A Year After "CRY WOLF"

We’re fast approaching Oct. 31 — a day with significant meaning for this writer.

Why is it significant, you ask? I’ll tell you why. Because my dream of becoming a published author came true on this date one year ago. That’s right. I’m coming up on the anniversary of my pub date for CRY WOLF, a contemporary romance (with suspense elements) that was published by Harlequin’s digital-first e-publisher Carina Press Oct. 31, 2011. Hey, I even got an audiobook out of the deal, which was pretty darn cool in the scheme of things.

So where am I as an author a year later?

Eh-hem. Let me step up to the podium and preach some truth for a few minutes.

I wish I could tell you I’m wildly rich or famous or both, or just moderately richer or even slightly more famous, or that I’ve since published more novels, but nah. Hasn’t happened. I hate to break it to you, but chances are, you’ve already heard this anyway. Publishing is a tricky business, and making it to the other side of the rejection letter once doesn’t make things any easier.

For example, I never really realized how hard it is to sell a book once you actually have one to sell. Publishers rely heavily on authors to do self marketing. Basically, I think, most publishers publish your book, wish you well, and (unless you’re J.K. Rowling or Stephen King) set you adrift in a sea full of other writers who’ve already been set adrift in the murky waters of book marketing. I’ve paddled past many poor schmucks who’ve lost their life jackets and sank away into the deep blue, vowing never to write again because their books have hovered around the #975,000 mark in Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank pretty much since the days they published.

Disheartening stuff, but enough to quit writing?

Yeah, right. And what have you been smoking? Sheesh. It will take a lot more than that for me to quit writing, but I’m only one of many published authors who struggle with publicity and marketing. The industry is oversaturated with writers desperate for someone, anyone — yeah, I’m talking to you over there hiding behind that bush — to read their stories. Not to mention to fork over hard-earned cash to buy the darn things.

I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had the Harlequin marketing staff at my disposal to which to email questions. Should I have an author website? Does my author website look too stupid for words? Should I be paying for ads in magazines? Should I spend my time doing blog tours? (Flails in panic) For the love of all that is holy, what should I do?!?

I’ve gotten almost the same answer with each question I’ve asked.

Yes, you should have an author website, ads don’t hurt, and blog tours can help get your name out there. But the most important thing I can do to sell books is — raise your hand if you’ve heard this one — write more books.

That’s it. Just keep writing.

Sounds easy enough, except, truth is, it isn’t.

Finding time to write: Hard.

Finding an idea that hasn’t already been done a thousand times: Hard.

Executing that idea that’s already been done before in a fresh and exciting way? Hard.

I’ll come clean and admit I’ve written two new manuscripts in the past year, and both were rejected by the publishers I targeted. Yes, one of those books was even recently rejected by Carina Press, the publisher who gave my debut novel a shot.

Like I said, getting to the other side of the rejection letter once doesn’t make things any easier.

My editor assured me she really liked my story and recommended it for acquisition, and unless she was just being the kind soul I know her to be and letting me down easy, even that wasn’t enough to get my second book published. Other factors were at play, and while I won’t even pretend to know what they are (competition, marketing, other editors’ approval), I do know one thing.

My manuscript is darn good book, and it will get published, one way or another. It probably needs some polishing, but what book doesn’t? And I don’t hold a grudge against the folks at Carina Press either. In some ways, I imagine their job is more difficult than mine. Imagine wading through thousands of submissions, good submissions, every day that you have to reject for corporate and marketing reasons.

I know what you’re thinking to yourself right now. Geez. So what’s the point of all this rambling, woman?

Never give up. Self-publishing is always an option. Yes, you might be set adrift in a sea of thousands — or millions — of other authors all trying desperately to find an audience for their books. But there are far too many success stories not to at least try.

And if you’re a writer like me, you’d still be writing anyway, right?

Oh, and uh, go buy my book, will ya? My kitty could use an extra can of food for Christmas. Thanks.

Angela Campbell is an award-winning journalist whose first fiction novel, CRY WOLF, was published by Carina Press in October 2011. She can be found online at www.angelacampbellonline.com and on Twitter @angelacampbel.