A Writer’s Bleg

Posted on by Sarah A. Hoyt
Will babble for publicity!

That word in the title is not a typo. Bleg is a compound of blog and beg.

But Sarah, you’re thinking, you just did a blog fundraiser.

I sure did. This is not a fundraiser and not a request for money. This is a request for help, some of which might be trivial to you — depending on who you are — and some of which might be a reach, or might be a matter of “I know a guy” (which I don’t.)

So, here’s the thing: As some of you know — those of you who follow my writing at least — I’ve just finished a mammoth of book, so mammoth it will be published in three volumes.

The book is No Man’s Land. the first volume is setup to come out on the 9th of September, with the other two volumes coming out at two week intervals thereafter.

Yes, the book is finished — in fact I have released earcs of the first two volumes to people who subscribe to my blog. (e-electronic. Arcs – advance reading copies.)

I have the first volume back from the copy-editor — to those who called me on it in the e-arc, yes, she was scathing on the subject of lightening/lightning. Look, I NEVER knew the difference. Or rather, I do, but I keep mixing it up all the same — and need to send her the second volume. It should have been done today, but for reasons difficult to explain I spent the day doing yard work, and will need to do it again tomorrow. (ARGH. Very good workout, but–) At any rate, it will be to her by Wednesday or so.

Anyway, if you want to know what whole three-part book is about, it’s up with a blurb for the whole story, and then a blurb per volume.

(Full disclosure, if you decide to buy when you click through, I get a small portion of the sale. I mean, as an associate link, beyond what I get because it’s my book!)


No Man’s Land

Sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.

On a lost colony world, mad geneticists thought they could eliminate inequality by making everyone hermaphrodite. They were wrong. Catastrophically wrong.
Now technology indistinguishable from magic courses through the veins of the inhabitants, making their barbaric civilization survivable—and Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Kayel Hayden, Viscount Webson, Envoy of the Star Empire—Skip to his friends— has just crash-landed through a time-space rift into the middle of it all.
Dodging assassins and plummeting from high windows was just the beginning. With a desperate king and an archmagician as his only allies, Scipio must outrun death itself while battling beasts, traitors, and infiltrators bent on finishing what the founders started: total destruction.
Two worlds. One chance. No time to lose.

Volume 1

Volume 1
The Ambassador Corps has rules: you cannot know everything, don’t get horizontal with the natives, don’t make promises you can’t keep.
They’re a lot harder to follow when assassins are hunting you, your barbarian allies could kill you for the wrong word, and death lurks around every corner.
The unwritten rule? Never identify with the natives.
Skip’s already broken that one.
Now he’s racing against time to save his new friends from slavery—or worse—while dodging energy blasts and political intrigue. One crash-landed diplomat. A world of deadly secrets. And absolutely no backup.

Some rules are meant to be broken. Others will get you killed.

Volume 2

He was wrong.

Now his potential allies from the Star Empire are turning up dead, one by one. Spies and saboteurs have infiltrated every level of Ellyan society, and Skip is running out of people he can trust.

As he races to save the king and archmagician—his only remaining allies—disturbing secrets about Elly’s culture emerge alongside buried truths about his own family’s past. One moment he’s explaining the bewildering concept of binary gender to confused Ellyans, the next he’s making impossible choices that could strand him on this world forever.

His last gambit is reckless. The odds of success are slim. And failure means losing everything—his mission, his allies, his only way home.

But some fights are worth the risk, even when the deck is stacked against you.

Sometimes the most dangerous enemy is the one you never see coming.

Volume 3

Skip’s idea of crisis management?
Stress baking. While he’s kneading away his anxiety, Eerlen Troz is fighting for his life—and his unborn child’s—in an ancient and familiar battle.
When saving Eerlen’s life requires forging an unexpected blood brotherhood, it creates something neither person anticipated: a memory bond between two worlds.
Through shared consciousness, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens not just Elly, but the entire Star Empire.
The plot runs deeper than anyone imagined. Lives, fortunes, and freedom itself hang in the balance. But exposing the truth means surviving long enough to tell it—and their enemies have other plans. Two minds. One mission. A galaxies-spanning conspiracy that someone will kill to protect.
When the fate of worlds rests on an unlikely brotherhood forged in blood and baked goods.

