Just a quick note to say I haven’t quit on Dead with Envy. The editing has gone much more slowly than I knew it would.
Compound that with life and its complications, and my heart hasn’t been in the writing . Enough said.
Last night I heard a beautiful song. I was mesmerized by the haunting vulnerability of the lyrics. Oh, that I could write with that raw power and simplicity, I thought. So I am embedding it below to serve as a prompt to those of you who like music to inspire your words.
The chapters for Dead with Envy are now properly formatted and ready to send out to a few critical readers to get that last input from outsiders before publication.
–There is more good news. I am going to be reading another author’s work (for pay) to provide him with feedback. I am at a point in my life where I can use the extra cash. The timing is very good.–
So back to the main point. I am getting some critical reviews. I have the cover art in hand. Now I have to write acknowledgements, a dedication, a bio (really hard for me, believe it or not), and get my head shot (for publicity use–not for inspiration on the next story line). A friend who is retired from professional photography agreed to take some candid photographs. I am hoping one of those will work for my publicity photo.
It’s little stuff now, loose ends to tie up, that stand between me and publication. The launch is very near. I am quivering.
In several Asian cultures, there is a mythological beast called the Kirin. According to Wikipedia, the Kirin heralds the arrival of a wise sage or illustrious ruler. It’s appearance is a good omen and brings the one who sees it prosperity.
Not only did I see the Kirin, but I kissed him when we discussed the late summer release of my novel Dead with Envy and my short story “Strange.” Seems that kiss had a powerful effect; the Kirin’s eyes blazed! He promised me lots of readers and a successful new career as a best-selling author. Wow.
He urged me to get cracking on my next murder mystery, One Way Ticket to Las Vegas. Alrighty then!!
As part of marketing my first book, I need to start the next novel.
Statistics show that, on average, authors don’t start selling books until they have a minimum of four books on the market. I wonder what it is about human nature that makes readers decide to buy a new author’s work when there are four books out. Not two. Not three. Four is the magic number.
Seriously, I have to start my next novel now, as I am wrapping up my first one, even before it hits the presses.
I have considered cheating–writing a couple of short stories that fall in length between an in-depth magazine article and a novella–to try getting works in print on the market. I don’t know if it will piss off readers or tease them into waiting for the next full-length feature.
Already I have readied a short story called “Strange” (8,000 words) that will release at the same time as the novel. It is set in a fictional town in Pennsylvania. The short story can be packaged with the novel as a promotion, a special value, to tempt someone to buy my book because the reader will get two reads for the price of one. It’s a tactic I want to try. Will it work?
I don’t know. We’ll find out together, won’t we.
Fay Moore: I Want To Be a Writer 