around the time when my mom got sick, very sick. I became her caregiver. She had no one else. This was the hardest thing I've ever been through, and through it I was profoundly blessed. I had time for Mom because my career had failed. I had time for her because God had said "not now". I brought my mom flowers every week. I took care of her daily needs - cooking, shopping, personal care, conversation, laughter. I spent many hours with her, hours I do not regret.

She later died, and my job as her caregiver was over. My children also grew up, the firstborn left for college; my job raising little children was over. I still have two at home, but they don't need much of my time. I suddenly had many hours free. Free to get a "real" job, or try again with the non-paying career I already had as an author. I channeled my grief, and empty-nested emotions, into painting (I am also an artist) and writing. It was what I knew. It was where my natural talents lay. I didn't know what else to do with myself.

I quickly learned that, more than a decade later, many things in the publishing industry had changed. I didn't need to use my own company name (Independent Spirit Publishing) anymore if I didn't want to, and I certainly didn't need to bankroll a print run with a credit card. Also: Why not try publishing e-books? And what's with all the blogging? Do I really need to do that? (YES) I revived my website and learned the new catch phrase "build a platform", something I realized I'd been doing all along. I already HAD a platform, I just needed to make it bigger. I was surprised at how easy it was to jump back into the game.

And how quickly the old feelings resurfaced. The Dreamer's high: "Someday I'm gonna make it big" and the Dreamer's low: "I'll never make it. I should give up." I could scratch and claw all I wanted, a horribly desperate rat-wheel of self-promotion that leads only to low self esteem and an empty bank account, but if it was not my time, it was NOT MY TIME.

I felt God telling me "one rock at a time" and I kept plodding along, even though it made little sense to slug through, and I felt so discouraged by my lack of real progress. You see, even though my bio looked mighty impressive, and there were over 300 Google entries for me, all the interviews, reviews, and credentials mocked me: No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you achieve, it will never be enough. You are invisible.

Ah, such is the pity pot I was sitting on; the pot I kicked down so many times, only to sit back on it again and again and again. For YEARS! Finally I'd had enough of that nonsense, that viscous cycle. I set about to put an end to something that didn't work. I (literally, in a real fire) burned boxes of my failed print runs of books in a big 3-day bonfire. I (again, literally) got burned from the flames and felt real physical pain from that experience, which was a stupid-human trick I'm not proud of (who gets injured in a failed writing career?).

Watching the books burn was both liberating and depressing. It was time for a fresh start. If the writing career was to take off, these books had been sitting so long that I needed to revise and repackage my backlist anyway. Why carry the burden of failure around with me like a stink I can't wash off? Yep. There I was, watching with horror as my book pages - not completely turned into ash -- sailed into the neighbor's yard. I could see her pick the charred page up and read it. No doubt she wondered why I was burning my books. Thankfully she never asked.

I told you that you wouldn't like the answer. I highly doubt those who are discouraged want to hear how long it has taken me to get somewhere, how hard I've tried, that at some points I have literally tap danced for people, and in the end I burned the books I worked so hard to get into print. I doubt you want to hear that God told me "not now" because I was needed to help my mother through a horrific illness and equally horrific death.

Before you get too depressed, let me help you re-focus. My story is positive and uplifting, and should give you hope. Huh? What's so cheery about a pathetic vision of an author burning a pile of her own books, you say? I'll break it down for you.

My story proves that you do not have to get that big break. Maybe it won't come. You do not have to waste your money on learning marketing gimmicks about how to work the system. You don't have to have connections. You only need to do one thing, or actually NOT do one thing: Never. Give. Up.

EVEN IF you don't get a big break,
EVEN IF you don't have success with your first book, your second, your third, or even your fourth,
EVEN IF your life takes a detour and you are out of the game for a prolonged period of time,
EVEN IF you see others getting promoted while you are invisible,
EVEN IF you have done your best, and are not rewarded for your efforts/accomplishments,
EVEN IF you are so discouraged you fear you are a fool to think you could ever make a living as an author,
EVEN IF God is telling you "not now",

IF YOU:
Never give up
Never stop believing
Never stop working
You WILL make it!

You probably don't like the answer to why my books are downloading by the thousands today. There was no magic button, no big break-through moment, no secret I can share. This was done "the hard way", the agonizingly slow route, with detours and road closings along the way. I even got lost in the wilderness for about 40 days and 40 nights. I think a flood came along too at some point (seriously there was a tornado, but I digress).

My story isn't going to teach you a thing about getting rich fast. It's more of a "build a modest income slowly" journey. But if what you need is encouragement that you WILL one day be a working professional author who gets paid to write, keep my story in your mind. God may have told you "not now", but He didn't tell you "never".

