Of Ink and Quille

I've been lucky enough to be published for over five years now, with multiple books available. It hasn't always been easy, juggling family, friends, work, and writing can be trying at the best of times but when you throw in the biggest chunk of time...well it can be trying. I'm not talking research or signings, or readings, or writing...no I'm talking about something else. Something many of us cringe at the thought of doing. Promoting ourselves. To be successful, we can't sit on our laurels and wait for readers to find us. The internet is a massive place, full of twists, turns, and black holes. To be recognized one must do whatever they can to be noticed. Many new authors hear about the latest thing in social networking - and jump on the bandwagon. I'd be the first to admit that I count myself in that club. Try it all and see what works. However, by the time you've joined, created a place for yourself, and become noticed...your readers are sitting there ...

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who stopped by and put their work up for discussion. Its appreciated and I'm hopeful that everyone learned something - even if it was to keep plugging away at it. Four or five years ago I had the pleasure of having a piece flogged by Mr. Rhamey - and I have to say it was one of the most emotional, most wrenching experiences of my life because I was new, I had visions of my great talent and skill, and had the ego of a newbie. So when he gave me his thoughts I was torn...but I realized inshort order that what he said made sense. Not only did I take what he said to heart - but I went on to revamp things and I have to admit that the book he flogged, that I had nearly thrown out, went on to be contracted, published, and made the number 1 best seller list for Champagne books in May of 2009. If anything, the experience taught me that while the truth isn't always a bed of roses, sometimes you have to pluck out the thorns and keep digging for...