*********

So, anyway, part of the problem with this book is that it’s odd. It simply is. I am not running it down mind, on the contrary, but you know, science fiction books come in a range, and mine is hanging out on the extreme end, or perhaps to the side, doing a little dance, fully out the “expected” range.

The other problem is that it’s a heart-book. I can’t explain that, I think, to anyone but a writer. Readers tend to think a heart-book is a book the author writes a book with his/her message, and makes sure the message gets through and–
It’s not like that at all. It has nothing to do with self insertion (which I just don’t do anyway, since I have my own life and don’t need to live the characters’ lives) or putting out the message you care about, or even “With this book I will fight communism forever.”
A heart book is like a favorite child. Which parents aren’t supposed to have but each writer has anyway. (Not in their kids, dorks, in the books.)
Some of it inexplicable. When I was writing short stories at one a week, most of the time I was okay with each of them. I wasn’t in love with, I didn’t hate it. I did the best job I could to get it out of my head and into everyone else’s. And then I sent it out. Was I happy when I got rejections? No. But unless it were the day I got sixty rejections back, I was fine.
However, one in fifty short stories just GOT me. It was a favorite child. And every time it got rejected, it gutted me.
Some of it, with this book, is explicable. This book first came to me when I was 14. And it’s been waiting. I wrote 8 versions of it before this, but I knew they weren’t right. This one IS. And this one is a piece of me.
I want to say here that this doesn’t mean heart-books are good. Jane Austen’s, bizarrely, was Emma, not Pride and Prejudice. Or even Persuasion.

HOWEVER, and keep in mind this is me, I’ve written a lot of books and normally my basic fail at publicity is that if you ask me if the book is good, I tell you “It’s a book. You might like it, or you might not. I don’t know.” But No Man’s Land is GOOD. It’s a d*mn good book.

Which brings us to problem three:
I have no idea how to market. NONE.

The main problem is that I never did. It’s not so much that I don’t want to promote, or that I’m afraid to, or that I’m shy, diffident or modest. None of that is quite right.

It’s more that I never had the right kind of contacts for traditional publishing. I never did. I never had a link to the powerful, the influential, the people who knew people in New York City publishing. I had editors and agents, but I think I was a bit of a kludge for them, (that not fitting into an easy category thing) and at any rate publishers and agents are not in the business of publicizing anyone but the already successful. Or those who for their own reasons are targeted and marked for success. I was never one of those. And I never had the alternative channels to do it.

I still don’t have the alternative channels.

I’m not going to lie, I do have some publicity ability: This blog. Instapundit links. I’ve used them for others and (sparingly) for myself, but for this book I’m willing to publicize myself as if I were someone I love who has written a — damn — good book.

But the thing is, the book deserves publicity. It deserves to reach farther than my normal captive audience.

And I have no clue how to do it.

Oh, there are …. webinars and methods and ways to evaluate it. And that’s fine. Except that a) that’s not the way my mind works. b) I don’t want to spend a year figuring out how to make it work. c) no one quite knows how to make it work.

I know the patter from these webinars. It’s just like the talks that published (but not crazy successful) writers used to do at cons. They sold you “my method for breaking in” and what you could be sure of is that the method was already oudated or had worked once, through freak chance.

Sure, ad campaigns work. They take a lot of time, but they work. And you can make a small fortune by spending a large fortune. I don’t have a large fortune. And if I did, I still wouldn’t want to spend it on that. Because you can, and it might never do anything. And the campaigns are less likely to work for a truly off beat property. They work much better with “This is the great thriller just like this other great thriller.” I don’t have that.

So here we are: I have this book I want to promote, and I have no idea how. So, hence the bleg.

A Writer’s Bleg

Let me start by saying I don’t want you to contact me if you are selling your for-pay blog review (I can get fifteen of those offers on linked in. But I don’t think they have more — and some have significantly less — reach than this blog and certainly than Instapundit.)

