Tag: Marketing

A Detour Home

One of the things my husband likes to say when our sons or grandchildren leave is, “Go straight home.” Something many of us were told growing up. I hadn’t thought of this when creating a title for my latest novel, A Detour Home, but I have heard it so many times (and even repeated it myself), I imagine it was floating around in my mind somewhere. For those who have read my first novel, A Better Life, you are familiar with Margaret and Jenny, and I’m sure you would be surprised if their journey home was straight.

After more time than I had anticipated, and more patience than I realized I had, I’m pleased to say A Detour Home, is now published. I am in the process of getting it into as many of the wonderful independent bookstores in the area as will accept it, and it is now available at lala Books in Lowell, MA, as well as Main Street Bookends in Warner, NH. It’s also available on Amazon, and soon additional bookstores and libraries as well.

I still have more publishing and marketing ahead, but as I make lists, break everything down into manageable bites, I find everything eventually gets done, in its own time. And I am joyfully finding time to work on my next novel.

A heartfelt thank you to those who came to the book launch, those who have purchased my books, those who have written reviews, and those who take the time to send a text or email or see me in person to tell me how much they enjoyed my books. I had two people come up to me this morning and say, “I couldn’t put it down.” Music to a writer’s ears.

On The Road Again

One of the most enjoyable activities in marketing my novels is going on the road visiting independent bookstores. The people who own and run these stores are always happy to support local writers like me, taking my books on consignment. Having my novels on the shelves in these beautiful bookstores is no less than a dream come true.

Besides Amazon, A Better Life and The Price of Secrets can be found at lala books in Lowell, MA; Andover Bookstore in Andover, MA; Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, NH; Main Street Bookends in Warner, NH; Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London, NH; and Henniker Book Farm and Gifts in Henniker, NH. If you have an opportunity to visit any of these amazing bookstores, you are in for a treat.

Releasing my novels into the world is life-changing. Finishing such a long and involved project so close to my heart is not only incredibly exciting, but a bit traumatic. The people of my novels become part of my life, part of me, and it feels like I lose a little of myself when I let them go. For a couple of weeks, even with the excitement of publishing The Price of Secrets, I felt a little down. I had trouble focusing on my new novel, which is not a great feeling for a writer. Then my brother bought me a coloring book.

When I open to a new, pristine coloring page, there is a sense of newness, not unlike a blank page in a notebook. And there are decisions to make. Where to start? What color/tone to use? As with writing, I just begin. It doesn’t matter where I start, as long as I start. Start filling in the blank spaces and a picture gradually emerges. Not so different from writing. Creating a scene, a conversation, a character’s observations, coloring in a space, big or small, all add to the complete picture.

The more I think about losing part of myself by sending my work into the world, the more I realize it’s just a transition. It’s huge, but simply writing this post helps me know I am still here and I am whole. I will keep showing up to the page every day with faith and persistence. Keep getting words down, keep coloring in the story.