Some people birth babies; I launch them. True, I don’t have stretch marks, but the agony and bliss I’ve experienced while ushering my newborn out the door is just as real. I joke that if I’d given birth to a human child, she’d be fitted with a leash and helmet every time she left the house. Unfortunately, you can’t fasten those safety devices onto a new book. Once it goes live, it’s vulnerable to all kinds of things: reviews, comments, chatter; and as an author, so am I.
In this new day of publishing and social marketing, authors enjoy close contact with their readers and this has many wonderful benefits. Forging that one-on-one communication can be a fulfilling connection for both sides. Readers are able to ask questions, relay the elements of the story that spoke to them, and get a more personal perspective on the book and the person who wrote it. Authors can see how their characters and story affected readers: who they loved and related to, and what made them laugh, cry, seethe, or tremble. When appreciation for your work is expressed in such a direct way, it’s a very gratifying experience. After years of investing your blood, sweat, and tears, this is your big pay-off, even more, in my opinion, than any monetary reward.
But, inevitably, there is another side to this dynamic. Any writer or artist of any sort who puts their personal masterpiece out for human consumption will eventually find those who do not appreciate, relate to, or “get it”. I say this is inevitable because it is humanly impossible for the same book to appeal to everyone. When you think about it, each reader has a unique personality, a special set of likes and dislikes, religious or spiritual beliefs, political ideals, personal preferences, and so on. They come from myriad backgrounds and sport a variety of temperaments. So how can we possibly expect each of them to love the same book (or painting, or sculpture, or poem, or movie, etc.)?
I remember reading that Vincent van Gogh’s paintings went totally unappreciated by almost everyone when he was alive, and that included his mother! I try to keep that astounding tidbit in the forefront of my mind as I release my second baby, Neurotically Yours. The anticipation of letting go can be excruciating, but as long as there continue to be those readers and book critics who do “get it”, who do appreciate your stories in the ways you intended, then any negative commentary from others is worth bearing. I remind myself that I’ve done my best job instilling all the right stuff into my “baby” and now I just have to trust she’s going to do just fine out there on her own!
Neurotically Yours launched on Wednesday, April 25th at the World Literary Cafe and has now commenced a month-long blog tour:
Allison Merritt interviews me on her website: http://bit.ly/I54gCQ
Read my WLC post Who Among Us Isn’t Just a Little Bit Neurotic? http://bit.ly/Jnrg3H
Elizabeth Cassidy interviews me about neuroses and my new book: http://bit.ly/JvXJCt
Cheap Kindle Daily features me and my new book: http://wp.me/p1ZmHB-iM
Gina’s Library reviews Neurotically Yours, (5 STARS!): http://bit.ly/JBtDBu
Digital Book Today interviews me: http://bit.ly/IEdPMT
Great review of Neurotically Yours and interview on Emerald Barnes’ Blog: http://wp.me/pASRe-m2
My interview with Elizabeth Cassidy is featured on Skirt!: http://bit.ly/Ioar8R
My interview with Karen Baney on her blog: http://bit.ly/KmNrmY
Meet the funny heroine of Neurotically Yours in this great character interview! http://bit.ly/JTvkWm
My interview with Kathie Shoop on her blog: http://bit.ly/II4vna
My interview with Micheal Rivers on his blog: http://bit.ly/Kc5Gll
Christine Cunningham reviews Neurotically Yours: http://bit.ly/Iqs58c
Kaira Rouda hosts my post How I turned Dating Hell into a Romantic Comedy: http://bit.ly/o89YaB
I talk about writing from my life experiences on Wendy Young’s blog: http://wp.me/p1JRnw-bS
I talk writing, reading and NEUROTICALLY YOURS on Amy Manemann’s blog: http://bit.ly/IU7HQA
Everything is copy. I’ll tell you why on Matt Patterson’s blog: http://bit.ly/ILbr8t
Read a funny excerpt from NEUROTICALLY YOURS at the WLC: http://bit.ly/Ji35Rm
Find out the top 10 reasons virtual book tours blow actual ones away on Peter Adler’s blog: http://bit.ly/JOWwZX
Get to know what makes me tick and much more on Keith Weaver’s Blog: http://bit.ly/JJhCaW
I ‘m Living to Tell the Tales (and what tales!) on Linn B. Halton’s website: http://bit.ly/K1zuw4
I talk Romance, Comedy and Me on T.M. Souders’ blog: http://wp.me/p1AxLQ-b2
I answer three great questions on Van Heerling’s blog: http://bit.ly/Kya65g
Love a Happy Ending celebrates NEUROTICALLY YOURS! Read an excerpt: http://bit.ly/KsAoCD
I’m thoroughly convinced that one of the biggest reasons would-be authors never make it through page one of their would-be novels, is the daunting and confusing first step of choosing point-of-view. It’s something most book readers aren’t even consciously aware of, despite the fact that it hugely determines how they will relate to the characters and to the story as a whole.