I don’t want you to contact me if you are a “publicist” who wants to “design a campaign for me” — not unless you have d*mn good references with clients I can verify exist and can contact independently. And even then I’d have to know what you intend to do for THIS particular book. And remember, I’m not made of money, nor is this a vanity project where I spend my retirement account for fame. I’m a working stiff, variety writer — unless you really are a unicorn. And a verifiable unicorn, not a goat with a horn velcroed on. I wasn’t born yesterday, I’m a veteran of 25 plus years as a professional, and you’re not — like someone tried on twitter — going to beguile me by praising the book you haven’t even read to the sky. No.

So, that should take care of most of the spam hitting my mailbox.

Now, what I DO WANT.

Are you a writer I have helped promote? I know you might — probably do — have fewer resources than I.

However, if you have resources, could you give me a little bit of promotion? No matter how small, it will get me a few eyes that would otherwise never see my book.

(If you’re uncomfortable (the book is almost distressingly wholesome, but it might not come across like that in the description) feel free to ping me for ARCs at Goldport Press at gmail dot com. And if you still feel uncomfortable, that’s fine.)

Just, you know, a mention, a review or if you really turn out to like it after reading the ARCs some “push” in the sense that you tell your friends it’s a d*mn good book. (Word of mouth still works best for books, I find.)

Other ways you can help: Do you have a blog? I would like to do your basic “blog tour”. I.e. I’ll come to your blog, be entertaining on the subject of whatever your theme is, and then plug my book at the end.

Do you have a podcast? I’m a d*mn good prospect for an interview, because I — allegedly — have an accent, and people tend to be fascinated by it. Also, I get nervous, and APPARENTLY I babble amusingly.

If you don’t have either a blog or a podcast, but have a friend who does? Can you ask them. I’m not telling you to take their pets hostage or anything, but just ask.

Do you have some idea how else to promote? And I mean a realistic idea not a “As G-d is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly” type of idea. Let me know.

This is a bleg. I can forecast social trends and politics, and kill current events to read the future in their entrails.

Publicity, though? I have no clue. There’s an art to it, and it’s not my art.

I want to be writing the second story, which is started, but… And I want to be finishing Witch’s Daughter and the two Dyce books. And the next Rhodes. And writing the next shifters and Fuse’s story in Darkship Thieves. Not trying to play games with impressions and conversions and hits and…

So, help a direwolf writer out, please?

I’m blegging you with tears in my eyes. Brother, can you spare some word of mouth and pass it on?


69 thoughts on “A Writer’s Bleg”

  1. One of the things I asked of readers at Son of SilverCon was, “How do you find new books to read?” The answer was almost a universal, “Through personal recommendations of people I know who know what I like to read,” so your appeal for personal recommendations seems rightly targeted.

    Unfortunately, I’m the world’s worst marketer myself. As I frequently say, I couldn’t sell a sizzling steak to a starving billionaire.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A long, long time ago, AT&T tried to get into the personal computer business. Jerry Pournelle told an exec that the big problem was that if AT&T bought out Kentucky Fried Chicken, they’d advertise it as hot dead bird. The exec said it’s worse than that. They’d pitch it as warm dead bird.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Glad to help where I can, which is small, but sure. That would start with cross promoting on Twitter. A review on Amazon / Goodreads is easy as well. Not sure what else. Let me coffee first (posting now because with so much on the net sometimes brain go brrrr and I forget to go back.)

    Oh: Was going to suggest a Kickstarter with some high-end items but I see you are already on Amazon preorder. I easily drop much more than the cost of all three books on favored Kickstarters so buying all three is a given.

    Do you have a shorter promo page to link? Not just to Amazon and not the full bleg but a promo page we can link in social media? I didn’t spot it, but then again, also before coffee. (And 15 mins left before time for work, which is the early shift, yee hah.)

    I think I have the WordPress thing licked, John Taloni if not.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Short of going on a podcast tour (I can only see you doing Joe Rogan if he promises not to light up in front of you) your blog seems a good ploy here. Also, if you or someone you know, can come up with a meme that includes your accent, it would likely go viral and provide a great visibility beyond your usual readers.

    In the mean time my operatives are dropping subliminal references across the globe, which is pretty easy considering your title “No Man’s Land.”

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Have a blog, but inactive, and my own time use is erratic and spoken for enough that I cannot promise anything.

