Some people try to keep their book a secret until after it’s published. Authors do this because they may be embarrassed to tell anyone they are writing a book. What if they can’t actually finish it? What if the book doesn’t turn out as they envision? What if they never get it published?
Others are afraid someone might steal their idea and produce a book on their subject or the theme of their novel or children’s book. They want to be the first (and only) to publish a book like this.
I can see where these authors are coming from. But I also believe that these attitudes can get in the way of a successful book project. We need to be talking about our books in progress—letting friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues, coworkers, strangers know that we’re coming out with a book that will help them get a better night’s sleep, decorate on a budget, or get along better with employers, for example. We should be priming readers for our amazing romantic mystery, adventure novel or children’s activity book.
Don’t you know that your job as a book promoter will be easier if your audience already knows something about your book when you approach them with your promo material? If they’ve been waiting for it, they may buy it as soon as it comes out. It’s those people who never heard of you or your book who will need to be convinced to even consider buying it. The thing is, if you wait until your book is a book to start talking about it, promotion will be much harder and take much more effort and time.
So there’s a lot to be said for taking a risk and talking about your book, even though you fear that someone might try to copy it (which is pretty far-fetched). And it makes sense to risk embarrassment and shame in case you don’t ever finish your book if it means that you have a large following ready to purchase your book when it does debut.
That’s why I’m going to share this with you.
I finished the first draft of my first novel yesterday. There’s more work to be done on it. I have left it for someone to read and I will finish the writing sometime this fall. I’m already thinking about sequels. I have also been working on my description. Here’s my first attempt at that:
The Klepto Cat Mystery
When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt recover from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and fall in love with the local veterinarian. Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has the clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister?
If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated with interesting cats and if you love a love story, you may want to read this book.
Let me know if you’d like to be put on my mailing list to be notified when this book is published: PLFry620@yahoo.com
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