As I’m about to go on tour for the release of my tenth book, THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER, I have been asking myself this existential question: Just how many books does an author need to publish in a lifetime?
I haven’t really come up with a good answer. I’m proud to have reached this personal milestone, but I also know that I’m still getting better with every book. Why stop now?
THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER tells the true story behind the Steve DeMocker case. I will write more later about how I put it together, but for now here is a quick plot summary: it’s about a love gone wrong, complicated by sex/love addiction, greed, blood money, manipulation, murder and a roller coaster ride to justice in a small mountain town in Arizona.
I appreciate the enthusiasm with which some of my readers suggest I should be writing more books — and faster — but I also know that if I want to maintain the passion and joy I feel when I am writing and researching, I need to take a break in between books. My body and soul need to be rejuvenated before I begin again.
For years, I wasn’t able to take such a break, because I was trying to build an audience. I also find the whole publishing thing pretty addictive. My publishers expect me to write one or even two books a year. So far, I’ve managed about one a year, and sometimes more if they were re-releases or co-authored books.
At that pace, however, and for the royalties traditional publishers were paying, I was burning out. I wanted some balance in my life, and so in addition to turning to indie publishing my first and only novel, NAKED ADDICTION, here at WildBlue Press, I also had to turn to a number of related part-time jobs to pay the bills. Meanwhile, I was still giving speeches and planning events to stay afloat and maintain my relevance in the marketplace. Now I’m aiming to slow down the book releases a bit, with re-releases and smaller-scale writing projects, such as magazine articles or online “shorts,” in between.
For me, and I think many others, being a full-time author can mean juggling multiple gigs besides writing books — I teach writing workshops; coach aspiring authors in writing, research and promotions; do TV interviews for various crime shows; and plan events and signings to promote my books. I really do enjoy helping aspiring authors pursue their dream of getting their first books published (not to mention working on my singing, click to see my blog post on that).
This month, as I’m working on my writing projects, which always include several book ideas in varying stages, I am focusing on the launch of book #10, and I would love to have your help spreading the word about it. I would be thrilled to meet my Facebook friends in person at one of my upcoming book signings (see below). I would also be nice if I knew some of you were listening to the media interviews I’ve got lined up (you can click on the radio website to listen live no matter where you are). You can also show your support by buying the new book, of course, ordering it for your library, “liking” my author page on Facebook (or send me a friend request to my personal page) to follow my updates, or writing an honest review.
Believe me when I tell you that it’s truly my readers’ wonderful loyalty and support that keep me going. I love what I do, but I also couldn’t do it without all of you.
Here are the upcoming events I’ve got scheduled so far, followed by the radio interviews. I will try to update as I add more.
Events:
—Keynote speech, panel discussion and book signing at Ramona Library Authors’ Day, Ramona, CA: Oct. 24 from 12:30-3 pm
—San Diego County book launch, talk/signing at B&N at the Grossmont Shopping Center, La Mesa, CA: Oct. 31 at 2 pm
— Book talk/signing at B&N in Mira Mesa, CA: Nov. 3 at 7 pm
—Arizona book launch, talk/signing at B&N in Desert Ridge, Phoenix, AZ: Nov. 6 at 7 pm
—Book talk/signing at Peregrine Book Co. in Prescott, AZ: Nov. 7 at 2 pm
—Orange County book launch, talk/signing at Fullerton Library, Fullerton, CA: Nov. 10 at 7 pm
—One Book One San Diego Adult Writing Workshop and Book Signing at La Jolla Library, La Jolla, CA: Nov. 14, 3 pm start for the free workshop, 4:30 pm for the signing.
—Book talk/signing at Women’s Museum, San Diego, CA: Dec. 13 at 4 pm
Radio interviews:
Oct. 26 at 8:20 am PST, interview with Vic McCarty on WMKT-AM in Michigan, http://www.wmktthetalkstation.com/
Oct. 26 from 3 to 4 pm PST, interview with DJ Fone on KQNA in Arizona, kqna.com
Oct. 27 at 6:20 am PST, interview with Nolan, Malone and Kullik on WMJI-FM in Ohio, wmji.com
Oct. 27 at 7:35 am PST, interview with “Chris X” Blayney (out of Texas) on his show, http://www.chrisxradio.com/
Oct. 28 at 6:40 am PST, interview with Paul Miller on WPHM-AM in Michigan, http://www.wphm.net/Paul-Miller/18373247
Nov. 18 from 6-7 pm PST, interview with Dan Zupansky on his show, “True Murder,”
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dan-zupansky1
Nov. 21 from 10-11 am PST, interview with Donna Gore, aka Lady Justice, on her show, “Shattered Lives,”
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/donna-r-gore-ladyjustice
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