Self publishing= self promoting= a difficult equation (I hate equations anyway because I hate math).
My book was finished over two years ago, but as a teacher, I found the only time I really had to put into the process of trying to publish it came in the summer, and so each summer I would research and see that trends were constantly changing. I know this is usually true of most anything, but technology is changing the publishing world so quickly that I just couldn’t keep up with what I would need to do anymore, so I risked self publishing. I figured it was the only way I’d ever actually have time to publish my masterpiece.
Now I have to self promote, and that seems even harder. I use Facebook, this blog, and word of mouth, because that’s really all I have. The thing is, I know my book is awesome. I’m not usually the type to seriously brag, but why not do it when I’m sure of something? Yes, I’m biased, but it’s true. The book is funny, and real (well, it’s fiction, but it’s realistic), and covers a time in life we’ve all had to survive…middle school. I’ve also been told by some people who know me that reading the book is like listening to me talk, which means I managed to capture my “voice” in the book, something of which I am proud.
Cover art by the talented Sydney Schake
As of now, my book is only available through Amazon’s Kindle Store. So, of course I get people who say things like, “That’s cool, but wouldn’t you like to actually have it published- you know in a real book?” (…as if my book is the Pinocchio of the book world). Yep, that hurts. They might as well be saying, “You know you didn’t really get your book published. I wasn’t planning to read it anyway, but I just really wanted to pop your bubble in case you were proud of your accomplishment.” Thanks for the support people! How’d the book you wrote do? Oh yeah, that’s right, you didn’t write one! Stop tinkling in my Lucky Charms!
Yes, I would love to open up a real printed copy of my book, press my nose up to the pages and breathe in that new book aroma, and to fan the pages against my skin like feathers. I also have this secret dream that maybe someone will just happen to come across my book and I will get an offer for it to be printed. It could happen, right? Of course, there’s also the print on demand setup I’m thinking about doing. It’s still not quite the same, but some people told me they’re holding out because they don’t want an electronic copy.
For now, I really just want to promote my book as much as possible. Most of the people I know who are actually going to read it already have, so I need help from the outside. You can help by checking out my book (teaser included on Amazon page) and “like” my Facebook author page.
“If you don’t expect too much, you won’t be disappointed. This isn’t a ‘self-help’ book to boost your friend and/or money making abilities. In fact, I’ll teach you how to NOT throw the perfect party, how to NOT land the boyfriend of your dreams, and how to NOT be popular.”
Set in the early 1990’s, in this story the author retells the experiences of Drew Hotchner, an “extraordinarily ordinary” girl through Drew’s possibly wiser and honest adult self. Drew struggles not only with the unavoidable awkwardness of being in middle school, but also with having to start over again her entire social world after she experiences the culture shock of moving across the country. Through her humorous adventures in trespassing, accidental theft, and throwing punches at her best friend, the relatable Drew learns who she really is. And if you can admit you are also extraordinarily ordinary, just as Drew claims to be, that we all just want to know who we really are, and that sometimes we surprise ourselves along the way, this might be the book for you.
caverns of my mind 