Rosy Gee signing a book at The Shropshire Writer’s Book Fair in July (photo kindly taken by Simon Whaley)
This was definitely one of the ‘up’ moments of being a writer. Meeting lovely people who want to read my books. I get such a buzz when people tell me how much they enjoyed The Mysterious Disappearance of Marsha Boden, and love chatting with readers about my writing process. People invariably want to know how I came up with the idea, how long it took me to write the book, etc., etc.
This week, I had a dental appointment and one of the lovely ladies at the surgery didn’t stop talking about The Mysterious Disappearance of Marsha Boden the whole time I was there! She raved about it and when I asked if she had left a review, she said she had. Here’s what she wrote:
Best book I’ve read in ages!
What a fantastic book!!! It had me on edge throughout …. I simply did not want to put it down ! And I had a ‘book hangover ‘ for weeks. I still think about it now !
What a great plot and mystery … right to the end… great short chapters that encourage you to not put it down …. Please let there be another book !!!!
When I told this lovely, exuberant lady that I had finished book 2, she almost fainted with joy. ‘Oh, yes please!’ she shouted. Honestly, I came out of the dentist’s walking on air, which is not something I usually do! Her comments buoyed me up and I realised that people genuinely love what I write. All the reviews on Amazon rave about the story line and nobody has guessed the ending yet! I am thrilled and can’t wait for book 2, The Mysterious Death of Miranda Hall, to be released into the world. I will keep you posted on dates!
Whilst writing is a lonely occupation, getting out there and meeting your readers is so exciting. I have just returned from a stint at Aston-on-Clun Village Hall, where I met some delightful people who made me feel so welcome. I also sold a good number of books, which is what it’s all about. Getting my books out there!
In case you missed last week’s post, here’s your chance to get a personalised signed copy of The Mysterious Disappearance of Marsha Boden. If you become a paid subscriber to Deadlines and Dead Bodies before August 31, 2026 I will send you a copy - wherever you are in the world! Hurry up though, because this offer ends on the last day of August 2026.
Don’t forget, if you want to get a sizzler of a summer deal, I have reduced the subscription to Deadlines & Dead Bodies for the whole month of August.
Another ‘up’ side of being an author is the confidence that I have gained along the way. Before giving my first talk as a published author, I was incredibly nervous. Since then, talking to people at book fairs, book signings and village halls, it has become second nature to chat about how I came to write my book, the setting and, writing in general. Folks who stop by to chat are interested in both me as an author and in my writing.
It makes me so happy to hear people praise my book and tell me how much they enjoyed it. It gives me a real buzz!
It can feel isolating and even lonely sometimes. Getting words onto the screen is the easy part. Making sense of them, editing, pulling the story together coherently and making the story flow. That’s the hard part.
If you are self-published, then you are just at the beginning of your journey. You will have to navigate getting the physical book out there. And that’s where the hard work begins. I am currently seeking representation from a literary agent as I find self-publishing (particularly after being traditionally published) very difficult. It doesn’t suit my personality; I am not a sales/marketing guru and, to be quite frank, you need to be savvy in these areas to be a good book marketer. It’s not for me, although I have ploughed on after my publisher and I parted company. I would much rather have the backing of an agent to help me navigate the complexities of the publishing world. They are so knowledgeable about the industry that I would be more than happy to pay their commission. In return, they would get a much better deal than I could possibly hope to get without their representation.
I believe in momentum and once people start to take notice of your book, word of mouth and recommendations often do the trick. I often ponder over whether my book got as much publicity as Richard Osman’s books, it would sell as many copies as his books do. Quite probably! If you bombard enough people with adverts, all of the time, they will eventually pick up a copy. Sadly, I can’t put my theory to the test!
What I can do is keep plugging away at local village halls, book fairs and markets around Shropshire, and had a wonderful day at Aston-on-Clun. It is a beautiful village and the people were so friendly and helpful. As well as selling a fair few books, I was able to network. Several ladies asked me whether I gives talks, to which I replied an enthusiastic, ‘Yes!’ so, with any luck, I can reach even more potential readers.
As well as spreading the word and getting my book on people’s radars, it is such a lovely way to get out and about, rather than sitting behind my desk all the time. It’s a welcome relief and once sales get going, it makes all the effort worthwhile.
Where I once saw marketing as very much a ‘down’ side of being an author, I have now come to enjoy it - the getting out and about part, anyhow!
On reflection, the ‘ups’ far outweigh the ‘downs’ of being an author and I am learning to enjoy the combination of sitting at my desk writing and getting out and about in the community. It’s also a great way to meet new friends and expand my social circle.
I have come to realise that being an author is far more than putting words onto paper. People want to get to know me and learn about my writing process. They find that part particularly fascinating and of course, I’m happy to talk about it ten to the dozen!
Having settled down behind my desk again for the next few days, book 3 is well under way. I have sent the completed manuscript of The Mysterious Death of Miranda Hall to a literary agent and hope to receive some positive and uplifting news. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!
In the meantime, keep safe and keep reading cosy crime novels!
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