    I do plan to read the three volumes, and do some reviews eventually.

    But, I have been planning to do a) an Amazon review b) a post on my own blog full of spoilers about words of the night, since words of the night came out, so it is one of those assurances of mine that is worth very little. (For two out of the past three years, I have had a writing project that I tried to pull together in December, less than twenty pages, that I failed to hit my standards on. Possibly that ‘write a short every week’ exercise would knock something loose, but three days ago it felt like I was making too much progress to consider that.)

    Liked by 2 people

  6. I e-mailed you my review plans: a Ricochet review and Epoch Times blurb. Those are solid, going up in early September. I’ll also link the two sequels in the Starship Ricochet S&SF group. Should get some buzz.

    Wish I could do more. This book is good. Maybe in October after I leave the day job and have more time.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. I think he thinks it would cause more harm than good, given his bombastic style and the questionable target selection some of his TwiX followers have.

      Plus, he’s got that new publishing thing to promote– and they’ve already got a bunch of concern trolls screaming he’s a sell out because… not sure, really.

      He’s probably tired of having to tell folks that the Ikky Girl Cooties they’re throwing utter fits about in that book he and Sarah co-authored were from him.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. And yes, Suspicious Me is a bit suspicious about some of these followers who only seem to pop up to cause problems, or who always seem to have a flock of folks ready to take aim at their oddly phrased comments.

        Liked by 3 people

  9. Unfortunately, my Kindle is kindling at the moment, so I’m stuck with either reading on the PC, or going hardcopy. Would I be incorrect in saying No Man’s Land sounds similar to UKLG’s, “The Left Hand of Darkness”? Since that was published in the U.S. in 1969, I suppose the timing of when it was published in Portugal would be about right for it to start influencing you at age 14. I know it had been out for about 4 or 5 years when I read it in high school To be frank, I didn’t think TLHoD wasn’t all that great, although as a teenager I was probably paying more attention to sexuality themes, and didn’t puzzle over the political social aspects until I re-read it in my late 30s, early 40s. I would not be surprised if No Man’s Land turns out to be a significant improvement. I posted links on my Farcebook and MeWe pages. Finger’s crossed.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Hopefully I’m not stepping on Sarah’s toes here, but she read TLHOD at around age 14, and thought that she could do better. This story has been sitting in her back brain ever since, surfacing occasionally, until the time was ripe, and Sarah a mature enough writer for it to get out (and not have to go through a publisher).

      Liked by 3 people

      1. (Tinny voice on speaker) “You now have ten minutes to reach minimum safe distance…..”

        Somehow, I think that certain folks are going to -frrrrreeeek- out over it, generating lots of Free Publicity.

        Now, how can we best Stir The Puddin to ensure maximum yield? (grin) Er …. sales.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: No Man’s Land – Head Noises

  12. On the plus side, the cover blurb tells people the nature of the weirdness outright, instead of coding it in ways that would have alert, twice-shy, or paranoid readers noping out without even cracking the cover.

    So that, I think, will make more people give it a chance.

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Couldn’t come up with anything stellar off the top of my head, so bailed and asked the AI, which is what I tend to do these days when stuck. Doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a shot, right? (FYI, it’s the gemma3:27B model running locally on Ollama for privacy – highly recommended )

    Understanding the Core Challenge:

    • Not a “Category” Book: The author is right. This isn’t easily boxed into “thriller,” “romance,” or typical sci-fi tropes. Traditional marketing relies on comparison, and this book resists it.
    • The “Heart” Factor: Marketing needs to convey the author’s passion without coming across as overly sentimental or self-serving.
    • Limited Budget/Time: We need to focus on high-impact, low-cost strategies.
    • Author Reluctance: The author doesn’t want to spend a year learning complex systems or spend a fortune on ads. This is key – we need things that feel authentic and manageable.

    I. Low-Cost/High-Effort (Focus: Building Community & Buzz – $0 – $50/month)

    These rely on the author’s existing platforms (blog, Instapundit) and expanding them.