First person offers a single-eye view of the world through the perspective of one character, who is also the narrator of the story. In third person, the author tells the story in an “anonymous” voice, and is afforded the advantage of tapping into more than one character’s head to convey thoughts and feelings.
For my debut novel, Wedlocked, I did not have to struggle with the decision of which view to choose. Wedlocked is based on my own true experiences, namely my impulsive, brief, and disastrous marriage after years of struggling through singlehood. Telling the story through my main character’s point-of-view was a natural choice, since Rebecca is based on me. But I soon learned of the great disadvantage of choosing first person: The story could only go as far as my protagonist’s own eyes, ears and experiences. Rebecca had to be in every scene! Luckily, I overcame this obstacle easily, as the story had Rebecca remembering the events of her life from a future place and time. Her perspective was enough to convey what I needed to, and her vibrant and witty personality carried the story with ease. However, there is something else writers of first person stories need to look out for. It’s important to make sure your tale isn’t bogged down by “I” this and “I” that. It requires some creativity to make sure you don’t fall into that annoying trap, but it’s surely doable.
In my second novel, another romantic comedy that will launch on April 25th at the World Literary Café (tune in next month for details!), I knew first person wouldn’t work nearly as well as third person. Why? Because I had three main characters into whose heads I intended to pry. Thus, I chose third person, even though the thought of it worried me. I’d never written that way before and wasn’t sure what obstacles I’d face. Would I be able to make it as funny as Wedlocked? Could I convey the distinct personalities of the main characters as clearly? Happily, the answer is yes! As the “anonymous voice” telling the story, I could still communicate the characters’ colorful personalities and humorous thoughts (albeit third hand). Dialogue wasn’t an issue because it’s the same in both point-of-views, and the advantage of not having to have my heroine in every scene was a liberating adventure for me.
Now, to complicate matters, a writer’s decision regarding point-of-view doesn’t stop there. You are also required to choose either present voice or past voice. Is the action happening “as we speak” or are the events being told from a time in the future? Most novels use past voice, probably because it’s not very common for authors to successfully employ present voice as it can be quite jarring to the reader if not used adeptly. I briefly considered using present voice for Wedlocked, but luckily after a few arduous and uncomfortable pages, came to my senses.
Now, let’s say like most authors you choose third person, past voice. Guess what? You’re still not done making point-of-view decisions. Now you need to determine if your story is going to be told in limited, objective, omniscient, or multiple POV. (See why so many writers give up before they start?) In limited, the reader is bound to just the perspective of one main character. In objective, the reader doesn’t see any of the character’s views, thoughts or feelings, but instead observes the story only from actions and details. In omniscient, the reader is privy to every character’s thoughts and feelings in the scene, a prospect that scares off many new writers. And in multiple, the reader can hear the thoughts of a few characters, as in the case of my second novel.
Just remember, you don’t have to make a final decision that is set in stone before you begin writing. I learned that it’s okay to make an educated guess as to the best view to take, and if you run into serious problems you can always go back to the beginning and change it. Trial and error is not against the rules and can be a great way to figure out the best mode of telling a story.
