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Dear Reader: The truth about all that book release buzz.

You might have expected this blog post to be a really long and thoughtful discussion about the book business, when it’s actually about the way authors pop up on social media, crying virtual tears of joy, and gushing over reviews! I mean, it’s just a bloody book after all—not a Powerball win.

But in a way being published is like winning the lottery. There is luck involved and with so many books out there, Australian fiction in particular, when a reader looks to spend their hard-earned dollar and chooses your book over others, it’s better than a lottery win. (Okay, that’s a lie. A Powerball win would be pretty darn good right now. For a start, I wouldn’t have to write this blog post. I could just go out and buy all my books myself — although that kinda defeats the purpose of why I write stories!)

This post is about all those annoying authors like me: “woo-hooing” and “squeeing”, almost peeing their pants with excitement, and posting to social media when most of their social media connections already know the book is coming out. I mean, you’ve been following our journeys all this time, right?

 I’ll tell you the truth about authors and book buzz . . .

Launch time for an author brings with it a sudden urgency—one that is a stark contrast to the leisurely year it took to write, edit, perfect, cover and print the paperback—and it kinda flips an author’s world upside down. (They go from quiet achievers in their lounge room to awkward promoters of their finished product.)

The buzz about the launch is important because in the paperback world, there is a finite time for that book to hit the magic sales mark, which makes the publisher happy and the booksellers.

Booksellers . . . Now here is something readers might not realise. 

Just like your local newsagent orders in the daily paper and what doesn’t sell that day gets bundled up and returned to the publisher – no cost to the agency operator, booksellers can do the same with books. They might order in sixty copies of a new book and in six weeks, what hasn’t sold, can be (not always) returned to the warehouse. (A small bookshop won’t have the shelf space to stock multiple copies of every book and while you can always ask the bookshop to order a novel in, if it’s not there, on the shelf, it’s out of sight, out of mind.)

So, say 5,000 books left the warehouse (yay!) and 3,000 came back – unsold in six weeks (boo!)*

That, dear readers, is why authors make a big noise, often preaching to the converted. They are urging those of you who are thinking of buying their book to not delay.

Make a bee-line to your bookstore because those early sales figures can have many ramifications, including keeping their books on the shelves longer. And because every author understands a reader can’t buy every book, the simple act of sharing a buzz post, or mentioning an author’s name at a dinner party, can help enormously. Sometimes it’s the smallest of things that can have the greatest impact, like the bee — the hardest working creatures on the planet (apart from authors), with their contribution to the bigger picture often unappreciated (like women writers!) *wink*

Okay, so, how and when a reader buys a book is none of my beeswax, but can I just say…

Whether it’s my book or another favourite author (and there are an awful lot out for Mothers Day in May including many of my friends: Natasha Lester, Nicki EdwardsFleur McDonald, Kerrie Paterson, Tricia Stringer,  Mandy Magro, Lily Malone, Kayte Nunn) I urge you, on their behalf, to not delay that all-important purchase if you don’t have to, and to think about sharing a post/tweet or two, as many of my readers already do. (And there, my lovelies, is a rhyme… Just. For. You.)

So, there you have it . . .

The truth about the book buzz and all those annoying social media posts.

On behalf of busy authors everywhere,

Happy Mothers Day and happy reading,

Jenn J

*not actual figures. 🙂

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#WriteRoundOz w/ Lily Malone

Image Image 1Ooops! What do you mean I can’t park my rig on the fairway, Lily? Looks like heaven to me: very green, recently mown? Perfect for pitching an annex. But, if you insist, I’ll move the rig. Best get out of the way, though. I am a bit new to all this. Toot! Toot!

 

Here I am in Lily Malone heaven — a heavenly part of WA — and talking books and wine and wine and books…

Hmm, and what’s that I see written on her welcome mat?
“Come on in, the wine is fine.”

(See what I mean, folks? I’m already at home in Lily country)

Now, Lily, I miss my HUGE refrigerator. If I looked in your refrigerator right now, what would I find?

You are lucky. I’ve just been shopping. I have smoked salmon (because it was on special); mango and strawberry yoghurt (yep, on special); lots of apples, carrots and corn; truckloads of milk and leftover chicken lasagne.

Downsizing my life into a 24 ft caravan meant leaving lots of things behind in boxes. What (or who!!) would you have trouble leaving behind if you took off in a caravan?

