I love Fresh Fiction-love the people who make it happen and love that it is based in my home state of Texas. When I was trying to figure out what to blog around this time around, I came up empty. So I went back to a blog I wrote several years ago and darn, if it isn’t still relevant. I’m changing it up a little so you can see how insecure I still am when it comes to my own writing. (Most writers are. I once heard a NY Times best seller say she pauses in the middle of every single book she writes and wonders if she should send back the advance because she doesn’t think she has another good book in her.)
I have five books coming out this year and two next year. I couldn’t suck, right? Yet, insecure me sometimes looks over my shoulder to make sure someone isn’t chasing me to take it all away. More than two years ago LIVER LET DIE debuted and I put together this top ten list. At the time I whined about the fact that Berkley had bought three books from me after only reading three chapters and that I was worried they wouldn’t like the finished project.
Thankfully, they loved that first manuscript as well as the next two. I’m currently working on Book 4 in the Clueless Cook series and just recently I signed a two book deal with Midnight Ink for my paranormal mainstream mystery series (First book of A Dead Sister Talking Mystery debuts May 8, and the preorder is on sale at both Amazon and B & N right now! Oh God! Shameless plug. I am so sorry!!) Now I can’t seem to get my rump in gear and write the second stupid book of the new series, so I’m whining again. As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say—it’s always something.
I know some of you out there would love to slap me right now. Hey, I wanna slap myself. What is wrong with me? My life-long dream comes true and I whine? The fact that I have two different editors at two different houses paying for my stuff should make me swell with pride.
I need an attitude adjustment. I know if I write the best I know how to, that’s all I can do. I just have to sit in the chair and put words on the paper. Some people will love it, some will think it’s so so, and others will wonder why I left the medical field. Hopefully, the lovers will far outnumber the haters.
Anyway, with my new attitude, I decided to come up with a list for the top ten reasons why I think my book will sell.
Ready?
10 – I have a lot of friends out there and I definitely plan on playing the friendship card to get them to part with eight measly bucks.
9 – I’m not shy about leaving my business cards everywhere and talking up my story.
8 – I plan on buying a couple hundred myself.
7 – Did I mention I am one of nine children? There are a lot of little “like me’s” out there. My mother had 33 grandchildren, a slew of great grandchildren and now two great great grandkids. That’s at least 50 or 60 books.
6 – If my children want to remain in my will, they’ll get all their friends to spring for the paperback.
5 – Berkley is a great publisher and people will try a new author based on their reputation for printing great books.
4 – I said a novena to St. Jude (the patron saint of impossible causes) to get this deal. Surely, he won’t abandon me now, especially since I fired off a check to St. Jude’s hospital and Danny Thomas is smiling at me from above.
3 – I am kinda cute and my picture will look good on the back inside cover. I plan on paying big bucks to get air brushed to have twenty pounds knocked off and to have my face look like a plum and not a prune. Of course, at book signings, I run the risk of people thinking some older, chunky chick is trying to pull a fast one.
2 – Writers are also readers and love to support each other. I’m on a lotta freakin’ loops.
And the number one reason for thinking my latest book will sell – It’s a damn good story and it’s already getting rave reviews!!!
There, my new attitude is alive and well. Do you still wanna slap me?
Now make me feel better and tell me what you’re insecure about and why it’s so crazy. Or just pop in and say hey. Be sure to leave your email addy as my publisher will send one lucky commenter (chosen at random by the Fresh Fiction people) a copy of MURDER FOR THE HALIBUT. (US addresses only at their request.)
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