My foray into the cyber world is tragic. Somebody hacked my e-mail and sent stuff out to everyone. I love the postoffice. I like to write a note, put it in an envelope, paste a 44c stamp on it and let the friendly postman send it on its way. Backwards, anitquated, expensive--I don't care. Nobody ever hacked my snail mail!

My imaginary world

It's a happy day when I can sit at the computer without interruption and fly into my imaginary world, populated by my imaginary people, even though readers try to pinpoint who served as a model for the character!

Reading

I believe if you want to be a writer you must first be a reader. Reading is my favorite pasttime. This week I've read:
 Dr. Mary's Monkey by Edward T. Haslam, a detailed saga of the CIA's attempt to create a lethal virus that would kill Castro; Lee Harvey Oswald's involvement; Dr. Alton Ocshner, distinguished surgeon, and his involvement. The setting is New Orleans, so that made it specially interesting for me.
On The Run--selected by the Ponchatoula Library Book Club, by Iris Johansen, a thriller about a mother and daughter hiding from a relentless killer.
Re-read Right as Rain by Bev Marshall, the story of two different Southern women both driven by a passionate determination to give their children a better life.
Secuestro-that's my own book coming out Nov. 1st--and I'm reading the proof copy. Can't just skim over the words, have to check each and every one -- tedious!
When do I find time? Oh, you know, midnight to 2 a.m. It's quiet then, and I don't need much sleep.

Writers Group

Serious about writing? Join a Writer's Group. I belong to the ST. Tammany Writers a group of 6 writers (English teachers highschool and college levels) 1 lawyer and me. Theire critiques are dynamite. After all, they're teaching the stuff. They are extremely helpful. Every four months or so my turn comes around, and I'm terrible about keeping that date straight. Submitted two chapters from a southern mystery called The Azaleas. Anxious to get the group's reaction. The usually nail what needs to be done right on.

Sell the Book!

39 Days Until Secuestro Arrives - Coming from the sales world (real estate broker for more years than I care to number) marketing is key. Selling a house is lots different than selling a book. There's always the learning curb. Going on Cuba on My Mind's record, we've learned a few things. What we've found out applies to a regular book--not a blockbuster like 50 Shades of Gray, or Harry Potter, or a movie star, criminal or politicians book--those books seem to get a life of their own.

#1 Pre-Sales - Send an e-mail blast to all your friends that your book is out and that's without doubt the best sales outlet. Ask your friends to e-mail their friends.

#2 Private parties-- wine and cheese, tea and crumpets given by private individuals who invite their friends and acquaintances are good sales venues.

#3 Civic and Church groups--These groups invite you to be a guest speaker (they're always having to fill their calendars) and they are a captive audience who do buy books.

#4 Book Clubs - Members like to read and will purchase a book before or at the meeting and will have wonderful discussions about it--interpretations that are way deeper than you ever intended them to be.

#5 New Orleans (closest big city to me) is a very literate town and there's a literary fair about every other month- the big ones are William Faulkner Literary Festival; Tennessee Williams Literary Festival; French Quarter Book Fest, etc. etc. They big name grab most of the attention, but sometimes an ordinary writer can make a few sales, meet agents, other authors, publishers, etc. and make good contacts.

#6 Libraries. I love libraries and they have great book events. Unfortunately, most people know library books are free, so they go straight to the stacks-- but again, library events are a source of good contatcts.

#7 Book Stores--There's lots of traffic, lots of books. My most successful afternoon was the Saturday before Mother's Day--other times the day can get long sitting there. I'm not really a great Chatty Kathy--I should work on that.

My volunteer team is working to determine what works for PR and contacts; what works for sales; how to two can merge and mix and lead to success.

Anybody who has any ideas, will you please share?

Anticipation

September 27, 2010 - Forty days until Secuestro arrives. Secuestro means kidnap, but since Robert L. Stevenson already wrote that masterpiece, I chose a Spanish word to title this book on the abduction of a young girl to Fidel Castro's mountain headquarters during the Cuban revolution. Since publishing is a new experience for me, and there's all those choices to make, sharing them might help somebody else avoid the pitfalls 'cause everybody wants to write a book. Livingston Press, University of West Alabama is the publisher, Dr. Joe Taylor is the able publisher, editor, and seems to me, Jack of All Trades.

OOPS - This might be encouraging. Stuck a jump drive in my blue jean pocket with intentions of working under a shade tree since the September weather is so gorgeous, forgot about it--weather too nice to work--came home, threw the jeans in the washing machine and Washed and Dried the jump drive!
Panic! Stuck it in the computer. IT STILL WORKS. Marvelous little gadget.