I’d miss my garden – for although the landscaping is lacking, I do like my native plants. I tried tubestock for the first time and I’ve been battling rabbits, and winning. I love my garden, so I’d miss it if I was away. Actually, I love my house too, I really don’t want to go anywhere.

(I’m not sure what tubestock is but if it’s anything to do with the garden bed I kind ran a wheel or two over while getting off the fairway then… Ooops!)

Whose home would you like to visit in your van and why? 
Sigh. I’m getting so boring: Warney’s pad in Melbourne, or Sydney, or wherever he sets himself up these days.

Do you REALLY have room at your house to park a fifth wheeler caravan and do you mind visitors? Oh, sorry, you don’t have to answer that one!! ☺

You have an open invitation you and ‘J’ – I would love to be your hostess with the mostest. I am already planning what we will eat and certainly what we will drink, and lots of other stuff we can do depending on (of course) the season you visit.

(Thanks for the nice segue!)

Country curiosities…

My latest novel, Season of Shadow and Light, has a strong horse theme. (I love what horses can teach us). If you were an animal what would you be?

An otter.

You’re cooking and your food is going up against the best cooks from the CWA (Country Women’s Association). What would be your winning dish?
Portuguese chicken.

About you…

What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Just doing it.

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?
Pink Beanies In The Time Of Wine

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Q: Is Warney one of your Twitter followers?
A: Unfortunately No. If he EVER does follow me, you will hear the squeeeeee from wherever you’ve parked your van.

Favourite four

(Okay, Lil, that was a heading but since you listed four – sort of…) Warne, McGrath, Lillee and Warne.
Favourite place in Australia: Mataranka (in the Northern Territory – hot springs – the clearest green waters of the Roper River – stunning)
Favourite holiday destination (anywhere): Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Favourite movie: Bridget Jones Diary and anything with Matt Damon
Favourite quote: Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?
Fill your glass.

(and that, lovely readers, is why Lily and I are firm friends. Now, if only we can actually meet!)

2020 UPDATE: Lily has since been published by HQN and still writes stories to make you smile: https://lilymalone.blog

I love Lily’s books. (The fact that one of her characters is named Jenn ‘with two ‘n’s has no bearing on this opinion. 🙂 ) And we did finally meet in 2018 when I drove from east to west with Myrtle the Turtle in tow. And yes there was wine.

Thank you for checking out a blog post from the past. Keep supporting Australian storytellers and stay safe.

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LILY, GOLF – and other four-letter words!

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Let’s get one thing clear… I LOVE the name ‘Lily’. Add the word ‘Malone’ and for some reason I start to conjure up all sorts of wonderfully romantic images of Marlene Dietrich and Vera Lynn singing: “Auf Wiedersehen Lili Marlene” (Don’t ask me why! I just do.)

Let me further clarify…

Lily Malone is an author. I can’t remember where or how I found this author. My first memory is reading a blog post she had written about being an aspiring writer. Her writing style made me laugh (in a good way) and that is always a good thing in a blog post.

Since then, Lily Malone has gone on to publish (both through Escape Publishing and independently) three novel.  She does have a wonderful way with words and she can be a bit cheeky. Her stories are contemporary romances – a mix of love, lies and a little lust. (Oh and wine! There is usually lots of wine. And OH GOSH! All those wonderful four-letter words: LOVE, LIES, LUST … WINE!)

So if that is your genre, Lily tells a great yarn. Not only that, she has THE best cover on her latest release – Fairway to Heaven. Yes, it’s about golf – but not as we know it apparently (which may be a good thing because GOLF is definitely a bad four-letter word to me.)

Check out Lily’s blog here.  Or buy Fairway to Heaven on Smashwords.

I wanted to give a shout out on my blog because apart from being good fun and a fabulous storyteller, Lily is a generous and supportive person to lots of other authors – me included. (And I have been slack and totally missed the big [insert bad four-letter word here] blog hop thingy. But you can still join in the fun.

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You can find links to all the blogs taking part (and the clever enter to win thing) of them at the bottom of Rhyll Biest’s blog. Authors like Jennie Jones, Wine, Women and Wordplay (with Imelda Evans), Cate EllinkSusanne Bellamy. Check one or two or as many as you like for your chance to win a great prize pack from Lily filled with yummy delights (and a copy of Kate Belle’s book, The Yearning).

And finally…

Here is Lily (funny, funny lady) taking part in my Author Harvest last year and it has a little taste of the song: Lili Marlene –  CLICK