Merry Brown's Blog, page 2

Change to the Cover Changes

Change, change, and more change.  Change is good?  That’s what I’ve heard, usually from those who are standing still, not in the muck of the pain and/or uncertainty that usually attends her.

Now wait, yes, you’re at the right blog.  I’m not going to go all “Existential Eater” on you and talk about that kind of pain.  No, I’m talking about trying to figure out the book business.

Now that’s a pain!

With a marketing budget that only allows for little more than a 16oz nonfat mocha (with whip) three times a week (and a piece of chocolate cake when they have it), how do I get my books to YA paranormal romance readers?

Since my newest book is coming out in less than a week (April 21st! yeah!), I’m in the middle of developing a marketing strategy.  I might have thought to work on this months ago, right?  Well, there is the matter of having a full-time job, family, responsibilities, blah, blah, blah, and the writing of the book.

Lisa, my writing pal, suggested I change the cover of my book THE KNOWERS, so it might actually appeal to a younger audience.  My last post was about that.  And since then, I’ve changed it again.  But I’m done.  My new cover of THE KNOWERS will remain until … well, until I have an extremely excellent reason to change it.  For now, it’s set.

 

So Steve, another sweet friend, who read GOLD MANOR GHOST HOUSE, suggested I revamp the cover I created.  He liked the cover, but, like Lisa, suggested I try something more youthful.  I whined, “but this is youthful!”  I said I’d try, knowing full well and good I’d never come up with a cover I liked more.

But I did.

This is the cover for GOLD MANOR GHOST HOUSE.  I am in love with it.  Can you see me smiling?

What is the moral of this story?  Make a cover for your audience.  But, more importantly, find people in your life that will tell you the truth and push you.  Thank you, Lisa Smartt and Steven Guiles!

Cover Change

I love the cover of my book THE KNOWERS… but I changed it.  I love the cover, and it appeals to me, a 40-year-old woman and my similarly aged friends.  But THE KNOWERS is a YA novel.

I know, I know, YA is not just for the young adult.  I know this because I am not young (a.k.a. teenager), but YA is the bulk of what I read.

If I had the power of a publishing house behind me, this would be a non-issue, for the most part.  Why?  Because, chances are, I would lose primary control over how my book looks.  It would be left to the professionals.  Those who have the training and know-how to make a book appear so good a reader says, “I think I’ll take a chance on this visually appealing and interesting looking book.”

But this is not my fate.  No, I’ve thrown my lot in with the self-publishers.  And I’m immensely grateful to have my book out there at all, actually.

But, as of late, I haven’t had much interest.  My writing buddy, Lisa Smartt, suggested I try a different cover to see if I can attract my real target audience: preteen, teen, and college aged girls.  So my cover, this week, for my e-book on Amazon.com went from this:

To this:

Huh.  I don’t know what to think.  First off, I would hate for someone to think the new cover is the sequel to THE KNOWERS (a book I’m currently writing).  I also don’t want to create “brand confusion.”  But, of course, if only I could have this problem!  You have to be known for people to notice and be confused by the new look.

I honestly don’t like the new cover half as much as the first one, but I’m game for the experiment.  Since I’m not a marketer or designer by trade, but a philosophy instructor, what do I know about getting my book to the YA reading world?

And, as a side note, I absolutely and thoroughly enjoy creating covers!  How fun it is to play at being some variety of graphic artist.  This is my working cover for my new book, GOLD MANOR GHOST HOUSE, coming out April 22nd:

And this is a cover I designed for Lisa Smartt’s newest book, DOUG AND CARLIE’S LOVE CONSPIRACY (a great read, by the way!):

Here’s hoping I hit the right note with the new version of THE KNOWERS cover and GOLD MANOR GHOST HOUSE!

Book Club Among Friends

There is a certain sort of joy when a stranger reads your book and likes it.  There is a near feeling of ecstasy when a stranger reads your work and falls in love with it.

I’ve been blessed to have both experiences.

And then there are one’s friends.

A few weeks back, Book Club (the official name of our book club!), in which I’ve been involved for nearly 10 years, discussed my YA paranormal romance book The Knowers.

I never intended for Book Club to read my book. Book Club has never read a Young Adult book, and stays away from science fiction and the paranormal (…except for that time I made everyone read Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Oh yeah, and that time I had us read Walker Percy’s Lost in the Cosmos.)

In addition to my book being outside our usual genre, I didn’t want to put my friends in the position where they might feel compelled to lie. My friends are friendly and kind, of course, and I live in the south to boot! There’s no way they’d really tell me how they feel if they thought it stunk.

But Annie decided to pick my book for discussion.

Fine.

