For Good Luck

 

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!!

 

Marketing My Novel, Step 4

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.

 

Another Unique Murder Weapon

My mind is having way too much twisted fun with this one:

http://offmymedsagain.wordpress.com/ Search archives for “Something Sticks About This Story.”

Finding Unique Murder Weapons

Although it is twisted, I like killing people–in stories that is. Not in real life! So, as a killer on paper, I am always looking for the next best murder weapon. This week I found one: Visine. Yes, the eye wash–the one that “gets the red out” of your eyes. Who knew?

According to webzine The Inquisitr:

Tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient found in Visine and other eye drops, can cause quite a few problems if it is ingested. Included in  the symptoms are vomiting, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty  breathing. The chemical can also cause tremors and seizures.

It’s a readily available weapon. It’s probably in my victim’s medicine cabinet. If not, my murderer can find it on any superstore shelf with the other health products.  There’s an irony in the product placement–health products–isn’t there? You can bet you’ll see Visine make an appearance in a future story of mine.

Watch for it (pun fully intended).