There's More to Writing a Book Than Writing a Book

With a HUGE sigh, "The End!" is typed. The last page is done. Your book is finished. You laugh, you jump up and down, and then you cry from exhaustion and exhilaration.

Then you wait. And wait. And wait some more. Centuries later an e-mail arrives from your agent with the subject, "Congratulations!" In awe of this hard-worked-for moment, it sinks in that a publishing contract is on its way.

The contract signed, sealed, and sent back to the publisher it all hits you again as you realize typing "The End" was only the beginning.

So, you pray and pray and pray some more asking God for direction and strength and wisdom and an absolutely pure heart as you begin thinking about the dreaded M word--Marketing!

I'm told that writing is 90 percent marketing and 10 percent writing. So, let the marketing begin! Batter's up! I'm ready to round the publishing plate and place my book, We All Married Idiots: Three Things You'll Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can in front of many eyes.

How? Well, here's just the beginning:

Seek endorsers and reviewers. God amazed me and gave me well-respected and well-known authors agreeing to endorse my book. Thank you God and friends!

Write a hook for the back cover that a reader can't resist.

Work with the publisher to design the cover.

Work with the publisher to produce a book trailer.

Plan a blog tour. Still working on this. Anyone out there have a blog and want to know why I wrote We All Married Idiots? I'll make your audience laugh--promise. Or, maybe cry. But that's good for ratings too!

Plan a facebook release party. This should be fun! Will you please come?

Develop a We All Married Idiots facebook page (for the release party and to interact with readers). Like Me! Like Me! Please!

Plan an in-house book release party. Refreshments served that won't be available at my facebook party. Sorry facebook friends.

Contact media for interviews. Two already contacted me! That was easy!

Write a press release.

Redesign both my website and my blog. Help needed here! Any volunteers?

Order book marks and postcards to send to every person I've ever smiled at my entire life. Oh yes, I've lived 12 places. That's a lot of smiles.

Read the three pages my agent sent me of things I need to do now that the contract is signed.

And last but not least, while the busyness of marketing is going on, God's been busy putting the next book idea in my head. It is time to start writing book number 4.

My mind is spinning because through it all I'm laughing, jumping up and down, and then crying in exhaustion and exhilaration! It really is a Splashes of Serenity kind of a feeling.

Thanks for hearing my heart. My only goal each day is to be in God's will and make Him smile at me. That's better than a publishing contract any day.

Love to all who pray for me and read my books! You're the best!

Elaine

Announcing the April 1, 2012 Birth of My Next Book!!!

"I can't believe you are sitting in my living room in your pajamas negotiating a book contract with your agent!" My daughter-in-law's reaction to the call telling me a publisher was sending a contract for my next book made us both laugh. Woo Hoo! If I had known, I would have dressed for the occasion.

Celebrate and pray with me as we plan the April 1 release of We All Married Idiots: Three Things You'll Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can.

Martin Luther said, "If you want to change the world, pick up your pen." My prayer is that the words from my pen will change marriages and, thus, change the world. Afterall, that is why I write.

Have you considered picking up a pen? Perhaps you like the world the way it is, but I doubt it.

Thank you, everyone, for your daily encouragement to me. You are splashes of serenity to my soul!

Elaine