I think most authors still use third person because it allows for more versatility and complex storylines. Nowadays though, the use of first person seems more prevalent than ever before. Maybe that’s because a whole genre was founded on the basis of it. I am referring, of course, to Chick Lit. Ever since Bridget Jones began scrawling in her diary, millions of female readers have been swept into novels with the aid of that personal, intimate voice that speaks so well to them. The prevalence of first person has stretched beyond Chick Lit into other women’s fiction and beyond. I have been told by several readers that it was Rebecca’s wit and exasperation at her circumstances that made her so much fun as a narrator and so easy to relate to. That says a lot about the appeal of first person, but ultimately it’s your unique story that will determine which point-of-view is best.
With the wide variety of writing I’ve done over the last three decades, one thing has remained constant: I’m always drawn to write about relationships, romance, and striving for a happy ending in life and on the page. That’s why I’m very excited to be the editor of a new relationship blog for LoveaHappyEnding.com This is a wonderful website that helps promote new authors. It also enables readers to interact with them and assist them in getting the word out about their books. The featured authors, editors, and featured and associate readers I’ve met there are warm, talented, supportive, and a joy to have as colleagues. Here’s a great video by Multi-Tech Productions Inc that will tell you more about us.
My column, In Search of a Happy Ending, begins today, and on a monthly basis I’ll be offering my unique take on a wide scope of personal issues that I think most everyone will be able to relate to. I’ll also be resurrecting my life as an advice columnist, and will be taking questions from all who care to get a fresh perspective on the problems that may be plaguing them in their personal relationships.
This isn’t the first time I’ve dispensed advice. As many of you know, and as I’ve outlined here on my website, I previously wrote an advice column for the Chippendales website, writing under the pseudonym Ask Andy. I’ve posted some of the questions and answers in order to give you an idea of what to expect. I think you’ll agree that I have a bit of a knack for it, and I’m very much looking forward to connecting with people this way again. If you’d like to submit your question, please contact me at loveahappyending.com@gmail.com.
As if that weren’t exciting enough, in just a few days, on December 20, Love a Happy Ending will be re-launching my book Wedlocked: A Novel on their site. Some of my very generous colleagues have offered up their blogs and will be featuring me. Here’s a list:
WEDLOCKED Re-launch Guest Blogs:
On December 20 go to Love a Happy Ending for my launch blog!!
Go right now to Kaira Rouda’s ‘real you’ blog to meet the real me!
On December 18-14, Richard Holmes will host.
On December 20, Melanie Robertson-King will host.
On December 21, Patricia Sands will host.
On December 24 Stephanie Keyes will host.
But please check out my first contribution to In Search of a Happy Ending today, and feel free to email me to let me know your thoughts! Happy Holidays to all!
Although I don’t consider myself a religious person, I am quite spiritual and do believe in higher beings of love that listen to us when we pray. That’s why before going to sleep at night, after a long day of work, I take a few minutes to connect and show gratitude. I generally begin by thanking God for all the gifts in my life. The health, happiness, safety and longevity of my family, friends and pets come first. Then I pray for all the suffering in the world to end, from abused children and animals to war-torn communities to starving people around the globe. I ask God to please help enlighten the people who use religion as an excuse to hate instead of love, and to rip people apart instead of bringing them together. I also thank my loved ones who have passed, for I believe they have a hand in many of the good things that have come my way. And of course, if anyone I know is sick or in emotional distress or crisis, I say special prayers for them, too.
I’ve repeated this bedtime practice for many years, but I’ll never forget the night, when just after uttering my prayers, something wild and completely unexpected happened—someone answered! It was just a brief few words that I heard—a question actually—but it stunned me nonetheless. In my head, after once again directing my prayers at others, I heard a loving voice say, What about you, Bonnie?
I recall my eyes shooting open wide, wondering where it came from. It wasn’t my roommate, who was the only other occupant of the house, of that I was sure. So was it an angel? A passed loved one? My own evolved spirit? One thing was for sure, I knew it was not coming from my own thoughts. You see, I always thought prayer should be about others and about trying to better the world. I thought it was too selfish to pray for things I may have wanted, since unlike so many others, I had most of the things I needed. So where did this comment come from? There was only one answer that made sense to me. Some higher being was letting me know it was okay to wish for even more abundance.
