Putting Myself Out There

It has been almost four months since my October 22nd launch, and wow, have I ever learned a lot!  Pricing, reviews, ratings, royalties, freebies, 99 cent flash sales, mailing costs, networking, sales number monitoring, photos, social media growth and participation, selling myself, selling myself, selling myself...

And, I don’t enjoy selling myself.  Does anybody?  It is hard, and sometimes it doesn’t seem like it is worth all the work.  Every author has their bad times, but for me and others with a psychiatric disability, the bad times can seem unsurmountable, the anxiety and depression and sense of worthlessness almost too much. After a bad month, I am picking myself up and making another run at it, with the goal of reaching more people with Love & Theft.

Hopefully you are considering adding my book to your library.  And, however you purchase my book—be it on line, or in an actual bookstore—I think you will be rewarded in ways that will surprise you.  Those who have already read Love & Theft comment that the way they look at people who live with mental illness has changed, become more positive and compassionate.  Because the book opens them up.  They understand more about their aunt or nephew or father or similar. Or, themselves.

If you’ve already read a copy of my book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Just a line or two.  Reviews really help new authors.  If writing a review is not on your list, maybe leave a starred rating?  Very simple!

But, yes, selling myself.  Asking for reviews on Amazon is one classic way to do it. And, right now, I am considering a sale on Kobo.  Ebooks at Amazon are only 99 cents for a while longer.  An Amazon ad?  How about spots on TikTok and Instagram? Maintaining my Facebook site?  How about arranging a blog tour, or inviting someone to guest blog right here?  Setting up a LinkedIn profile and using it to bring attention to mental illness and my book?  Go deeper into Goodreads? How about organizing an in-person reading at one of Ottawa’s independent bookstores?

I am itching to do some new writing.  I almost have time to finish the short story I started working on in early January.  And a novel, well there is a novel—I have made notes about the various characters that will populate it.  Given good thought to the story line and setting.  And, yes, the protagonist has a mental illness—another way to normalize the subject.

But, for now, there is selling myself…