Cheryl A. Head's Blog, page 4

Expectations!

Today marks the one-month ago launch of my new book, Time's Undoing. I've always looked at my book launches as sort of artificial dates, but so many people put so much focus on the publication date, that I know i was caught up in the whirlwind. I'd much rather thning of a book launch as an introduction. You get books to the bookstores, announce the publication of the book, and you begin to talk about the book, and its qualities, to the reading public.

The book launch as event approach feels like the old broadcast viewing model. Pre-internet and streaming, and cable, the three (then four) networks pushed appointment viewing. Watch [enter program here] in real time. Sometimes the viewing of a program became an event in and of itself. That still happens around big sporting events and awards shows. But with the advent of the new models of program delivery, the viewer can structure his/her own screen-time events: whether it's binging an entire series season in one day, or gathering friends to watch last-night's awards show, or firing up the DVR to catch that favorite show you missed last week.

Bringing this back to books, some readers like to pick up a book as soon as it's published. Especially, if it's a favorite author. They count down the days when they can get their hands on the hardcover, or get the download to their e-reader. Other readers depend on recommendations, reviews, influencers. Sometimes the buzz from a book comes before it's published, or from an award nomination, or a celebrity endorsement. Other time the buzz is quieter but steady, growing in volume and intensity on the grapevine.

Time's Undoing started out with a certain amount of buzz. There was a focus on book blurbs, and cover reveals and pre-orders, but the competition for attention by booksellers, readers, reviewers, media outlets is intense. Only a handful of books leap up the list into the consciousness of readers. I'm hopeful that Time's Undoing will be a slow burn. Like the taco you eat with the habanero pepper. There is immediate sensation when you become aware of the pepper and it flares with heat. Eventually the heat subsides, but some of the spark stays with you as you continue consuming your meal reminding you of its presence.

I hope you'll pick up Time's Undoing. I think it's a good read, and an important story. There's more to the novel than meets the eyes. Based on a personal tragedy, the book plumbs some dark material, but the novel also incorporates the joy and love of Black people and their communities, points out the importance of allyship in our contemporary cultural and social justice struggles, and has a bit of the supernatural to keep the reader connected to dreams and aspirations.

Time's Undoing is a slow-burn read that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page of the book.

Fun on the Book Tour

Thank you, Sheree Greer, Karen Tramontano, and Janet Jakobsen for the great conversations!

Time's Undoing

There is a span of time between the completion of a book manuscript and it's publication that feels like a birth. In the case of my book, the gestation period parallels an Elephant.--close to two years. Now, with just a few days before the publication date, I have mixed emotions.

I've been talking a lot about the book, and will continue to do so for another month or so, as the publisher (Dutton Books) and I do the necessary work of publicity and marketing (see my current tour schedule, below). My anticipation that the book will do well, e.g. sell books and intrigue readers, is strong. Time's Undoing has had a modicum of pre-publication "buzz" and the splendid honor of being named a Indie Next Book for March 2023. Buzz is a tremendous commodity in the publishing landscape. I'm glad to have some, but beyond the buzz I hope my "baby" has the slow burn factor. That it will steadily and surely find an appreciative audience of readers.

If you read the book, let me know what you think. Leave a message on the Contact Form of my website, leave a review at Goodreads, or your favorite bookstore, or leave me a Tweet @cheaddc.

In the meantime, I'll be counting the days and the accompanying emotions.

Virtual Book Tour

The last week or so I've been doing interviews with podcasters, and radio hosts, about my upcoming novel, Time's Undoing. It's been a really good opportunity to think about what I want to say about the book. I get questions about goals, the craft work, the balance between truth and fiction, and what I want readers to take away from the book. On this last point, after readers have turned the final page of my book, I hope they will have a new, or better, understanding of the impact the era known as Jim Crow has had on Black lives in America--even today. Secondly, have a context for understanding that law-enforcement excessive force is a long-standing, and systemic, problem in this country that still needs to be solved. Third, I hope readers will reflect on the power of community to both press for change, and nurture love and joy for families and individuals, even under the harshest of circumstances.

