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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Where's My Tour?

When I first decided to write a book, I envisioned a scene on The Love Boat: World's Youngest Author takes a book-signing cruise and gets romantically involved with Doc. Yes...I also liked Gopher, but ultimately Doc was my guy.

Needless to say, it didn't happen.

Fast-forward twenty years. I have my first agent, and everyone I've let read my work raves about it. I dream of being published and being sent out on the Great Publicity Tour. Book signings in nearly every major city. Guest spots on Regis and Kelly. The Early Show. Morning TV news shows.

Didn't. Quite. Happen.

What did happen?

I learned to promote myself. Get out there and talk to people, overcoming my shyness. I've learned to work the topic of my writing into nearly every conversation (probably drives my family nuts, lol!) and carry my business cards everywhere I go.

Case in point: Two years ago I was raving to my mother about a book I'd read, and just happened to have it with me. She and I were in the bathroom of a local steakhouse, and as we were washing our hands, a woman exits a stall and asks me about the book. I whipped it out of the diaper bag and showed it to her, and produced my own business card and pen so she could write down the info. And yes, I also told her I was an author, so now she had TWO websites to peruse, instead of sending her next door to Books-A-Million (cause she can't find mine there, ha ha!). You never know where you're going to meet a potential customer.

I'd still like to do a book tour like a friend of mine, the above author. Click here for her info. Maybe one day it will happen. After all, Jamie's on her sixth book; I'm only on my fourth. Unless you count my alter-ego; then I've got seven:)

So maybe one day it will happen, or maybe I'll simply be 'in demand' around Blogger, doing interviews and letting others post blurbs and excerpts. Who knows?

Oh, and contrary to popular belief, I did not get the 10K advance; I still do my own housework; money is still tight. I'm not JK Rowlings, Stephen King, or even Danielle Steele or Nora Roberts. When I attain their popularity level, I'll let you know!
In the meantime, my third book was just released on July 6th. I've had one interview and was in my publisher's newsletter this month. And I'm hard at work, editing two manuscripts and taking my younglings to the library once a week. Here's a peek at Appetite For Desire. Enjoy:)

Blurb: Dustin James is shocked to learn the sexy blonde he met two days earlier is none other than his father’s caterer who also works at the country club he’s recently joined. When he can’t keep his hands off of her, is lust for her sexy body all he wants, or is it love?




Courtney Bright defied the rules by admitting her attraction to the new customer at the country club. But when she realizes her feelings aren’t just sexual, will she take a chance on love, or is her job more important?

Buy link

Excerpt:
“Want to see the upstairs?” Dustin led her to the golden oak staircase, the risers carpeted in the same dark blue as the living room.

She nodded and followed him, poking her head into each of the five bedrooms, all decorated differently.

“There are two full baths on this floor,” Dustin explained as he showed her the master suite. “And two half baths downstairs.”

“Someone finally got smart.” Courtney looked at the glass-walled shower and the whirlpool tub. “Growing up, we only had one full and one half. My brother would often go outside and pee in the bushes if both were full.” She took one more glance and headed for the doorway. “Your friend hasn’t lived here very long, has he?” She lingered by the door.

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, look,” she gestured at the walls. “No photographs, no pictures, and everything looks as if it just came out of the showroom.”

Very perceptive. He chuckled. “That’s because this is one of the model houses for the neighborhood.”

Courtney blushed. “Oh. I should have realized…”

“No, no, don’t worry.” He leaned against the door jam. “So what do you think?”

“About the house? It’s lovely.” She looked at him, her eyes dreamy. As he watched, she shook her head. “Thank you for showing it to me.”

“My pleasure.” Dustin put a finger under her chin and brushed her lips with his.

Mistake.

His cock swelled as the memory of their night together flooded his mind. He groaned and pulled her closer.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

You've still found success in something you're passion about. Congrats!
Great excerpt. :)

Tina Donahue said...

Great post, Molly, and so true to life for what the majority of romance authors experience. May we all have mega sales in the future. :)

Sandy said...

Molly, your experiences as an author are very similiar to many of us.

I loved your excerpt.

