This morning I have mostly been… Running through the list of Things To Do.
Promotion & Marketing of Ghostbird begins in earnest. I knew it was coming, as sure as the fading festive season was destined to disappear down the darkened rabbit hole of last year.
Blog tours beckon. (I’m not even sure how a blog tour operates.) I must set up an author page on Amazon. (That’s half an hour of my life I won’t get back & I still can’t work out how to do it.)
Who might review my book? Write an article about me? And what about Goodreads Giveaways? I know nothing about Goodreads!
Yesterday, two of my loyal cheerleaders gave me a bit of a talking to. (One of them threatened to buy me a trumpet so I could learn how to blow it.) She asked me if I believed in my book & of course, I said I did. Because I do. I’m proud of it. I’m just not very good at shouting it from the treetops & I can’t stand the idea of being seen as some kind of self-promoting diva.
I guess I’ll get used to it. Three amazing authors have endorsed Ghostbird. My publisher believes in it & my wonderful editor loves every word. The extracts I’m posting on Twitter & Facebook meet with approval.
Back to the list then… As my lovely mum used to say, onward & sideways.
Making it up as I go along 
I know the feeling! You want readers but unless you put yourself and your words out there then how can they discover you? It’s something I had to get my head round and it does get easier but I’m still uncomfortable about being too direct and I’m careful I don’t end up as one of those writers on Twitter who only ever tweet ‘buy my book’. I think the key is balance. Do what you have to do to help your book reach readers but only in a way that is true to who you are as a person and a writer. I still tweet stuff about my goats etc, as I did before publication and try not to bombard folk with constant promos. I’ve no doubt you’ll get the mix right as you’re a reader first then a writer and I know how supportive you are of other writers (me included!) and I’d like to think you’ll receive the same support when it’s your turn. I’ll help in any way I can and hand you that trumpet to give it a well-deserved blow! 🙂 x
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Helen, you are wonderful! Thank you. I know you understand. And you are right – it is about balance. (I used the word “subtle” & got some of my lovely cheerleaders going!) They want me shouting it from the rooftops & I know they are right but at the same time, I’m very determined to find that balance.
In the end, I wrote a book I’m proud of; I’ve worked incredibly hard & I never gave up. So yes, over here people & I hope you like my book! At the same time, I will never stop being grateful for the break Honno has gifted me.
(As far as trumpet-blowing is concerned, I’ll let you know!) xXx
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Modesty being for suckers, I’ll go in on that trumpet and throw in some lessons on how to blow it. LOUD.
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I shall inform the lovely Janey (Hexica Eliza Witchbroom) forthwith!
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