    • “Oddity” Embrace: Lean into the “this is weird, and that’s okay” aspect. Run a social media campaign with the hashtag #NoMansLandOddities. Encourage readers to share what they find odd/interesting in the book, or in life.
    • Character Spotlight: Each week, dedicate a blog post/social media thread to a character. Not a dry biography, but vignettes – a glimpse into their thoughts, a snippet of dialogue, a “what they’re listening to” playlist.
    • Worldbuilding Deep Dives: Share details about Elly and the Star Empire. Not just facts, but “travel guides” written from the perspective of someone who lives there. (“Five things to avoid on your first trip to Elly.”)
    • “Ask Skip” Q&A: The author becomes Skip (or at least channels him) and answers reader questions about the book/world/his adventures. This is fun, interactive, and builds connection.
    • “Stress Baking” Contest: In honor of Skip’s stress baking, run a contest encouraging readers to share their own baking creations. The author can judge based on creativity or “therapeutic value.”
    • Cross-Promotion with Instapundit: The author is already using Instapundit – ask for a dedicated post about the book, emphasizing its uniqueness and the author’s unusual marketing approach.
    • Goodreads Giveaways: A small budget giveaway on Goodreads can generate early buzz and reviews.
    • Email List Building: Offer a free short story or deleted scene in exchange for email sign-ups. Use the list to share exclusive content and updates.
    • TikTok/Reels (Optional): Short, quirky videos showcasing the book’s weirdness. Focus on visual elements and audio snippets.

    II. Medium-Cost/Medium-Effort (Focus: Targeted Outreach & Content Marketing – $50 – $200/month)

    These require a bit more investment, but can reach a wider audience.

    • Book Blog Tours: Arrange a series of guest posts and reviews on relevant book blogs (sci-fi, fantasy, indie author sites).
    • Podcast Interviews: Target podcasts that focus on sci-fi, fantasy, or independent publishing. Emphasize the book’s unique qualities and the author’s honest marketing approach.
    • Amazon Ads (Very Targeted): Instead of broad keyword targeting, focus on very specific, niche keywords that align with the book’s themes. (e.g., “hermaphrodite sci-fi,” “time-travel diplomat,” “gender-bending fantasy.”) Start with a small budget and A/B test different ads.
    • Facebook/Instagram Ads (Targeted): Similar to Amazon Ads, focus on highly targeted audiences. (e.g., readers of Ursula K. Le Guin, Iain M. Banks, or other authors who explore similar themes.)
    • Create a “Mood Board” or “World Map” for the book: Visually striking imagery related to Elly or the Star Empire to draw in potential readers. Share on Pinterest and other social platforms.
    • Collaborate with Artists: Commission fan art or character portraits to generate visual buzz and promote the book.

    III. “Heart-Driven” Marketing (Focus: Authenticity & Connection)

    These aren’t necessarily about spending money, but about how the author presents the book:

    • Be Open About the Marketing Struggle: Continue to be honest about the challenges of marketing a unique book. Readers appreciate authenticity.
    • Embrace the “Heart Book” Aspect: Talk about the book’s personal significance without being overly sentimental. Explain why it’s a “heart book” – what makes it special to the author.
    • Focus on Building Relationships: Engage with readers on social media, respond to comments, and build a community around the book.
    • Don’t Be Afraid to Be Weird: Let the book’s oddity shine through in all marketing materials.

    Addressing the Author’s Concerns:

    • Avoid “Patter” Marketing: Skip the webinars and “guru” courses. Focus on strategies that feel authentic and manageable.
    • Don’t Try to Be Something You’re Not: The author doesn’t want to spend a fortune on ads or conform to conventional marketing tactics. That’s okay.
    • Embrace the Long Game: Building a readership takes time and effort. Focus on building relationships and creating content that resonates with readers.

    Important Note: This is a multi-pronged approach. Don’t try to do everything at once. Start with the low-cost/high-effort strategies and gradually add more as time and resources allow.
    ———————————————————————————

    Maybe some wheat in that chaff there?

    Like

    1. I suck at marketing but I will be glad to publicize as widely as possible.

      I have only one relevant restraint — my followers aren’t necessarily SFF readers or even “bookies” (some are, of course), so I want to wait until the book is released (I’ll no doubt be reading it immediately (already ordered), because not all of them are sophisticated enough to deal with a book that they can’t buy as an impulse on my say-so ahead of time, nor can I count on them remembering to do so later (though I will keep reminding them as each volume gets focused on).