Liz said...

ah yes, the elusive "book tour and reading" would be somewhat awkward for some of us given our subject matter BUT I'd do it! I'm one of the non-shy writers, as a professional sales person for my microbrewery, so I have no problem running my mouth about beer and writing and how I combine the 2. Nice post and the book sounds lovely. keep up the good work
Liz

Molly Daniels said...

@Amber: It was either keep writing or burst:)

@Tina: Here's to mega sales!

@Sandy: Glad I'm not alone:) Happy you liked that excerpt!

@Liz: Ummm...yeah...I'd have to pick a PG excerpt to read. I had a hard enough time on BlogTalk Radio two years ago, when I failed to realize my excerpt contained the 'P' and 'C' words at 3:00 in the afternoon!

Harlie Williams said...

You're so funny! You'll get there. Loved the excerpt.

Harlie Williams said...

On vacation with the family over the weekend and when hubby was packing the truck, he found 4 books on the bumper. Of course, I read on my Nook mostly now but somehow my sister in law remembered that I trade books with some gals at the hair salon I go to. You just never know when you are going to find a book lover.

Cassie Exline said...

Love your post. Oh yes, the elusive book tour. Great idea for a cruise, I was just planning to hit Oprah, Today Show, Regis and Kathi Lee. By then my name would be a household word. Oprah is gone and so is Kathi Lee unless I have a drink with her on the Today Show. lol And I swear my family thinks I'm rolling in money. My cousin introduces me as a famous writer to her friends. The first time she did that, I almost said, "Who? Where?" LOL Great excerpt.

Daisy Dunn said...

You are too funny!! It's so true about the book tour. I've had more than one or two fantasies about that. I wish you all the best with your books and hopefully, that North American book tour will be within your reach :)

Fellow SCP author,
Daisy Dunn

Molly Daniels said...

@Harlie: Very true:) I met and spoke with wannabee authors in 2004 while on vacation:) Don't know if anyone bought my 1st self-pubbed book, but hope they come across my card at a later date and google me:)

@Cassie: When I joined FB, the first time I mentioned housework, one of my old HS friends emailed me privately, asking if it was the maid's day off! SNORT! And yeah, would love to do a cruise someday, while promo-ing my Arbor U series:) (more mainstream).

@Daisy: My friend Jamie had a BLAST when her publisher sent her on tour in the south! Of course, she's a Christian Inspy author, so different audience.

jean hart stewart said...

Love your blog. Been there, done that. And I can't convince anybody I'm not getting rich with all those books. HA! Jean

Janice Seagraves said...

I have one book published and it hasn't been what I expected at all. But sometimes it's not the first or the sixth book that gets you noticed.

Keep working hard and do what you love to do.

Love the excerpt. It sound like a fun read.

Janice~

Molly Daniels said...

@Jean: LOL:) I keep telling my spouse 'it takes time to build a solid readership'...but he wants me to be the next JK or Grisham.

Molly Daniels said...

@Janice: If I didn't write, my head would explode:) Glad you liked the excerpt; this one was fun to write. Mostly b/c I was addicted to Food Network at the time;)

Melissa Jarvis said...

I loved your post. I too had dreams about that, and I'm a publicist!! My day job, which I still haven't quit even though I'm now pubbed, is all about promoting people or causes. Alas, my husband keeps thinking he's going to be a man of leisure and retire off my book sales.

Cara Marsi said...

I once read that Robert Ludlum wrote his books while sitting on the terrace of his house in the Caribbean. Then there's Danielle Steel with her couture clothes. I thought all authors lived like that. Was I in for a rude awakening.

Your post is spot-on. I went from expecting a house in the Caribbean and couture clothes to just wanting enough money go on vacation once in a while. That hasn't happened yet either.

Molly Daniels said...

@Melissa: A friend recently laughed at my .81 royalty check and told me to 'let him know when the $10K advance was offered'.

Molly Daniels said...

@Cara: When I make it big, I want a condo in Florida; a cabin in Colorado; a townhouse in Vancouver, and baby grand pianos (in maple, black, and white) in each, since I can't make up my mind which color I like best:) And also send my spouse to the Boundary Waters for the summer, heh heh heh....Yeah, I dream big! Should have married for money, not love, lol:) (Just kidding....or am I?)

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