Howdy y’all! I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted any updates but I’ve been busier than I ever thought I could be! .and I’ve survived! I must tell you that after building a house, it feels quite excellent sitting behind a computer at my brand new desk. I’ve spent most of this year and a good portion of last year doing so many things not even close to being an author or writer that I was starting to wonder if I had lost it?
Nope! I’m rolling along like a Rolling Stone!
I started this week with an interview, an interview I wasn’t even expecting. It was entitled, Author Questions FOR Successful Authors. Apparently I made it the successful author category and someone wanted to hear what I had to say. Insert Huge Goofy Grin Here.
So for the next few weeks, I’ll be posting some of my answers. Why?
Well one, I needed something to write about. Two, it’s already ready to go. And three – and most importantly: I love helping other authors!
I figure we’re not competitors, we’re all potential besties! We have something major in common with each other, writing. We’re all trying to see our books sell and get read, and we’re all working hard to see our dreams come to reality.
So here ya go – one of my answers to the question…
Q. What is the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
A. When you publish your book, you are opening a business. Firstly, that business had better be selling the best product ever! A perfectly polished, grammatically correct, multi-edited and highly critiqued, top-notch, professionally created cover, outstanding story that yanks the emotions from its readers and makes them feel like they can’t live without it – YOUR BOOK.
Secondly, you must promote your business. The old adage of “If you build it, they will come” does not coincide with books. Just because your book is on Amazon does NOT mean it is going to be found and sell (without help). People need to KNOW about it. They must be informed that this book exists so they can do a search and find it. The only way to do that is to market, advertise and publicize it, and THAT takes time and money. If you want your business to succeed you must work hard at it – every day. They say most businesses fail within the first 2 years. If you are still selling books after two years, you can consider yourself a success… especially because most authors tend to sell about 100 books to friends, family, work and church and then completely give up after about 6 months. It takes work – and if you aren’t prepared to work, well then…