      Good luck! I understand about long works with long runways and favorite child status.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Amazon won’t let me leave a review yet. I suppose that will have to wait til the actual release date, even though I’ve read both the substack serialization of the first draft and the first volume E-Arc. I’m not sure where else I would leave a review.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. I’ll be happy to tout it in my newsletters, and I can blog about it too. (I would’ve loved to have an ARC, but I’m so woefully behind on reviews that I’d rather not make the commitment).

    Liked by 1 person

  17. If/When some ideas are generated that those of us who read your blog, but have no other “reach,” can help accomplish be sure to let us know in your posts. I don’t always read the comments and will miss good ideas generated here. I’ve pre-ordered all three volumes, but that’s all I can think of to do.

    Liked by 2 people

  19. You might want to reconsider the “I thought turkeys could fly.” ideas. After all that line is still being quoted how many decades after the episode aired.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I have no clue.

    One question to ask is “How did Outlander take off?” Gabaldon, in her own words, wrote Outlander to prove to herself she could write. Somehow it took off enough for 12 more books (counting the Lord John Gray novels), a number of novellas, and collection of short stories. I read Outlander when it first hit as a paperback release, but didn’t pickup the series until Snow & Ashes (book 5) came out in large print paperback format. Then I had to go back reread Outlander and the books between. Hooked since. Both Outlander and Snow & Ashes were found on grocery store paperback racks (long dodo dead), not book stores. These days I find new books and authors through BookBud (most), Goodreads, and your Sunday blog promotions. (Although my purchase activity has dropped drastically, because just easier to reread rather than buy new just because I “don’t have anything to read”.)

    Note, same with Stirling’s Nantucket books. Started with the first one, found the 3rd, picked up 2nd, at same time. Emberverse, starting with Dies The Fire, OTOH picked up because “Oh, takes place in Oregon Willamette Valley”. Only when starting reading did I realize “Oh! This is what happened to the rest of the world when Nantucket disappeared.” Stayed with it to the very end, although it turned in directions I wasn’t expecting. Getting descriptions of areas outside of Willamette valley and how those locations were influenced what evolved and why (cough, Jackson Hole and monks, Yellowstone scouts, etc.)

    Like

  21. Pingback: Please go take a look at this. – Nathan Brindle

  22. The Reader doesn’t have a platform from which to push unfortunately. Reviews will be forthcoming as I finish the books.

    Off topic – the Reader is checking to see if you (Sarah) received the contribution the Reader sent to the snail mail address in the fundraiser. Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m sure I did. I’ll announce this tomorrow. The problem is that Dan didn’t realize the fundraiser was over until …. Yesterday. He was waiting to have everything forwarded together.
      And I’m sorry, we’ll only deposit on labor day. Our bank is two hours away and we might as well do it when we visit the kids. :/ I’m sorry. As I said I’ll announce, because I think people are worried.
      And thank you.

      Like

      1. (assuming this works, WPDE) we’ll only deposit on labor day

        Thanks for the heads up. Bank statement will show up next week (our weekly mail pickup makes things interesting), so I won’t have to worry about it being outstanding. (USPS now goes from Flyover Falls up to Portland before going anywhere else–including F-Falls–leaving ample room for Murphy to get his licks in. Sigh.)

        I have all three parts on order. Not sure if I’ll read as received or wait until it’s all here and binge. I will do a written review, but I don’t have much of a voice to go to the outer fanbase.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. USPS goes through Portland before Eugene/Springfield, even mail from Eugene/Springfield where our bank headquarters is located. Then there are the mail thefts. Therefore, everything is online. All statements. Banks, house, investments, vehicles, everything. Granted one of the vehicles was through our bank, but still. I don’t mail anything from our mailbox, it gets taken into the USPS lobby drop off. I trigger payments online. Most payments are then direct electronic transfers which is mostly next business day received, some two. The remaining the bank cuts a check and mails it (even when we were paying for cut check, it was less than cost of check + envelope + stamp, even with “free envelopes” sent with bill. It is free now.) Do not have to worry about incoming statements going astray. This approach has dangers too. I have accounts set to notify (tattle) on all transactions to text. Fingers crossed, knock on wood, no problems have happened. Note, I also have the “I’ve dropped dead, it is your problem now, here is how” covered. (Can you tell I was a programmer before I retired?)

