Stalk me elsewhere

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Newspaper Article Result Update

Hello, Fire Enthusiasts. Happy Mid-week to all of you. What’s everyone up to these days? Are you reading anything good? I wish I was reading something good right now, but I don’t have a lot of time for that at the moment. Are you doing any writing? The edits for my second novel, Dance on Fire: Flashpoint, should be arriving in my e-mail sometime soon. I’m excited to get that started. With any luck it will be a spring release.

I try and post something here each Monday; however, with Sunday’s blog fest, taking up most of my time, I didn't get a chance to do so. I hope you had a chance to participate in that, or at least had some fun following along with what some of the others posted with regard to the Top Ten Horror/Science Fiction quotes of all time. I know I neglected Highlander and Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. I love both of those films and am forcing myself to do 100 push-ups as a punishment. Okay, not really. But I assure you that with all of this sitting in front of a laptop, I desperately need it!

Some of you may have read last week that I was excited to be featured in my local newspaper. I was interviewed because of the paperback release of my first novel. Since my book has to do with vampires in my real-life city, I felt that I might have a built-in audience. If you are interested, you may read the article here.

Unfortunately, I find that I get myself too hyped up for these types of things. Picture the old-school business executive pouring over the ticker as the stock market numbers begin to come into his or her office and that would be me. Instead of a ticker, I closely watch my Official Authors Facebook Page, anxiously awaiting my “likes” to go through the roof. It happened last year when I was reviewed by the High School newspaper. I never heard a thing. Later in the year, I was reviewed and interviewed by the magazine that I write articles for, Kings River Life. With 500 hits a week (now 700) over the California Central Valley and beyond, I thought I would see a bump, but it never came. Well, I’m sorry to admit that it has happened once again. This paper is shared with a sister city with a potential audience of 30,000 people, but I gained only 4.

Naturally, the thought occurs to me that perhaps my Horror/Christian crossover vampire novel is a miss. Everyone who has read it has had nothing but positives to say about it. I rarely ask; I usually wait for someone to bring the subject up before inquiring. If it is a well-written and entertaining read, then what is the problem?

It would be very easy for me to throw my hands into the air and quit. Trust me. I’m nearly 42 and work 11 hours a day at my day job; I don’t need the aggravation, or the demand upon what little free time I have! The problem has simply been getting the word out. It is frustrating when you toss overboard a huge net only to pull up a couple of fish. Each reader or follower or fan is important. Never let it be said that I do not appreciate each and every one of you. It’s just hard sometimes.

Many of you may be going through much the same thing. How have you handled the disappointments? Have you thought to quit as well? What keeps you going? Is it the fact that you believe so strongly in the material? I know I do. I know it isn’t Pat Conroy, but I do believe that it is good, so I will press forward, hoping to endure less slings and arrows and more success. Perhaps this is still the tilling of the soil before the planting, or even the watering and awaiting of the season before the plants really begin to take off.

We’ll see. I just received a large box of my books in the mail. I am now plotting further media outlets and preparing to schedule book events.

I’ll be sure and keep you updated on my progress. And please tell me how your progress is going. It will help my morale…

We’ll talk soon.

10 comments:

  1. Hugs Jimmy!

    I appreciate the little things; when I do get a jump in followers, or when my short story made #1 on OmniLit. I try not to think about how my Amazon sales are pretty darn dismal.
    I'm new to this business and I know it will take a while to get where I want to be. You are most definitely right to appreciate every follower and new friend! Slowly they will add up :)

    Chin up and congrats on your 2nd book moving along!

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  2. Should I dream or dread of the day WHEN I get published? I haven't decided yet.

    But I wouldn't worry about Facebook or your blog. I have lots of favorite authors, but I haven't friended them or visited their website, even. I've never been that kind of fan.

    Only time will tell - and your sales. I wish you the best in that! But if you love to write, nothing's gonna stop you, right? It wouldn't stop me, anyway. I've got stories that want to be written - so I'll write.

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  3. I'm nowhere near being published. Thousands of aspiring writers out there are like me...

    And then there's you.

    You have a paperback book in your hands. You wrote it. See, there's your name on the cover. Look at it. Look again. Your name is on the spine, too. And your name is on the first page, the title page.

    Whoa. Too. Cool. !

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  4. Thanks so much for the note, Jen. It's always great talking to you. Sometimes this Promo stuff can give me the blues. Thanks for sharing your "bounce" with me. I feel better already.
    -Jimmy

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  5. Stacy - thanks for the encouragement. I definitely have many stories to tell. I was just telling my mother that what I'm doing right now feels as if I work 11 hours a day and then go to night school afterward. Doing all of that plus the homework leaves little time for family, etc. I'm just not willing to hustle for too much longer. I'm pushing myself pretty hard. Somethings may need to give soon before the wall of my stomach does!! Lol!
    Thanks for stopping by, my friend.

    -Jimmy

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  6. Thank you, Laura. That was very sweet of you, and well said. Part of the reason for posting this today was to see how others were handling their writing or promotional adversities. I really appreciate your kind words. It was just the shot in the arm that I needed.

    Take care,
    -Jimmy

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  7. Just wanted to let you know I got your book in the mail yesterday. Came at the right time, too. Looks like I'll start on it tomorrow.

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  8. Thanks for the note, Stacy. I hope you find my novel enjoyable. Thanks so much for your interest and encouragement. Have a great weekend.
    -Jimmy

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  9. Despite the fact that my books are selling, I have a wonderful network of friends and peers, and things continue to look up (minus the near death experience :grin:) I often wonder why I'm not 'more' successful.

    When I see peers enjoying a huge follower list, movie options and healthy advances, I have to ask--what did they do so right that I haven't done?

    But a friend of mine mentioned that all the people I envied have been in this business longer than I have. With the exception of a couple of overnight successes, most have been struggling for ten years. Me? I've barely been in it four.

    So don't fret. Success will happen. Often when you're not expecting it.

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  10. Thanks for the pep-talk, my friend. It is always a good thing. I'm so glad that you are feeling better. Please take care of yourself.
    -Jimmy

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Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate you taking the time. I'll get back to you here or on one of the other social networks. It's not like we're not on all of them, right? ;) Also, if you're here to give me an award - bless you. However, your friendship and visits are more than enough. Thanks and blessings.