Trying to get to you

It’s a juggling act these days: Playing book marketer slash promoter while at the same time knuckling down at the keyboard banging out a sequel.

With apologies to The Shirelles, Mama never said there’d be days like this. A month into the world of being published and let’s just say the learning curve is steep. Or as the King might say, it’s runnin’ all the way, over mountains, through the valleys, night and day, just trying to get to you, the reader.

Who knows what a respectable showing is for a first-time novelist independently publishing his work? All I know is, it’s a long game, steady as she goes and all that jazz.

To those of you who have heeded the call of the hound dog and ordered a copy, my gratitude. Last Bridge to Memphis has been well-reviewed, and I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I did creating it. I sure would appreciate you dropping a rating or a review onto Amazon when you get the chance. And add a comment to this or other posts if you like.

To that end, I’m learning a lot about the value of all of the various book-lover sites out there. My novel was recently a pick on ReedsyDiscovery’s “Featured” page. And that’s all goodness.

A five-star review on an established site puts you in good stead.

Being reviewed can open your eyes to aspects of your work you didn’t see for yourself. While I was well-aware of the illicit love affair story line in the book, I hadn’t viewed the novel as something to appeal to readers in the Romance genre, until the review on Reedsy came out.

Here’s an excerpt:

Last Bridge to Memphis is more in the romance genre, seeing as Tom is a conqueror of women’s hearts, which is why romance readers will deem it highly consumable. To a more significant degree, it’s a crime book: police brutality sits at the center, as does violence against women. Historically, it also proves an interesting read as it reminds us of the legend Elvis Presley. To all that’s said, Jim takes his time unraveling this story, beginning with an incident that hooks the reader, followed by events that make the novel very readable, such as romantic scenes, confrontations, and, specifically, behind-the-scenes dynamics in the newsroom.“

That’s a fine summary, and quite different from how I might have phrased things. That’s the point. And why it’s so important to seek out reviews from professionals who read books with an eye toward who the audience is and what the payoff is for the reader.

Read some of the book. Free on Amazon.

If you’ve previously checked out Last Bridge to Memphis, but passed, I’d ask you to Reconsider Baby. As one reviewer (who succeeded in out-Elvis-punning me) put it: This is a book you won’t return to sender.