Good advice for any writer.
First of all, I have to tell you about a book I pulled from the Library shelf yesterday. I don't know yet if it's a good book, I haven't read it, but the title was so good I had to carry it home. There was a picture on the cover, a fence, and a sign, "Trespassers Will Be Shot."
The title of the book is #"Survivers Will Be Shot Again."
What makes people pick up books?
A snappy title such as that one, or they know the writer's work.
I've read over 50 #Danielle Steel books, after not being a romance book reader. However, when I saw that she sold over 650 million copies of her novels, I figured I ought to see what she is about. (And she ended a sentence with a preposition, so I guess I can.)
That woman knows how to tell a story, and she believes in happy endings.
Me too.
That said, I am offering an excerpt from my novel, Song of Africa.
It took me a day to muster the courage to push the 'Publish," button on that excerpt, and at first, I offered it by invitation only.
This morning that the little voice that speaks to us in the early morning hours spoke to me:
I want this to be as though you are in a bookstore, and you are attracted to a book titled Song of Africa. (By me, Jewell D or Joyce Davis, one of those, I haven't decided who I will be yet.)
First of all, I have to tell you about a book I pulled from the Library shelf yesterday. I don't know yet if it's a good book, I haven't read it, but the title was so good I had to carry it home. There was a picture on the cover, a fence, and a sign, "Trespassers Will Be Shot."
The title of the book is #"Survivers Will Be Shot Again."
What makes people pick up books?
A snappy title such as that one, or they know the writer's work.
I've read over 50 #Danielle Steel books, after not being a romance book reader. However, when I saw that she sold over 650 million copies of her novels, I figured I ought to see what she is about. (And she ended a sentence with a preposition, so I guess I can.)
That woman knows how to tell a story, and she believes in happy endings.
Me too.
That said, I am offering an excerpt from my novel, Song of Africa.
It took me a day to muster the courage to push the 'Publish," button on that excerpt, and at first, I offered it by invitation only.
This morning that the little voice that speaks to us in the early morning hours spoke to me:
"Stop being such a smuck. Put the excerpt of your novel, Song of Africa, out there and let the chips fall where they may."
No signing up. No exclusivity.
Just click on song-of-africa.blogspot.com
and Viola' you're in.I want this to be as though you are in a bookstore, and you are attracted to a book titled Song of Africa. (By me, Jewell D or Joyce Davis, one of those, I haven't decided who I will be yet.)
You pull Song of Africa from the shelf, and go to the coffee counter, order a good strong brew, fix it to your liking, and sit down and read the first 37 pages.
Oh, you say, "I forgot to drink my coffee. I was so engrossed in what happened to the two Saras, their lovers, to Patrice, and to that infamous painting,’ The Girl on The Pier,’ that I forgot to drink it.”
You gulp down the now cold coffee, and go to the checkout, plunk down your credit card, and after purchasing Song of Africa, you tell the clerk:
"Order more of these. This book will sell like hotcakes."
