I must confess I have struggled with this book promotion idea since I understood there would be a reason to put forth the effort. Most novelists—me being at the top of the list—are solidary creatures. We have to be since we spend so much time with our characters in our fictional world. Yet, when it is all said and done (boy that’s a cliché), we have to stand in front of (hopefully) a room full of people and answer questions about how we created our story
Just the thought of speaking sends me to the mirror to check for new wrinkles. Have I gained too much weight? What will I wear? Will anyone guess I have grown children? That I wrote my first book with my premature baby granddaughter on my shoulder? I mean really can I do this? I can’t imagine what about my writing process would interest anyone. But only a few years ago I was hanging on every word that came from writers I aspired to be like.
So, Ghost On Black Mountain will hit the major bookstores on or around September 13th of this year. I’m fortunate enough to have received a book deal from Simon & Schuster. This in itself is amazing, considering our struggling economy. I will be assigned my publicist in March. Then the fun begins!
Now is the time to make my presence on Facebook and Twitter known. My shoulders are tightening and my forehead is forming another wrinkle to go with the three already carved there. I have a little over six hundred friends and two hundred fans on Facebook, and I tweet directly from my Facebook fan page. But I struggle with the silliness of writing two lines about my current project or worse about something my eleven-year-old did.
Begin to blog. About what? It doesn’t matter just blog. Blog post: Hello out there. Anyone reading this stuff?
Gather blurbs for novel from accomplished authors. This has been the best experience yet. I have found most writers to be gracious and accessible. Their encouragement has boosted my confidence.
Build a website. Done. Mine comes with one of those nasty tickers, showing how many folks have visited. (Hanging my head in shame)
I have agreed to do my first reading and signing at the Swan Coach House Gallery here in Atlanta. I’m a jeans and sweatshirt kind of gal. This event will be black tie only. In October I will do a signing in Brunswick, Ga. The last part of Ghost On Black Mountain is set in Darien a small coastal town north of there. My reward for three hours of small talk and signing my name is spending the weekend watching the shrimp boats putt-putting by while I walk on the beach. Now that’s my kind of life.
The future of this book looms in front of me. I can’t think about it today. I’ll think about it tomorrow. Yet, I know I’ve put all I have inside of me into this novel. It is worth the reader’s time. I believe in the power of storytelling.
A dear friend told me recently when I was whining about how I would have to step out of my well-constructed box, “Ann, pull up your big girl panties and quit your bellyaching. You haven’t worked this hard to let fear get in your way!”
Ready or not Facebook, blog, Twitter, readings, and book signings Ann Hite is on the job. She can do anything she puts her mind to do. And so can you.
Ann
Ghost On Black Mountain
Gallery Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster)
available September 13, 2011
Gallery Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster)
available September 13, 2011
3 comments:
Ann, for every writer who struggles alone, your story inspires. Persevere. Know that your audience wants to learn from you. That makes you a teacher and performer. You can do it! You are a master storyteller! Play the music and dance!
Great post! I'm sure you will get the hang of it - and you've already gotten the hang of what to tell your blog readers! :)
Reading novel is one of my favorite pastimes. In fact I do have my own mini library at home. I do have complete collection of Harry Potter series too.
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