I prepared myself all week to take “it.” I’m a big girl, I told myself, I can deal with the problems they find, their criticisms. I knew whatever they didn’t like would be said in a benevolent manner.

It’s unfortunate, but true, when it comes to my book (I should add ‘s’ because Gold Manor Ghost House will be out shortly!), I have such a thin skin, you don’t have to strain to see the blood racing through my veins!

And guess what? As far as I can tell, they liked it! I greatly enjoyed playing the role of author, answering questions about the story and characters, about the idea behind it all.

I love talking about The Knowers, but never want to hold my loved ones hostage as I blather on about this or that character and/or scene. It was fun, and I felt honored that the ones I love took time out of their busy lives to gather at the Middle House (thanks Laura) and focus on me and my book.

My advice to you, fellow self-published author, is to take a risk and give those ordinary people (and by this I mean non-book writers) in your life the opportunity to help you out by reading and discussing your work.  In a group setting.  With the promise of yummy treats. 

To be liked, and even loved, anonymously is really cool. But to be cared for by your flesh and blood friends, to be a part of a supportive community? Priceless.

I have an embarrassment of riches.

Okay, not from Book Club, but Cookie Exchange. Close enough!

 

Reviews from People I Don’t Know

I’ve been blessed by the warm reception my debut novel THE KNOWERS has received from friends and family.  For this support I am immensely thankful.

I’m attached to THE KNOWERS because I love it.  I can’t be objective.  The story, the characters, are not just a story anymore for me, but a part of my landscape.  A part of my story, my life.

So, is the book any good?

I’m not implying my friends are a bunch of liars, but they are kind and supportive.  I’ve been craving a review from someone who doesn’t know me from Eve, who has no stake in my mental wellbeing, someone who will tell me what they think, uncensored.

I got my wish this week, twice over.

I offered my book for free as a Goodreads giveaway.  I sent out 10 books to the winners Goodreads picked from the over 800 people who entered the contest.

Within four days of sending out the books, I got my first review.  It was a four star!  It was great!  It was also very familiar….

As best I can tell, this person went on Amazon and read reviews others had written and cobbled together a review.

Then another review posted.  Another four star (who later changed it to a three) and another fake!  Her review obviously came from my own description on Amazon.

Why are there people “working the system” on Goodreads?  I thought this site was for people who loved books and wanted to read them.

Tempted to despair, this week I got a great review, a 5 star review, from someone who appeared to actually read my book.

Someone I don’t know and doesn’t know me at all liked, really liked, my book!  I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for quite some time.

On my way to work this morning, I noticed another review on Goodreads from the giveaway.  This person, no relationship to me either, did not like my book.  She gave it a 2 star and said she couldn’t recommend it to anyone.  And she went on to explain why.

Did I sit and weep in my car?  Amazingly not.  I really appreciated what she had to say, that she took the time to explain why she didn’t care for THE KNOWERS.  Given her review, it makes perfect sense why it didn’t resonate with her.

My book is not for everyone.  What a surprise!  I never expected all who read THE KNOWERS would love it, or even like it.

This is a big wide world, thankfully populated with diversity of tastes.  My hope, as an author, is for my little story to find its way to those who would enjoy it.

Who knew writing was not just about writing, but navigating through the sea of humanity in search of kindred spirits?

Writing in a Busy World

I have a full-time job, a husband, three boys, two cats, and one old house.  I am expected to be an adult and do the daily mundane tasks, along with my husband, of feeding, bathing, clothing, rearing, shuttling, and all around civilizing said children.  Said house, much to my unending amazement and consternation, collects dust, dirty dishes and clothes, and just about all manner of debris – daily!  The job – teaching philosophy – minimally involves preparing and delivering lectures, assisting students, office hours, and the ever-present grading.

Beyond the basic demands of everyday life, I want a quality life, which involves being in real relationships.  Time with my husband and kids.  Time with my parents and friends.  Time with God.

And now I want to write.  Why?  Why have I done this to myself and family?  Why have I added this to my already full plate?

Story.

I love stories.  I always have.

Stories are powerful.  Stories can point beyond the self, serving to show deep and rich truths about the world.  Stories are/can be fun!

The first book I wrote was almost four years ago.  It was a book that approached weight-loss through virtue ethics.  I lost weight and wanted to help others.

Then I gained it back, and an eating disorder to boot!

One day I had the odd thought that I ought to write a novel because you can’t eat and write at the same time, right?  Uh, well, you can, but I came across the idea for THE KNOWERS and wrote it anyway, brushing the crumbs off my keyboard as I went along.

I’ve now completed a second book, GOLD MANOR, GHOST HOUSE and am working on the sequel to THE KNOWERS.

