In my last blog post I mentioned that I didn't have many comments/reviews for Blue Freedom yet. What a difference a week can make! I now have (or almost have) three more reviews, two from published Australian authors in a similar genre. You can visit the new "Reviews" page on this website for some of the lovely things people have said about Blue Freedom. Thanks especially must go to Meredith Resce, author of "The Heart of Green Valley" series of novels, for reading my manuscript and providing a comment in only two days!
Now to the marketing side of things: I've drafted a media release, and will need to send it plus the Advance Information sheet out to various media outlets this week. I'd also like to target Koorong and Word bookstores for distribution.
Wish me luck!
 
Need Networking 28/08/2010
 
I've been approaching some authors to seek a review/comment about Blue Freedom for the back cover blurb, but this is turning out to be harder than I thought. And after pondering for just a moment, I think I know the reason why - I really don't know that many published authors.
The answer: networking.
All of us, especially writers in our solitary profession, need to connect with other authors - to run past ideas, give support, provide reviews, mentor each other, and just debrief in general about this writing life (read: have a good laugh and chat over a coffee :) ).
But having just moved to a new city six months ago, I'm currently not a member of a writers' group, or even any writing organisation. So I'm currently feeling a little alienated in the "writers' support" department.
Being a Queensland gal, I'm looking at joining Omega Writers (a faith-based writers' group in Brisbane), and attending the Word Writers' Fair (also in Brisbane) in November. Will keep you posted.
Just one more small step on the looong writing journey... :)
 
 
Almost done now! Well, that's what I keep on telling myself...

Really, some of the main work is just beginning - that of drumming up publicity for Blue Freedom, getting the word out there about me as an author, and trying to sell more books. Perhaps easier said than done...

But, as Confucious said, "the longest journey begins with a single step". And that step can be as simple as writing up a quick media release to send to some news outlets, and faxing out the Advance Information sheet to local churces and Christian bookstores. It all helps.

Internet marketing is one of the most time-effective, far-reaching promotional mediums, but unfortunately I'm not overly tech-savvy - yet. Now, if I could just find my "to-do" list and jot that one down up the top... :)
 
 
Tap, tap, tap. This is the sound I've been making for the past couple of months, during the precious few moments I've found to do some editing work.
But after much tap, tap, tapping, it's finally finished! For now...
Soon my editor, Jo Holloway, will read the revisions I've made. And while it's certainly an improvement on the raw material that was my first rough draft (I can't believe I submitted it to the Rose & Crown competition - or that it actually got 3rd place!), I'm sure there will be further editing required.
I've also sent the rewrite to my cousin, Adele Jones, herself a prolific writer with a recently completed Masters of Letters in Literature (she's a very busy woman!). She's pinpointed some key areas in the draft that could do with some polishing. And while I'm extremely grateful for her valued insight, I now feel like I'm back where I started (almost):
Tap, tap, tap...!
 
New Cover! 07/03/2010
 
My editor, Jo Holloway, has just released a draft cover for Blue Freedom. It finally feels a little more "real" now that there's some tangible evidence that the novel will be finally published.
My rewrite, while a very SLOW process, is gradually getting there - only a few chapters to go.
Hopefully, if everything goes to plan, Blue Freedom will be published and on the shelves for a northern Summer release (mid-2010). While it will only be available to purchase in bookstores in the UK, you'll be able to purchase your copy (signed, if you request it) online. I'll provide links from this site once it's available. Exciting!!!
 
 
Well, it's finally official - we're moving to Bundaberg, a city 4 hours north of Toowoomba (where we now live). And less than a week before Christmas! I'm in a complete state of denial regarding how much packing remains to be done - and about how much editing is not getting done (sigh!).
It almost seems like the proverbial "one step forward, two steps back" when it comes to editing these days. Too many steps back and I'll be back right where I started - with a novel that has "potential" (such a loaded word), but that needs some serious polishing. A diamond-in-the-rough.
I do realise (in that rational, rarely-used part of my brain) that doing small chunks of writing/editing -  even 30 mins each - is far better than doing none at all. But ....
Anyway, the house is now quiet, as it can only be after the children are in bed. Packing can wait for another day (maybe). Off to write ... :)
 
Hmmm ... 03/09/2009
 
Hmmm... this is the sound of me thinking. Been doing quite a bit of it, in regards to editing my book, changing the plot and tightening up the characters and storylines.

Unfortunately, thinking is all I have been doing. I better work out my schedule (run it by the kids first - ha!) and pencil in some serious editing and rewriting time, or this thing ain't gonna happen (better work on that grammar too!).
 
 
Jo (my editor) has recently sent me the editing notes for Blue Freedom - and do I have a lot of work to do! It looks like I'll need to do major reworking to approx 3/4 of the novel, which will take hours. I felt a little down at first, but am now determined to get in and make it the best it can be. Nothing worthwhile is easy, right?

I could almost liken editing to being in labour. I've carried the child/book for all this time, and now I've gotta give birth. Not fun, but worth it!

So there may not be many blog posts for a while, as I'll be busy-as-a-bee rewriting. Wish me luck!
 
 
I'm discovering that effective marketing is the best way to sell books. Apparently, you can be the best author in the world (NB: I'm not saying I am!), but if nobody knows about your book, you're going to sell very few copies.
With this in mind, I'm going to start promoting myself and my book a little more, starting with my Facebook page. From there, it's Twitter, a new web-site (unrelated to writing, but will help with cross-promotion), radio and newspaper interviews ... the sky's the limit! I may even have to start referring to myself as a "media tart" :) .
Anyway, I hope to get the words "Sandra Peut" and "Blue Freedom" out there a lot more. I'll really only discover how successful I've been at marketing once December rolls around and the novel's published. Fingers crossed ... (oh yeah - and a lot of work to be done, too! :) )
 
 
Rose and Crown's editor, Jo, just sent through the book contract yesterday. My first contract - very exciting! Hopefully the first of many ... :)

I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into all the different aspects of marketing, even if it all looks a little daunting. So much to do! Not to mention looking after the kids, house, hubby, and having some semblance of a normal life! Well, I guess they do say that "normal" is a very subjective thing ... ! :)