          Neighbor had outgoing mail stolen, a check washed rewritten and cashed. Opened a lot of headaches. I think they proved that the check washing should have been caught as fraud from the get go, never should have been rejected by the receiving entity, then rejected by their bank, so they got their money back. In the mean time, their house payment was “late”, despite being mailed well in advance.

          Like

  23. JR Handley has a great podcast: Blasters and Blades. I’ve been a guest a few times and it is always a lot of fun!

    Also, Libertarians Who Make Art is a new podcast and they are currently looking for more guests. Let me know if you might be interested and I can put you in touch.

    Like

  24. I’m a nobody, but if you want, Sarah, you can post something on A Literary Horde. Can’t guarantee anything, of course, but you never know if any of the members have a reach that can help you.

    Sadly, Perfessor Squirrel had to give up the Sunday Morning Book Thread at Ace’s place because of work pressures. No idea who will take over, or what the new thrust will be. Also, maybe you can contact JJ Sefton, or CBD, and see if they’re interested in having you on their podcast.

    I’m out of ideas after that.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. My beloved agrees with Skip.

        One of his disappointments at Pennsic is they didn’t get out Babbette, the big oven, and he hasn’t apprentice to teach.

        However, we discovered the gas smoker canbe used as as a small oven, so he has been making muffins,

        Liked by 1 person

  26. i would like to point out my skills at marketing:

    …

    …

    …

    Hmmm… that’s all I can think of.

    Sorry.

    Like

  27. I note that you don’t currently have any of your book titles featured prominently in the background image of your profile on X. You could do that.

    Orson Scott Card has one showing right now for a novel that he wrote eight years ago. He’s only had two novels release since then, and one of them was a co-author; so having such an old novel up might be intentional, and not just ‘Oh, right, I have a background on my profile.”.

    I’m not sure what X’s rules are on self-advertising. But assuming links to sales portals are out (and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are), then sticking a book cover in as your background image seems the best option, particularly if it’s an impressive-looking cover (or if you can focus in an a part that looks particularly good as a background “image bar”). And thus whenever anyone pulls up your profile on X, they’ll immediately see the title of one of your books, and have a title that they can search for without having to go to an intermediary site (like this one).

    Any other active social media profiles that you have can probably be similarly graced.

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  28. …we need a publishing company.

    It’s that simple.

    We need someone who can handle those kinds of things and do it in (relative) bulk. We need a mid-lister publishing company of some kind.

    Doesn’t exist or works out of New York or LA, Denver or Seattle or SF. Maybe Atlanta or Dallas/Fort Worth.

    They can do all these things, and because they’re handling a (relatively) large number of writers. The publisher has the advantage of having a marketing team that can spread out the load and responsibility, along with the editors and maybe an accountant or two.

    Unfortunately, I don’t know how to make a publishing company and especially keep said publishing company from becoming ideologically captured by the current “avocation” staff at some point. And it doesn’t help that most agents and publishing companies are looking for the lottery win, not the steady earners.

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    1. No. We don’t. Sorry.
      Publishing companies ALSO never knew how to do any of this, and just quickly became ONLY gatekeeping and games.
      Because they had no way of understanding or predicting how books would sell, and it all went crazy.
      A publishing company is the LAST thing we need.

      Like

    2. We need a publicity company. Unfortunately, it would need to take on only good clients because if it spends its time touting the trash, it would defeat the purpose.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. I can’t do much, but I pre-ordered it and will leave a review once I’ve read it.

    Vaguely related: I’ve been reading a lot of LitRPG of late and generally don’t leave reviews because they’ve already got 1000s. I happened to notice that the Wine of the Gods books only have about 100 each so I’ve started re-reading and leaving reviews as I go, but there are so many! It’s not a re-reading problem – I’ve already blasted through the first 50 – but so many reviews to write.

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