From then on, I’ve added to my prayers things that would even more greatly enhance my life: a truly fulfilling job; a loving man to share my life with; true contentment and love—all of which have been answered. And when I was laid off from that fulfilling job a few years ago, I had a surprisingly good outlook. Probably because I felt it was God’s little kick in the side that I needed to finally finish the book I’d been writing sporadically for years. I did. In June of this year, Wedlocked: A Novel was finally published and I had no qualms about praying for its success. Amazingly, after four months of hard marketing, it actually hit Amazon’s bestseller lists, and as an added bonus, Wedlocked became an Award-Winning Finalist in its category for USA Book News’ “BEST BOOKS OF 2011”.
So this year, like every year, I’m thankful for all the usual things I cherish. But I’m also grateful that I listened to the little voice that startled me out of my prayers all those years ago. Until then, I had felt unworthy of such a wonderful dream—but now I realize somebody up there doesn’t think so, and just wanted to let me know!
The last few weeks have proved one heck of a wild ride! Having just come off the huge launch of Melissa Foster’s third novel Come Back to Me at WoMen’s Lit Cafe (which included Wedlocked and 34 other great books in a 99cent promotion) I’m exhausted, overwhelmed and thrilled with the results! We launched on Nov. 1, and Wedlocked quickly ascended the ranks at Amazon, astonishing and delighting me (not to mention my husband!) with incredible sales figures. When the promotion ended on Nov. 3, I expected my numbers to return to “normal” but they didn’t. Instead, they continued to steadily climb and by Saturday night, Nov. 5, Wedlocked was a bonafide bestseller, reaching #43 on the top 100 bestsellers in literary fiction at Amazon. It even made it onto the charts of the top 100 in all literature.
Needless to say, my head has been reeling ever since. The main thought that goes through an author’s mind at a time like this is: What exactly is making this happen? This past week I had the distinct honor of becoming an Award-Winning Finalist in USA Book News’ “BEST BOOKS OF 2011.” That probably helped. And for the last several weeks, I’ve been a rabid Facebook poster, a Twittering madwoman, an assiduous website hound and much more. I’m sure a good deal of this busywork also played a part in helping to boost me, but I know there was one crucial, unmistakable thing responsible for making my dream come true. It was my fortuitous association with this group of WoMen’s Lit Cafe authors and our relentless cross promotion that catapulted Wedlocked into the stratosphere.
It is truly amazing what a team of diligent authors working together can accomplish. Our immense support for each other’s books, and more importantly for EACH OTHER made all the difference. I not only found a professional network, I unexpectedly found a supportive and generous literary family whom I welcomed with open arms. I truly believe it is this give and take among authors that is becoming the model for success in the indie literary world. It brought out my most selfless self, and along the way, I found my greatest success.
Anyone who has actually gone through the painstaking and awesome process of writing, publishing and marketing a book knows how irritating it can be when your accountant, your hairdresser or your doctor tells you, “Yeah, I have a good story. One day I’m going to write a book, too. It’s as if they think anyone who’s had some mildly interesting experiences in life should have no problem penning a book people besides their mother would actually want to read. Sure, I think to myself. I’ve had a few bad headaches. One day I think I’ll perform brain surgery.
What they don’t know is that it took ten years of arduous thinking, writing, editing and more editing to bring my debut novel to fruition. Wedlocked, is a romantic comedy based on my first brief, disastrous marriage that occurred back in 1999. After a couple of years furiously scrawling in my journal while recuperating from the unfortunate event, I began the actual writing of the book. This took place during the scant free time I had while working a full time job as Copy Chief and Senior Writer for Book-of-the-Month Club. Needless to say, after reading hundreds of books and writing as many reviews, it wasn’t often I had the energy to work on my own book evenings and weekends, but I managed to make some headway for a few years. Then, when I lost my job in a corporate takeover, I devoted myself full time to finishing Wedlocked. Within a year it was done, and a few months after that, much to my glee, an agent decided to represent it. This was despite her caveat that First Fiction is practically impossible to sell these days.
