Patricia Stoltey

Author

Triple-header: Reaching Out to Readers … by Jacqueline Seewald

By:

T.S. Eliot said in “The Waste Land” that April is “the cruelest month.” I’m not certain whether this past April was one of my best months or one of my worst. I will explain.

April 2014 saw the publication of three of my novels. The first was THE BAD WIFE, my 4th Kim Reynolds mystery, published both in print and as an e-book by Perfect Crime Books. I consider this mystery thriller a very special book, the most significant novel in the series. (You can check it out on Amazon.)

The second novel published in April is an e-book version of my novel TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS. This Regency romance was originally published in hardcover by Five Star/Gale/Cengage and in large print hardcover by Thorndike Press. Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick provided an excellent cover blurb for the novel which is now available in a brand new edition from my Australian publisher. Why an Australian publisher? I was a top winner in their recent romance writing contest. THE CHEVALIER, which won, was published some months ago.

The third novel, published at the end of April, is a YA entitled THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER. Astraea Press publishes teenage novels for girls. This is a very different book from either of previous novels mentioned as they are both adult books. This novel is a “clean” read—no explicit sex scenes–unlike my adult romances. It is available on a variety of sites such as: Barnes and Noble Online and Amazon.

 As you might imagine, promotion to readers for each book requires much thought and effort. Each novel appeals to a different readership. I didn’t plan to have three of my novels published in the same month. I find myself spread rather thin. I love each of these novels, am proud of them, and want to support them to the best of my ability. I am making a concerted effort to reach out and build a readership for each novel. Will I succeed? Only time will tell. My efforts have only just begun. One thing is certain: writers and readers share a symbiotic relationship.

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 Multiple award-winning author, Jacqueline Seewald, has taught creative, expository and technical writing at Rutgers University as well as high school English. She also worked as both an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Fifteen of her books of fiction have been published to critical. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies. You can learn more about Jacqueline at Facebook.

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Comments

  4. Hi Sharon,

    A very creative description! Actually, each novel took a long time to rewrite. The editor for the YA novel, for instance, insisted on eight rewrites until the novel was perfect according to her expectations-and that was for an e-book.

  6. Amazing. You are like your own three-ring circus, one on the high wire, another taming the lions, and a clown bouncing through the crowd. What do you do in your SPARE time? As usual, you’re setting the bar too high for most of us. In the immortal words of Jack Benny, “Now, cut that out!”

  8. Thanks, Linda, I’m glad it’s May. You’re right about that! But I feel an obligation for the sake of each of my publishers to promote each novel. At one time publishers did this for us, but that’s no longer the case.

  12. Hi Jacqueline,
    I’m about to release 3 books in June – two belong together and one is completely different. I’m in panic mode with all the last minute stuff. But going in three different directions? I don’t know. (shaking my head) That has to be very difficult.
    Wishing you much success!
    E

  14. Well, I’ve had two books out this spring, but never 3–and usually only one a year. You’ve outdone most of us! I’ll look forward to reading your new YA novel–and others, of course! (Nancy)

  16. I think April has been a good one for you even though it involved varied marketing decisions. I intend to mention your YA novel to my teen-aged gr. grandaughter. The cover is very clever. Best of luck.

  18. Pat,

    I think November is a great time for your next novel to be published. More attention from reviewers which is so important. Also, Christmas will be coming. People buy more books as gifts.

  20. Hi, Stephanie,

    I consider getting one book a year published as a real accomplishment. I know people who have been working on writing one book their entire lives.

  23. Jacquie. You are an amazing writer and person. One book launch a year is enough for me. I agree with Patricia and find much success at local art fairs, winery events, Girls Night Out parties. This weekend I was asked if I wanted to sell books during a Garden Tour. I sold 51 books and handed out even more bookmarks. Plus I met some people from local book clubs which will hopefully generate even more sales. You never know where readers lurk! Congratulations again on all of your releases.

  24. Jacquie, this whole promotion part of getting published today is a big puzzle. My next one (and thank goodness it’s only one) comes out in November, so I also have have bad weather to think about when planning signings.

    For your novels, think of farmers’ markets, craft fairs, summer festivals, any event where people of all ages gather and you can pass out postcards or bookmarks for the ebooks.

  26. Three in one month. Yes, that would definitely be a challenge. Promoting one this year has wiped me out!!! Of course, the more books you get out there, the more you build your readership and they look for your other books if they like one–so it’s a brilliant move!

  28. Sounds like April was a great month for you, Jacquie! I don’t envy you having to promote all those books, but if anyone can do it, you can! Congratulations!

  29. Hi, Susan,

    I agree with you. It’s definitely not much fun trying to think of ways to promote three distinct novels in three different genres. But I’ll view it as a challenge.

  30. Three in one month? I think that would take the fun out of it for me. I’d prefer to have them spread out. Promoting for one book is hard enough, but for three! Perhaps you can go back to doing “only” one book a year. I wish i had promotion ideas to offer. Right now I’m looking at the summer sidewalk sales. I know a couple of writers who have done well, traveling around our area.

  31. Hi, Victoria,

    Yes, a triple header is definitely unusual for me. I can assure you of that. I’m generally quite happy with the publication of one novel a year.
    Now I’m dealing with three different genres and three different publishers. The writing was the best part, promotion is bewildering.

  35. Pat – Thanks for hosting Jacqueline.

    Jacqueline – Congratulations on your releases! That’s wonderful. And I couldn’t agree more that authors and readers need each other. I think it’s important to keep that in mind when we write and plan releases and so on.