As my third and final book in the In Times of Trouble series was being released, my plans for the days and weeks after was to be focused on promoting the book to current readers as well as reaching a broader audience. For this I’d set aside a budget to work with, and had several detailed plans to put into place including a media blitz and a boost in social media ads.
However, marketing on social media, well, that was, and continues to be, a challenge unto itself. It used to be a valuable tool, but now a person can spend a LOT of money with very limited results compared to five years ago.
Of course, I didn’t bring you here to complain, but I’m telling you this because it’s a part of how we got here. Suffice it to say, I had to find a different way of doing things.
I’ve been paying for both a website and email account but haven’t utilized them as much as I could be. So I started putting together a mailing list, but still wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.
Recently we went to see director Kevin Smith in Ithaca. He, along with Jason Mewes, portray characters known as “Jay and Silent Bob” in many of Smith’s films. I’ve been a fan since seeing Smith’s first film, Clerks, back in the early ’90’s and was excited to get the chance to see them live. The two of them basically sat in front of a packed theater, telling stories and jokes and, as expected, it was a great evening.
What I hadn’t expected however was the flash of inspiration that resulted.
To start, here’s a guy who, rather than going through the normal channels, decided to just do it his way. The movie was low budget, costing less than $30,000 to produce, and financed by selling his comic collection as well as maxing out several credit cards with low credit limits. It was then premiered at Sundance, where it was picked up by Miramax. The rest was history.
In the thirty one years since, Smith has built an entire universe full of characters well known and loved by fans as well as fictional brands, such as the fast-food chain, “Mooby’s.” When he’s not making films, Smith has his hands in other things, including these theater shows where he just comes and interacts with people, telling stories and observations about everyday life.
Anyway, the morning after the show, I had an epiphany. What I had been doing, or thinking about doing was similar to what Smith has done over the years. Hell, hadn’t I gotten my start writing a lot about every day life and observations? Plus, my plan was to go back to basics and write for the enjoyment of it again. I’d been flirting with ideas for merchandise based on my books as well.
I suddenly knew what to do with that email list.
My main purpose for this is to be a direct line of communication, circumventing social media algorithms. Far too many times in the recent past I’ve tried to engage readers in a “just for fun” conversation, only for it to fall flat because no one sees it. Now, I not only have a better chance of you seeing new content, but in turn you’ll be able to comment. And I really hope you do! You’ll also get the opportunity to:
Read New Stuff I’ve Written Before Anyone Else
I don’t have any new ideas for novel length stories at this time. It’s possible I may never write another novel, I don’t know. But after years of self-imposed deadlines I want to write simply for the enjoyment of it again. So with that in mind, I do have several ideas for short stories based in the In Times of Trouble universe. But I also have a lot of other stuff I’ve written that I’d like to dust off and share.
I also want to revisit how I got started writing in the first place, long before I ever decided to tackle a novel. That means dusting off my old soapbox as well and stepping back up on it again, albeit with a bit more care than I would have decades ago.
You’ll be the first to read all of that before it’s shared with the general public.
Hear About New Merchandise
With the release of ITOT: Crossroads I did a short run of coffee mugs with my logo on them to give away as gifts. Inaddition to those, I also have a couple of other ideas for merchandise that my brain simply can’t let go.
I need to work on those ideas a little more. As a member of this group, you’ll get the opportunity to get your hands on that as well as discounts when I’m able to offer them.
Much More
Okay, I’m not entirely sure what that “more” is right now, and there’s certainly not “much” of it. But when I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.
In Closing…
I’ll finish by offering a heartfelt “Thank You” for all of your support and interest in what I do. It has been my privilege to entertain you over the past few years and I hope to continue to do so for a long time to come.