Why write, when there are so many other things I could, and should, be doing?  Why should you write, when your life is brimming over?

The best answer – and the only answer for me – is love of story.  Many times I hate the process.  I absolute loathe the process of trying to get publish.  But the story?  All love. 

Self-publish on!

I suppose it’s that time of the year to wax philosophical about the past and future.  Instead of summing up 2012 and taxing 2013, I’d rather reflect on the joy and heartbreak that is the world of self-publishing.

Since the joys outweigh the turmoil, I answer the question with a resounding Yes!  The question: “Is self-publishing worth it?”

Is it worth putting your creation “out there,” all by yourself?  Putting it out in the heap of ebooks, to be neglected and looked passed by the overwhelming majority?

Is it worth putting it out there with the inevitable mistakes because no team of well-paid editors had a go at it?

Is it worth the feeling of utter nakedness?

Yes, Yes, and usually.

I feel every single download.  When I check my Kindle report and see I’ve sold one copy, I do a little dance or give a loud woo hoo  – each and every time.  Moments ago a friend (my writing pal Lisa) texted me: The Looking Glass – the place I sell The Knowers in paperback – is down to one copy.  My day’s made!

The pain is like the pain of childbirth.  The pain of rejection when not one of the 40+ literary agents wanted to take me on.  The blow when a friend, hat in hand, points out a typo in my work.  The person on Goodreads who gave me 2 stars.

And yet, just like the pain before the baby comes, the baby does come.  My book, with all its flaws, is precious to me.  It is what it is, and I don’t think I wrote the sequel to Emma.  But to me, its author, I love it, despite its (my) failings.

I love I even have a book to fix.

I love I have the courage to do what I find terrifying.

I am grateful, so very grateful, for the opportunity to share my book with the world.

Take heart, be encouraged.  No doubt it’s a long, tedious, hair-pulling, tear-stained hike to make it to the (semi) end of publishing your book, regardless of format.  But there awaits a surprising prize for those who press through.  I’ve been on the self-publishing road for a bit, and from this vantage point I say, journey on.

The Joy of Self-Publishing

I am now the very proud author of an internationally downloaded novel!  Granted, I’m talking 9 downloads in the UK and 5 in Denmark.  That’s 14!  I’d be writing this post if it were only 1.

I tried the traditional publishing route.  I spent countless hours querying agents and many more days worrying over and reworking my query letter.

For my trouble I received, on occasion, a response: a polite form rejection letter.

I looked into self-publishing.  Should I go through a company with paid services or do it on my own?  It all felt too hard, and besides, I wanted a publishing house to pick up my book.  I wanted an editor all to myself, to help make The Knowers the best possible book it could be.

This was not my path.

Instead, I took the hard route of asking favors of my friends.  Please read and offer suggestions, please catch my grammatical and spelling errors.

I have awesome friends.

After a long process, this fall I chose to go through Amazon and publish The Knowers as an e-book.  A month or so later, I decided to make a paperback edition and I logically went through Createspace (owned by Amazon).

Createspace is amazing!  I used the free tools available, only paying for my own ISBN.  The paperback edition of The Knowers looks beautiful.

When I went with Kindle, I chose the Kindle Select Program.  One perk is the ability to offer The Knowers free for 5 days in the 3 month period I’m enrolled in the program.

My enrollment comes to a close mid-December, so I decided to make The Knowers available free for Kindle downloads Dec 4th – 8th (if you’re reading this entry this week, download a copy!).

I awoke the morning of the 4th knowing there’d be a glitch in the system, that I hadn’t done my homework about the Kindle Select Program.  Maybe there was a code I was supposed to tell people about that I wasn’t aware of?  Something.

After I showered, I checked my computer at 6 a.m. and 7 people had already downloaded it!  I hadn’t told any yet it was available, and yet 7 people found it and chose it.

I checked my computer after my morning classes, at 12:35p.m. – 57 downloads.

I checked before my last class of the day, at 2:22p.m. – 74 downloads.

I checked before my kids went to bed, 8:35 p.m. – 178 downloads.

And before I went to bed, 11:05 p.m. – 243 downloads.

When I realized I’d be the one publishing The Knowers, my best ‘real world’ scenario was 100 people reading it.

Today my expectations have been blown to bits.  I never realized, never dreamt, self-publishing could feel this good!

My First Public Speaking Appearance as a Writer

Two weeks ago I sent off several paperback copies of THE KNOWERS to friends.  While I was inquiring about the media rate, the postal worker looked at the packages, and then to me.

“Are you the author?” she asked.

“Why yes,” I replied, stunned.  “How did you know?”

It’s not like she saw the cover of the books and my name on them.  I brought the books in already snug in their waterproof envelopes.