An Image is Worth 90K Words

Thank you to the amazing design team at Penguin Random House for the wonderful graphics they've created for the marketing of Time's Undoing.[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]

Sisters Newsletter @AARP

Time's Undoing got a very nice mention in this newsletter written by Jina DuVernay.

Thank you!!

https://www.sistersletter.com/culture...

March 2023 Indie Next Pick!!

So very grateful to Booksellers who have liked/loved and recommended Time's Undoing to readers.

As a result of these recommendations, Time's Undoing has been included in the list of March's Indie Next books. Here is one of the quotes from a bookseller in Winston-Salem, NC

"Inspired by true events from the author’s family, Time’s Undoing is the story of a Black journalist in 2019 investigating the unsolved mystery of her great-grandfather’s death in 1929 Birmingham. Told in alternating timelines, the novel explores racially-motivated crime, the lengths people will go to cover up the truth, and the powerful bonds of community, family, and love. This is a gripping story full of history, emotion, and suspense that I guarantee will be on my Best of 2023 list!" ~ Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks

Counting Down to Book Launch

It's just over a month to the launch of Time's Undoing and, honestly, I have equal parts excitement and trepidation.

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An author always wonders if a book will resonate with a large number of readers. All the editing work is done; the marketing and publicity efforts are underway; and the physical copies of the books are winding their way to final production. I'm from Detroit and I can't help thinking of the auto assembly line analogy. The publishing of a book requires many hands. Each doing their part to make the book ready to be delivered to bookstores. The bookstore--and libraries--are the auto showroom (if you will allow me to continue my analogy) where readers (customers) will "kick the tires" by looking at the book cover, picking it up to read blurbs, my bio, the book synopsis. Hopefully, they will thumb through a few pages, and (fingers crossed) head to the book counter with Time's Undoing in hand.

I'll be doing both a virtual and real-time book tour. More information to come on those details. Meanwhile, I'm on pins and needles hoping reviewers will like the book. On that note, I'm happy to share that Time's Undoing received a Starred Review from Booklist. There's an excerpt, below.

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[Head] brings her gift for strong women protagonists and suspense to this tale about a young, Black female journalist from Detroit on a dangerous quest….Vivid and affecting….This heart-seizing tale even has a touch of the supernatural as it celebrates Black lives.” —Booklist (STARRED REVIEW)

Writing Diverse Characters Presentation @ Grand Canyon Chapter of Sisters in Crime

We had an attentive, interactive, and savvy audience for my October 8, 2022, PowerPoint presentation on Writing Diverse Characters Not Caricatures. More than 75 people logged on during the Saturday morning presentation to ask really thoughtful questions and provide

recommendations of authors who are effective at writing authentic, relatable, three-dimensional diverse characters. I offered some thoughts on using Cultural Competence (and cultural humility) when writing characters who are not like you, as well as how to Avoid Stereotypes and utilizing Sensitivity Readers. Hope it was helpful to those who attended.

Here's one of the important slides in my presentation:

September Activity

I had a fun time at two events in September. First, I attended the Creatures, Crime and Creativity Conference in Columbia, MD. I was a first-time attendee, and one of two invited Local Guests. I participated on two panels, interviewed the other Local Guest, fantasy writer, Vonnie Winslow Crist, and was interviewed by the Con organizer, crime writer, Austin Camacho about writing, the Charlie Mack Motown Mysteries, and my upcoming book, Time's Undoing.

On September 30 (in the drizzle attributed to Hurricane Ian, at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC I joined host, Ed Aymar, to read at Noir at the Bookstore. A hearty group of book lovers (and one adorable pooch) showed up to hear me, and readers: James Grady (Six Days of the Condor); Lou Bayard (Jackie and Me); Sujata Massey (The Bombay Prince); and Angie Kim (Miracle Creek). Photos(c) Bruce Guthrie.