When you are needed elsewhere, take a detour, but then get back on the road. Don't give up. Keep on going! And one beautiful day, either you'll catch a big break -one can always hope for that- or you'll get there the slow way. Either way, you'll get there.

Today I say, "The road was hard, the road was long, but I'm so glad I didn't give up."

God Bless, and Happy Writing!
Natalie Buske Thomas, Author of the Serena Wilcox Mysteries for adults and The Magic Camera for kids
________________________________________________________________
PLEASE VIEW MY NEW IRISH STEW ADVENTURES PROJECT ON KICKSTARTER - Thank you!www.nataliebuskethomas.com
Twitter: @writernbt

FREE today only! 3-book set, 404 pages!THE SERENA WI...

FREE today only! 3-book set, 404 pages!THE SERENA WILCOX MYSTERIES: BOOKS 1, 2 & 3
GENE PLAY, VIRTUAL MEMORIES, CAMP CONVICTION plus commentary & back-story. Catch up to Book #4 in the Serena Wilcox Mystery series. Book #4 ANGELS MARK is the newest book - highly reviewed & described as the best in the series by far! Book #5 COVERT COFFEE to be published September 2012. Try the first three books, and expect the series to surprise you when you hit Book #4!What are you waiting for? Join the SERENA WILCOX MYSTERIES party! Get your FREE download of the first three books in the series TODAY! by Natalie Buske Thomas
http://www.amazon.com/The-Serena-Wilcox-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B007TYPJ2E/ref=zg_bs_157317011_29

"Dramatic Mom": When Life is a Comic Strip #14

"Dramatic Mom" #14by Natalie Buske Thomas & Cassandra Thomas

CHICK BONDING 
I was worried when the kids said they were naming the chicks. This was our first experience with "meat birds" and yes, we'd be eating them. Shouldn't I discourage the kids from bonding with those cute baby chicks? Then I heard the names they'd assigned to their first two feathered friends: "Nugget" and "Ketchup".

Like these comic stories? Please share! And  check out Natalie's books on Amazon!  

"Dramatic Mom": When Life is a Comic Strip #13

"Dramatic Mom" #13


by Natalie Buske Thomas & Cassandra Thomas





UNMISTAKABLE ID  There were few people on the airport shuttle when our young son said (without using his "indoor voice"), "THAT MAN IS FAT!" In the second that followed-- in which time was suspended, my pulse quickened, and my face burned-- I dared to hope that our fellow passenger wouldn't know that our son was talking about him. When the second passed, Nicholas finished his loud observation,"And BALD!" That was the longest shuttle ride I've ever had.

Like these comic stories? Get the books by Natalie Buske Thomas & the Kila comic by Cassandra Thomas 

"Dramatic Mom": When Life is a Comic Strip #12

"Dramatic Mom" #12

by Natalie Buske Thomas & Cassandra Thomas




HELP, THERE'S A MURAL UNDER THE BED 
I helped my youngest daughter clean the toys and clutter out from under her bed. What a surprise! Savannah drew an entire under-bed world of art on the wall. Hmmm, this clean-up would take more time than I expected.

If you like these comics, please consider trying the books by Natalie Buske Thomas , and the webcomic by Cassandra Thomas . And, please share "Dramatic Mom" with your friends!  

"Dramatic Mom": When Life is a Comic Strip #11

"Dramatic Mom" #11

by Natalie Buske Thomas & Cassandra Thomas





LEAST RECOMMENDED WAY TO SIZE A RING
While shopping with my husband for a present for our oldest daughter I said, "Her fingers are smaller than mine. I'll try this one on, and if it's too small for me, it will fit her." I know, I know. I realized how stupid this idea was as I slipped the ring on my finger, but of course it was stuck before I could get it back off. [Note: Got it off before drawing attention to myself in the store!]

Dramatic Mom: When Life is a Comic Strip #10

"Dramatic Mom" #10
by Natalie Buske Thomas & Cassandra Thomas




RUNAWAY WALLABY




At the zoo, a wallaby was outside of his area. Surely there was someone ELSE who could take care of this situation? The gaggle of tots, parents, and strollers by the gate (including my own child in a stroller) was ideal for the wallaby to attempt another escape - into the more open area of zoo. Good luck catching him then! I looked around for someone ELSE to stop him, and everyone was looking away, either inadvertently or deliberately. Being a stand-up gal, I took care of the runaway wallaby by pushing him along. It was one of the strangest Good Samaritan acts I've committed.


Like these stories? Please consider buying books by Natalie Buske Thomas. 

"Dramatic Mom" is a mystery novelist

"Dramatic Mom" is a mystery novelist. Get ANGELS MARK today!