By Catherine Brakefield
I shall never forget when I read about Helen Keller. I
remember thinking, “I want to write so descriptively that a woman like Helen
Keller who has never seen the sunset, heard the laughter of a child, or smelled
the lusty scents of horses, will have no problem experiencing it through my
words.”
I use descriptive scenes in my novels because I want my
readers to be immersed into my settings, swept away into that time period, and
to enjoy stepping into the role of my hero or heroine. This is so important to
me that in my recent novel, Wilted Dandelions, I
took a road trip out west just to make sure my scenes accurately depicted the
landscape of my story.
But I often get too caught up in my characters and
settings and forget that writing is a business. In “How Much Do you Know About your
Target Audience,” author and writing coach Debra
Butterfield writes “People read to meet a need in their life.” Butterfield does
a great job in describing how the author must be very familiar with their
target audience and how this steers their writing.
I steer my writing toward saved and unsaved women between
mid-twenties to seventy years old. In the past, I wrote editorial articles for
local newspapers and magazines. I have also written some history books, and I
find that most of my readers are historically curious and romantically inspired
by my novels. But men and young adults have expressed their appreciation for my
novels as well.
Here comes
the hard work. How do you get that great book of yours into your
unknowing readers’ hands and into their hearts?
In Emma Siemasko’s article
dated February 17, 2011, “15 Ways to Let the World Know About Your Awesome
Business,” she says “When our founders started Grasshopper, they were intent on
using natural and transparent ways to get the word out. Their goal was (and
still is) to get people gabbing about what we do. If they’re happy with our
product, they’ll tell their friends, who tell their friends, and so on and so
forth.”
Research shows that your time has become more valuable
than money. I agree. Monetary pleasures will fall by the way side. Watching my
parents I realized that the older we become, the more our memories become
cherished commodities. Not that couch or bookcase you bought ten years ago. Ah,
but your family, good songs and good books that memory remains with you…
That is why when your novel is complete, your real work
begins. Fine tune the essence of your book into one sentence and be ready to
stimulate your potential reader into the imagination of words. Once you get
your book out there, the next step is, as Siemasko says, “To get
people gabbing” about your book.
One of the best ways to get
the word out about a product and about your book is through positive reviews.
Siemasko says her research shows that an army of fans can out do anything a
fancy PR firm can do for a favorite author. If you like a book you need to say so to your friends and
social media. The best advertising is word of mouth.
Get your book in front of the right people. If you have
written a children’s book, visit day cares, parent’s groups, elementary
schools, and other places where your target market is likely to be. Faith-based
historical romances often find their niche in libraries and women’s and church
groups. Self-help and inspirational books do well with self-help church groups,
YWCA groups, and adult educational groups.
Writing is a business, and no one can
sell your product better than you. Be friendly, be assessable, and be excited.
You’ve created a great book, now go out and tell the world!
____________________________________________________________________
Catherine says, “My
readers inspire my writing! Catherine Brakefield is the author of three
faith-based historical romances; The Wind of Destiny, Wilted Dandelions, and the first of a four book Destiny series, Swept
into Destiny scheduled for release in May 2017. She has also
written two Pictorial history books: Images
of America: The Lapeer Area, and Images
of America: Eastern Lapeer County. Her short
stories have been published in Guidepost Books True Stories of Extraordinary
Answers to Prayer Unexpected Answers and Desires of
Your Heart; Baker Books, Revell, The
Dog Next Door and Horse of my Heart; CrossRiver
Media Publishers, The Benefit Package and Abba’s
Promise; Bethany House Publishers, Jesus Talked to me Today. She enjoys swimming
and horseback riding and lives in Addison Township with her husband, Edward,
and their Arabian horses. Now that her children are grown and married, she and
Edward are the blessed recipients of two handsome grandsons and a lovely
granddaughter! See www.CatherineUlrichBrakefield.com for more
information
Her author Facebook page
is www.facebook.com/CatherineUlrichBrakefield To
purchase Wilted Dandelions and book promotions visit www.CrossRiverMedia.com
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