“I saw it on the internet,” she explained.

The internet?  She must have ‘liked’ The Looking Glass on Facebook and read Kim Longacre’s post that THE KNOWERS is available at her shop.  At least this is the story my mind concocted on the spot.

And that was my first – and only, to date – public acknowledgement as a writer.

Sabrina, our local (and wonderful, I might add) children’s librarian asked me to participate in the library’s annual Christmas Open House by doing a book signing of my novel.

Okay – Martin is small.  I mean 10 thousand people small.  How many people do I expect to be at my presentation and signing?  10?  Yeah, I’d be happy with 10.

Honestly, the number of people attending is irrelevant to me.  If it’s only my husband, mom, and fellow writer Lisa, I’d consider it a success!

And yet, I’m really looking forward to this opportunity.  I have all month!  That Sabrina 1) read my book and 2) gave me a ½ hour slot to talk about it … I still feel speechless.  When she asked me, the excitement, the rush, the smile plastered on my face as I think about that call.  I’m simply verklempt.

It’s the same amazing feeling when a friend (recently Lana, Victoria, my sister Melinda) tells me how much they liked the book.  What an absolute and unexpected blessing.

I admit, I’m a bit infatuated with my own book!

So I find it curious this chance to talk about THE KNOWERS has left me tongue-tied.  It’s not because I’m afraid of public speaking.  I’ve been teaching since 1997 and lecture to an average of 200 students a couple of times a week.

I don’t know the art of the tease.  How do I say just enough, without saying too much, to motivate the audience to read THE KNOWERS for themselves?  I’m afraid of getting in the readers’ way.  I want to recede and let the story take over.

If you‘re in the Martin, TN area this weekend, stop by the Weldon Public Library at 2 p.m. to see if I’m able to pull it off!

Good Busy

Life is busy.  I’m at this great place in my life where I have too many things I want to do.  I remember hearing people say they wished there were more hours in the day – and thought them mad:

More hours in the day?  Why?  I can’t wait for the day to slip by so I can go back to bed!

That was then.

Now, at least most days, I’m battling time, trying to eke out as much as I can get, negotiating with my husband about schedules by the minute (“Okay honey, I’ll pick you up at 4:56 p.m.  Got it?”).

Today I want to be a YA writer, an excellent teacher, have a Pinterest-worthy house, paint, create.  I want to spend real time with my kids and live in a clean house.  I want to have a meaningful relationship with the love of my life and real conversations with my friends.  I want to love God.

My list of wants are so inspiring and overwhelming, awareness of them usually ends in a nap! It’s not that I don’t love to sleep – that’s just it!  I love my bed, and getting in the sheets, drifting off.  I absolutely adore napping.

But it’s a good kind of overwhelming, if there is such a thing.

And so I’m faced with the reality of the 24 hour cycle.  Last night I re-watched the first Twilight movie in honor of the last movie coming out Friday.  When surveying Edwards’ bedroom, Bella asks about the lack of bed.  He says he never sleeps.

The first time I really thought about this, I found it dreadful.  Never sleeping= never escaping.  A kind of torture.

But today, now, I want to spend my life doing, being, creating.  I wish for a temporary reprieve from the necessity of sleep.

Publishing paper copy of The Knowers

For reasons slightly unknown to me, which is a current trend of mine, I’ve decided to publish a paper version of The Knowers through createspace.

I’m excited to see my book step out of the world of zero’s and one’s, and into the realm of flesh and blood.

I told myself I was content just to have The Knowers “out there,” published.  But truth be told, I’m turning forty in a few weeks, and so the majority of my relationship with books has been with the hard-copy kind.  Sitting in a bathtub, slightly wrinkling the pages with my wet hands, being reminded of characters and worlds I love when I catch a glimpse of a book’s spine on my shelf.

Bereft of a literary agent, a publishing house, and all the machinery that accompanies, I’ve ventured into my own imprint, YA Books.

Vanity, vanity, it’s all vanity, I suppose.  And so they call it a vanity press.  But I object to this pejorative description.  I don’t write to see my name attached to a work.  I write because I love stories and sharing stories.  I’m the friend that pushes books into the hands of others.  After finishing a good book, I can’t wait to hand it off to someone else.  I also make my students read books I love and find thought provoking (one of the many great perks of being a philosopher instructor!).

And so a plug – The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.  I finished it two nights ago and started reading it again last night.  If YA paranormal is your genera, I highly recommend it.  The tone she sets is spot on, haunting.

Instead of editing the book I started this past summer, I’m working on the tedious process of getting The Knowers ready for press.  If wishes grew on trees, I’d pick someone to do all this horrible legwork for me.  I’d also travel by winged horse.