Unfortunately she was right. Despite wonderful feedback, the big publishers she dealt with did not bite and a year later I was still banging my head against the wall in frustration. It was then that I finally started listening to my husband, a very bright entrepreneur known for thinking outside the box. He had been egging me into self-publishing despite my reluctance. Cavorting with the literati at Book-of-the-Month had not exactly left me thinking good things about self-published books. The stigma had been ingrained in me and it took a lot of open-minded thinking and internet research to finally change my mind. The publishing industry is not what it used to be ever since the advent of the internet, and neither is self-publishing. The ebook generation had arrived and took root right under my nose and a revolution in publishing was beginning to ensue. My husband explained to me that I would be getting in on the ground floor of this new model. Although it was daunting prospect, the opportunities it afforded me, including business and creative control of my book, dangled like a juicy carrot before my eyes. It was time to change the way I thought about publishing.
I hired iUniverse because they were one of the biggest and most reputable self-publishing companies. They also have a program where they reward special benefits to books they deem to be superior. My book became an editor’s pick and was chosen for their Rising Star Program which was very exciting. But I learned that no one, not even the publisher who’s getting a percentage, was going to make my book a big seller. That was up to me.
I brought on a social marketing expert to train me, as well as a virtual book tour company. Both helped explode my name and my book onto the literary internet scene. Through the tour, I garnered many wonderful book reviews for Wedlocked. I also had the opportunity to write several guest blogs and do interviews for sites geared to my target audience. And best of all, I learned how I can do this for myself with help from Facebook and Twitter.
Marketing yourself as an author is a slow and steady process. It takes years of hard work and effort. I look at it as a new business. I don’t expect to strike it rich right away. In a new business, you make investments and hope that within a year or two they will pay off. It’s the same thing with self-publishing. And the more books you put out, the more they will build on themselves and hopefully create a mushroom effect. And that’s where this blog finds me, working long hours marketing, continuing to write as much as I can, and doing everything to make Wedlocked a success!
Three weeks after the release of Wedlocked: A Novel, this author finds herself reeling from the whirlwind: overseeing book sellers, prodding prospective retailers, social networking, blogging, and a variety of other marketing tasks. It has become an obsessive, full time job that often takes me cruising through the day and long into the night, only tearing myself away from my computer to stretch my tight muscles, feed the cats, walk through a leg cramp, or finally get some much needed sleep.
Now I find myself wondering how I will find time to do much of anything else. It’s easy to forget that I have two other books waiting for my final touches. That I have household chores awaiting my attention. Or that it is summertime and I should be enjoying some fun in the sun! But this is all new territory requiring a lot of effort, creative improvisation and the ability to wade through the gushing flood. I’ve waited many long years for this moment and I’m going to make the most of it. It’s a different kind of stress than I’m used to—stress tinged with excitement. That makes it easier to take in some ways, but more nerve-wracking in others. After all, ultimately I’m the one most responsible for what becomes of my book and my career. Others can help, but no one has quite the same vested interest.
There’s a controlled panic holding me down in this chair, keeping my fingers glued to the keys of my laptop. Maybe because now is the time for obsessive working, late hours and muscle cramps if ever there was one. The flood gates have opened—and I’m in training for the 1500 meter freestyle!
After twenty-five years of writing everything from screenplays to news features and magazine articles; from children’s books and videos to advice columns and book reviews, I can finally pronounce today that I am a published author! My debut book, Wedlocked: A Novel, has just gone live and is available for purchase:
Today, an awesome thought has been revolving through my mind: People I’ll never even meet will now be experiencing my heart, soul and guts as translated onto the written page. Many authors feel that way, but it’s especially true when it’s a story inspired by true events and told by the person who lived them. That’s the case with Wedlocked, which was inspired by my impulsive first marriage and its disastrous aftermath. It took a few years before I could make it funny; I’m glad I waited. It made the story so much more enjoyable to write and to read.
With so many glowing responses from such a wide variety of people I can tell you this—nothing makes you feel quite as good as knowing your creative work is enjoyed and appreciated—that you can make people laugh, tear up, and want more.
So now, I leave the safe seclusion of my home and enter the world to market my wares. I’m going to share my experiences with you via this blog. I have a feeling we’ll all learn a lot and hopefully enjoy the journey!
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