Reader Time: Why your book OR How do you get my attention?

my reading corner

My name is Chris and I’m a book-nut. Ever since my parents (grand-parents?) put Dr. Seuss into my hands, I’ve been reading. I can’t tell you who introduced Nancy Drew to me, but there was one bought every summer week and up to three read each weekend. And that series moved me to The Hardy Boys.

Miss Ainsworth. My grade four teacher. She may have crossed the line on health (read, sex) education in my parents’ eyes, but she introduced me to The Famous Five by Enid Blyton. I re-picked up those books while visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Scotland. Yup, brought twenty books home in my suitcase…along with a very large stuffed Nessie. Hey, the suitcase closed after we sat on it.

And I know there are loads of people who blame television for the ‘dumbing down’ of society, but I found Louis L’Amour from watching the TV mini-series The Sacketts. Yup, have all his books now.

Have you figured out my favourites? Yes, these are the books which I will NEVER part with.

At one point I did have over 3,000 books. A lot? More middle ground when I talk with my author friends.

Wait? Did I say…did have? Yes, again. I have donated a little over 2,000 books over the years simply because of space requirements. Although, I do have one bookcase nearly filled with the books I’ve reviewed over the years. These I won’t give away or toss away. They’re work and promises I made to authors. Thank heavens for eBooks!

Now that you know my reading habit…one which causes hubby to dread the annual school book fair since I’ve passed this book gene onto our daughter…let me ask you this:

Why your book?

Like most everyone, my time is limited between home, family, work, my own writing, sleeping, breathing.

My work is: writing, being part of the behind scenes at MuseItUp Publishing reading submissions, answering emails, promoting myself, MIU, and my authors. Editing my authors…to date that would be 153 manuscripts. More if you wanted to count other manuscripts. And let’s not forget the books I’ve promised to read as a reviewer…115 in my TBR pile (life interrupted so a few are more backlogged than I like) And I’ve done at least 239…some are missing from my list.

Don’t even ask what’s in my pleasure reading pile…maybe not quite a hundred?

Which brings us back to this posting’s topic…why your book OR how do you get my attention.

As a writer you know this is the million dollar question. The question that drives us all crazy. And there’s no real answer cause our industry is very much a crapshoot. Yup, I said crapshoot.

Do not get discouraged.

It takes time and energy on our part…writer’s hat on now…to reach visibility. Basically, that’s what it boils down to…being visible.

I’m not…reader here…drawn to “buy me” “on sale” “here I am, come get me” tweets/posts/what have you. Every writer wants my money. Every writer wants me to read them. Heck, yes, so does the writer-me.

That’s obvious.

If you only shout out once every month, yeah, I’m going to forget you. Oh, I will probably say something like “oh yeah, I meant…..” But then I’ll forget again.

Guess that’s where balance comes in. Balance your visibility without stating the obvious.

How? In the crazy ocean of zillion of books how does a writer get seen without shoving their books in the readers’ faces?

Don’t hit and run me. Come on, you know what I’m talking about. That moment when you’re all excited about your book and you talk about it and as soon as us readers start talking to you, you up and disappear. Or we let you know, hey I bought your book, and get nothing in way of reply.

If you’re reading this…still reading…you’re most likely part of the Internet world of twitter and facebook and any number of social cyber network groups. You’ve gone for the  page likes, the twitter followers, the facebook groups, and facebook friends. You’re most likely using these venues to garner attention to you and your writings. Heck, I’ll be doing the same once this post goes live. And this is all great.

But, you know how you feel when you’ve been bombarded with this, that, and the other thing. Or when in your excitement you’ve discovered a new author and then the let down when trying to interact with them.

Granted we are all human. Life loves to interrupt us and bump us along. As writers and readers we do need to remember this when interacting or waiting for an interaction.

What gets my attention?

In the Internet sea…a smile and wave.

HUH?  I can see some of your faces now. WTH is she talking about? She really is nuts.

First and foremost, I’m a wanderer. I will wander through rows upon rows of books in a bookstore. I’ve spent hours with one visit to a bookstore. So there’s no real problem of me finding you there.

I love eBooks, so I wander online too. Hours spent on KoboBooks clicking here, there, and everywhere.

I’m a member of different groups on facebook and have you writers as friends. I follow some of you on twitter and have liked a few more of your author pages. I see you.

Your smile and wave…pic of your book, new banner, something bright and cute or dark and menacing. A shout where I can go visit with you (blogging, your place or tour) Balanced….no sales pitch.

Yup, a crapshoot.

Balanced visibility.

Be yourself not a pushy _____ (in respect of those we all would automatically fill the blank in with) Unless you are a pushy _____, then you most likely have all this down pat and sound natural at it 😉

You know the next logically question is: Now that you have me, how do you keep me?

Next time 😉

Keep writing, keeping having fun, and do not get discouraged.