So, not long ago I helped with a blog tour for In Leah's Wake...a brilliant debut novel by an independent author that is making waves across the reading world.
When asked if I would help with the UK launch, I said absolutely. Terri Giuliano Long has been kind enough to do a lovely guest post about her journey dealing with the publishing industry and her love for the blogging world.
So bloggers, when you feel like maybe you aren't appreciated...especially in the wake of the whole Goodreads debacle...know that there are plenty of authors who value what we do.
Enjoy this guest post!!!
Did I mention a chance to win $50?
There is a Facebook competition that will run from 23rd January to 27th January on Terri’s Facebook page, under the ‘Photo Contest’ tab: (http://www.facebook.com/
An Ode to Bloggers
Last May, a
month or so after I began marketing my novel, In Leah’s Wake, a former agent told me that I would never sell 500
books. A rookie, I had no idea what to expect. When I published the novel, I’d
dreamed of selling a 3,000 – 5,000 books, hoping healthy sales numbers would
attract the attention of an agent or traditional publishing house for my next
novel.
The agent
had left New York, but she’d been in the business for a long time, and her
words stung. I hung up the phone, heartbroken, depressed. Had I not been in the
midst of my first blog tour, I might have pulled my novel off the market that
day.
Determined
to see the tour through, I soldiered on.
On the tour, I met wonderful, caring people, book bloggers, whose
kindness buoyed and sustained me.
Over the
next few months, In Leah’s Wake
appeared on hundreds of blogs. Bloggers opened their hearts and spread the word
about this quiet literary novel. In August, In
Leah’s Wake hit the Barnes & Noble and Amazon charts. Now, seven months
after my talk with that agent, the book has been in the Amazon top 200 for over
five months, and we’ve sold just shy of 80,000 copies.
Book
bloggers rock! I don’t know how to say it any better. Book bloggers are the
fairy godmothers and godfathers of the literary world. They invest their
talent, their energy, and their time into reviewing and promoting books – and
keeping dreams alive.
Even today,
traditional media refuse to recognize or review indie books. In this very real
sense, book bloggers are the heart and soul of the indie revolution. Their vision, their energy, and their
determination have enabled this amazing populist movement to take hold.
Today, we
have the great good fortune of hearing the funny, poignant, intelligent voices
of new authors from around the world - voices that, just a few years ago, might
have been silenced by the gatekeepers of the old guard. These voices reach into
hearts and minds, forging connections, uniting us in a community of readers and
writers, searching for and finding, through words, the better part of
ourselves. Because, truly, at heart, this is what reading and writing is all
about.
Here’s to
you, book bloggers! You are and always will be my heroes!
AUTHOR BIO
Terri Giuliano Long is the bestselling author of the award-winning novel In Leah’s Wake. Her life outside of books is devoted to her family. In her free time, she enjoys walking, traveling, and listening to music. True to her Italian-American heritage, she’s an enthusiastic cook. In an alternate reality, she might be an international food writer. She lives with her family on the East Coast and teaches at Boston College. In Leah’s Wake is her debut novel.
Website: www.tglong.com
Blog: www.tglong.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tglong
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites
This week, Terri and Inspired Quill Press (paperback edition), launch a newly edited edition of In Leah’s Wake. The newly edited novel features a new chapter and several new scenes, adding new connections and insights, and tightens the book, cutting 60 pages – all while maintaining the integrity of the original edition.
For more information, please visit her website: www.tglong.com/blog or any of these retailer sales. (Your local library or bookstore can also order the book through major distribution channels.)
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/In-Leahs-Wake-ebook/dp/B0044XV7PG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1306533515&sr=8-3
Amazon Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Leahs-Wake-Terri-Giuliano-Long/dp/1456310542/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318690782&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/In-Leahs-Wake/Terri-Giuliano-Long/e/2940011264566?itm=1&USRI=In%2BLeah27s%2BWake
Indie Bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780975453391
BOOK INFORMATION
IN LEAH’S WAKE
Terri Giuliano Long
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback, Kindle
ISBN: 1456310542
Publisher: CreateSpace/Inspired Quill Press
Website: www.tglong.com
***Newly edited by Sara-Jayne Slack, Inspired Quill Press***
The Tylers have a
perfect life—beautiful home, established careers, two sweet and talented
daughters. Their eldest daughter, Leah, an exceptional soccer player, is on track
for a prestigious scholarship. Their youngest, Justine—more responsible than
seems possible for her 12 years—just wants her sister’s approval. With Leah
nearing the end of high school and Justine a seemingly “together” kid, the
parents are set to enjoy a peaceful life…until everything
goes wrong. Can this family survive in Leah’s wake?
Margot Livesey,
award-winning author of Banishing
Verona, calls In Leah's
Wake "a beautifully written and absorbing novel."
When
happens when love just isn't enough?
Recipient of the CTRR
Award for excellence
2011 Book Bundlz Book
Pick
Book Bundlz 2011
Favorites, First Place
Praise for In Leah’s Wake
"Sometimes scary, sometimes sad, and always tender."
Susan Straight, National Book Award finalist, author Take One Candle Light A Room
"In Leah's Wake is a beautifully written and absorbing novel."
Margot Livesey, Award-winning author of Banishing Verona
“Pulled me right along as I continued to make comparisons to my own life.”
Jennifer Donovan, 5 Minutes for Books, Top 50 Book Blog
“An incredibly strong debut, this book is fantastic on many fronts.”
Naomi Blackburn, Founder Sisterhood of the Traveling Book
So... Okay. If I ever had thought that blogging was too much work, that the reading pile was too huge, that I should cut back on what I read and reviewed... Now those thoughts are dashed. If they ever come back, I'll just get back here and read that post, and remember than I'm doing this because I love it, and I believe in what I do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your amazing words, Terri! Best of lucks with the novel :)
Ron @ Stories of my life
I know Ron, this post made me rethink a lot of things. I know many bloggers don't like to review independent authors, and sometimes with good reason, but there is some unfounded talent out there and I have had the great fortune of knowing a couple... I want nothing more than for them to succeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Just like what Ron said... I will keep coming back to this post if ever I will feel down and not eager to continue blogging. Because seriously... and honestly... blogging takes A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME, and ENERGY and SWEAT (yeah, that too) and A LOT OF BRAIN USAGE and HEART POURING. You know what I mean... hehe.. Sometimes it really feels like work and not fun, but it's always rewarding to hear good things like this. It give us inspiration and boost to continue reading, continue blogging, continue supporting each other--authors and bloggers and publishers-- and then it becomes exciting again... it becomes worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristin for this post.. and thanks to author Terri Giuliano Long for this uplifting post. It means a lot to us, bloggers and readers alike =)