Now that Cemetery Tours is out, I sort of expected to feel like this huge stage of my life was coming to an end. You know, taking that huge step from Unpublished Writer to Published Author. I thought there would be some sense of finality, or a feeling of closure.
Not even close.
Cemetery Tours is published, it’s true. But the real work is only just beginning. It’s not enough to make a book available to the masses. Now, I have to sell it to the masses, and let me tell you, I am not a good salesperson. I can recommend stuff, sure, but I really suck at telling people what they should and shouldn’t read. “I want you to read this book because I wrote it and I think it’s really good!” Yeah, that probably won’t cut it. I’m pretty sure every person who has ever written a book believes that. After all, they wouldn’t want you to read it if they didn’t think it was good! Heck, they probably wouldn’t have bothered to write it if they didn’t think it was good.
In the days to come, I will be coming up with more marketing strategies and reasons that people should buy and/or read Cemetery Tours. I think GoodReads will be a really good place to start.
For today, however, I’m going to take the day off, enjoy my triumph of finally being published, and read The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks. It also came out today, which is really cool, since I was reading a Nicholas Sparks book when I realized that I wanted to be an author (Just a note – my books are not at ALL like his! Not that I don’t love him, but I am NOT a romance author! I’m not really sure what I am… A general fiction author I guess!). And yes, I am fully aware of all the “white people almost kissing” jokes. I think they’re hilarious. And very true.
I still love his books though.
I also checked out The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (not to be confused with S. Morgenstern who “wrote” the Princess Bride – Haha, William Goldman… you really fooled the eighth grade me). I’ve been wanting to read it for a while now but what’s funny is that suddenly, all my friends are reading it and recommending it! I’m definitely looking forward to it!
Anyway, aside from selling and marketing Cemetery Tours, I’m also going to need to start working on my next book! I finally finished chapter seven of the CT sequel. I do not know what it is, but somehow, I ALWAYS get stuck on chapter 7! No matter what I’m writing, chapter 7 always ends up being this awful literary brain block! Maybe it’s because often times, chapter 7 is sort of a transition chapter. You know, no longer the introduction to the book, but not quite the exciting stuff just yet either. Necessary filler, if you will.
And on that note, I’m off to read The Longest Ride. I hope there are no random, heart-wrenching deaths, but considering it’s Nicholas Sparks, I’m not holding my breath. As long as the horse doesn’t die, I think I’ll be okay.
PS – Be sure to check out Cemetery Tours on Amazon!
A Platform of Sorts 
I’m right there with you when it comes to selling (i.e. promoting, or more like hocking my books). I’m just not a very smooth talker, and definitely not a sales man. I have a hard enough time trying to sell myself. I guess I must just be too humble, but whatever it is, it’s super hard for me to persuade people to do buy my stuff…
Have a nice couple of days off and good luck with chapter 7 of the new book. If you have to, jump to chapter 8 and see if that helps your creative flow any.